All Aboard the 13 Best Cruises to Book in 2024

Japan, Italy, Antarctica or Australia? This fleet of newly launched ships will take you to every corner of the world. Here's our pick of the best cruises to book now.

The iconic Mediterranean

Not every adventure is about seeing somewhere new – sometimes you just want to immerse yourself in the places that have long filled your screens, bookshelves and dreams. Viking’s Mediterranean and Adriatic Sojourn aboard the Saturn ticks off headline locales, including Barcelona, Monte Carlo, Florence and Athens, with a few surprises thrown in. The itinerary, which begins in late March 2025 and spans 22 days, covers five countries and includes tours to places such as Bari in Puglia, Italy, where you’ll take in a castle and a cathedral.

The ship

Built last year, Saturn takes up to 930 grown-ups only. Which may be why the most premium accommodation – the Owner’s Suite – comes with a dry sauna (complete with ocean views), fireplace and boardroom. Scandi inspiration rules throughout, from the calming, natural materials to onboard wellness. Like all Viking vessels, the Saturn has a Snow Grotto – a snow-chilled cold therapy room – best utilised after a session in the sauna or steam room.

The shore excursions

Gastronomy features heavily on this trip – a picnic lunch in a winery in Aix-en-Provence, making pasta dough in a Tuscan castle – but those looking for a way to balance the indulgence might meet their match in the intensive drive-and-hike to the summit of active Mount Vesuvius on the Gulf of Naples.

The surprise

Viking has a number of partnerships with cultural institutions globally, such as the Metropolitan Opera in New York and Oslo’s Munch Museum. The latter means that you’ll find sketches by Edvard Munch, painter of The Scream, in The Living Room on Deck 1.

An Australian odyssey

The great Aussie road trip is a classic experience but to circumnavigate the country on a luxury liner – taking in dynamic cities, ancient history, natural wonders and unique wildlife – is bucket-list territory. The Grand Australia: Melbourne to Melbourne voyage kicks off in October 2025 aboard Silversea’s Silver Nova and ticks all the boxes you’d want – plus a few you couldn’t imagine. Shucking your own Sydney rock oysters on NSW’s famed Sapphire Coast? That’s on day three of this 47-day expedition.

The ship

Silver Nova is the twelfth ship and the most environmentally friendly in Silversea’s fleet so far, with a carbon emissions reduction of 40 per cent compared to the cruise line’s other vessels. While there are 13 categories of suites, catering to a total of 728 guests, they all have one thing in common: private verandahs. Book a premium Otium Suite for its 270-degree outlook on the surroundings. Should you tire of the view, there are 18 drinking and dining venues onboard.

The shore excursions

With 117 activities to choose from (36 of them inclusive), every interest is met, from classic to cool. Match your Broome camel ride moment and Barossa Valley wine tour with a chopper flight over reef and rainforest near Cairns or spotting crocs on the Adelaide River south of Darwin.

The surprise

“Bringing the outdoors in” would seem like a no-brainer for a cruise ship but few do it as well as Silver Nova. The vessel’s clever design ensures that (almost) wherever you are onboard, you’re looking out to sea – even in the Otium Spa’s steam rooms.

Southern wild card

Crossing the Drake Passage is high on the hit list for daring travellers but on Hurtigruten’s Antarctica and Patagonia Southbound Expedition aboard the MS Fridtjof Nansen, the fabled waterway has some competition when it comes to stealing the show. Sailing for 18 days across October and November this year, the journey begins in UNESCO-listed Chilean city Valparaíso, famous for its vibrant hilltop homes and rich arts scene. After that there are the glaciers of Torres del Paine National Park, elephant seals and Magellanic penguins on the Chilean fjords, a landing (weather permitting) at renowned Cape Horn and traversing the Drake Passage for several days in the wilds of Antarctica.

The ship

The interiors of MS Fridtjof Nansen combine minimalism with warmth in the communal areas (including three restaurants) and the cabins. The ship hosts a maximum of 530 passengers, with three levels of suites – if the budget allows, book an Expedition Suite, some of which come with a private hot tub. When you’re not taking a dip in the infinity pool, head to the Science Centre to pick the brains of the expedition team, who’ll happily geek out with you as you test the high-tech gadgetry.

The shore excursions

While some activities will take you to shore – meeting a representative of the Kawésqar community (a First Nations people of Patagonia) in Puerto Edén or trekking the El Tepual trail of Chiloé National Park (on the lookout for blue whales) – others will keep you on water, such as kayaking the Antarctic Peninsula among seals and icebergs.

The surprise

The MS Fridtjof Nansen is one of the first battery-hybrid-powered cruise ships and offers a much quieter voyage, allowing its passengers to better take in the sounds of the wild world around them.

On the ice

It may be a journey that starts and ends in the same place but the 10-day Icelandic Immersion from Reykjavik to Reykjavik on Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ newest ship, the Seven Seas Grandeur, still delivers you to a new world. Departing in July 2025, this sailing showcases Iceland’s dramatic landscapes from nearly every angle – roaring waterfalls, snow-capped basalt mountains, fairytale fishing villages – and the wildlife to go with it (if you’re not a twitcher yet, you will be).

The ship

At one end of the scale, you have the Regent Suite, which commands more than 400 square metres. What does that kind of space afford you on the water? For one, a glass-enclosed sitting room so that you don’t miss a moment. At the other end of the scale, there are the 28-square-metre Veranda Suites, which (as the name suggests) have private balconies despite their comparatively compact size. If neither option satisfies your needs, there are 13 other suite styles to choose from on the Seven Seas Grandeur, which accommodates 746 guests. The seven restaurants and one café also cater to a diversity of preferences, from French to Italian, pan-Asian and a New York-style grill.

The shore excursions

All the excursions with group tours on Regent Seven Seas Cruises are included and unlimited. On this itinerary, that could mean horseriding through the highlands, floating in geothermal pools or going on a puffin and whale safari (humpback, blue and sei whales all inhabit these waters).

The surprise

There’s a Fabergé egg on board, believed to be the only one stationed at sea. If that rarity doesn’t delight, you can also find works by Picasso among the ship’s 1600-piece art collection.

Coast-to-coast

Port hopping from Tokyo to Busan on the Japan & South Korea In Depth journey on Scenic’s Scenic Eclipse II reveals some of the most compelling waterside destinations in the two countries over 18 days. You’ll travel the Pacific Ocean, East China Sea and Sea of Japan, taking in icons such as Mount Fuji, historic sites like Hiroshima and dining on local specialties (set a reminder for day six: sanuki udon).

The ship

Two helicopters, a submersible, salt therapy lounge, e-bikes – the Scenic Eclipse II, which only launched last year, comes with all the bells and whistles. It’s built for 228 guests and offers a butler service across the seven suite categories. The mid-level Spa Suites have their own jacuzzi and the Panorama Suites feature wide-angle views near the bow.

The shore excursions

The package is all-inclusive (with the exception of helicopter and submersible outings) so snag one of those e-bikes and start exploring. The second port of call is Shimizu, where you’ll see Mount Fuji and shibazakura in full bloom (that’s the low-growing, bright-pink shrub you see in the prettiest Fuji pictures). There’s also the chance to visit a walkable roller-coaster in Pohang as well as the tiny islands of Ogijima – just two kilometres long – and Miyajima with its floating torii gate.

The surprise

Because holidays are for doing things that are out of the ordinary, head to the fitness studio to sign up for a private aerial yoga class.

A white Christmas

The key to an unforgettable Christmas? Head straight to the source. Ponant’s Christmas Magic with Renaud Capuçon on Le Commandant Charcot in December delivers more festive season spirit in its nine-day journey from Finland’s Helsinki to Kemi than all of your Christmases combined. Go sledding with reindeer or swing by Rovaniemi (aka Santa Claus’s Village) onshore then enjoy rousing concerts hosted by French violinist Renaud Capuçon, accompanied by a pianist, cellist and more, back at sea. If the stars align, the Northern Lights might just put on the greatest show imaginable.

The ship

It’s an intimate affair on the hybrid-electric polar exploration ship Le Commandant Charcot, with just 245 guests and two restaurants. The Danish concept of hygge (pronounced hoo-ga) informs the styling across the six categories of suites and whichever you choose, you’ll find a cosy, cocoon-like space (picture curved wood finishes and grey, white and fawn furnishings) designed to promote a deep sense of contentment.

The shore excursions

There are 11 different activities on offer and all but one (a forest and ice snowmobile tour through Swedish Lapland on Christmas Day) are included. But there are other enchanting ways to celebrate the big day, such as fishing on an ice floe, snowshoe trekking through a boreal forest or a lantern walk in the UNESCO-listed church town Gammelstad in Luleå, at the head of the Gulf of Bothnia.

The surprise

Temperatures in the Arctic may be frosty but the Blue Lagoon pools at the aft of the ship are heated to between 27°C and 37°C. Consider it a reverse polar plunge.

Into the blue

Fiji, Tahiti, Micronesia, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands – a visit to any one of these tropical locations guarantees you can switch off. A cruise to all five? You might never want to plug back in again. Seabourn’s 35-Day Islands Of Papua New Guinea & The Andesite Line cruise, departing in August on the recently launched Seabourn Pursuit, is a masterclass in island hopping (with a side of thrills).

The ship

An expedition vessel (which makes it better suited to reaching remote locations than other cruise ships), Seabourn Pursuit comes equipped with 24 Zodiacs, two submersibles and eight double kayaks. All that action is set alongside indulgence, thanks to the luxury suites (there are 12 types, all ocean-facing with verandahs; the higher end Grand Watergarden Suites are over two levels) and eight dining venues for a maximum of 264 guests.

The shore excursions

Those Zodiacs are for regular cruises and landings, which are included in the price of the trip – as are tours of villages and markets and being part of the audience for local ceremonies (that’s where an active volcano comes in, on Rabaul on PNG’s New Britain island). You can also take out a kayak, see what lies beneath in a submersible or go diving with a divemaster.

The surprise

Okay, so you may be less likely to use this feature on a tropical cruise but it still has the cool factor: every suite is equipped with a heated coat wardrobe for warming and drying off clothes before or after excursions.

Islands in the sun

One of you wants a flop-and-drop getaway, the other wants to explore new destinations. This nine-night cruise through the Caribbean can bridge the divide. Departing Florida in November, Celebrity Cruises’ Aruba, Curaçao and Bonaire itinerary onboard the Celebrity Ascent captures the spirit of a holiday spent poolside at a luxury resort – if that resort could relocate while you were sleeping.

The ship

You could dine at a different spot each night of your voyage and still not have time to try them all – there are 12 restaurants catering to a maximum of 3260 guests on the Celebrity Ascent, including one that offers plant-based dishes. Another two eateries are for the exclusive use of travellers who opt to spend their trip in the top-of-the-line AquaClass and The Retreat staterooms.

The shore excursions

The best expeditions will get you in the water after days spent sailing on the surface, as you swim with stingrays, dolphins, turtles and more. On land in Bonaire, an island that goes under-the-radar despite its lolly-hued architecture and spectacular marine park, you can spot flamingoes while on safari through the mangroves or try land-sailing, where you race along in a three-wheeled, sail-powered vehicle.

The surprise

The celebrity factor isn’t confined to the name of the cruise line: British interiors maven Kelly Hoppen has designed several spaces, including Luminae restaurant, which has a menu by renowned chef Daniel Boulud.

SEE ALSO: Which Cruise is Right For You?