View of Table Mountain,Cape Town,South Africa.

Fifteen of the coolest new cruise destinations to visit in 2025

As we sail into the new year,there’s a good reason all eyes are on the Kimberley Coast,West Africa,Hong Kong,the Arctic and more.

  • byBrian Johnston
Night view over Hong Kong from the Peak.

Port guide:Hong Kong,China

Hong Kong has frantic energy,a spectacular setting and some of the world’s best shopping and dining. Plunge into the excitement of one of the world’s great cities.

  • byBrian Johnston
Danube channel cruise port near Vienna’s Schwedenplatz square.

Port guide:Vienna,Austria

This small,intimate capital bursts with high culture,musical history and grandiose architecture,yet is surprisingly laidback,charming and fun.

  • byBrian Johnston
One of the 50 Panorama suites on Tapestry II,dispensing with a balcony to extend the floor space.
★★★★
France

With sweet views and well-organised stops,this Seine cruise is a winner

European river ships have evolved as a species into a sleek,utilitarian design. Avalon’s tagline,“A view with a room,” is accurate.

  • byKate Hennessy
The paddlesteamer Emmylou cruising the Murray River.

Australia’s longest river to get its first luxury cruise ship

PS Australian Star’s first season sailings are filling up;it isn’t hard to see why cruise lovers are jumping at the chance of travelling this river in style.

  • byBrian Johnston
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Coral Expeditions visits Wayag Island in Papua New Guinea.

The little-visited Pacific islands right on our doorstep

Australian cruisers might feel they’re familiar with the Pacific,yet innumerable nearby archipelagos have gone virtually unexplored – until now.

  • byBrian Johnston
Manila and its port.

Port guide:Manila,Philippines

Manila is chaotic,crowded and traffic-choked,but beneath its daunting surface you’ll find plenty of reasons to get out and explore.

  • byBrian Johnston
Skeppsbron in Stockholm.

Port guide:Stockholm,Sweden

Stockholm has a long history and superb medieval old town,but is also an experimental,contemporary city of considerable Nordic chic.

  • byBrian Johnston
Cunard’s latest ship,the Queen Anne.

Three new cruise ships among 62 heading to Australia this summer

Cunard’s latest vessel,Queen Anne,will visit during its inaugural world cruise,as 25 cruise lines send ships Down Under for the summer season.

  • byBrian Johnston
Viking Yi Dun,formerly Viking Sun,cruising into Victoria Harbour,Hong Kong.

This luxury cruise line has returned to sailing around China

While pundits say tourism in China won’t fully recover until some time in 2025,the country’s coast is carrying some good signs.

  • byJulietta Jameson