2009 itineraries are available and on sale earlier than ever before in the luxury market, with some of the most appealing voyages selling fast. Here are our selection of highlights from the various programmes available:

Regent Seven Seas Cruises
This line leads the way with its wide selection of long voyages year round. You may not fancy the 116 night circumnavigation on Seven Seas Voyager departing Los Angeles on January 12th, but there are other options. Seven Seas Mariner’s Ring of Fire itinerary leaving from Fort Lauderdale on January 26th takes you around South America to the Pacific Ocean, and then on a grand Circle of the Pacific finishing in Vancouver on May 27th, and including New Zealand, Australia, the Indonesian Islands, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam, China and Japan, and finishing with the Russian Far East and remote Aleutian Islands prior to arrival in Alaska.

Right itinerary but wrong time of year? Why not look instead at the reverse circle departing Vancouver on September 9th for a 102 night voyage (which can be divided into shorter sectors) via Alaska and the Aleutian Islands for Japan, China, Vietnam and South East Asia, Australia, New Zealand and a long Pacific journey to Los Angeles. Last but not least, consider Voyager’s Discovery Collection, a fascinating 70 night voyage departing Athens on October 9th, and sailing to the Persian Gulf, India, the islands of the Indian Ocean through to Cape Town, then on to Rio de Janeiro and Fort Lauderdale.

Crystal Cruises
Look out for Crystal Symphony’s China cruises between Hong Kong and Peking in late March and early April, or for something a little different, why not combine a series of voyages as she repositions back to Europe a true slow boat from China, you could take a one way flight to Beijing to join the ship in early April, and stay on board for 6 cruises all the way back to Dover, via turnaround ports in Hong Kong, Singapore, Dubai, Athens and Rome. A long summer in Europe for both vessels gives you a range of excellent choices in the Mediterranean and Baltic, but make a move quickly if you like the look of Symphony’s 11th July cruise from
Copenhagen to Norway, the North Cape and Spitsbergen, or Crystal Serenity’s Black Sea itinerary on September 2nd.

Symphony will be cruising Canada and New England in September and October, a most appealing itinerary and something a little different. She then moves southwards, and I have to recommend a combination of the 22nd November cruise from Miami to Manaus, and the 5th December cruise from Manaus to Buenos Aires, a great opportunity to explore the Amazon without the awkward flight connections.

Silversea Cruises
Grab the rare opportunity to visit China with Silversea on Whisper’s 10 day voyage on March 8th from Hong Kong, with a visit to Beijing and finishing in Shanghai (speak to us about arranging a post-cruise trip maybe a Yangtse River cruise). Or choose the following itinerary (18th March) with fascinating calls at a variety of ports in Japan. Most attractive winter alternatives are the series of Africa and Indian Ocean voyages on Silver Wind in the first three months of the year: we particularly like the 16 day voyage from Cape Town to Mombasa on January 13th, including a visit to Madagascar, followed by journeys to the Seychelles and on to India. An unusual Indian coastal itinerary from Chennai (Madras) to Mumbai (11 days departing 25th February) could be combined with a fascinating Golden Triangle land tour, taking you to see the beauties of
Rajasthan. With two ships in the Mediterranean and one in the Baltic through the summer months, you have plenty of choice close to home, but if you have never visited Alaska, Silver Shadow’s itineraries are a perfect choice a smaller ship with verandahs is just what you need to explore the Great Land.

The Yachts of Seabourn
Our 2009 choice for Seabourn has to be the Seabourn Odyssey, commencing her inaugural season in June. A most attractive selection of Mediterranean cruises with a range of durations include an excellent Black Sea itinerary departing from Istanbul on July 8th, and another of longer duration on August 15th. For great value, look at the Maiden Transatlantic leaving Malaga on October 31st with fares from just £1,711 per person for 10 nights.