Trends this year have been for shorter advance booking periods, with many people planning to travel over the next few months. But now is the time to think ahead to 2010, so we have picked out some of next year’s highlights as food for thought.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises
Act now to benefit from the free unlimited shore excursions for all 2010 cruises. This offer is expected to expire soon, and its inclusion represents huge added value – in addition to the included drinks and gratuities, this makes Regent into a genuinely all-inclusive product.
Really make the most of the great value with a long cruise – Seven Seas Voyager kicks off the year with her World Cruise, and Seven Seas Mariner with a circumnavigation of South America. Our favourite itinerary is on the Seven Seas Voyager world cruise – a very appealing 35 night sector from Hong Kong to Cape Town departing on March 11th. Including an exploration of Vietnam and another of the Seychelles, the cruise also features stays in key cities such as Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Cape Town.

Seven Seas Mariner will summer in the Mediterranean for the first time in many years and will operate some great 10, 11 and 12 day itineraries, including the Black Sea.
Look out for the Discovery cruise towards the end of the year when Mariner leaves the Mediterranean for the Persian Gulf and Indian Ocean.

Crystal Cruises
Crystal celebrates its 20th Anniversary in 2010 so this is a good year to choose. Offers include the ‘All Inclusive. As You Wish’ programme giving you up to $2000 per couple on board credit to spend on spa treatments, drinks, excursions or whatever you please. As Crystal Cruises has been voted ‘World’s Best’ in the Conde Nast Traveler awards for 15 consecutive years now, if you haven’t tried them now is really the time to do so.

For 2010 there are exclusive 20th Anniversary Fares with substantial savings on European cruises, and a Birthday Bonus whereby if you sail on your birthday in 2010, you get 50% saving on a future Crystal cruise before your next birthday.
The Crystal Assurance plan is another bonus, with a price guarantee, reduced deposits and a relaxed cancellation policy.

Our tips on itineraries are the World Cruise – in particular the sector from Cape Town to Mumbai – and the two 20th Anniversary cruises in July: The North Cape and Arctic Circle on Crystal Symphony, or Mediterranean and Black Sea on Crystal Serenity.

Yachts of Seabourn
2010 is a particularly exciting year for Seabourn as it sees the launch of their second new ship, Seabourn Sojourn, a sister to Seabourn Odyssey. More exciting still from a British perspective is that Seabourn Sojourn’s Maiden Voyage will leave from Greenwich (London) on June 6th on an appealing itinerary to Iceland and the Norwegian Fjords, and returning to Dover – perfect for those British guests who prefer not to fly. The following cruise will also be from the UK back to the UK, on a mouthwatering 14 night Baltic Cruise.

Look out also for another first – Seabourn’s first full world cruise itinerary on the Seabourn Odyssey – this will be extra special as the ship will be welcomed on maiden calls all along the way. So you will enjoy a very special ship, and one that is feted everywhere it goes.

2010 is a great year to try Seabourn for the first time, if you have been waiting for the space and verandah suites offered by its competitors. Attractive all-inclusive pricing is of course a bonus. But for Seabourn aficionados, it is fun to see the itineraries offered on our old favourites, the intimate Seabourn Pride, Spirit and Legend. New for 2010 is a Seabourn Pride’s full year in the Far East, so you can visit China and Japan in the height of the summer, whilst Seabourn Spirit has some interesting opportunities in the Persian Gulf and Indian Ocean

Silversea
2010 is the maiden year of Silversea’s newest ship, Silver Spirit. Following her launch in December, she will cross the Atlantic to operate a South America cruise which will be particularly enjoyable – good to make that itinerary on a slightly large (550 guest) ship also.
Pay in full reductions still stand at 15% for payment in full a year prior to departure, so there are lots of itineraries on which this still applies – a whole variety of savings can be combined to get you great reductions on 2010 pricing.

Our favourite itineraries are the Silver Wind South Africa cruises in the early part of the year, Silver Shadow’s Far East programme in the autumn, Silver Whisper in the Persian Gulf, and a great Iceland circumnavigation on Silver Cloud. If you want to try out the new ship, we think the 7 night itineraries in the Mediterranean are a little dull, but what about a transatlantic from New York to Southampton departing on April 23rd.

Don’t forget the expedition ship, Prince Albert II, wintering in Antarctica. Next summer she will be back in the Arctic – unusual off the beaten track itineraries for adventurous travellers