Saint-Émilion and Cognac.
And there’ll be plenty of
tastings along the way. There’s
also the chance to sample
truffles in Cadillac and join
an onboard cookery lesson.
Details Seven nights’
all-inclusive from £2,745pp,
including rail travel,
departing on August 27
(scenic.co.uk)RHINE REFLECTIONS
Travel at your own pace
on Polaris, Vega or Capella,
one of the three new,
182-passenger river ships
launched by Travelmarvel,
a value-for-money alternative
to sister brand APT. Fewer
excursions included in the fare
translate to added freedom to
check out the beer in Bamberg
or sip a fruity riesling in pretty
Rüdesheim. One notable
excursion on this sailing
along the Rhine and Main
rivers from Amsterdam to
Nuremberg includes visiting
a family home in medieval
Miltenberg to chat over coffee
and cake. Back on board,
the ships have a minimalist
boutique vibe in the lounges,
cabins and restaurants.
Details Seven nights’
full board from £1,495pp,
including flights and drinks
with meals, departing on July
29 (aptouring.co.uk)GALAPAGOS ANIMAL MAGIC
The astonishingly biodiverse
archipelago off Ecuador is a
bucket-list destination with
a price to match, but nothing
can beat it for wildlife
sightings. The creatures that
call its volcanic shores home
have no fear of humans,
so you can snorkel with ease
alongside playful sea lions,
penguins and turtles. Ashore,
you can capture close-up
shots of the dragon-like land
iguanas, blue-footed boobies
and giant tortoises. See it all
from Aqua Expeditions’ lavish
new superyacht Aqua Mare,
which carries just 16 guests
alongside the crew and two
naturalist guides.
Details Ten nights’ all-
inclusive from £13,500pp,
including flights, departing
on September 6
(scottdunn.com)BOOZY BORDEAUX
Scenic offers a refined taste
of France on this Bordeaux
round-trip itinerary that
meanders along the Garonne
River and the wide Gironde
estuary. The swish cabins on
the 149-guest Scenic Diamond
all come with butler service,
while shore excursions include
an exclusive classical concert
in a château. The ports of call
read like a drinks list: Médoc,100-passenger Emerald Sakara
will spend its maiden season
roaming the turquoise waters
of the Seychelles from Victoria
on Mahé Island. Search for
the indigenous black parrot
and tuneful bulbul songbird
on Praslin Island. You’ll also
visit Aride Island Nature
Reserve, with more sea birds
than any other island in the
archipelago, and bask on
La Digue’s Anse Source
d’Argent, said to be the most
photographed beach in the
world thanks to its white
sand, aquamarine water,
arching palms and giant
granite boulders.
Details Nine nights’ full board
from £4,340pp, including
drinks with meals, departing
on February 23, 2023
(emeraldcruises.co.uk).
Fly to MahéSECRET SPAIN
CroisiEurope is the only line to
offer river cruises on a 50-mile
downstream stretch of the
Guadalquivir, which is among
Spain’s longest rivers. There’ll
be very little cruising aboard
the 176-passenger La Belle de
Cadix — you’re based mainly
in Seville and Cadiz — but this
is a convenient and affordable
way to explore the riches of
Andalusia. Day trips take in
the sun-baked Moorish cities of
Granada and Cordoba, before
heading downstream to the
fortified port of Cadiz, from
where you can tour the sherry-
making capital, Jerez, and visit
an Andalusian horse farm.
Details Seven nights’ all-
inclusive from £1,549pp,
departing on September 27
(croisieurope.co.uk). Fly to
SevilleOuter Hebrides. Much further
south, you’ll be able to enjoy
a scenic stroll and a pasty on
St Mary’s, the largest of the
Scilly Isles.
Details Ten nights’ full board
from £4,599pp, departing
on September 9
(rivieratravel.co.uk)CAPTIVATING CROATIA
Live like a local on this round-
trip voyage from the walled
city of Dubrovnik, with a stop
in the Unesco-listed city of
Split, which is dominated by
the grand palace built by
Roman emperor Diocletian.
You’ll also call at the islands of
Brac, Hvar, Korcula and Mljet,
with overnights in each port
so you have time to experience
the restaurants and bars
ashore — don’t miss the local
specialities such as squid ink
risotto. Along the way, the
captain of APT’s 34-guest MV
Lady Eleganza will select the
best spots for swimming stops
in the clear, blue Adriatic.
Details Seven nights’
half-board from £2,795pp,
including flights, departing
on June 8 (aptouring.co.uk)INDULGENT SEYCHELLES
Set sail on Emerald Cruises’
smart new ship, which
will cruise to an all-new
destination for the line. TheEDWARD PISHIYSKI; RAINER WITZGALL/UNIWORLD; SHUTTERSTOCK See Egypt’s pyramids and Sphinx before cruising the Nile