Plus, the other itineraries, voyages and cruises making waves right now.
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There are many enriching experiences you can look forward to when you book a cruise of the Mekong River in Asia - from tours of millennia-old temples in Cambodia to unforgettable sights, smells and sounds of Vietnamese markets. But when you sign up to explore the legendary waterway aboard APT's just-launched vessel, Mekong Serenity, perhaps one of the biggest drawcards is the ship itself.
![Mekong Serenity. Mekong Serenity.](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/190394412/50f80d87-2e3a-440e-9fc4-19c4a5520b46.jpg/r10_0_2338_1310_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
The brand new floating retreat boasts just 44 suites - each with cutting-edge interiors, expansive windows and a balcony of its own. At 23 square metres, the entry-level Deluxe Balcony Suite (pictured) is a stunning lair, but if you want more space, book the Bayon Suite, which almost doubles the real estate. There's a state-of-the-art gym on one end of deck three and a stunning pool on the other, but we're most excited about the range of eating and drinking dens on this ship - from a private dining room that specialises in Indochina cuisine to the pool-side Harmony Lounge & Bar. aptouring.com.au
Small screen to soirees at sea
![Visit Palermo in Sicily as part of an NCL cruise. Visit Palermo in Sicily as part of an NCL cruise.](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/190394412/7c09d31f-c840-489b-895f-7f0deb16419a.jpg/r0_77_1500_920_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
It is a fact universally acknowledged that good TV leads to great travel. We're looking at you, Game of Thrones and Dubrovnik! But winter has come and gone, and it's time to head - if you haven't been there already - to newer destinations that sparked wanderlust during the pandemic years. Lucky for us, Norwegian Cruise Line has just curated a list of voyages that literally revolve around these dream-worthy locations. Want to follow in the footsteps of the ditzy Tanya McQuoid - played by the endearing Jennifer Coolidge - of White Lotus? Sign up for the 10-day Athens to Rome cruise that stops at the Italian island of Sicily - the filming location of the series' second season - along the way. If you would rather be Emily in Paris than Tanya in Sicily, book the nine-day London-return cruise that has a pit stop in the French capital. Just don't forget to check out the top shooting locations of Bridgerton in the English capital before or after the cruise. Ranger's House in Greenwich Park, which stars as the exterior of the Bridgerton family home in the hit Netflix series, is one site you don't want to miss. ncl.com
Get a headstart
Hardly has the confetti settled on the May launch of Oceania's Vista ship, the cruise line has already gone to market with news of its next best thing. Launching in June 2025, Allura will join the fleet with dazzling interiors, five speciality dining venues and - according to Oceania - "the most spacious standard staterooms at sea" at 27 square metres. And while mid-2025 may seem like a world away, anyone who's cruised before knows the best staterooms - not to mention the best prices - are the first to go. A range of voyages have just gone on sale - from the maiden seven-day Athens-to-Istanbul cruise to the Miami-return excursion that visits Caribbean islands such as Barbados, Antigua and St Vincent as part of the 17-day itinerary. Get in before the most coveted staterooms fly out the window. oceaniacruises.com
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Grand voyages ahead
Oceania, however, is not the only cruise line making waves thanks to its new sailings. After a phenomenal response to Viking's 12-day London, Paris & D-Day River voyages, which will launch in 2024 to mark the 80th anniversary of the Normandy landings, the company has just revealed the commemorative cruise will return in 2025, with 36 departures. And if that's not enough, Viking has also announced an 85-day grand voyage from Sydney to Barcelona, kicking off amid much fanfare in May 2025. Any takers? vikingcruises.com.au
A drop in the ocean
You've heard of wine weekends, but what about wine voyages? Breeze into Dalmatia with a glass of white - but not just any white. Sail Croatia's new Wines of Croatia cruise makes sure you have only the best drops in hand - a glass of Bogdanusa, perhaps, from Hvar? As well as tasting the best regional offerings, go behind the scenes at some of the country's top vineyards, where insightful tours almost always end with decadent meals with matching wines. Want more? Take a look at European Waterways' eight-passenger barge Finesse, which cruises France's Burgundy region, visiting wineries such as Maison Champy in Beaune, designed by Gustave Eiffel, the architect behind Paris's most famous tower. sail-croatia.com; europeanwaterways.com