The best new cruises to book for a 2023/2024 holiday

Longing for the hassle-free holiday of a lifetime? Drifting between continents on an all-in luxury cruise might just tick your boxes.

With imaginative dining options, world-class wellness amenities and memorable excursions on offer – on and offshore – multi-stop cruises blend cultural discovery and spectacular scenery with glamorous comfort.

Regular routes across the five oceans and seven continents include Caribbean classics, jaunts on the French Riviera and close-to-home cruises around the wonders of the British Isles.

From leisure cruises to Arctic expeditions and tall-ship sailings in Central America, there’s a bucket-list cruise holiday for everyone to access new waters.

Here’s the cream of the crop of cruising voyages to book this year, along with new itineraries and vessels making their inaugural journeys in 2024.

Think shiny new ships, reimagined Middle East itineraries and the world’s largest cruise vessel to ever take to the sea – read on to find out more.

Read more on cruises:

Doha to Mahe, Silversea

Departs: Doha, Qatar

Arrives: Mahe, Seychelles

For an unforgettable cruise on the Indian Ocean, board Silversea’s Silver Spirit on a 16-day voyage from glamorous Qatar to the alluring Seychelles. Cruisers will find winter sun from the Persian Gulf to Mahe’s cerulean seas sandwiched between unrivalled luxury amenities and fine dining on deck. Stops to take in Abu Dhabi’s soaring skyline, Muscat’s palm-fringed gardens and the colourful chaos of Mumbai and Cochin are dotted with complimentary onshore excursions, including snorkelling, desert safaris and temple tours.

Door-to-door prices start at £6,400pp – all inclusive of airport transfers, flights and food and beverages – for guests staying in vista suites featuring panoramic ocean views and cosy seating areas.

Departing 2 December 2024.

Costa Rica and Panama, Star Clippers

Departs: Balboa, Panama

Arrives: Puerto Caldera, Costa Rica

Feel the power of the wind under the traditional white sails of the Star Clipper tall ship on a seven-night yoga cruise docking at San Jose Island, the largest of Panama’s Pearl Islands; Golfita, Costa Rica’s most southern port town; and Manuel Antonio National…