New year, new cruise? Here are some of the best voyages on offer

From Africa to Alaska, here's our pick of the best itineraries.

There's never a boring moment in the world of cruising, and definitely not when some of the most significant players are launching new itineraries.

Leading the charge is Oceania Cruises, which has just announced its 1250-guest ship Riviera will be heading to Africa towards the end of the year, with three new voyages, ranging from the 27-day Barcelona to Cape Town cruise departing on November 14 to the 32-day sojourn from Cape Town to Singapore kicking off on December 11.

Meanwhile, Ponant's just raised the bar in the Arctic. It's 2025 summer itineraries aboard luxury icebreaker Le Commandant Charcot will kick off on March 6 - two months earlier than any other ship, giving guests the opportunity to not only arrive in this glorious part of the world before anyone else but also witness timeless springtime traditions of the local Inuit people.