Whether you're an avid fan of holidaying at sea, or you're new to it, where do you fancy sailing to next? From exotic Caribbean islands to tranquil European rivers and iconic cities, we reveal the must-visit cruise destinations, on the newest ships, to book this year. Dive in...

During her inaugural season this year, Virgin Voyages' adults-only ship Scarlet Lady will sail a mix of quintessentially Caribbean voyages, with five-night Riviera Maya sailings to Cozumel/Playa Del Carmen; five-night Mayan Sol voyages to Costa Maya, Mexico and five-night Dominican Daze voyages to Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, and four-night Fire and Sunset Soirées sailings.

Each sailing will feature a stop in Bimini, Bahamas to visit the exclusive Beach Club (pictured), where passengers can enjoy an epic beach day and explore the island's flavour and culture. And if you're partial to a cutting-edge soundtrack with your sundowner, make sure you keep July free, as founding DJ of the Beach Club’s resident-sea programme, Mark Ronson, is hosting an exclusive beachside bash.

You might spot brown bears, bald eagles and black-tailed deer at Icy Strait Point (pictured), one of the stunning destinations experienced on an Alaskan voyage on Norwegian Sun, which returns to the region in May following a three-year hiatus. The ship will offer nine-to-12-day voyages from Seattle and calls to Sitka, Glacier Bay, Hubbard Glacier, Holkham Bay, Juneau and Ketchikan, Alaska; as well as a stop in Victoria, British Columbia.

The 1,936-passenger Norwegian Sun underwent a three-week bow-to-stern renovation in 2018, and enhancements were made to every part of the onboard experience. The ship now features refreshed staterooms and public spaces, 14 dining options and three new venues including Los Lobos Cantina, Bliss Ultra Lounge and Spinnaker Lounge.

Nature and luxury combine on Silversea's latest voyages to the Galápagos, on the line's first ever destination-specific ship Silver Origin. Launching in July 2020 and designed with the environment in mind, the 100 passenger, all-suite ship will build on Silversea's know-how of the islands to form deeper connections between guests and the destination.  

Ashore experiences will be led by a team certified by the National Park of the Galápagos – this concept will immerse guests in Ecuadorian culture through insightful content, including daily briefings, lectures, videos and scientific information; authentic local cuisine, prepared by expert Ecuadorian chefs; and various other luxurious enhancements. 

A new cruise on the Saint Lawrence River between Montreal (pictured) and Saint Pierre and Miquelon takes place on CroisiEurope's new ocean ship, La Belle des Océans. Between June and September 2020, 10-night sailings will take guests on a Canadian journey in the footsteps of explorer Jacques Cartier and will feature stopovers in Montreal, Quebec, Tadoussac, Baie-Comeau, Gaspé, Cap-aux-Meules and Saint Pierre.

All meals and drinks are included onboard, as well as guided tours of Montreal, Old Quebec City and Saint Pierre, a one-night’s hotel stay in Montreal and flight between Montreal and Saint Pierre at either the start or end of the cruise (International flights not included). Highlights include whale watching in Tadoussac, local product tastings and bird watching on Bonaventure Island.

The historic city of Budapest (pictured) is the embarkation point for AmaWaterways' Gems of Southeast Europe cruise. New ship AmaMagna sails the lower Danube (from Budapest to Giurgiu) for the first time this year and, on this culture-packed cruise, you'll have time to explore the Celtic fortifications, medieval towns and grand cities in Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria and Romania, as well as the Danube's famed Iron Gates.

At nearly twice the width of traditional European river ships, the luxurious AmaMagna features four restaurants, a wellness studio, sundeck pool and stylish, ultra-spacious accommodation. With shore excursions in most ports of call included in your fare, you will be able to discover the delights and highlights of each destination you visit.

Want to soak up the sun and Balearic vibe of Palma, including the town of Soller (pictured) with its charming vintage tram? Then set sail on a 12-night Spain, France and Italian Riviera cruise on Celebrity Apex. The cruise is round trip from Barcelona (Spain), and calls at Sete (France), Provence (Marseille, France), Ajaccio (Corsica), Nice (Villefranche, France), Santa Margherita (Italy), Rome (Civitavecchia, Italy), Naples (Italy), Valletta (Malta) and Palma (Spain). 

Innovative ship Celebrity Apex features elegant rooms designed by Kelly Hoppen MBE, as well as 29 culinary venues. Signature spaces include the Magic Carpet, a cantilevered, floating platform/bar/restaurant which reaches 13-storeys above sea level, and the Rooftop Garden, a living urban playscape inspired by childhood playgrounds.

Setting sail in South America for the first time, Uniworld's Peruvian Amazon & Machu Picchu Exploration cruise kicks off in the colourful capital of Lima (pictured) and includes a stay in a five-star hotel. You'll then board the all-inclusive Aria Amazon for the 15-day adventure that includes a seven-night sailing through the Amazon rainforest, and finish in the heartland of the Inca Empire with trips to the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu and Cusco. 

The 16-suite Aria Amazon is an eco-friendly, all-suite ship with floor-to-ceiling windows, boasting panoramic views of the rainforest at every corner. On all sailings, guests are joined by native born-and-raised naturalist guides that assist in getting up close to native wildlife and meeting village locals.

Interested in archaeology, history and culture? Then set sail on Celestyal Crystal for a new seven-day 3 Continents cruise round trip from Athens calling at Alexandria, Port Said, Ashdod, Limassol, Rhodes and Kusadasi. Sitting on Egypt’s Mediterranean coastline, Alexandria, the second-largest city in Egypt, is where guests will join a guided excursion to Cairo and beyond.

From Alexandria there's everything at your fingertips and no shortage of sights, monuments and museums – the Suez Canal, Egypt’s capital Cairo, and the only remaining Wonder of the Ancient World, the Great Giza Pyramid. In Cairo you'll be met by frenzied commotion, but delve deeper and this global city will excite and seduce with its blend of old and new history.

If drinking homemade vodka with a local Russian family, witnessing iconic buildings and trying your hand at painting your very own Matryoshka doll floats your boat, then Viking Cruises' Waterways of the Tsars itinerary sailing from Moscow to 'the Venice of the North' St Petersburg (pictured) is likely to be your dream river cruise. 

The immersive cruise, on Viking's Russian ship Akun, includes a few days in Moscow and St Petersburg, allowing you to really get under the skin of both cities (don't forget to check out the Art Deco-inspired architecture of the Moscow Metro). You'll also stop at the Golden Ring cities of Uglich and Yaroslavl, as well as Kuzino, Mandrogy and Kizhi, where the famous wooden Transfiguration Church was built without a single nail. 

The Portuguese coastal city of Porto (pictured) is known for its beautiful old town and port wine production, and is the start and end point for A-ROSA's Experience The Douro itinerary, on new ship ALVA. While Porto is a walkable destination, it is quite hilly – there are lots of green spaces and fabulous restaurants (try the bacalhau or salted codfish) in which to catch your breath though. 

The ship glides through the Alto Douro Valley, the world’s oldest protected wine-growing region and small, quaint towns and villages where the wine flows. There is also the option to visit the Spanish city of Salamanca. Accommodating no more than 126 passengers, ALVA features a spacious sun deck, heated outdoor pool, outdoor restaurant and putting green.

You'll get to experience the colourful, bustling markets of Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City, pictured), along with impressive temples and pristine beaches on Oceania's 14-day Shrines, Bays and Buddhas voyage onboard Oceania Nautica. You'll depart from the iconic city of Singapore (one of ABTA's destinations to watch in 2020) and visit Ko Samui, Bangkok, Sihanoukville, Hue and Hanoi, before disembarking in Hong Kong. 

Sleek and stylish, the 684-passenger Oceania Nautica offers guests spacious luxury alongside some of the most memorable dining to be found on the ocean. There's also a spa, pool, fitness track, library and a host of enriching activities on board, from engaging guest lectures to trivia contests and wine tastings.

In autumn 2020, Seabourn Ovation, the line's newest ship, is returning to Turkey to give guests a chance to visit some of the country’s famous ancient ruins, and delve deeper into the locals’ fascinating traditions. There are two seven-day itineraries – Ephesus & Greek Isles and Turkish & Aegean Treasures – depending on which you choose, you will start or end your cruise in the intoxicating city of Istanbul (pictured).

The 600-passenger luxury ship will also visit the Greek Islands (with Athens as your disembarkation or embarkation point), while on the Ephesus & Greek Isles cruise, the ship's visit to Kusadasi will feature Seabourn’s signature complimentary 'Evening at Ephesus,' a private classical concert in the ancient ruins under the stars that once was – and is sure to be again – a guest favourite.

Abel Tasman National Park (pictured) is just one of the highlights of a 12-night Remote Coasts of New Zealand expedition cruise on new luxury ship Crystal Endeavor. On this epic trek, you'll venture into a world blessed by both man-made and natural splendours, cruising through ancient glacier fjords, hiking through sublime forests, sipping cool-climate wines, visiting eclectic museums and encountering majestic wildlife.

This luxury expedition cruise onboard the 200-guest ship starts in Auckland and calls at Mercury Bay, Hahei/Whitianga, Tauranga/Mount Maunganui, Napier, Ship’s Cove, Picton, Tasman Bay, Kaikoura, Dunedin, Dusky Sound, Doubtful Sound, Milford Sound, Stewart Island, cruising the coast of New Zealand and Akaroa. You'll disembark in Christchurch (Lyttelton), the largest city on New Zealand's South Island.

Grab your own slice of paradise on Ponant's 13-day Seychelles & Aldabra Atoll expedition cruise around the islands of the Seychelles. Sailing on the eco-friendly 92-stateroom ship Le Bougainville from the capital Victoria, you'll visit the marine park of Curieuse Island and meet the Aldabra giant tortoises that live there, before heading to the unspoiled island of Aride. 

In Praslin, you could also visit the Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve to see the evocatively shaped sea coconuts, otherwise known as 'love nuts'. As well as outings in Zodiac inflatables with a team of experienced guides and landings on idyllic deserted beaches, there will be lots of opportunity to dive or snorkel off the ships' marina platform, including at the coral reef in the Alphonse lagoon. Now discover 29 things only cruise ship captains know.

For a totally tropical break, why not sail to a private island in the Bahamas? MSC Cruises' Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve has been designed as a sustainable destination with activities that allow guests to connect with nature and learn about the protection of the oceans. There's 64 square miles of protected waters and a coral nursery is being established to encourage and sustain the growth of new coral.

With over two miles of white sand beaches and seven beach areas, you can be as chilled or active as you like – relax on the shore, try one of the beach games or watersports, indulge in a spa treatment or shop local arts and crafts. There's also a number of dining options and cocktail bars for that obligatory sundowner. Check out these genius cruise hacks you need to know before you set sail.