Silversea has detailed its new specialty Exclusively Yours – Enriched Voyages, with a variety of themes, with on-board programs of entertainment and enrichment activities on select sailings.

Gastronomy and the performing arts feature prominently, with highlights such as opera from the Accademia Teatro alla Scala on Mediterranean cruises between August and September, and culinary voyages (some of which focus on wine, or chocolate and coffee) that will host renowned chefs on a variety of worldwide sailings from September. A November 15 trans-Atlantic cruise will focus on bridge and host bridge masters.

Phone 1300 306 872. See www.silversea.com.

North by northwest

Luxe travel company Abercrombie & Kent is offering another Northwest Passage expedition in 2017, with an exclusive charter on Ponant ship Le Boreal.

The cruise will travel the legendary waterway, formerly icebound, from Greenland through the Canadian Arctic to the Bering Sea, and finish in Alaska.

Stops along the way will visit Inuit villages, Franklin Bay and the dramatic Ilulissat Icefjord. Other stops may include Beechy Island, Franklin Camp, Fort Ross and Gjoa Haven. The tour departs August 21, 2017; save $US3000 ($3844) per person on certain cabins booked before October 31, 2016.

Phone 1300 851 800. See www.abercrombiekent.com.au

Island expansion

Celebrity Cruises is acquiring Ocean Adventures this year, including its two ships MV Eclipse and MC Athala II, and (perhaps more significantly) its 64 permits to operate in the Galapagos Islands.

The purchase increases Celebrity's Galapagos capacity by 65 per cent, adding to its existing Celebrity Xpedition ship. Passengers will now have the choice of a 16-, 48- or 100-passenger vessel, with new itineraries and new destinations such as Puerto Villamil, Darwin Bay and Black Turtle Cove.

Ocean Adventures' cruises continues until year's end, with the Celebrity brand and experiences taking over in early 2017.

Phone 1800 754 500. See www.celebritycruises.com.au

Venturing to Vietnam

Ponant's L' Austral is offering three Vietnam voyages in November and October this year.

The nine-night voyages sail between Hong Kong and Ho Chi Minh City (or the reverse), with ports of call including Haiphong (for shore excursions to Hanoi), Chan May (for the old imperial capital of Hue) and Da Nang, with visits to nearby Hoi An, a World Heritage town.

L'Austral also cruises Halong Bay. The ships sails the Saigon River almost into the centre of Ho Chi Minh City, not accessible to larger cruise ships.

Phone 1300 737 178. See www.ponant.com 

Silver lining

River vessel Amadeus Silver III sails out from Amsterdam today on its first cruise.

The ship features open-air French balconies in most of its cabins, plus walk-out balconies in its 12 suites, and will carry 170 passengers.

It has a restaurant, two bars, fitness studio and massage room. Amras Cruises, which started marketing in Australia last year, has announced other novelties in 2016, including 76 sailings on seven itineraries in Europe, new "Prelude" and "Finale" hotel stays in departure and arrival ports, and family and group travel incentives.

Phone 1300 736 584. See www.amrascruises.com.au