Captain Cook Cruises has a new cruise on the Murray River which will depart monthly from April 2017. The seven-night "Upper Murraylands" cruise on paddle-wheeler Murray Princess explores the northern Murray River from Mannum to Morgan, and returns to Mannum. It takes in historic towns such as Waikerie and Swan Reach, where guests are taken on guided walks and visits to museums. Guests can also indulge in wine tastings at three locations, learn about Aboriginal history at Ngaut Ngaut, one of Australia's most significant archaeological sites, and visit a native wildlife shelter.

Phone 1300 729 938. See murrayprincess.com.au

California dreaming

Few cruises coast along Baja California, the Mexican peninsular state just south of California whose coastlines are among the most biologically diverse marine environments on the planet. AdventureSmith Explorations, however, has several itineraries in December this year on a range of small ships carrying between 84 and just eight passengers. Among them is an eight-day "Baja's Bounty" cruise on Safari Endeavour and a 12-day "Westward Voyages in the Sea of Cortez" aboard the historic yacht Westward, on which passengers can snorkel with whale sharks, view ancient cave paintings and spot wildlife such as sea lions and whales.

See adventuresmithexplorations.com

Making tracks

Golden Eagle Luxury Trains has a new 26-day "Grand Tour of Russia" next year that combines a luxury trip on the Trans-Siberian Railway with a six-night river cruise along the Volga Waterways between St Petersburg and Moscow on MS Volga Dream. The cruise visits the old trading town of Uglich, the city of Yaroslavl, Lake Onega and the quaint wooden village of Mandrogi. After a stay in Moscow, guests then embark on the Trans-Siberian for a 12-day, 11,000-kilometre journey to Vladivostok, whose highlights include Kazan, Yekaterinburg, Irkutsk and Lake Baikal, as well as a visit to Mongolia.

See goldeneagleluxurytrains.com

Island itinerary

Small-ship cruise company UnCruise Adventures has a new Galapagos Islands itinerary for 2017. The nine-day "Darwin's Islands & Colonial Quito" cruise starts with two days in the Ecuadorean capital followed by a seven-day cruise of the islands on the 48-passenger vessel La Pinta. The cruise sails from Isla Baltra and visits the islands of Seymour Norte, Isabela, Fernandina, Rábida, Santa Cruz and Floreana. Highlights include visits to the Charles Darwin Research Centre, the geological marine site of Punta Vicente Roca and Isla Rábida's red beach. Accompanying naturalists aid in exploring the islands' wildlife.

See uncruise.com

Vita bella

Cruise Express has released a new 22-night "Italian and Adriatic Indulgence" cruise-tour departing Australia on April 17, 2017. It includes a week on board the recently launched, 750-passenger, luxury ship Seven Seas Explorer as it sails between Venice and Rome. The latest Regent ship, it will stop at Urbino on Italy's east coast, Dubrovnik in Croatia, Kotor in Montenegro, Corfu in Greece, Taormina in Sicily and Sorrento on Italy's Amalfi Coast. The tour then continues on land through Umbria, Tuscany and the Italian Lakes and finishes back in Venice.

Phone 1300 764 509. See cruiseexpress.com.au