Top 20 Luxury Cruises

Nick Dalton selects some of the most alluring itineraries for the year ahead

- Nick Dalton

Yangtze treasures

Sanctuary’s Yangzi Explorer prides itself on being a step above other ships of the imposing Chinese river. It is much smaller (only 124 passengers), has the largest rooms, all with private balconies, the highest crew-to-passenger ratio (one-to-one), and a two-deck theatre for local entertainment. Sanctuary Retreats – which has a small collection of river cruises and safari lodges – has four-night Yangzi Explorer cruises upstream from Yichang to Chongqing, and three-nighters downstream which can be combined. Excursions are included to the Three Gorges Dam, Shennong Stream (a tributary between huge rock walls) and Fuling (with its ornate Fuling Mausoleum). Departs regularly from March to November 2020, combined cruises cost from $2,650pp (about £2,000pp), based on two people sharing, cruise only, including wine and beer and excursions (00 95 (0)9 970 039990; sanctuaryretreats.com).

French Flair

The 11-day South of France itinerary from all-inclusive specialist Scenic is one of those to make the neighbours jealous. From the gorgeous city of Lyon it heads north on the Saône to Chalon-sur-Saône, with a trip to acclaimed Château Meursault in the Burgundy wine region. Then it’s south all the way to Viviers on the Rhône in picturesque Ardèche. All excursions are included – and that means more wine (visiting the riverside wine mecca of Tain l’Hermitage), along with truffle hunting, cooking classes, cycling and a classical recital in Avignon’s Palais des Papes. Scenic Sapphire and