Greenland, Norway, Japan, oh my!

It seems strange to suggest it, but fall is the best time to start looking at planning and booking a 2019 cruise. I always tell people they should plan at least six months out, and for some of the most unique cruises, planning nine months to a year in advance isn’t a bad idea.

That’s especially true for some of the 2019 itineraries that Princess Cruises (cruise.center/ princess) has released. The line always has some of the most interesting itineraries among the big-ship lines, but I feel Princess has really kicked things up a notch next year by carving out some exceptionally rare voyages.

Plus, Princess is adding extended calls (that the line calls “More Ashore”) to select voyages. These elongated port stays typically mean that the ship either stays in port overnight or arrives early in the morning and doesn’t depart until very late in the evening. That’s great news for those who want more time exploring.

Overseas, Diamond Princess is doing an amazing Japan Explorer with Kumano Fireworks sailing that leaves round trip from Tokyo on Aug. 15. This almost entirely Japan-centric trip is eight days and includes scenic cruising during the Kumano Fireworks Festival, which takes place on the ocean. Don’t forget Diamond Princess offers year-round voyages from Japan.

Close to home, Princess is starting its Canada and New England season early next year with an Aug. 9 departure aboard Caribbean Princess from Quebec City to New York. The 10-day Classic Canada & New England includes an overnight in Quebec City and a late-night stay in Boston, plus port calls in Saguenay, Charlottetown, Sydney (N.S.), Halifax and Portland (Maine).

Additionally, the line is expanding its California Coastals departures next year, with an Oct. 22, voyage round-trip from Vancouver to Los Angeles, San Diego, Santa Barbara and San Francisco. At 10 nights in length, it’s a great cruise vacation that won’t cost a fortune in airfare.

Princess also has an exciting departure to Norway next October. The 12-day Search for the Northern Lights voyage aboard Sapphire Princess is a new one for the line. Departing Oct. 19, 2019, it heads for Norway and the Arctic Circle, with stops along the way in Alesund, Tromso, Stavanger and an overnight in Alta. Known for its clear skies, Alta is one of the best places in Norway to see the northern lights. One of Princess’s most unique voyages next year is cleverly tucked away in the line’s brochure. On Aug. 19, Caribbean Princess departs round-trip New York on a 16-day voyage to Greenland and Atlantic Canada.

This itinerary is a real winner. After leaving New York, Caribbean Princess sails to Halifax and Sydney, N.S., before carrying on across the Labrador Sea to Nuuk, the capital and largest city in Greenland.

Itineraries like this — especially ones leaving round-trip from New York — don’t happen often. That’s why I’m going to be hosting a small group of people on this sailing — and I think we’re going to have a lot of fun. To learn more or to book, visit cruise.center/greenlandwithaaron or call 1-800-410-4744.

Visit portsandbows.com, sponsored by Expedia CruiseShipCenters, 1-800-707-7327, www.cruiseshipcenters.com, for daily updates on the latest cruise news, best deals and behind-the-scenes stories from the industry. You can also sign up for an email newsletter on the site for even more cruise information. Aaron Saunders may be contacted directly at portsandbowsaaron@gmail.com.