Pick ’n’ mix

While many passengers sign up for the full world cruise, more than half join ship just for a single leg of the journey. These sector options are ideal for those wanting, say, a focus on Asia, a one-way trip from Australia to Singapore or even a passage from one end of the Mediterranean back to the UK.

You can, for example, join P&O’S (pocruises.co.uk) Aurora in SYDNEY and sail to SAN FRANCISCO. This is a 29-night voyage that takes in AUCKLAND, the so-called ‘City of Sails’, the capital, WELLINGTON, AKAROA, near Christchurch, and the World Heritage fjords of the south west, then across the SOUTH PACIFIC via HAWAII. From £3,599pp, including £160 onboard spending, international flights and a hotel night in San Francisco, departing 1 March 2017.

BELOW RIGHT: The tropical island of Vava’u, part of the Tonga archipelago, is surrounded by coral reefs PACIFIC ISLANDS

RIGHT: This mangrove tree has adapted to New Guinea’s marine environment AUSTRALASIA