NEW CRUISERS

This Great Lakes Explorer offering from the new Viking Expeditions division dips between the US and Canada. Over eight days, you’ll tick off all five of the Great Lakes, calling at the underrated city of Milwaukee, crossing the Soo Locks and visiting car-free Mackinac Island. So far, so standard — but here comes the adventure part. You’ll see these well-known destinations from a completely new viewpoint as you kayak along the Mackinac shoreline, or take a RIB into the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve of Georgian Bay.

The Viking Octantis, the first of the company’s new expedition ships, sleeps 378 in 189 staterooms, so it’s at the larger end of the spectrum, with a balcony for every room, plenty of outdoor observation space (some of it covered) and two in-ship submarines.

Viking Cruises offers the eight-day Great Lakes Explorer from £6,496 per person, including return flights from select UK airports, all on-board meals, wi-fi, gratuities and use of expedition gear. Departs 13 or 27 August and 10 September 2022, or May to June 2023. vikingcruises.co.uk