Australia and New Zealand
Sail "down under" for vistas of valleys, glaciers and fjords, as well as human-made marvels like the Sydney Opera House and the Harbor Bridge. From Auckland to Sydney (or vice versa), the more unusual itineraries feature stops in Tasmania, known for its fields of lavender and cool-climate wineries, and New Zealand's spectacular Fjordland National Park, where chances of spotting bottlenose and dusky dolphins, as well as shimmering forests of silver beech are pretty high.

Editor's tip: Sail aboard Radisson’s Seven Seas Mariner to enjoy plenty of private space and relish scenic views of the Australian shore, all while sipping high tea or savoring a glass of wine.

Canada/New England
See the forest for its trees during a fall-foliage cruise past the lighthouse and arbor-studded shores north of Philadelphia. Leaf-peeping aficionados are sure to appreciate exclusive views of falling leaves, vivid colors, and pumpkin patches that you can only get from the water. Some cruise itineraries include time spent in places known for scenic seclusion, allowing passengers to explore the bluffs at Martha's Vineyard, or spy on the moose in Maine's Bar Harbor.

Editor's tip: Contemporary, premium and luxury cruise lines all make special foliage voyages during peak season. Try the Carnival Victory to leaf-peep by day and see Vegas-style shows by night.

As winter kicks in during the month of February, there is usually one thing on the collective consciousness of travelers: where to go for Spring Break 2006, of course. But this year the landscape is different because two of the most popular destinations for winter getaways are in the midst of recovery after devastating storms. Can you still visit Cancun or New Orleans?

Not only can you visit, but if you ever enjoyed a trip or hoped to visit, you must. Tourist dollars are some of the most critical sources of income to both the Yucatan and New Orleans each year. While travel is up overall to most destinations this spring, it's still depressed to New Orleans, and while it's doing slightly better in the Yucatan, they're not where they need to be. The severe damage and massive loss of revenue has the destinations working around the clock over the last few months to make the places safe and welcoming to lure tourists back. A recent Travelocity poll found that 90% of visitors to the Yucatan post-Wilma still recommended the place as a destination. Locals in NoLa (as New Orleans is known to its most familiar) say that the French Quarter looks the same as before.