Chimu Adventures has launched an new sail and ski expedition to Antarctica on the expedition yacht Icebird, which carries just five guests on tailor-made adventures. Participants must have a reasonable level of fitness, be capable of skiing blue or black runs and must undertake prior training in roped glacier travel and crevasse rescue. As well as climbing and skiing various Antarctic peaks, passengers can sea kayak among ice and penguins and tackled technical climbs with ice axes and ropes. The 28-day journey departs from Ushuaia in Argentina on November 19, 2017.

Phone 1300 720 564. See chimuadventures.com.

Venturing forth

Seabourn is launching its small-group Ventures by Seabourn expedition program in Australia and New Zealand next year, designed to let passengers navigate waterways on Zodiacs or sea kayaks launched from the ship. The optional excursions are led by scientists, scholars and naturalists. Examples include a Zodiac tour of the mangrove systems of northern Australia; a exploration of Phillip Island's sandbanks, estuary and mangroves in search of resident wildlife and migratory birds; and kayaking in New Zealand's Fiordland National Park. The first Ventures will be available on Seabourn Encore from early 2017 during its inaugural Australian season.

Phone 13 24 02. See seabourn.com.

Amazing Africa

Elite Aussie travel company Latitude 33 has released a luxurious Ultimate Africa 2018 tour that combines a land tour in southern Africa with a cruise aboard Regent Seven Seas Navigator from Singapore to Cape Town. Departing Australia on March 10, 2018, the impressive 41-night itinerary includes stays at top-notch hotels, including One&Only Cape Town, the only six-star hotel in Africa. The 25-night cruise visits ports in Malaysia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Seychelles, Mauritius and South Africa, with a stay and safari at Sabi Sabi Earth Lodge and privately chartered flights within Africa.

Phone 1300 636 848. See latitude33.travel.

Wild talk

Paul Gauguin Cruises has announced a series of Wildlife Discovery lectures aboard its ship Paul Gauguin in 2017, during which guests have the opportunity to learn about marine wildlife and habitats from Wildlife Conservation Society scientists, oceanographers, and conservationists. Among them is coral-reef ecologist Dr Emily Darling on board a June 2017 cruise from Bali to Fiji. An August cruise in Tahiti and the Society Islands will see lectures from marine ecosystem and eco-tourism specialist Dr Nyawira Muthiga. Other Wildlife Discovery lectures run on cruises in October, November and December 2017.

Phone 1800 251 174. See pgcruises.com/WCS.

Across the world

Azamara Club Cruises is gearing up for an epic voyage in 2018 that will take passengers on Azamara Journey from Sydney Harbour Bridge to London's Tower Bridge over 102 days. The "World Journey" departs Sydney on March 7, 2018 and visits 60 ports in 29 countries including Indonesia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Egypt, Greece, Italy, Spain and the Netherlands. There will be 18 late-night departures and 14 overnight port stays in places as diverse as Ho Chi Minh City, Yangon and Dubai. The voyage also includes the opportunity to attend the Cannes Film Festival and Monaco Grand Prix.

Phone 1800 754 500. See azamaraclubcruises.com.