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.

East Asia
Some of the world's most ancient shipping lanes for silk and spice lie in Asia, and today's cruise ships can ply the same paths--with a lot more modern accoutrements. Hong Kong, Beijing and Bangkok all serve as departure ports on sailings that stop in Taiwan, Japan, Vietnam, even South Korea. Shore excursions include visits to the Great Wall, sacred temples and incredible markets selling everything from embroidered kimonos to electronics.

Editor's tip: Oceania's Nautica features the Tranquility BedSM and operates itineraries ranging from 15 to 24 nights during winter and early spring. For added scenery, visit during cherry blossom season.

Galapagos Islands
The group of 60-some-odd islands and islets that inspired Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution is so fragile and rich with wildlife that the Ecuadorian government will not allow anyone to tour them without an official guide. Take a cruise to satisfy this requirement, and visit several islands with widely varying landscapes during the same journey. For nature enthusiasts, this is the ultimate adventure, with the chance to see everything from rare blue-footed boobies to sea tortoises more than 100 years old.

Editor's tip: Cruise aboard Celebrity's Xpedition. The naturalists onboard escort guests during each shore excursion (included in the cruise price), providing in-depth information on geography and animal life.

Scandinavia and Russia
Conveniently departing from London, these cruises quickly leave Europe's more mainstream sights behind as ships enter the former territory of the Vikings. Stops in Copenhagen, Stockholm, Oslo and Helsinki reveal royal palaces and gothic towers, but the real crown jewel of these itineraries is an overnight in St. Petersburg, Russia, allowing time to soak up the treasures of the czars and feel the flow of city life around onion-domed cathedrals and 12th-century baroque castles.

Editor's tip:Shore excursions offered by Royal Caribbean's Jewel of the Seas include flying to Moscow for a behind-the-scenes Kremlin tour and sampling the variety of medieval spirits at the distilleries of Estonia.

South Africa
Take your safari to sea during a sailing from Kenya to Cape Town. By night, enjoy shipboard dining and dancing. By day, explore exotic ports along the Indian Ocean. An overnight in Mombasa usually allows time to head inland to the wild trails of Bamburi, where you might see antelopes, elephants and leopards. Other stops might allow you to sample the spices of Zanzibar, snorkel Madagascar's coral reefs, and see Portuguese-influenced architecture in Durban.

Editor's tip: Marco Polo, operated by Orient Lines, is particularly strong in the area of guest lecturers who provide deep destination insight that can't be found in the guidebooks.

Tahiti and Marquesas
Glowing lagoons, jagged mountains and a rich island culture satisfy the beach lover who wants to stray beyond Hawaii. A twist to the typical Tahiti cruise entails stops at the less-visited Marquesas, which were featured on a recent season of Survivor but are better known for archaeological finds such as carved stones and tiki figurines. The Marquesas also serve as final resting place for famed artist Paul Gauguin.

Editor's tip:The intimately-sized (and apropos-named) Paul Gauguin offers a decadent Radisson Seven Seas luxury experience and features its own troupe of Polynesian storytellers and dancers onboard.

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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.

This spring both areas are back in business, and I'll give you a brief update on where things stand.

Cancun, Cozumel, and the Mayan Riviera are fast on the road to recovery. Cancun is probably the most well known of the three major tourism areas in the Yucatan that were hit by Wilma. Cancun is in the midst of a recovery. More than half of the bars and restaurants are operational and the major activities such as Xcaret, Xel-ha, and Chichen-Itza are open to as well. The beach, widely discussed, has changed. Some hotels have less beach than before, while others have gained beach. Cancun is probably halfway in its recovery process though it's important to note that there are many hotels offering a great vacation. The Riviera Maya was the least affected by Wilma, and its beaches and hotels are in excellent condition and things are nearly 100% open. Cozumel was the hardest hit, yet hotels have recovered quickly. Cruise ships began coming back to port there as early as December though they are ferrying in passengers, as the docks were destroyed. There was a lot of visible damage to the terrain and foliage in Cozumel, which visitors will immediately see. Yet in contrast to the devastation, the ever-popular coral reefs have more accessible areas now and are sure to draw back avid divers in the months to come. (For more information visit: www.travelocity.com/realmexico.)

New Orleans is about to celebrate its 150th Mardi Gras. Although this year's festivities will be shorter than years past, the city felt it was critical to continue the tradition. This year they're embracing the idea of the Phoenix Rising. Locals report that the town, especially the French Quarter where most tourists flock, is back to normal. Most bars and restaurants are fully operational and open into the wee hours of the morning, as you'd expect. New Orleans is ready to "geaux." Visitors can eat the fabulous fare just like old times – enjoying everything from andouille sausage gumbo to beignets and chicory coffee. The music is playing nightly. You can even add a Katrina tour to things to do in the city.

Now, if you're like the majority of spring break seekers, you're headed south for a winter getaway. Florida tops the list of sunny spots with Orlando leading the way, followed by Miami, Ft. Lauderdale and West Palm Beach. San Juan, Puerto Rico, Puerto Vallarta, and the Bahamas are also top spots. Denver is at the top of the ski destinations and Salt Lake City isn't far behind. But geography dictates a lot about where travelers head. For example more New Yorkers go to Miami than Orlando, while folks from the Rocky Mountains make Las Vegas their number one destination for Spring Break. And the farther West you live the more likely you are to hop to Hawaii for spring break. (For more inspiring Spring Break ideas visit www.travelocity.com/caribbeannews.)

Wherever you're planning to head this winter, I would suggest that you consider a trip someplace where your travel dollars can be put to really good use. Heading to an area in recovery is often interesting and memorable as it marks a destination in transition. It makes for good cocktail party fodder, church conversation, and even water cooler chit-chat. But most important, this kind of support has a direct impact on the area and is some of the best charity you can give. And hey, you gotta love when giving gives you a little something back.

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