Canada and New England are well known for their 'fall colours', and this is a popular region for mainstream cruise ships at this time of year. Expedition vessels also ply this route, but don't expect anything too adventurous. For a more unusual autumn colours voyage, head to the Russian Far East; this is a particularly good time of year for spotting brown bears.

Japan also puts on quite a show when it comes to autumn foliage, providing an interesting counterpoint to the cherry blossom season in spring, and you'll often find expedition ships here at this time of year. As autumn moves into winter, look out for interesting itineraries around the myriad islands of Indonesia. This is also a good time to visit the South Pacific, when the weather is cooler and drier.

October and November can be a good time to visit West Africa, when the fierce summer heat has subsided, and some cruise lines linger here before repositioning to South America or the Indian Ocean. By the end of October there are already ships in Antarctica, and while these early season cruises are too soon to see penguin chicks or whales, you will experience the snowy scenery at its most pristine.