Journeys stopping off in New York City

The scarlets, ochres and golds of turning leaves provide a vivid backdrop to a cruise along the mellow coastlines of New England and Canada.

You’ll spend days exploring historic port towns and heading out into the countryside to gaze at the glorious colours.

From Bal Harbor, there’s hiking and cycling in glorious Acadia National Park, while in Portland, Maine, you could join a kayak tour along the coast to admire the foliage from the water. Bucolic Charlottetown on Prince Edward Island is endlessly photogenic, thanks to its red-and-white lighthouses and rustic architecture.

As well as appealing to nature lovers, these cruises have great foodie allure, thanks to each region’s seasonal culinary scene, from fresh Maine lobster to oysters and clams, mussels from Nova Scotia, apple doughnuts, pumpkin, cider and cheeses. Poking around local farmers’ markets is all part of the charm of these autumn voyages.

Crossing the Atlantic on Cunard’s grand ocean liner is an adventure that evokes the thrill and glamour of the golden age of travel.

You’ll have seven days to contemplate the majesty of 3,565 miles of open ocean, stepping up the gangway in either New York or Southampton into a refined world of elegant lounges, sweeping staircases and hatted bellboys in scarlet uniforms.

During the crossing, there’s all-day entertainment from drama classes to yoga, spinning and wine tasting. Or you could just lounge by the pool, try out the spa or stroll around the deck, taking in the sea air.

At night, the ship buzzes with everything from glittering black tie balls to big-name performers in the theatre and riotous quizzes and karaoke in the Golden Lion pub.