New Zealand Cruise 9 Nights • Sydney, Australia • Anthem of the Seas

Circular Quay is where you'll find the Opera House, museums such as the Art Gallery of NSW and some of the best restaurants in the city. A short walk will take you to the historic George Street district, while top-tier shopping can be found in the historical Queen Victoria Building. A 45-minute ferry ride will take you to the heart of Manly Beach when you cruise from Sydney.

Ships dock at both Shakespeare Bay and at Waitohi Wharf. From there, hop onto the free shuttle and head into the heart of Picton. Picton is very walkable, though you may want to get back on the water to look for wildlife or head into nearby wine country on a tour. Taste the gourmet delights New Zealand is famous for on a wine and chocolate shore excursion to the South Island's renowned Marlborough wine region.

Start your day with a sweet treat from Glamour Cake or Lyttelton Coffee Company, a cafe housed in a 1920s heritage building in the heart of Lyttelton. Then head to the hills to hike the Urumau Reserve or trek through the Bridle Path. If you're looking for an aerial adventure, enjoy the breathtaking views from Christchurch Gondola, conveniently located just outside of Lyttelton.

Embrace the Scottish heritage and natural grandeur of Dunedin. Explore the Gothic architecture and gorgeous gardens at Larnach Castle, or get to know the vibrant town by wandering the Dunedin Street Art Trail. Then, head out on the Otago Peninsula: Spot yellow-eyed penguins at Penguin Place, a conservation area dedicated to this rare species. Or climb rocks and dive caves at tranquil Long Beach.

Dusky Sound is beautiful and quiet; it can only be reached by air or sea. The area was once a whaling ground for southern right whales — cruising to Preservation Inlet is one of the only ways to see them, as well as humpbacks and what some consider the cutest penguin, the Fiordland Crested Penguin.

Also called the Sound of Silence, Doubtful Sound is an immense fjord carved out by glaciers 100,000 years ago — it's three times longer than nearby Milford Sound. The green rainforest of the Fiordland National Park surrounds the sound's many twisting inlets and arms.

Mountains and waterfalls abound in South Island's Milford Sound, one of New Zealand's top attractions and a site of otherworldly beauty. Called the eighth wonder of the world by Rudyard Kipling, the sound (technically a fjord) is part of Fiordland National Park and the Te Wahipounamu World Heritage Site. Take in the surrounding water on nature on your cruise, passing by green cliffsides and plummeting waterfalls like Lady Elizabeth Bowen Falls.

The Blue Mountains, just an hour west of central Sydney, feel like they're world away from the hustle and bustle of the city. With more than 1 million hectares of forests, cliffs, canyons, caves and waterfalls — and plenty of walking paths to take you there — this is one of the best day trips Sydney has to offer. Quaint towns such as Katoomba stand in stark contrast to iconic landmarks such as the Three Sisters, the towering rock formation overlooking the valley.