SUNNY SAILINGS FROM UK PORTS
WINTeR sun holidays used to be the preserve of the rich and famous. But thanks to the cruise market it is cheaper and easier than ever to reach sunnier shores in our coldest season.
Nor do you have to plan a year in advance, because there are currently plenty of deals on offer which will allow you to top up your vitamin D levels in the next few weeks.
From big- ship experiences to boutique sailings, here is our pick of the best sun-seeking cruises departing the uk in the coming months.
ESCAPE TO THE CAPE Cunard, Queen Mary 2
Dispense with the rain and chill of January by sailing from Southampton for the sunny shores of South africa — and that most elegant coastal city, Cape Town.
You will be on board Cunard’s Queen Mary 2, which is fresh from a £ 90 million overhaul that has emphasised the liner’s kinship with a five-star hotel.
The voyage will call at Madeira, Tenerife, Walvis Bay in Namibia — where you can explore the vast sand dunes of the Namib Desert — and Cape Town (before you fly home). DEPARTS: January 10, 2018
DETAILS: a Britannia Inside Stateroom costs from £2,699 pp ( based on two people sharing) including all flights and transfers ( cunard.co.uk; 0344 338 8650).
CALL OF THE CARIBBEAN Fred. Olsen, Braemar
Make like the a-list and head to the Caribbean to banish the winter blues.
Fred. Olsen’s elegant Braemar has the feel of a country hotel, and welcomes just 929 guests.
Its 16- night voyage from Southampton at the start of December will have its guests back home with a healthy glow in time for Christmas.
The ship will call at Madeira, where you can explore lush gardens and sip sweet wine, before crossing the atlantic to historic St John’s in antigua.
Then it’s on to sleepy St kitts and the twin Pitons of St Lucia, before the voyage ends in Bridgetown, Barbados. DEPARTS: December 5, 2017 DETAILS: From £799 pp (cruise only), or £1,199pp, including flights and ship transfer ( fredolsencruises. com; 0845 314 2917).
CANARY ISLANDS CHRISTMAS P&O Cruises, Oceana
This 12-night cruise sets sail from Southampton just in time for the festive period, so you can forget sweating over a hot cooker and focus instead on enjoying a sunny break.
P&O Cruises’ Oceana is packed with entertainment options, including a sports area, a childrens’ club and a pool. There are evening shows galore, and dance and art classes on sea days.
The ship calls at Madeira before heading on to Tenerife and its lunar landscapes, the glorious beaches of Gran Canaria — and to volcanic Lanzarote in time for the island’s Christmas eve celebrations. Then it is back to Southampton via Lisbon. DEPARTS: December 17, 2017 DETAILS: Iglu Cruise has packages starting at £1,699 pp (or £5,085 for a family of four),
iglucruise.com, 0203 733 5557.
THE MAGIC OF MOROCCO Saga Pearl II
Spice up the New Year with a trip to exotic Morocco, where the temperature hovers at around 17c.
This boutique ship is sailing into her final year with Saga, so there are only a few remaining opportunities to climb aboard. The 17- night voyage leaves Portsmouth and stops in Lisbon before it reaches Morocco — where you can admire the French colonial architecture of Tangier, and Casablanca, the city immortalised by hollywood.
Saga Pearl II will then head to the Canary Islands, where she will call at arrecife in Lanzarote, and Fuerteventura’s Puerto del Rosario.
Las Palmas in Gran Canaria also awaits, before the ship returns to Portsmouth via Madeira, and La Coruna in north-western Spain. DEPARTS: January 28, 2018 DETAILS: From £2,830pp ( travel.
saga.co.uk; 0808 250 9723).
AMAZON ADVENTURE Cruise & Maritime Voyages, Magellan
IF You have time on your hands, why not banish the January blues in style with this grand 42-night voyage to South america, the sun- soaked West Indies and the intriguing azores.
join 1,250 guests aboard Magellan to enjoy its wide decks, various pools, hot tubs and restaurants, and a traditional pub.
Departing from london’s Thames- side Tilbury harbour, the ship will dock at lisbon, Madeira and cape verde on its way to Brazil.
Here, you will visit tiny jungle villages, wend your way along the amazon river and celebrate the Boi Bumba festival at Parintins — an event which comes close to matching rio de janeiro’s famous carnival for flamboyance.
after this, it is a short sail on to French Guyana — and then into the caribbean to visit Grenada, Barbados, st lucia and antigua. Then it is eastward for home, with Magellan re-crossing the atlantic via the beautiful Portuguese volcanic islands of the azores. DEPARTS: january 7, 2018 DETAILS: £5,579 pp. There is currently a ‘buy one, get one free offer’ available. ( cruiseandmaritime.com; 0844 998 3942).
THE MARVELS OF THE MEDITERRANEAN P&O Cruises, Azura
WHile Britain is still shivering in March, southern europe is bathed in spring sunshine, and temperatures of 17-20c — a perfect time for exploring historic cities.
P&o cruises’ large vessel azura is packed with entertainment and dining options, plus sports and spa facilities. you certainly won’t get bored.
sail from southampton on a 14-night voyage to explore the spanish port of alicante, and glimpse architect antoni Gaudi’s unique buildings in Barcelona, including the sagrada Familia church and the Park Guell pavilions.
The reinvigorated French city of Marseille is the third port of call, before azura sails along the italian coast.
you will discover the charming cinque Terre villages after docking in la spezia — and be whisked into the proud history of rome after mooring in civitavecchia.
enough? not quite. enjoy a last dose of sunshine in cartagena — in Murcia, southeastern spain — and point your camera at the rock of Gibraltar, before sailing back home to southampton. DEPARTS: March 23, 2018 DETAILS: cabins from £929 pp ( pocruises. com; 0344 338 8003).