WINTER SUN
Already dreading those imminent grey skies and chilly temperatures of winter? Thankfully, there’s still time to book a luxurious cruise to sunnier climes
Caribbean hopscotch
Viking Star (vikingcruises.co.uk) sails on a series of 11-day West Indies Explorer cruises, visiting nine different countries with a rich mix of Spanish, British, French and Dutch cultures. From San Juan in Puerto Rico, the ship calls at Tortola in the British Virgin Islands, St Lucia, Barbados, Guadeloupe and St Martin.
Sail away
Fully rigged tall ship Star Flyer (starclippers.co.uk) cruises from Havana to Cienfuegos in Cuba (and vice versa), with a choice of four-, nine- or 10-night itineraries in December and January. The trips include hotel stays at either end and visits to the Canarreos Archipelago and the Cayman Islands.
Small world
Join adults-only Arcadia (pocruises.com) on 23 February for a sector of her world cruise: a 25-nighter from Sydney to Singapore with ports of call including Brisbane, the Great Barrier Reef, Shanghai, Hong Kong and Phu My in Vietnam.
Cruise and stay
Sailing from a choice of Caribbean ports, Thomson (thomson.co.uk/cruises) has a number of one-week afloat, one-week ashore options. For example, sail on Celebration from La Romana, visiting Dominica, Martinique, St Kitts and Barbados, then spend the second week at the all-inclusive Sensatori resort on Punta Cana.
South to the sun
Step aboard Cunard’s (cunard. co.uk) newly refitted flagship Queen Mary 2 in Southampton on 10 January for a 17-night cruise to Madeira, Tenerife, Namibia and Cape Town. Onboard pleasures include a planetarium, West End shows, and the largest library at sea.
Arabian nights
Explore the futuristic skyline in Abu Dhabi before heading to Dubai for New Year’s Eve on board Celebrity Cruises’ (celebritycruises.co.uk) 14-night Arabian Sea & India fly cruise, departing 18 December. The itinerary encompasses Muscat in Oman and Cochin in the Indian state of Kerala.
Seafaring safari
Crystal Symphony’s (crystal cruises.co.uk) 15-day Jewels Of The Indian Ocean cruise sails from South Africa to Mauritius, departing on 7 January, and includes an opportunity to journey inland for a luxury safari on one of Africa’s renowned game reserves.
Eastern promise
Discover the cultural diversity of Indochina on board Holland America’s (hollandamerica. com) 15-night Far East Discovery cruise. Sailing from Singapore on 16 January, ports of call include Nathon and Laem Chabang in Thailand, Sihanoukville in Cambodia, Phu My, Nha Trang, Da Nang and Halong Bay in Vietnam, and Hong Kong.
Canaries plus
If you want sunshine closer to home, consider the Canaries. Princess Cruises’ (princess. com) Sapphire Princess will sail there next October on a 12-nighter from Southampton to Lanzarote, Tenerife and Gran Canaria, with a stop in Lisbon on the way home.