Sunshine SAILING
Top 10 cruises that are perfect winter tonics, says David Wickers
Lands ahoy!
Marco Polo begins its Grand Africa And Indian Ocean Voyage on 6 January 2020. The 78-night cruise by Cruise and Maritime Voyages stops at Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania and Kenya before the ship crosses the Indian Ocean to call at Mauritius, the Seychelles, the Maldives and Sri Lanka. It’s then on to India for an overland tour to the Taj Mahal before the ship heads home via Egypt, Jordan, Malta, Gibraltar, Spain and Ireland. From £4,999pp (cruiseandmaritime.com).
Caribbean capers
Travelbag has a 14-night package aboard the Queen Mary as she sails from New York from £2,399 for an inside cabin, including return flights to New York from London with BA. You’ll enjoy a one-night pre-cruise stay in NYC before departing on 22 December calling at the US Virgin Islands, Dominica, Barbados, St Kitts and St Maarten (travelbag.co.uk).
Hawaii’s famous four
Island hop between the Hawaiian islands of Hawaii (aka Big Island), Oahu, Kauai and Maui aboard Norwegian Cruise Line’s Pride of America. One week, departing from Honolulu on 1 January 2020, costs from £2,359pp, with a traditional lei greeting, sightseeing, visits to Pearl Harbor and USS Arizona Memorial and Museum, 250 minutes of wi-fi and $75 on-board credit per stateroom (around £61). Flights and transfers extra (cosmos.co.uk).
Magical Mekong
Cruise the mighty Mekong through Vietnam and Cambodia, visiting Siem Reap, Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom. Ride a bike to the Bayon Temple, then travel on to Phnom Penh and the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and one of the Killing Fields before seeing Cu Lao Gieng, where you will visit the home of a local family that makes traditional Vietnamese hats. The last stop is
Ho Chi Minh City. The 13-day cruise costs from £2,645pp, cruise only, sailing on 9 December (avaloncruises.co.uk).
Idyllic Pacific
Sway to the ukulele melodies of the South Pacific on a Seven Seas Mariner cruise that sets sail from San Francisco on 24 January 2020. The romantic, 18-night voyage first sails to Hawaii before exploring the French Polynesian islands, with stops in Nuku Hiva, Fakarava, Mo’orea and Tahiti. From £9,009pp, including flights, unlimited shore excursions, wi-fi, drinks, speciality restaurants, gratuities and transfers (rssc.com).
Wanted Down Under
After two nights in Sydney, join Azamara Journey for an 18-night cruise to Singapore via Bali, sailing along the coast of Queensland. There will be time to gaze at the sub-aquatic wonders of the Great Barrier Reef, and the ship will call at both Thursday Island and Darwin. From £4,199pp with $300 on-board credit per stateroom (around £167), some tours, Titan’s VIP travel service and flights, departing London on 20 March 2020 (titantravel.co.uk).
Mexico’s marvels
Sailing from San Diego on 4 January 2020, a seven-day cruise on Holland America’s Oosterdam will showcase the sun-soaked Pacific shores of Mexico. There will be stops at Playa del Amor, Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlán and Puerto Vallarta, with opportunities to watch whales, jet ski, tour a rum distillery, play golf, fish or even ride a camel. From £774pp, excluding flights (hollandamerica.com).
A quieter Caribbean
The intimate, luxurious Seabourn Odyssey will be taking guests to islands well away from the main Caribbean cruise ports. On a one-week voyage leaving 7 December, her ports of call will include Port Elizabeth, Les Trois-îlets, Basse-terre, Charlestown, St John and Carambola. The cruise costs from £1,999pp, including drinks and gratuities. Flights are extra (seabourn.com).
Southern escape
On 25 January 2020, Celebrity Equinox sails from Fort Lauderdale in hot pursuit of winter sun, stopping first at the Florida island of Key West before continuing to George Town on Grand Cayman, then to the Mexican island of Cozumel, famed for its brilliant reefs and tropical fish, and Puerto Costa Maya. Eight nights, including one – on 24 January – in a hotel in Fort Lauderdale, cost from £3,988pp, including flights, transfers, gratuities and drinks (celebritycruises.co.uk).
Asia and beyond
A 27-night itinerary offered on MSC Splendida links Asia with the Middle East. Leaving Shanghai on Valentine’s Day 2020, the cruise encompasses several must-see destinations, including Okinawa in Japan, Hong Kong, Laem Chabang and Phuket in Thailand, Singapore, Colombo in Sri Lanka and Cochin in Kerala, southern India. The second leg takes guests to the Emirates, visiting Muscat in Oman, followed by port calls in
Abu Dhabi and Dubai. From £999pp, cruise only (msccruises.co.uk).