Cruises in the winter sunshine
Winter Holiday on a Floating Hotel
There are lots of places where you can go to catch some winter sunshine, but if you like a bit of luxury with your sun, then a spot of island hopping on your very own floating hotel is hard to beat. If you want to indulge yourself with one of the Caribbean cruises on offer, then there are several ways to go about it, depending on how long you have for your holiday. If you have a few weeks then you can set off direct from Southampton. For those who are looking for shorter cruise deals or would prefer not to cross the Atlantic, you can fly to America and set off from New York or Florida. Whichever way you choose there are a number of companies offering varied itineraries around the region. MSC cruises departing from Florida, also offer themed trips, if you would like to exercise your artistic talents or maybe brush up on your culinary skills. The numerous islands dotted around the Caribbean feature a mix of cultures from French, to African, with English and Dutch influences as well. Cruise deals can be found to suit breaks as short as four days, up to more than three weeks. You could combine them with some time in America. It is up to you how you prefer to plan it. NCL cruises offer trips to Hawaii, where you can catch some of the best waves for surfing. Oahu island is a Mecca for surfers. Winter is one of the best times for cruises.
“What I like about cruising is the time you have to totally relax and chill, you can do as much or as little as you like with the benefit of being transported from one cultural experience to another without the worry of missing flights being stuck in traffic and carrying your bags, The moment you get on board you are treated like a VIP.” - Simpson, Bromley on 22nd Nov 2006 (Royal Caribbean Cruises)
Dock and Explore the Islands
A little nearer to home but still offering plenty of warm sunshine are the Canary islands, off the coast of Morocco. You can spend a week to a little over a fortnight exploring the islands with a Cunard cruises holiday. Departing from Southampton, you also get to spend the day in Lisbon and a couple of Spanish cities en route. For something a little different you could try the Mexican Riviera. Princess cruises can take you to Acapulco, where you can see the amazing cliff divers. The weather is lovely in the winter months, there are lovely sandy beaches on which to soak up the sun, and of course plenty of great Mexican food to sample. Cruises to this area often start out from California, giving you the chance to have a look round Los Angeles or San Francisco as well. In Mexico you can swim with dolphins and experience the rainforests of the Sierra Madre. Nearby South America is popular for cruise deals as well. The continent offers a rich diversity of both wildlife and scenery. From mountains to rainforests, and even fjords, there is so much to see. Then of course there are the large cities of Rio in Brazil and Buenos Aires in Argentina to discover. If you are interested in cruises to this area, you may like to know it is also a good place to take a flight over the Antarctic and see the penguin colonies and ice floes.
“We had a really brilliant holiday we did some of the exursions and some of the places we explored on our own. We fell in love with Sorrento and also Toulon but really every where was great.We would recomed this hoiday to anyone infact we all ready have, we are looking forward to doing another cruise as soon as possible.” - Avery, Exeter on 21st Nov 2006 (Thomson Cruises)
Arabian nights
The winter months are a perfect time to visit the Middle East. During the summer in can be like a furnace, with temperatures of 45 degrees Celsius, but in the winter it is a much more pleasant climate. Cruise deals to this area also often take in the pyramids of Egypt and the Suez canal so there is some real variety. There are beautiful coral reefs where you can see an amazing assortment of vibrantly coloured tropical fish. Royal Caribbean cruises can take you to Dubai, where you can shop to your heart’s content. Apart from the ultra modern hotels and shopping malls, you can also see ancient mosques and open air markets. With cruises to this region it is not all non-stop sightseeing. There are also beautiful beaches to laze around on and world class spas in which to pamper yourself. P&O cruises are another company operating in this area, with calls to ports including Aqaba in Jordan and the Egyptian beach resort of Sharm El Sheikh. On the whole it is an area that mixes historical sites with the most modern of resorts. If you have not visited the area before then cruise deals to the Middle East are well worth looking into. Dubai is one of the more relaxed Middle Eastern countries but if you settle on one of the cruises to this destination it is as well to bear in mind that the local population are somewhat more conservative than many places in the West.
“The dinning room staff were professionally attentive and friendly. The food was of the very highest standard and extensive variety, beautifully presented and served.The whole cruise was delightful and a wonderful experience.” – Pitcher, Cambridge on 21st Nov 2006 (Fred. Olsen Cruises)
Down Under
When it is winter in the Northern hemisphere it is summer in the southern hemisphere which is why cruise deals to Australia have always been a big hit. A vast continent island, it has some of the best weather around. If you have around three months to spare then Fred Olsen cruises depart from Dover to Sydney, Australia. This route takes in Barbados, Colombia and the Panama Canal. Other highlights include Los Angeles and Hawaii. If that is a little bit too long for you then there are twenty eight day cruises departing from San Francisco. Once in Australia, the ships call in at Brisbane and finally Sydney. Brisbane is an interesting city with botanical gardens and a koala sanctuary to look round. Cruise deals to Australia are a great way to relax before you hit the surf. Sydney beaches are renowned for their waves and if you are new to surfing then there are plenty of schools to help you get started. Celebrity cruises have fourteen day sailings in between Australia and New Zealand if you prefer to fly down first. So as you can see, if the short days and cold weather are not to your liking, there are a wealth of different cruises to choose from. Wherever you go, it is one of the most relaxing and enjoyable ways to travel, and you can visit many different places without having to constantly pack your things and unpack them again at each new place.
“Our passion for blue cheese and cruising led to this happy event, beautifully and spontaneously orchestrated by the ship’s company. True romance on our ‘love boat’.” - Robinson, Bradford on Avon on 21st Nov 2006 (Transocean Tours)
