The 6 cruise holidays to book to celebrate the New Year – from Spanish island hopping to all-inclusive Caribbean trips
SAIL into 2024 in style with a New Year cruise.
Taking to the ocean waves is the perfect way to celebrate with gala dinners and amazing entertainment on tap.
If you haven’t got plans made, Lisa Minot suggests incredible cruises – and destinations – you can enjoy over the New Year . . .
THE CARIBBEAN
ESCAPE the winter and celebrate Christmas and New Year in tropical temperatures.
You’ll need to get packing pronto as Ambassador’s Ambition sets sail on December 11 on a 38-day round-trip voyage from London Tilbury.
The cruise calls at Amsterdam, Portugal, Madeira and Cape Verde before crossing the Atlantic and arriving in sunnier climes with stops in Barbados, Grenada, Curacao, Aruba, St Lucia, St Kitts, Antigua and more.
You’ll celebrate Christmas and New Year at sea with fabulous gala dinners and festive entertainment.
Prices are from £1,899pp full board.
See ambassadorcruiseline.com or call 0808 102 8701.
CANARY ISLANDS
SAIL into the sunshine on P&O Cruises’ Azura with this New Year Canary Islands trip sailing from Tenerife.
You’ll fly from the UK on December 29 and embark in Santa Cruz, Tenerife.
Ports of call include Gran Canaria, Madeira and Lanzarote before arriving back in Tenerife for the flight home.
The seven-night cruise is from £1,202pp and includes full board, tips, activities and evening entertainment.
Expect theatre shows, bands, comedy and cabaret.
It’s family-friendly too, with kids’ and teens’ clubs from two to 17 years, and four pools to splash in.
To book, visit iglucruise.com or call 0203 095 5343.
THE CARIBBEAN, CUBA, MEXICO AND PANAMA
SET sail on the newest ship in the Marella fleet — Explorer 2 — on an exotic 15-night cruise in the Caribbean and Panama.
The adults-only ship is great value with all-inclusive as standard — no need to worry about paying for a celebratory tipple or two.
Departing Manchester on December 26, you’ll fly to Jamaica to meet the ship before setting sail and stopping off at Grand Cayman, Havana in Cuba for an overnight stay and Cozumel in Mexico.
There are stops at Montego Bay and Port Royal in Jamaica, as well as Cartagena in Colombia, Colon in Panama and Costa Rica.
Prices are from £1,825pp, including all-inclusive in the ships’ nine restaurants and ten bars.
See iglucruise.com or call 0203 095 5343.
SPAIN AND PORTUGAL
ENJOY New Year’s Eve at sea and explore wonderful ports in Spain, Portugal and Gibraltar onboard one of P&O Cruises’ biggest and newest ships, Iona.
Departing Southampton on December 30, you’ll spend 14 nights cruising full-board on this floating palace.
The cruise calls at Vigo in Spain, Gibraltar, then Alicante, Barcelona, Valencia and Seville in Spain, followed by Lisbon in Portugal before returning to Southampton.
Prices are from £949pp, including all meals, afternoon tea, theatre shows, gym, children’s clubs and tips.
To book, see cruise.co.uk or call 0870 990 8824.
GLIDE ALONG THE RHINE
PASS through the spectacular Rhine Gorge to Rudesheim with Riviera Travel onboard the MS Oscar Wilde.
Departing from Cologne on December 28 you’ll enjoy New Year’s Eve in the historic city of Koblenz before heading back to the luxury ship for a gala dinner.
On New Year’s Day you can enjoy a delicious brunch before heading off to explore Cologne’s old town and cathedral.
Onboard, there’s a classical music concert and a festive folklore show to enjoy in the evening.
The cruise includes a further call at Frankfurt, as well as guided tours of all cities.
The six-day, full-board cruise is from £1,519pp.
Flights or Eurostar can be arranged.
To book, go to rivieratravel.co.uk or call 01283 523431.
SINGAPORE STAY, CRUISE THAILAND AND VIETNAM
PUSH the boat out and splash out on a fabulous cruise and stay onboard Royal Caribbean’s Spectrum of the Seas.
Flying from the UK on December 29, this 14-night holiday includes a three-night stay over New Year in Singapore before you’ll set sail for exotic shores.
The cruise will call at Nha Trang and Ho Chi Minh in Vietnam and will then overnight in Bangkok before returning to Singapore for your flight home.
Prices are from £2,299pp including full-board and entertainment on the luxury ship with a tranquil adults-only solarium.
See iglucruise.com or call 0203 095 5343.