Winter solar cruises: High 5 Caribbean cruises for…

Sapphire waters, shining seashores and a tangle of deep-green foliage; such an idyllic image is what attracts many individuals to the Caribbean.

However do you know that the area can be wealthy in historic curiosity, with colonial mansions and formidable fortresses?

Add the rhythms of reggae and calypso which might be as intoxicating as the ever-present rum, together with a fantastic vary of watersports and jungle adventures, and you’ve got a seductive playground for all ages and tastes.

Ships giant and small ply these waters, and the range of itineraries will increase every year, particularly with Cuba turning into ever extra open to the world.

The selection of departure ports is increasing, too, which suggests it’s straightforward so as to add a resort keep in, say, Florida or Barbados.

When you’re in search of a contact of Caribbean sunshine to brighten up the dreary British winter, listed below are our high ten recommendations…

1. Discover with Holland America Line

Outfitted with its personal personal island, Half Moon Cay, the place a day is spent irrespective of which itinerary you sail on, Holland America Line is a aggressive possibility for a Caribbean cruise.

The cruise line affords numerous gorgeous round-trips from Fort Lauderdale – handy for UK visitors – mixing buzzing seashore resorts and quieter isles, with calls together with Jamaica, the Cayman Islands, Mexico, the Turks & Caicos Islands, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands.

The ’14-day Western/Eastern Caribbean’ itinerary departing February 24, 2024, is a stand-out, promising the chance to swim in Half Moon Cay’s blue lagoon, cool off with a Jamaica waterfall climb and likewise discover the white sands and rainbow reefs of Turks & Caicos.

2. Azamara takes the Caribbean

Azamara will not be the one cruise line to have unique use of a nook of the Caribbean, however intriguingly theirs is on Haiti, which stays largely undeveloped. Right here you’ll discover tremendous sandy seashores and loads of watersports, with a beautiful backdrop of forested hills.

There may be an array of tempting Caribbean itineraries from Azamara, with our favorite being the 16-night cruise ‘Caribbean Holiday Voyage’ onboard Azamara Journey, departing December 22, 2024.

Azamara Journey is a comparatively small vessel however her 694 visitors can stay up for the best meals, in addition to luxurious pampering within the ship’s all-new spa.

As for the itinerary, you may stay up for exploring the white-sand seashores, intensive golf course and pink Colonial buildings of Nassau, St. John, which is the smallest of the U.S Virgin Islands, Charlotte Amalie, which is a peaceable harbour which was once the house of pirate tradition, and extra.

3. Worth and selection

There’s a lot extra to this area than the well-known islands akin to Barbados and St Lucia.

The Caribbean Sea stretches throughout to Central America, creating an enormous cruising playground. Marella Cruises takes benefit with its Exotic Explorer voyage to the much less visited nations of Belize, Guatemala and Honduras.

It’s a seven-night spherical journey from Montego Bay, Jamaica, the place you may choose to remain for a further resort week.

Alongside the route there may be the chance to take a ship journey up a jungle river, go to Mayan ruins, swim with dolphins, snorkel on coral reefs and admire colonial structure – or simply flop on the seashores.

The ship is Marella Explora 2, which has an out of doors cinema and indoor pool, plus full leisure programme. With free drinks and flights too, this cruise is one thing of a cut price.

This itinerary departs throughout a number of dates in February 2024.

4. Bahamian rhapsody

How about spending New 12 months’s Eve in Nassau off the coast of Madeira, recognized fondly because the floral isle? And spending Christmas Eve in coral-edged Antigua?

That’s on supply from Saga, with its 30-night ‘Festive Celebrations in the Caribbean’ spherical journey from Portsmouth over the Christmas interval.

The journey, with 5 included panoramic excursions, will go to Santa Cruz, Bridgetown, Castries, St George’s, Roseau, Charlestown, Highway City, St John’s. A superb mixture of sightseeing, nature treks, buying, snorkelling and rest on pretty seashores is promised.

The 987-passenger Spirit of Journey’s services and entertainments are tailor-made to British tastes, and you may anticipate the standard celebrations, together with roast turkey on Christmas Day, which is spent at sea.

Departs December 6, 2024.

5. Amazon Encounter

Why not mix a Caribbean cruise with an thrilling journey up the Amazon? Due to P&O, you are able to do simply that – in a 65-night journey.

Making a spherical journey from Southampton, Aurora heads first to Gran Canaria, then Antigua, Tortola within the Virgin Islands and Castries, Bridgetown earlier than heading to Brazil, the place you may discover the fantastic thing about Santana, Manaus and extra.

What’s extra, additionally, you will sail the enduring Panama Canal in addition to discover the outlets and nightlife of the capital of Bermuda – Hamilton.

Accommodating 1,874guests, Aurora is a classy vessel with a sociable ambiance and is particularly designed for the British market.