Four winter cruises to book NOW

- from Christmas markets to Caribbean islands

Pre-Christmas in the Caribbean Holland America’s Caribbean cruise will cure the deepest winter blues. From Florida’s Fort Lauderdale, you’ll head to Half Moon Cay in the Bahamas, then on to Ocho Rios in Jamaica.

The ship then calls at Cozumel in Mexico, George Town in the Cayman Islands, Grand Turk in Turks & Caicos, and Amber Cove in the Dominican Republic.

Deserts and dunes in Doha This Desert Days & Dunes voyage on board the Celestyal Journey takes in five cities along the Arabian Gulf and begins with a three-night stay in the 5* Warwick Doha Hotel. 

Ports of call include Bahrain, Dubai, renowned for its luxury shopping, Khasab, a historic port city in Oman, and Dubai’s sister Emirate, Abu Dhabi, before ending in Doha, Qatar.

Netherlands festive frolic The no-fly sailing departs from London, heading straight for Rotterdam in the Netherlands, where the festive lights will be glowing en masse.

You’ll then cruise down River Nieuwe Maas, before venturing to Honfleur on France’s Normandy coast, then on to Amsterdam where you can sample local mulled wine from its Christmas markets.

Half-term holiday in Hamburg Sailing from Southampton, destinations include Hamburg, Rotterdam and Zeebrugge in Belgium – a 20-minute taxi ride from Bruges, where parents can sink punchy beers at De Halve Maan brewery.