If the thought of having everything taken care of over the festive period seems nothing more than a distant daydream, check out these Christmas cruises from CruiseDeals.co.uk that will turn that fantasy into a much-welcomed reality.
Whether Christmas-market-hopping through Europe, soaking up the rays in the Caribbean or savouring the sights of the Far East, a festive cruise is always a great idea and a fantastic alternative to spending Christmas at home. So, swap opening the badly wrapped presents to opening your curtains to a new city every other day and leave the turkey behind for a jam-packed itinerary – and that includes chef-prepared meals.
How long should I go for?
In terms of the duration, and if it’s your first cruise, you may want to consider opting for a short-and-sweet seven-night getaway – a week of pure bliss before heading back to the UK.
If you’re more of a seasoned cruise traveller, or just want a longer amount of time to explore, there are a range of eight- to 14-night cruises on offer. These usually go further afield but allow you extra time to venture and indeed soak up the sun you wouldn’t be getting back at home!
Admittedly, the longer cruises make it that bit harder to slip back into reality, but no one will blame you for taking your chances!
Destinations?
So once you’ve decided on your length of stay, you will have the absolutely gruelling task of figuring out where you’d like to spend your alternative Christmas break. Perhaps you’ve always wanted to head to south-east Asia? Heading to the scenic southern coast of Laem Chabang, how does a spectacular view of the Gulf of Thailand sound? With the bustling city of Bangkok and its famous temples on your doorstep, it’s very inviting.
Or perhaps you’re looking for something a little closer to home? Well, there are plenty of Mediterranean hidden gems just waiting to be explored. Just picture it, one day you’re docking at Limassol, Cyprus’ largest seaside town, where the romantics among you have the chance to visit Aphrodite’s Rock, as well as The Tomb of The Kings in Paphos. Whereas the next day you may well be docking at the pretty port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, where you can visit Mount Teide, the world’s third-highest volcano, and the award-winning Loro Parque.
The Canary Islands are always popular, and with good reason. There’ll be sand dunes in the place of sprinklings of snow at Maspalomas if your itinerary includes a stop in Gran Canaria. Another recommendation would be Santa Cruz de La Palma, because you’ll get to tick the world’s largest volcanic crater in La Caldera de Taburiente National Park off your list. It might not be mulled wine you’re drinking while you’re up there, but the local wines are definitely worth a try!
I know this won’t make the decision any easier, but it would be a shame not to mention Christmas in the tropics of Costa Rica. From exploring the port of Puerto Limon, where you’ll get a realistic glimpse into the everyday lives and customs of the Costa Rican people, to the jaw-dropping beauty of the Veragua Rainforest and the Tortuguero National Park. You may begin to understand why Costa Ricans are said to be the happiest people in the world.
Budget
As we’ve discussed the different length of stay options for a Christmas cruise and touched on a small sample of the large number of destinations that are available, it only makes sense to look at fixing a budget.
Given the multiple types of cruises on the market, including adult-only and family-friendly options, full-board and all-inclusive packages, potential thoughts of ‘this is expensive!’ may creep to the fore. However, when taking into account that your advance payment covers food, drinks, entertainment and tips and the fact that in many cases you’re able to visit three or more countries in one trip, things begin to feel a lot more balanced.
What are you waiting for?
Try something different this Christmas and look into a cruise, not only for the incredible experience, but to gift yourself with the best present ever!
To read more on topics like this, check out the travel category.
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