Unrelenting grey skies, damp air and biting wind is enough to make even a diehard winter fan long for the feel of the sun on their face. If you’ve had enough of gloomy days, it might be time to escape the chill with a cruise and find warm escapes at sea. So cruise your way to rejuvenating winter vacations with our expert recommendations for sun-soaked getaways.

Find summer on the other side of the world

For the ultimate in winter escapes, leave the season behind completely and chase summer on the other side of the world. Australia and New Zealand have their summer in December, January and February, so you’re guaranteed to get a dose of sunshine while everyone back home is wearing hats and gloves!

Like the sound of winter cruises that take you down under? Regent Seven Seas Cruises is offering a Bali to Sydney trip in December this year, with 16 nights spent exploring Bali, Lombok, the Gili Islands, Darwin, Cairns and Sydney.

It’s also summer for South America in December to February, so finding a cruise that explores this continent is another great idea for sunseekers. Hurtigruten is sailing to the Galápagos Islands, with an added bonus of a chance to explore Macchu Picchu, which will give you an irresistible combination of land and island exploring. Ama Waterways also offers river cruises in Colombia, where you’ll sail along the Magdalena river and visit Medellin, Cartagena and Panama City.

Seek the sun in Atlantic islands

For more winter cruise recommendations, consider a trip to the Canaries, Azores or Madeira. The volcanic islands of the Canaries have long been the haunt of European sun seekers with their gorgeous beaches and dramatic scenery, while the Azores offers similarly dramatic landscapes alongside charming fishing villages. Madeira is your chance to experience a rich and diverse culture set in a beautiful landscape – and, of course, your chance to sample its signature wine!

The temperature in the Canaries and Madeira is a balmy 20 degrees at this time of year, and while the Azores is a couple of degrees cooler it’s still guaranteed to beat the weather back in the UK.

Fred. Olsen is offering you the chance to spend Christmas and New Year in the Canary Islands and Madeira, which is definitely an excellent winter travel idea!

Cruise over to the Caribbean

December is the start of the dry season in the Caribbean. During the months of the British winter you’ll find temperatures of over 25 degrees and plenty of sunshine, meaning a cruise to the Caribbean is sure to be an unforgettable winter journey.

To really escape the worst of the British winter, you could spend 45 nights from January exploring Cuba and the West Indies with Ambassador, which includes stops in Antigua, Curaçao and Cuba. Ambassador also offers a Gems of the Caribbean cruise that will take you to Bermuda, Mexico, the Cayman Islands and Jamaica. Or if you’re looking for something a touch shorter but no less sunny, Regent Seven Seas Cruises is sailing from Miami to Rio de Janeiro via Dominica, Barbados and French Guiana.

Embrace the season in the Arctic

The other option to beat the winter blues is to really lean into the season and all that it offers. For lovers of snow and ice, consider heading further north to explore Scandinavia, Iceland and the Arctic. And of course, travelling to this region during winter is also the optimum time for spotting the northern lights, something that’s on a lot of people’s bucket lists!

For cruise itineraries that take you north, check out Fred. Olsen’s cruise to northern Norway and into the Arctic Circle, which includes extended stays in Tromsø and Alta. You can embrace the northern winter way of life by going husky sledding and spending time with local Sámi people. Ambassador also has a great selection of northern lights cruises to Norway and Iceland.

Celebrate Christmas in picturesque markets

We can’t talk about winter cruises without mentioning the other C word – Christmas! Feeling festive is a great way to beat the winter blues, and visiting some of Europe’s most famous Christmas markets is a lovely way to celebrate the season.

The architecture of Northern European historic cities lends itself beautifully to winter, where snow dusts the stone buildings and cobbled streets and the smell of toasted praline drifts from each street corner. The traditional central European market squares are picture-postcard perfect settings for Christmas markets, where you can shop for handcrafted gifts for family and friends, then warm up with steaming mugs of gluhwein and hot chocolate.

Classic Christmas markets include Cologne, Vienna, Prague and Brussels. It’s also worth considering visiting those in cities further east such as Tallinn and Gdansk.

Ama Waterways has an enticing selection of cruises that visit these famous markets, so you’ll be spoilt for choice. From a cruise that takes in Rhine Castles and Swiss Alps to sailing down the Danube to experience the markets in Budapest, Vienna, Prague, Bratislava and more, this cruise line is your go-to for guaranteed festive cheer.

Whether you embrace the chill or go in search of the sun, a cruise really is your ticket to brighten the season and banish any winter blues!