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Match the month with our cruise planner

Guide your customers towards the perfect holiday, no matter what the date, with our planner on the best destinations for each and every month. By Rob Gill.

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Try this cruise planner whatever the month you're looking to book

January

The Caribbean is the obvious cruise destination for those looking to escape the UK winter and the post-Christmas blues, particularly as the region’s hurricane season is over.

 

Most major cruise lines have a heavy presence in the region during winter. These mainstream lines mostly offer seven-night round-up itineraries around the western or eastern Caribbean, departing from one of the Florida ports or Caribbean islands.

 

There is an added bonus for Star Wars fans this winter with Disney holding special one-day events dedicated to the sci-fi movie franchise during eight selected sailings around the western Caribbean on Disney Fantasy from Port Canaveral between January and April 2016.

 

For something more low-key, Star Clippers offers a yacht-style experience in the Caribbean with all three tall ships based in the region during this winter. These smaller ships allow access to lesser-visited parts of the Caribbean such as the Leeward islands.

 

Clients who want more of a cultural experience may be tempted by a Nile river cruise as January is one of the best months for visiting the classical sights of Egypt.

 

Renette Hartridge, UK director of sales for Sanctuary Retreats which operates Nile voyages, says: “January is peak season for cruising on the Nile as the weather is not too hot nor too humid making it more comfortable for the tour excursions during daylight.”

February

February

Visit the Nile in winter for comfortable sightseeing, says Sanctuary Retreats

Latin America will be in the headlines this year with Rio de Janeiro hosting the summer Olympic Games in August. Cruise passengers can experience the Brazilian city through one of its biggest annual events: the Rio Carnival – several cruise lines have itineraries which include calls at the city during the carnival, including Fred Olsen, Celebrity Cruises, Azamara Club Cruises and Holland America Line. This year’s carnival takes place on February 5-9.

 

With Europe still in the grips of winter, southern hemisphere destinations such as Australasia, the Far East and Africa are good options for cruise customers looking for an exotic long-haul itinerary.

 

Closer to home, winter-sun itineraries around the Canary Islands are widely offered by UK-orientated lines such as Thomson. The Middle East is also becoming a more popular option during winter with Dubai building its reputation as a home-port for major cruise lines, such as MSC, Costa Cruises and Royal Caribbean International – ideal for some guaranteed sun.

March

Even though the end of winter is nigh, Hurtigruten recommends March as a good month to see the Northern Lights on one of its voyages around the Norwegian Arctic coastline. The specialist line offers direct charter packages from several UK airports including Gatwick, Bristol, Manchester, Newcastle, East Midlands and Birmingham for its five-day Arctic Highlights trip.

 

Those seeking long-haul sun could choose a cruise around the Mexican Riviera which benefits from warm and dry weather, as well as being the best time of year for activities such as whale-watching. Hawaii is also good for whale-watching in early spring although the weather can be wetter.

 

For celebrity-lovers, there will be extra reason to go on a P&O Cruises’ Mediterranean itinerary on Britannia departing Southampton on March 27. Ant and Dec are due to host a live edition of their ITV Saturday Night Takeaway show from onboard the P&O ship on April 2.

April

April

April is the perfect time to visit Cuba, according to Celestyal Cruises

The summer season for European river cruising gets into full swing in April with operators offering a proliferation of short-haul options across the continent, which are only growing as cruise lines add new ships at an unprecedented rate.

 

One of the most popular options during the month is seeing tulips and other floral displays during trips on the waterways of Holland and Belgium.

 

Tim Fleming, sales and business development manager of The River Cruise Line, says: “While it’s a beautiful region to visit year-round, it’s really in springtime that the many world-class gardens and floral displays come alive.”

 

The River Cruise Line is selling a new Spring Gardens in Holland and Belgium cruise while other operators including Shearings, Scenic and Emerald Waterways also offer Dutch Waterways trips.

 

Another river cruise operator, AmaWaterways, is running five art-themed trips taking in the landscapes of northern France that inspired artists such as Renoir, Monet and Gauguin. While APT Luxury River Cruises will operate an eight-day Rhine Treasures voyage with guest appearances by TV presenters Charlie Dimmock, John Sergeant and Tim Wonnacott.

 

Hurtigruten’s head of sales Anthony Daniels recommends visiting Norway in April because it offers better value for money and gives tourists “a flavour of both summer and winter in the Arctic”.

 

“On the southern part of the journey the days are positively spring like and ideal for exploring the beautiful fjords,” says Daniels. “Further north, winter still holds a grip and excursions such as dog-sledding and snowmobiling are on offer.”

 

Long-haul cruising can still be a good option in April with Celestyal Cruises, formerly Louis Cruises, suggesting it is the “perfect” time to visit Cuba with average temperatures of 25C.

May

May

Rome is less crowded in May, says Princess Cruises

Warm temperatures and fewer crowds at key European ports are two of the main selling points for taking a Mediterranean ocean cruise during the early part of the summer season.

 

Rachel Poultney, head of sales at Princess Cruises, says: “May is an ideal month. The weather is pleasantly warm but not too hot to be oppressive and the crowds are far fewer than in the summer months.

 

“When exploring popular destinations, such as Rome and Pisa, you won’t feel overwhelmed by the number of tourists in the area.”

 

Some cruise customers may want to check out Royal Caribbean’s latest mega-ship Harmony of the Seas, which will spend its inaugural season sailing seven-day itineraries from Barcelona and Rome, after making its official debut from Southampton in late May.

 

Several cruise companies also offer itineraries based around iconic events such as Cannes Film Festival, which runs from May 11-22, with Celebrity operating a 10-night cruise to the festival on Celebrity Equinox. While itineraries based around the Monaco Grand Prix on May 29 are operated by lines such as P&O, Crystal, Azamara, Star Clippers and Silversea.

 

The rivers of Belgium and Holland are still in bloom. Flower garden Keukenhof is open until May 16, it features in a scenic departure on May 4.

June

The onset of summer and higher temperatures helps to bring the rest of Europe into its own as a cruise region – particularly around the Baltic and Scandinavia. Voyages around the UK and river cruises also benefit from the improving weather.

 

Shearings’ commercial director Caroline Brown recommends cruises on the eastern Danube which takes in Budapest, Croatia and Serbia.

 

“June is characterised by warm temperatures and clear skies, making it the perfect month to explore the Danube’s cities and villages,” says Brown. “Visitors will be able to enjoy the stunning scenery as we sail along the valleys, and immerse themselves in the area’s cultural delights with our excursions.”

 

Closer to home, Saga suggests a five-night itinerary on Saga Sapphire from Dover to the Channel Islands and France calling at Portsmouth, Guernsey and Le Havre, to “immerse themselves in Britain’s great maritime heritage”.

 

Meanwhile, Voyages to Antiquity will make its first departure from the UK this month from Dover. Partnerships manager Michelle Daniels says: “We have chosen culturally significant ports that aren’t as widely visited by other cruise lines such as Mont St Michel in France and Slapton Sands site of the D-Day operations near to Dartmouth to give our guests a different view of the destinations.”

 

Thomson is promoting the attractions and festivals of Palma in Majorca as it prepares to welcome the tour operator’s new – and biggest ever – ship Thomson Discovery, formerly Royal Caribbean’s Splendour of the Seas, to its fleet in June. The 1,800-capacity vessel will be based from Palma from where it will sail four new itineraries around the western Mediterranean.

July

July

Clients can soak up the Danube’s scenery in Budapest with Shearings in June

The family cruise season really gets under way and while cruises in the Med predominate, there are other options covering both short and long-haul destinations.

 

Princess Cruises recommends going on a cruise to Alaska from Seattle to take advantage of July’s long summer days and wildlife-viewing opportunities which includes the large humpback whale population living in the Inside Passage near Juneau as well as blue whales and orcas. Another longer-haul option is Bermuda with June marking the start of high season for the Atlantic island with a wider choice of ships making calls, particularly on cruises departing from ports on the US East Coast.

 

For a more remote summer cruising location, Ponant’s international sales director Stephen Winter recommends a seven-night Arctic cruise from Longyearbyen on the island of Spitsbergen in the Svalbard archipelago where viewing polar bears is one of the major attractions.

 

“The greatest chance of seeing a polar bear would be on a longer cruise around Svalbard, taking you to the north of Spitsbergen during the summer,” says Winter. “Svalbard has acted almost like a refuge when it comes to the polar bears and the populations have increased there, with numbers now thought to be 3,000.”

August

River cruising may not be most obvious choice for a family holiday, but Uniworld recommends six children-friendly itineraries which run during the school holiday, including a 15-day Grand European Discovery voyage, which travels through Austria, France, Germany and Switzerland.

 

Uniworld UK national sales manager Dave Chidley explains: “A river cruise is a great way to give younger generations an insight into different cultures as they explore new cities, quaint villages and traditional towns. We have more than doubled the number of our family-friendly cruise departures for 2016.”

 

For an older clientele, suggestions include Saga’s 14-night itinerary around the UK and Ireland from Dover including the Jurassic Coast in southern England and the Scottish Highlands and islands. The River Cruise Line recommends a voyage on the Danube to the Black Sea.

 

Long-haul options include river cruises in south-east Asia offered by companies, such as Pandaw which recommends voyages to Burma and Indochina. Although the weather can be wetter at this time of year, cruise passengers benefit from lower prices, fewer crowds and lush green landscapes, which also creates excellent conditions for photography.

September

September

APT has an eight-day Bordeaux river cruise – in time for the annual grape harvest

With the children back at school, September marks a return to more adult pursuits with the annual grape harvest in Bordeaux, France, being one of the major attractions during the month for river cruise itineraries.

 

APT Luxury River Cruises has introduced a new eight-day Royal Collection Grand Bordeaux river cruise for September 2016 which includes a wine-tasting tour of a family-owned cooperage, plus visits to a cognac house and caviar estate.

 

Angela Waite, APT’s sales and commercial manager, says: “There isn’t a better time to enjoy a tipple or two than during the annual grape harvest in Bordeaux, France.

 

“Taking place over a couple of weeks in September 2016, visitors to the region can watch as armies of people wind through the vineyards to collect the harvest.”

 

Viking Cruises recommends its Heart of Bordeaux itinerary, which also features an excursion to hunt for truffles with dogs, alongside vineyard visits.

 

Neil Barclay, Viking’s head of sales, adds: “Whether you are learning about the region’s fantastic vineyards or learning to truffle hunt, September in Bordeaux offers a real taste of France.”

 

September is also a good time for a Med cruise with cooler weather and smaller crowds at key ports. Star Clippers recommends a four-night cruise from Venice visiting Croatia, Slovenia and the Italian port of Trieste.

 

P&O Cruises suggests a cruise around the British Isles in September. Marketing director Christopher Edgington says: “It’s often easy to overlook that what is right under our noses, which is certainly the case with these wonderful isles. Oriana will be doing two itineraries taking in highlights such as Dublin, Skye, Stornoway, Orkney and Shetland.”

October

This month offers a late-season chance to enjoy the eastern Med without the crowds and high temperatures experienced during peak summer.

 

Pythagoras Nagos, from Greek islands specialist Celestyal Cruises, says: “Our summers can get warm, so those who want to be more active on the islands will enjoy travelling in October. The cooler temperatures – averaging 20C – are perfect for climbing to the hilltop villages of Lindos in Rhodes and historical sites such as Knossos in Crete or exploring Santorini’s dramatic volcanic landscapes by foot or jeep safari.”

 

October is also peak season for seeing the autumn colours of the “fall” foliage on cruises around New England and Canada’s maritime provinces such as Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and New Brunswick, which are widely offered by lines such as Royal Caribbean and Norwegian from a variety of ports in the region.

 

India is recommended as a river cruise destination by Uniworld, particularly voyages which coincide with the Hindu Diwali celebrations. The five-day festival of light culminates on October 30 this year.

 

Uniworld’s Dave Chidley adds: “River cruising is an amazing way to experience India as there is so much life along the banks of the Ganges. Guests can truly immerse themselves in the culture of the nation during the spectacular Diwali celebration.”

November

With the imminent arrival of winter, attention for cruisers tends to switch back to southern hemisphere itineraries such as South America and Australasia.

 

Looking even further south, November is also one of the best times to visit Antarctica before the season gets fully under way, according to Ponant’s Stephen Winter.

 

“The snow and ice are pristine and the penguins and seals are just starting to have their young ones,” adds Winter. “This is the time to see Antarctica at its most undisturbed form.

 

“Some operators discourage November voyages as temperatures tend to be colder and polar ice is still breaking up so access to some areas may be limited.

 

“However, the cold temperatures also offer the most impressive icescapes, pristine snow and breathtaking scenery.”

 

For a sunnier alternative, P&O Cruises will be using St Lucia as its homeport for the first time when it bases Britannia in the Caribbean island from November 12 for the winter 2016-17 season.

 

Marketing director Christopher Edgington says: “Introducing new itineraries which all depart or return St Lucia will offer a new dimension to our Caribbean cruises. St Lucia is a popular destination with passengers and no other line has it as a homeport.”

 

Late November also marks the start of the season for Christmas markets which are widely featured on river cruises, particularly to destinations such as the Rhine in Germany, and the Danube to Austria and Hungary.

December

December

Uniworld offers Christmas markets tours in November

The opportunity to get some sun and escape the first month of winter without having to travel south of the equator is being enhanced by the growth of the Middle Eastern ports of Dubai and Abu Dhabi as cruise hubs.

 

Thomson Cruises will begin operating from Dubai for winter 2016-17 when it bases Celebration from the emirate and sails two seven-night itineraries around the Gulf region: Arabian Nights and Cities of Gold.

 

Meanwhile, Celebrity Cruises will homeport in Abu Dhabi with Celebrity Constellation operating a range of itineraries, from nine to 15 nights, for the winter season.

 

Celebrity passengers can end 2016 with a bang as the ship will be calling at Dubai to view the annual spectacular New Year fireworks display which centres around Burj Khalifa, during a 15-night Arabian Sea and India fly-cruise.

 

A longer-haul December option is to spend Christmas in the Far East with Star Clippers offering a sailing from Phuket to Singapore on December 23 with Christmas Day spent in Thailand’s Phang Nga Bay.

 

Alternatively, G Adventures suggests a Christmas trip to Antarctica, which it says is the “best time for photographers due to the longer days”. Spending Christmas at the far end of the earth will cost £6,569pp for those clients with deep pockets.

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