Canary Islands Caribbean Mediterranean

Escape the winter, extend your summer

Want to hold on to that summer feeling? Here are three easy ways to make it happen on a P&O Cruises holiday.

4 min 15 Jul 2024

Editorial Team

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Warm days and light nights have us dreaming of ways to keep the summer vibes going long after the season ends. From the sandy shores of the Caribbean to the sun-soaked Canary Islands, a P&O Cruises holiday can whisk you away to dreamy destinations where winter will be a distant memory.

1. Spend Christmas in the Canary Islands

It’s never too early to start thinking about Christmas, especially if those thoughts include sea, sand and sunshine. Iona can whisk you from Southampton to Spain, Portugal and the Canary Islands for a 14-night holiday filled with festive fun.

 

Your first stop is the scenic port of Vigo on Spain’s west coast. Casco Vello (the old town) is a good place to start your exploration; its Renaissance architecture, winding streets and stellar seafood restaurants will keep you enchanted for hours. Speaking of food, in December, keep an eye out for traditional Galician Christmas treats such as tarta de Santiago (almond cake) and the sweet, halo-shaped roscón de reyes (King’s cake) at local bakeries and pastry shops.

Rodas Beach, Vigo, Spain
Rodas Beach, Vigo, Spain
Rodas Beach, Vigo, Spain
Rodas Beach, Vigo, Spain
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Next up is Madeira. The Portuguese island has been enjoying something of a revival, with a younger crowd of travellers discovering its many charms. The food and drink scene is booming. Local craft beer from places like FugaCidade is giving the island’s eponymous fortified wine a run for its money, while Michelin-starred restaurants, such as Desarma, are putting modern spins on classic dishes. For a different view of the island, head to Porto da Cruz on the north shore and immerse yourself in the surf culture, or float through the mists of Fanal forest.

 

Iona visits three Canary Islands on this cruise – Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura and Lanzarote – and each is vastly different from the last. You’ll experience it in the landscapes alone – Gran Canaria’s interior is lush, green and abundant with bananas, almonds and coffee; Fuerteventura’s volcanic terrain and windswept shores make it interesting for hikers and windsurfers alike; and Lanzarote’s dramatic lunar-like interior, all solidified lava and craters filled with grapevines, looks like something from another planet.

 

Your final stops en route to Southampton will be in Cádiz and La Coruña. In between, you’ll celebrate Christmas Day at sea. Iona pulls out all the stops for the big day, from sparkling decorations to dinner with all the trimmings and a visit from Father Christmas himself.

 

Book your Christmas escape on Iona

Christmas on Iona
Christmas on Iona
Christmas on Iona
Christmas on Iona

2. Fly to the Med and more

October is an ideal time to escape to warmer climes – when the glow of summer is still on your mind and the first whispers of winter are beginning to creep in. It’s also when many of our itineraries switch from summer to winter. In the case of Azura’s cruise to the Mediterranean and Canary Islands, this means you can enjoy the best of two magnificent regions.

 

You’ll start by flying from the UK to Valletta, a biscuit-coloured, Baroque gem of a city. It’s eminently walkable – amble along the waterfront Grand Harbour, discover the intricacies of St John’s Co-Cathedral and grab some respite in the Upper and Lower Barrakka Gardens. Then, replenish your energy with all manner of local delights, from pastizzi (flaky, savoury, filled pastries) to rabbit stew.

 

Mallorca is next, and if you’re after beachside bliss, this is the place for you. Sandy shores and azure waters beckon, from rugged Formentor and pretty Pollença in the north to the resort of Calvia closer to Palma. Explore them by kayak, or simply sit and soak up the sun. For something a little cooler, head below the surface to the natural wonderland of Drach Caves and their cathedral-like halls filled with stalactites and stalagmites and one of the world’s largest underground lakes.

 

The Glass House wine flights

After a stop in Gibraltar and a couple of days at sea, you’ll arrive at your first Canary Island of the cruise – Lanzarote. This is the birthplace of artist César Manrique, and you’ll see his works all over the island, from the Jardín de Cactus to the Jameos del Agua. Mother Nature has left her artistic impression too, with a rainbow of beaches to choose from: sands in black, white and gold, backed by rust-red cliffs.

 

Next, you’ll dock in Tenerife. The island gets an average of 2,670 sunshine hours a year, so you’re bound to get a few of them during your stay. If you do one thing here, visit Teide National Park – the rock formations and landscapes are like nothing you’ve ever seen.

 

Azura also visits Gran Canaria and Madeira before making repeat visits to Lanzarote and Tenerife, giving you time to explore what you missed.

 

Book your October escape on Azura.

Teide National Park, Tenerife
Teide National Park, Tenerife
Teide National Park, Tenerife
Teide National Park, Tenerife

3. Island-hop in the Caribbean

If distant shores are calling, the Caribbean is the answer. Britannia’s 14-night fly-cruise takes you to the heart of the region, flying straight from the UK to Barbados and spending the festive season under the sun.

 

You’ll have an overnight stay in Barbados, giving you the chance to explore day and night. While the sun is shining, why not catch a cricket match at the Kensington Oval or go snorkelling with sea turtles? Then, when night falls, there’s no better place to be than on the beach, cocktail in hand, soaking up the beauty of the candy-coloured sunset.

 

From here, Britannia heads to the southern Caribbean to visit two islands in the Leeward Antilles – Curaçao and Bonaire. Curaçao is an island of colourful contrasts: a volcanic coastline with grottos and soft-sand beaches; green interiors; and sparkling salt flats (complete with pink flamingos). Nearby Bonaire is a pioneer of eco-tourism, the efforts of which can be seen in its crystal-clear seas, pristine coral reefs, magical mangrove forests and secluded beaches.

Silent Disco on board Azura

Heading back to the eastern Caribbean, Britannia will visit some of the region’s most beautiful islands – St Lucia, Grenada, Antigua and St Maarten – before celebrating Christmas Day at sea. Savouring a full Christmas dinner on board while surrounded by glorious sunshine and sparkling blue seas is a true bucket-list experience.

 

On Boxing Day, Britannia will be docked in lush St Vincent. Despite its picture-perfect charms, the island remains something of a hidden gem. Relax in the shade of a swaying palm on pristine powder-soft beaches or escape to the nearby paradise island of Bequia for an even more remote place to unwind.

 

From here it’s back to Barbados for one final hurrah before you take to the skies and fly back to the UK to start planning your next sunny escape…

 

Book your Christmas Caribbean cruise on Britannia.

Christmas on Britannia
Christmas on Britannia
Christmas on Britannia
Christmas on Britannia

Introducing our new Caribbean flight partners

We are pleased to be partners with TUI Airways, Norse Atlantic and Virgin Atlantic for our Caribbean fly-cruises in the winter 2024/25 season.

 

Whichever airline you fly with, you’ll receive a consistent and dedicated in-flight service exclusively for P&O Cruises guests. Your chartered flights will include hold luggage allowance of at least 23kg per person as well as 10kg of hand baggage and a small carry-on item, in-flight entertainment, a minimum of two complimentary drinks, a bottle of water and a main meal, with a lighter second meal on some flights.

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