At a glance
- Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines offers both family-friendly and adults-only sailings, along with deals for solo travellers
- No-fly winter sun escapes range from a couple of weeks to more than three months
- Popular destinations include the Canary Islands, Morocco, Spain, Portugal and the Caribbean
- Many itineraries are timed to coincide with special events, from New Year’s Eve celebrations to meteor showers
Why Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines?
Before we find you your dream winter sun adventure, here’s why Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines is an excellent choice to help you make your escape.
Firstly, the cruise line offers an impressive range of options, meaning there truly is something for everyone, from out-of-term-time sailings to adults-only voyages. There’s also a wide selection of dates and durations, including itineraries that coincide with Christmas and New Year’s Eve.
On top of that, having so many no-fly cruises to choose from is a real bonus. After all, travelling to sunny shores while lounging by a pool or enjoying a massage beats a plane journey with armrest encroachers and snoring seatmates.
For families: Canary Island Christmas with New Year's in Lisbon
When: 22nd of December 2025
Duration: 13 nights
Your route:This cruise sets sail from Portsmouth, before making its way to Funchal on Madeira. From there it’s on to island hopping in the Canaries, with stops in La Gomera, Tenerife and Lanzarote. Next, you’ll sail into Lisbon along the Tagus River. New Year’s Eve is spent in the Portuguese capital, before a call at La Coruña in Spain. Then it’s back home to Portsmouth.
Weather: You can expect some of the warmest winter weather in Europe in the Canaries and Madeira, with daytime temperatures in the mid-teens to the low 20s. Crucially, there’s plenty of sun. Rain tends to fall in short bursts that quickly give way to clear skies, leaving days breezy, bright and mild.
What to expect: The Canaries offer diverse terrains and plenty of pursuits in the great outdoors. On La Gomera, you’ll find misty forests and opportunities for dolphin and whale watching. Lanzarote, meanwhile, brings lunar-like landscapes and winter blooms of endemic species. New Year’s Eve in Lisbon is a particular highlight, complete with fireworks over the Tagus.
Why it’s ideal for families: While you’ll want to double-check this is the case for your child, most schools break up for the Christmas holidays around the 19th of December and return on the 5th of January. This cruise, which runs from the 22nd of December to the 4th of January, fits into that window perfectly. It’s also a great way to sidestep seasonal stress, with everything from Christmas dinner to decorations taken care of for you.
More than that, it’s a chance to enjoy a different kind of Christmas together. On board, you’ll find familiar British touches like pantomimes and mince pies, but ashore you’ll encounter new traditions. In Portugal, for instance, New Year’s Eve is marked by eating 12 raisins at the stroke of midnight.
For solo travellers: Exploring Spain, Portugal & Morocco
When: 5th of January 2026
Duration: 12 nights
The route: This round-trip voyage begins in Liverpool, heading first to Tangier in Morocco. Next is Melilla, the Spanish autonomous city on the North African coast. From there, you’ll sail to Gibraltar before continuing to Cádiz in Andalusia and the Portuguese capital of Lisbon. To round things off, you’ll call at Matosinhos, with easy access to Porto, before sailing back to Britain.
Weather: Conditions vary from port to port, but you can generally expect daytime temperatures in the mid-teens, with nights on the nippy side. Rain isn’t unheard of, but you’re still likely to get ample sunshine, especially compared with the UK. Cádiz, for example, enjoys over three times as much sunshine as Liverpool in January.
What to expect: This is a whirlwind winter escape along the coasts of the Iberian Peninsula and North Africa, offering a feast for the senses along the way. In Tangier, on what’s sometimes dubbed the Moroccan Riviera, you’ll find sandy beaches, labyrinthine medinas and bohemian haunts once frequented by famous poets and rock stars.
From there, highlights include Gibraltar, with its mischievous Barbary macaques, and the ancient city of Cádiz on the aptly named Costa de la Luz, translating to Coast of Light. Lisbon is another standout, with its tiled façades and soulful strains of fado.
Why it’s ideal for solo travellers: Fred. Olsen offers significantly reduced single supplement deals on select sailings, and this one just so happens to be included at the time of writing.
But more than that, one of the great joys of sailing solo is the chance to spend your time precisely how you choose, and with these destinations, you’re spoiled for choice. Travellers led by their taste buds can sip mint tea, port and sherry while they dine on regional specialities from tagine to tapas. Meanwhile, history buffs can explore the British-built tunnels of Gibraltar or the ancient heritage of Cádiz, which is one of the oldest living cities in Europe.
For couples: Caribbean Christmas Island Hopping
When: 18th of December 2026
Duration: 31 nights
The route: This round-trip voyage starts and ends in Southampton, whisking you away to the Caribbean with a quick stop in the Canary Islands en route. From there you’ll hop between islands including Antigua, St Maarten, St Kitts, St Lucia, Bequia, Grenada and Barbados. Then it’s back to Blighty, by way of Madeira, to soak up that last bit of winter sun.
Weather: December through April marks the dry season in the Caribbean, and the seas are calmer, which is good news if you’re worried about seasickness. Best of all, you can expect temperatures in the high 20s to low 30s and lots of sunshine. It’s a great time of year for snorkelling, swimming, hiking and working on a tan that lasts all winter long.
What to expect: This is a cruise that coincides with Christmas, but it’s so much more than that. You’ll be spending a full month island hopping, which is an excellent way to experience the many different facets of the Caribbean. The landscapes you’ll encounter will vary dramatically, from pristine white sand beaches to lush rainforests and volcanic peaks. Along the way, you’ll have chances to spot diverse flora and fauna, from tropical birds to lively coral reefs.
Why it’s ideal for couples: This sailing is adults-only, making it perfect for couples who want to enjoy the festive season together in a serene, child-free setting. As well as exploring new shores side by side, a no-fly journey to the Caribbean also means plenty of sea days. These are often the most relaxing part of the holiday. You might spend an afternoon together by the pool or in the spa, then linger over a five-course dinner before ending the night with live music or a dance class.
For the adventurous set: Canary Islands & Geminid Meteor Shower
When: 7th of December 2026
Duration: 14 nights
The route: This is a round-trip cruise from Liverpool. On your way to the Canary Islands, you’ll call at Matosinhos, near Porto, before sailing on to Madeira, often called the ‘Garden Island’. Then it’s on to La Palma, a world-renowned stargazing destination, for an overnight stop timed to coincide with the Geminid Meteor Shower. Up next is Tenerife, which is the largest of the Canaries, before you head home via Vigo.
Weather: Across Madeira and the Canary Islands, you can usually count on plenty of sunshine in December with daytime temperatures in the mid-teens to low 20s. Madeira does get more rainfall, which keeps its landscapes lush, but showers are typically scattered and broken up by sunny spells. The Canaries are drier overall, though you still get the odd shower.
What to expect: Across your voyage, expect dramatic, breath-catching vistas. Madeira, sometimes called the ‘Hawai’i of Europe’, is known for its atmospheric, undulating interiors; get high enough, and you can see fields of cloud at your feet. Cabo Girão has the highest cliff skywalk in Europe, with a glass-floored platform 580 metres above sea level.
Tenerife is known for its unique ecosystems and wildlife. Many visitors opt to take cable cars up Mount Teide, which is Spain’s highest peak. La Palma, meanwhile, beckons with the promise of black sand beaches, laurel forests and rugged ravines.
Why this is ideal for adventurers: This is winter sun with a twist. You’ll find palm-lined promenades and sun-drenched beaches, but also adventures in landscapes that feel almost otherworldly. After dark, the skies erupt with the Geminid Meteor Shower, meteors streaking in their hundreds against the night. Go Stargazing astronomers will be on board to guide the experience.
If that weren’t enough of a draw, experts from Ocean Wildlife Encounters (OWE) will also be sailing with you to add insights to wildlife sightings.
For seasoned cruisers: Around the World Japan & Hawaii
When: 21st of January 2027
Duration: 98 days
The route: This is an epic voyage of discovery spanning five continents and dozens of ports. You’ll sail from Southampton to the Caribbean, then continue to South America before transiting the Panama Canal. From there, it’s the idyllic shores of Costa Rica, Mexico and Hawai’i.
This is followed by Japan and Southeast Asia. The homeward journey takes you through the Indian Ocean and along the coast of South Africa, before turning north via the Canary Islands.
Weather: The nature of an around-the-world cruise means there’s no single forecast, but winter sun is practically guaranteed given you’re sailing to destinations like the Caribbean, Thailand and South Africa.
What to expect: Admittedly, this is much more than your classic winter sun escape. This is an around-the-world cruise that means you’ll miss much of the UK’s gloomiest months altogether, arriving back at the end of April just as things are warming up again.
While it could take several volumes to cover everything you’ll encounter, distilled down, you can expect the journey of a lifetime. From the coral reefs of Barbados and the greenery of Kauai to Mount Fuji and Table Mountain, you’ll tick off plenty of bucket-list-worthy sights in a single trip.
Why this is ideal for seasoned cruisers: Given that a ship will be your home for nearly 100 days, this cruise is best suited to those who are certain they love being at sea. If that sounds like you, this 98-night journey could be the most memorable voyage of your life, spent in places that feel a world away from the grey skies of a British winter.
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