Iconic Aegean, 4 Nights Cruise

Greek line Celestyal offers the chance to sail around a selection of islands in a handful of days, staying in port longer at popular destinations such as Mykonos and Santorini. But its two ships also call at less-visited places including the island of Milos, the Turkish port of Kusadasi - close to the ancient ruins of Ephesus - and Greece's second-biggest city, Thessaloniki, which has a rich Roman and Jewish heritage. Sail with Celestyal in the festive season and you could spend Christmas in the holy land and see the new years eve fireworks in Istanbul. During the pandemic, the line bought Costa NeoRomantica from Costa Cruises, intending it to become Celestyal Experience, but then decided to sell the ship on and stick with its existing fleet of two vessels.