What could be more enjoyable than celebrating Christmas on board a luxury cruise ship?

The chance to get away from the cold and miserable weather in England and enjoy some winter sun over Christmas has never been easier with a number of super latecruise deals setting sail for warmer climes in December.

Booking one of the themed last minute cruises offers an unforgettable Christmas. Parties, Santa competitions and ice skating are among the activities on board along with sumptuous traditional Christmas food, expertly cooked and presented in the restaurants.

A favourite destination for a winter cruise is the Canary Islands, with its constant year round temperature. Calling at Vigo in north west Spain and Lisbon in Portugal en route, ports of call in the Canaries include Gran Canaria and Tenerife, with stops at Madeira and La Coruna on the return home. Being predominantly Catholic countries, Christmas celebrations in the Canary Islands and Spain often centre around religious plays and music.

A longer cruise to the Caribbean offers the chance to experience Christmas in different cultures. Calling at ports in Barbados, Antigua and St. Lucia, the island of St. Kitts begins its National Carnival on Boxing Day running through to New Year, holding street parties which celebrate local folklore with vibrant displays of traditional music and plays.

The British Virgin Islands is the place to go for non-stop New Year celebrations, with parties at many of the restaurants and beach bars. The atmosphere is friendly and family-oriented with firework displays and bands playing reggae music over the holiday period.

Although the weather in the Caribbean varies between islands from tropical to desert, the climate is consistently warm, with little seasonal change in temperature, thus having beautiful beaches year round. Cruising in the Caribbean over Christmas is truly the ultimate in luxury.