Last Minute Winter Sun Getaways

January can truly be a depressing month, with short, short days and the festive hangover still peering over our collective shoulder. So why trudge through the turgid January days in the rainy old UK, when you could be sunning yourself elsewhere in the world? Here we have a look at a handful of our best last minute winter sun deals which can help you swap the damp and the grey for beautiful sunny days.

Western Mediterranean & Canary Islands

The Canary Islands are so often the sole destination within a four hour flight radius of the UK offering sun-filled retreats during the winter months, so Norwegian Cruise Line’s Western Mediterranean & Canary Islands itinerary could be the perfect solution for those midwinter blues. Sailing aboard the stunning Norwegian Epic, guests will first explore the cultural cities of Barcelona, Naples and Rome before making their way to the Moroccan city of Tangier and then heading over to the Canary Islands of Gran Canaria and Tenerife.

With 12 port calls over a 21 night cruise, there is plenty of time to top up the January tan on golden sunny beaches. Departing on 13 January, you’ve just got time to stock up on sun lotion and search the depths of the cupboard for the bikini.

Get the deal, here.

Caribbean Adventurer

The Caribbean is a reliable old dog when it comes to temperatures and sun-filled days. Although January is traditionally the coolest month of the year for the region, the temperature barely differs throughout the year so you are still guaranteed hot days and warm evenings. The Caribbean Adventurer cruise from Princess Cruises takes in a number of beautiful islands and destinations in the Caribbean as well as Princess’ private island – Princess Cays. A roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale in Florida, why not take a few days to explore the sunshine state before or after the itinerary as part of a fly/cruise holiday?

Setting sail on 10 Jan for two weeks, this cruise is a great way to avoid the cold January weather for most of the month.

Get the deal, here.

Mexican Riviera

Averaging 23C throughout the month, Mexico certainly does not plummet to the same cold depths endured by the UK in January. So we think a cruise down the Mexican Riviera provides an exceptional mix of escaping the cold and visits to the ancient cultures and civilisations of this part of the world. Furthermore, the Mexican Riviera is an absolute must-cruise route for any self-respecting cruise aficionado, with the region named by Princess Cruises’ founder in the 60s.

The Mexican Riviera cruise aboard the Carnival Miracle visits a number of beautiful Mexican destinations including Puerto Vallarta and Cabo San Lucas as part of a roundtrip from Los Angeles departing on 9 January.

Get the deal, here.

Southampton to Sydney

Whilst undertaking a 60 night cruise to other side of the planet may seem like and extreme solution to the January Blues, we reckon Cunard’s Southampton to Sydney cruise is a great shout. Sailing aboard the luxurious Queen Victoria, the cruise visits some stellar sunny destinations including Florida, Aruba and Honolulu before circumnavigating Oz. This 60 night cruise departs on 10 Jan, so you’ll miss the rest of January and all of February by the time you fly back to the UK.

Get the deal, here.

If none of these deals have ticked your winter sun boxes, or you are planning further ahead – the Cruise1st site offers a huge range of deals 365 days a year. For a full selection of deals, please visit our homepage or call our dedicated team now on 0808 2746 777.

Images sourced via Flickr Creative Commons. Credit: hjjanisch, Grand Velas Riviera Maya,