Cruise Holidays to Book in December

The most common question asked by those who have never cruised is when to book their holiday to secure a good cabin at the best price. There is no easy answer to this. Unless you are tied to a specific date or have your heart set on a specific ship, there is enough capacity for you to be able to wait a while in the hope of picking up a discount.

But every now and then an itinerary comes along that demands quick action. It might be one of the handful of P&O Cruises’voyages on Britannia, a new ship launched this year by the Queen, that offers cookery classes hosted by celebrity chefs including James Martin and Eric Lanlard.

Unusual one-off itineraries on small ships also fly off the shelves. Cruiseco’s 32‑night voyage from Montreal to New Orleans is an example. It’s an exciting itinerary with overnight stays in some of America’s most interesting cities including Boston, New York and Charleston – but you’ll have to book fast as there is only one departure next September and on a ship that holds just 682 passengers.

Then there is the sell-out demand for special-interest cruises and itineraries linked to world-class sporting events such as the Olympics or the Formula One championships. Swan Hellenic’s Glorious Gardens cruise next May, which includes entrance to the Chelsea Flower Show in London, is already filling up.

Azamara Club Cruises has a voyage in the Baltic in June 2018, that will be in St Petersburg during the World Cup. Tickets to the event are not yet on sale but once released are likely to be snapped up. Here’s a selection of some of the cruises in 2016 – and indeed 2017 – that are likely to sell out fast. All prices exclude flights unless stated otherwise.

Known for their grace and beauty on the water, large classic sailing vessels hold appeal for sailors and non-sailors alike. These annual races, held for budding sailors, are definitely worth catching. Swan Hellenic’s 14-night Iberian Maritime Adventure visiting Lisbon and Cadiz next July is...