The best cruise deals to book now

Welcome in 2016 in Koblenz

Last-minute bookers can see the fireworks at Koblenz as part of Saga's The Rhine and her Tributaries cruise which sails from Cologne on December 27, 2015. The all-inclusive cruise on the 154- passenger Regina Rheni II with wine, beer and soft drinks served at lunch and dinner, includes stops at Cochem Castle, Bingen, in the Unesco World Heritage Middle Rhine Valley, Oberwesel, one of the largest vineyard communities of the Middle Rhine and best known for the production of Riesling wine, and Boppard, and then to Koblenz for an on-board New Year’s Eve party which will be topped by a spectacular firework display lighting up the banks of the Rhine and Moselle. On the first day of 2016, Regina Rheni II will make a return sailing to Cologne where guests will mark New Year’s Day with a visit to the magnificent cathedral and take in the sights of this glorious city. To book please call 0800 300 400 or visit saga.co.uk/rivers. Six nights from £949, departing from Folkestone to Cologne on December 27. Price includes UK travel service, return coach, Eurotunnel travel and cross channel ferry crossing, all meals, welcome cocktail party, wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner, New Year's Eve party with mulled wine, porterage, on-board gratuities.

Book by December 31, 2015

Save up to £1,000 and pay a low deposit of £250 on Emerald Waterways' new Rhine Main Discover itinerary when you book before the end of December. Reduced from £1,995 to £1,495 the eight-day cruise departs from Nuremberg and finishes in Amsterdam with a ride on a glass-roofed canal boat. Port calls inlcude Bamberg, one of Europe’s largest intact medieval town centres and Cologne, Germany’s oldest city. The fare includes flights; eight shore excursions, complimentary tea, coffee and water, local guides, free Wi-Fi, transfers and tips (saving up to £235 per couple). Departure dates from May to August 2016 (0808 115 6269; emeraldwaterways.co.uk).

The northern Bavarian town of Bamberg is a stop along the Rhine valley (AP)  Photo: AP

All-inclusive deals

MSC Cruises is offering all-inclusive drinks on summer and winter 2016/17 sailings booked before February 29, 2016. The Allegrissimo package includes unlimited drinks including cocktails; a dedicated selection of wines by the glass; draught beer; soft drinks and milkshakes and smoothies. It also includes drinks from Italian coffee selection and gelato. The offer is valid on both fly-cruise and cruise-only holidays. Allegrissimo normally costs £22 per person per night (children £10 per night) which means a saving of £448 for a family of four on a seven-night sailing. (020 3426 3010; msccruises.co.uk)

•The world's most beautiful ports

The sand dunes at Maspalomas are a stop on Fred Olsen's Canary Islands itineraries (AP)  Photo: AP

Winter sun cruise

Fred Olsen's ‘The Canary Set’ cruise departs from Southampton on 5th January 2016, with stops in Fuerteventura and Gran Canaria for Maspalomas, plus exotic gardens and lively towns. Prices start from £799 per person (0800 0355 242; fredolsencruises.com).

Three cruises for two

Three cruises for the price of two; free tips and up to £100 cashback per person are available on Fred Olsen cruise lines for some itineraries booked before March 2, 2016. To benefit from 'three for two' passengers can book three cruises at the same time, with the same lead name on all 2016/17 itineraries and get the cheapest cruise free of charge (excludes Black Watch’s Arctic Explorer cruise). "Free Tips & Tipples" is available on cruises with durations of between five and 35 nights and includes selected house wines, beers, spirits and soft drinks on board. £100 per person cashback is available on 20 cruises in 2016 but must be booked by January 31, 2016. The cashback is given as an onboard account credit for use during the cruise. (0800 0355 242; fredolsencruises.com).

Special offers are available for cruises on AmaDagio for those who book now (AmaWaterways)  Photo: AmaWaterways

Free flights from UK airports

Set sail on a wine-themed Rhone & Provence cruise on March 25, 2016 on board AmaDagio and fly for free from London, Manchester, Birmingham or Glasgow. The price includes flights, non-UK transfers, wine, beer and soft drinks with meals, excursions, Wi-Fi and use of bicycles in port and port taxes. The cruise visits Lyon, Belleville, Vienne, Tournon, Viviers and Arles. From £1,599 flying from Manchester. (0808 256 8422; AmaWaterways.co.uk).

Family-friendly prices

P&O Cruises is offering a 14-night Iberia cruise on family friendly Ventura from £799 per person. Departing on March 6, 2016, the price includes round-the-clock children's clubs and entertainment on board. Departing round-trip from Southampton ports of call include Lisbon, Cadiz, Gibraltar, Cartagena, Malaga, Casablanca and Madeira. Set sail in January on a 15-night Caribbean cruise on Azura from £1,599 per person. Departs January 23, 2016, including flights from selected UK airports. Departs round-trip from Barbados and visits Bonaire, Curacao, Aruba, Amber Cove, Tortola, St Maarten, Antigua and Grenada (0843 373 0111; pocruises.com)

Cruise deals are available on P&O's family-friendly ship Ventura (P&O)  Photo: P&O

Hidden Treasures of the Mediterranean

The Luxury Cruise Company (020 7838 5991; theluxurycruisecompany.com) is offering an exclusive 35-day cruise on-board Azamara Journey, Azamara Club Cruises, from £6,300 per person based on two sharing a Club Interior Stateroom on a full-board basis. This cruise includes 29 ports of call (including five overnight port stays), return airport transfers, free return flights from London, Manchester, Newcastle, Edinburgh and Glasgow. Valid for travel on April 20 2016. Subject to availability.

Telegraph Travel Show: start planning your next adventure

Levison Wood, Monty Halls and Will Greenwood will be among the celebrity speakers at next month's inaugural Telegraph Travel Show, which aims to inspire, advise and help you plan your next great adventure.

Over 200 exhibitors - from the leading tour operators and cruise lines to the best tourist boards - will be offering insights, tips and exclusive show-only offers.

Telegraph Travel experts will also be on hand to answer your questions at the Genius Bar, while exotic food from around the world and wine tasting sessions are among the other attractions.

The event takes place at the ExCeL London from January 8-10. See http://ift.tt/1QoDxc3 for full details. Telegraph readers can claim a third off all entry tickets with the discount code: TELETRAVEL16.

Share on Google Plus

About Unknown

My blog is the place to update the latest information on sports, science and technology ... If you found this article good, useful please the share for others to see, even if you want to design a ecommerce website or web edit or set a special plugin functionality, please contact us now (Information in the footer)