The best cruises for every month of the year

From fjord passages to sun-kissed journeys through the Canaries, we have the best cruise journeys for your 2022 travel plans.

There’s nothing quite like a wish-list holiday at sea. The uniqueness of spending your days and nights on the big blue sea, seamlessly moving from destination to destination and culture to culture without the fuss of hopping on transportation, checking into hotels, and unpacking your luggage. The comfort, ease, and value of a well-executed cruise can be difficult to beat.

Sure, we love ourselves a land-based getaway - but taking in a sunset cocktail from the top deck of an Ambassador or Fred Olsen vessel while the ocean spray mists through your hair is one of most memorable ways to unwind!

But where do you begin? Perhaps you’re a seafaring pro, having spent many a vacation onboard a cruise ship. Maybe you’re a little newer to cruises and need some guidance. Wherever you are in your cruising journey, we can help you get some fantastic ideas.

The best cruises for every month of the year

We're taking a look at the ocean cruises setting sail in 2023, and judging by value, food, activities, destinations, and itineraries, bringing the must-do cruises for each month. Whether you have always dreamed of waking up to Norway’s fjords or catching some winter sun in the Canaries, this is your chance to take the adventure of a lifetime. 

Best cruise in January 2022: Exploring Southern Spain

• Who will love this - anyone craving some much-needed winter warmth
• Highlights - the majestic Alhambra Palace, sampling authentic paella (Valencia’s signature dish), the dazzling onboard programme of evening entertainment, including cabaret, comedy, and live music
• Destinations - Southampton, Malaga, Valencia, Cartagena, Cadiz
• Duration - 13 days
• Departure date - 18 January 2022 
• Cruise line - Fred. Olsen
• Price - from £799pp

Best cruise in February 2022: Ancient Adriatic with Venice

• Who will love this - history lovers and die-hard Italian foodies
• Highlights - a gondola ride along Venice’s charming canals, sailing the epic Strait of Messina with the imposing Mount Etna in view, the UNESCO-listed World Heritage sites of Dubrovnik and Split’s old towns
• Destinations - Southampton, Cartagena, Valletta, Venice, Dubrovnik, Cagliari
• Duration - 20 days
• Departure date - 13 February 2022
• Cruise line - Fred. Olsen
• Price - from £1999pp

Best cruise in March 2022: Classic Iceland

• Who will love this - adventure seekers and relaxation lovers alike
• Highlights - the geothermal baths of the Blue Lagoon, whale and dolphin spotting in Akureyri, the powerful Gullfoss Waterfall, Geysir hot springs, the awe-inspiring Northern Lights
• Destinations - Liverpool, Reykjavik, Isafjordur, Akureyri, 
• Duration - 10 days
• Departure date - 13 March 2022 
• Cruise line - Fred. Olsen
• Price - from £849pp
  

Best cruise in April 2022: Springtime Tulips and Floriade Expo

• Who will love this - colour seekers and botanical experts/enthusiasts
• Highlights - five-course à la carte dinners and lunch buffets on-board, the seasonal delights of the Keukenhof Gardens, the spectacular Floriade Horticulture Expo
• Destinations - Southampton, Amsterdam, Rotterdam
• Duration - 6 days
• Departure date - 29 April 2022
• Cruise line - Fred. Olsen
• Price - from £699pp
  

Best cruise in May 2022: French Riviera & the Monaco Grand Prix

• Who will love this - racing enthusiasts and sophisticated holidaymakers
• Highlights - the Monaco Grand Prix, the glamorous French towns of Cannes and Bandol, the fascinating Spanish towns of Barcelona and Alicante
• Destinations - Southampton, Alicante, Barcelona, Cannes, Gibraltar
• Duration - 14 days
• Departure date - 22 May 2022
• Cruise line - Fred. Olsen
• Price - from £1599pp

Best cruise in June 2022: Scenic Isles of Scotland from Belfast

• Who will love this - cruise fans who are hoping to see more of their backyard 
• Highlights - the Dutchman’s Cap volcanic rock formations, the striking basalt columns of Fingal’s Cave, the UNESCO-listed Neolithic village of Skara Brae
• Destinations - Belfast, Bute, Mull, Skye, Kirkwall, Liverpool
• Duration - 9 days
• Departure date - 10 June 2022
• Cruise line - Fred. Olsen
• Price - from £1299pp

Best cruise in July 2022: Baltic States with St Petersburg

• Who will love this - Soviet history buffs and architecture lovers
• Highlights - overnight stay in the fascinating city of St Petersburg, the golden domes along the River Neva, Estonia’s 14th century-built Kuressaare Castle
• Destinations - Edinburgh, Tallinn, St. Petersburg, Riga, Klaipeda
• Duration - 14 days
• Departure date - 16 July 2022
• Cruise line - Fred. Olsen
• Price - from £1999pp

Best cruise in August 2022: Summertime Norwegian Fjords

• Who will love this - those in search of Scandinavian simplicity
• Highlights - the breathtaking Mount Fløyen, Fløibanen funicular railway, Furebergfossen Waterfall
• Destinations - Newcastle, Bergen, Hardangerfjord, Eidjford
• Duration - 6 days
• Departure date - 27 August 2022
• Cruise line - Fred. Olsen
• Price: from £799pp

Best cruise in September 2022: British Isles Discovery Cruise

• Who will love this - fans of fall foliage
• Highlights - Belfast’s historic harbour and Titanic Quarter, the island scenery of Orkney, Mull and the Isle of Skye, full use of the ship’s impressive leisure facilities
• Destinations - London Tilbury, Orkney Isles, Skye, Mull, Belfast, Isles of Scilly, Guernsey
• Duration - 12 days 
• Departure date - 01 September 2022
• Cruise line - Ambassador
• Price - from £989pp

Best cruise in October 2022: Grand Black Sea & Mediterranean

• Who will love this - travellers looking to experience a month at sea
• Highlights - wine-producing Portugal, historic Sicily, the East-meets-West wonders of Istanbul, sailing up the Bosphorus into the Black Sea
• Destinations - Tilbury, Leixoes, Cadiz, Sicily, Burgas, Odessa, Istanbul, Haifa, Alexandria, Gibraltar
• Duration - 33 days 
• Departure date - 23 October 2022
• Cruise line - Ambassador
• Price - from £2669pp

Best cruise in November 2022: Canaries, Madeira & Morocco Winter Sunshine

• Who will love this - sun-seekers and island lovers
• Highlights - the romance of Casablanca, the sunny shores of Funchal in Madeira, winter warmth, the Gardening and Wildlife themed activities on-board
• Destinations - Tilbury, Vigo, Madeira, Las Palmas, Tenerife, Casablanca, Leixoes
• Duration - 16 days
• Departure date - 24 November 2022
• Cruise line - Ambassador
• Price - from £1229pp

Best cruise in December 2022: German Christmas Markets

• Who will love this - festive fans and winter dreamers
• Highlights - mulled wine and Belgian waffles at Hamburg's Rathausmarkt, the on-board Cricketing Legends event series
• Destinations - London Tilbury, Hamburg, Antwerp
• Duration - 6 days
• Departure date - 11 December 2022 
• Cruise line - Ambassador
• Price - from £509pp