5 Cruises To Help Shake Off Blue Monday

Although many people point to the lack of science to back it up, the third Monday in January is apparently the worst day of the year and has been coined Blue Monday. The third week of January part comes from the fact that, for many people, the last pay day was before Christmas and the next one is only just on the horizon. And the Monday part is because…well, because it’s Monday.

Anyway, whether you agree with it being a depressing day or not, here are five cruises that will give you something to look forward to and help you dream of warmer climates.

One region that guarantees sunshine is the Caribbean and Royal Caribbean have a plethora of choices on board their 25 ships. This particularly itinerary is a round-trip from Fort Lauderdale and will take you Puerto Rico, St Kitts, St Maarten and the cruise line’s own private resort in Haiti - Labadee. As well as making the most of the fantastic weather, you can opt for shore excursions that including hiking up a volcano in St Kitts and snorkelling off the coast of St Maarten.

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ smaller ships mean that even the hardest to reach ports can be visited. And that includes those that lie inland as well as on the coast. Throughout 2017, the operator is offering a number of cruises that allow you to stop at river ports and this is a perfect example. Starting and finishing in Southampton, you will sail down the Seine to reach Rouen and down the Gironde and Garonne Rivers to stop in Bordeaux. Shore excursions will give you the opportunity to sample some of the famous red wine in this region and tour the Gothic cathedral at Rouen.

The Baltic region my not offer the temperatures that Caribbean or Mediterranean cruises can boast, but it is filled with fascinating cities such as Tallinn, St Petersburg and Stockholm. On this Queen Elizabeth cruise, you will visit each of the ports mentioned above, along with Copenhagen and the Danish city of Skagen. You’ll also transit the Kiel Canal on a round-trip from Southampton. Optional shore excursions include exploring the inland waterways of the Swedish capital and touring the world famous Hermitage Museum.

Another round-trip from Southampton, this Iberian cruise takes you to two of the most popular ports in the world. Last year, Lisbon was named as the most visited cruise port – something which we looked at in a dedicated blog post. The other much-loved port we speak of is Portugal’s second city, Porto. Here, you can learn of the rich maritime history, sample some fantastic port wine or ride the famous tram. On your way to Portugal, you’ll visit the Spanish city of Vigo to see its stunning cathedral and, on the way back home, you’ll stop in Guernsey for the beautiful gardens and coastal vistas.

If you are looking for something more luxurious and all-inclusive – maybe you’re celebrating a milestone birthday or anniversary – this cruise is perfect. Oceania cruises offer a great selection of extended sailings throughout 2017 and this one focusses on the history of the Middle East. Travelling from Mumbai to Athens, you will stop in Oman, Jordan, Israel and Egypt. You’ll also experience a transit of the Suez Canal and stop in the Greek islands or Rhodes, Patmos and Santorini. Amongst the history-focussed shore excursions, there’s the opportunity to visit the lost city of Petra and discover Egypt’s Valley of the Kings.

These are excellent options to help combat Blue Monday. However, if you want to see where else you could visit in 2017, check out our brand new 2017 cruise finder.