Last-minute Fred Olsen and Wowcher cruise deals for Christmas markets and winter sun from £89

It is time to escape the UK, at least for a while. Because the weather appears to be getting more miserable by the day, we have looked into cruise deals that involve either traditional short Christmassy breaks or glorious winter sun.

There is currently a sale on deals site Wowcher whereby mini cruises to Amsterdam’s Christmas market are available from £89 per person, a saving of 62% off the regular price of £231.50 per person.

And the trip has got plenty of good reviews, one five-star review reads: “Friendly staff, enjoyable and relaxing mini cruise to Amsterdam with friends and kids.

“Thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and would definitely visit again. Looking to see where I want to visit for my next trip already.”

Another said: “An amazing cheap break away, would love to do it more often.”

Passengers have two nights to make the most of the ship’s onboard facilities and a day exploring Amsterdam’s Christmas markets and winter attractions with coach transfer to and from the ship to the city centre.

One potential drawback is that ships leave from South Shields, Newcastle, so that’s fine for Yorkshire folk but quite a long way for readers from the West Country, for example. Readers can find out more here.

Of course, unless travellers are willing to join the crew of a Portuguese trawler fishing for sardines in the Atlantic, cruises offering winter sun do not cost less than £100.

Sorry, we just couldn’t find any.

However, there are some last-minute winter-sun cruise deals available via Fred Olsen Cruises, including one trip to the Canary Islands and Madeira.

Priced at £1,999 per person, the 14-night cruise works out at about £143 per night and sails from Liverpool on Monday, December 7. Readers can find out more here.

Fred Olsen also has a Christmas market deal, offering a six-night cruise taking in Hamburg and the French harbour town of Honfleur.

The ship sails from Southampton on Wednesday, December 16. At a price of £999, that works out at £166.50 per person per night.

For those without their sea legs, Wowcher also has a number of deals on Christmas market city breaks including flights and hotel accommodation:

• Paris Christmas Market stay with flights and hotel - from £99, a 31% saving
• Berlin Christmas Market city break with flights and hotel - from £89, a 51% saving
• Budapest Christmas Market stay with flights and hotel - from £89, a 36% saving
• Copenhagen Christmas Market stay with flights and hotel - from £99, a 48% saving
• Prague Christmas Market stay with flights and hotel - from £99, a 33% saving

Jet2 is also offering Christmas market breaks to destinations such as Vienna, Krakow, Tallinn and other destinations you can see here.