Cruise Lines

Still wondering what to do this Christmas? Why not escape all the hassle of cooking, washing-up and being nice to auntie by escaping on a cruise?

To help with the budget, Cruise and Maritime Voyages (0845 833 9798) has slashed £800 per person off the cost of their Caribbean Christmas cruise on Marco Polo.

The cruise departs Tilbury on December 6 and gets back on January 10. You'll spend Christmas Eve in Aruba, and Christmas Day and New Year's Day at sea.

Prices start from £1,999 per person for an inside cabin - that's just £57 a night - or £2,699 for a room with a view.

Oceania Cruises (0845 505 1920) special offer this week is not for the Christmas period, but with discounts of £625 per stateroom on cruises in Alaska, plus $1,000 on-board credit, it'll help to get you in the festive spirit.

The cruise line is making its Alaska debut next summer, offering a selection of 12 and 14-day cruises around the 49th state with new prices from £1,406 per person cruise-only.

Island Cruises' (0871 231 3253) free all-inclusive drinks package - as much beer, wine, liquor, fizzy pop as you can drink, as well as selected cocktails - will certainly get you in the festive spirit. It's available if you book any 2011 cruise before October 31 2010.

The cruise line's one ship, Island Escape, will be sailing in the Canary Islands in winter 2011, then relocating to Palma, Mallorca, for seven-night cruises around the Med in summer.

To avoid another Watchdog incident (Island Cruises is owned by Thomson Cruises) please note that Island is a budget brand with an old ship, and all about casual cruising, with no dress code and self-service meals.

Put it another way, you do not get a luxury cruise paying £654 per person - and that includes flights and all meals don't forget - for seven nights in the Canaries. You have been warned.