CARIBBEAN CRACKER

Visit the inspiration for Robert Louis Stevenson's classic Treasure Island on the beautiful Royal Clipper tall ship. As well as Norman Island in the British Virgin Islands, you'll also visit Barbados, St Barts, Antigua, St Kitts and St Lucia.
To get you in the Christmas spirit, Royal Clipper's masts are decorated like Christmas trees with twinkling lights and there is plenty of festive fare.
Star Clippers (0845 200 6145/starclippers.co.uk) offers a 10-night British Virgin Islands cruise from £1,775pp (two sharing), full board. Departs Barbados December 17, 2011. Return flights with BA from Gatwick to Barbados from £1,535pp.

FILL YOUR BOOTS

For Christmas in the heart of Europe, board the AmaLegro in Nuremberg, a city of Gothic churches and 900-year-old ramparts.
Visit the historic city of W¼rzburg and medieval town of Wertheim for a wine-tasting walking tour. A highlight is Cologne with its striking cathedral and festive markets.
Leave your shoes outside your cabin door on Christmas Eve and they will be filled with sweets. The voyage ends in Amsterdam where you can enjoy two extra nights on board over new year (December 30 and 31).

AmaWaterways (0808 223 5009/amawaterways.co.uk) offers a seven-night river cruise from £1,195pp (two sharing), full board. Departs Nuremberg, December 23, 2011. Return flights with AirBerlin from Stansted to Nuremberg and return from Amsterdam available from £225.

SEA THE JUNGLE

Travel through the Amazon basin on the motor yacht Tucano. You may see pink river dolphins, iguanas, wild orchids, caiman (small crocodiles) and howler monkeys.
There are walks through the rainforest and canoe trips down small tributaries. The yacht has a maximum of 18 passengers and offers simple accommodation with hearty meals.
Celebrate Christmas with Brazil's national drink, the Caipirinha.
Gap Adventures (0844 272 0000/ gadventures.com) offers a nine-day Brazil Amazon cruise from £1,399pp (two sharing), full board. Departs Manaus December 23, 2011. Virgin Atlantic (0844 209 2770/virginatlantic.com) offers return flights from London to Miami from £1,233. TAM Airlines (from UK 00 44 20 8741 2005/tam.com) offers return flights from Miami to Manaus from £650.

GO DOWN UNDER

For a sunshine Christmas, take a cruise on the Diamond Princess around Australia and New Zealand. Chill in one of the hot tubs or pools or catch a feature film with Movies Under the Stars. Start in the stunning city of Sydney before heading to Melbourne to ride the Puffing Billy steam train, then Tasmania to see the historic Hobart waterfront.
Next stop is New Zealand, with breathtaking scenery at Fiordland National Park. Soak up the old-world charm of Christchurch where you'll spend Christmas Day.
Princess Cruises (0845 355 5800/princess.com) offers a 13-day New Zealand round-trip cruise from Sydney from £2,749pp (two sharing), full board. Departs Sydney, December 16, 2011. Price includes flights from Heathrow to Sydney.

PARTY IN PROVENCE

The MS Rembrandt moors beneath the striking Pont d'Avignon while you explore this beautiful walled city.
Street entertainers abound and it's a great spot for last-minute Christmas shopping (blue-and-yellow Proven§al kitchenware is very pretty). Other high points on this river cruise include the massive amphitheatre of Arles and the wonderfully desolate Camargue with its wild white horses.
Expect an intimate party atmosphere (fewer than 80 passengers) and festive fare.

Noble Caledonia (020 7752 0000/noblecaledonia.com) offers a seven-night Christmas in Provence & Burgundy cruise from £1,195pp (two sharing), full-board. Price includes flights from London to Marseille and return from Lyon or Geneva and transfers. Departs Arles, December 23, 2011.