Clear the decks at home and stretch out on ours for a while on a short cruise. In April 2024 you can escape to the Mediterranean for Easter, coinciding next year with the western church calendar, and stay on in Athens to experience the colourful pageantry of the Orthodox festival. In the summer, a series of six short cruises brings the chance to explore Atlantic isles and different areas of the Mediterranean. You can cruise from London via Tresco to Madeira and round off your holiday with an overnight stay in the renowned Reid�s Hotel, or start with a night here and then join Minerva to cruise to southern Spain.

Other slipaways include Corsica, Elba and Ischia; the Italian coast to Ravenna and Venice; the Dalmatian coastline from Venice to Dubrovnik and Corfu; or pretty Greek islands plus Istanbul.