The travel hotlist: six of the best destinations for 2022
New year, new adventures! It’s time to plan your next holiday (or two) and get something in the diary to look forward to. We’ve taken stock of our favourite destinations for great escapes in 2022, and high on our wish-list are: natural beauty; fresh air; fun with friends and family; a lot of relaxation; and some cultural va-va-voom!
Norway's so now
For big spaces and wild wonders, Iona explores Norway’s beautiful west coast this summer and next.
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For architecture - Jugendstilsenteret
Visit the Jugendstilsenteret, which showcases the form’s curvaceous, decorative charms in interiors.
For wildlife - Runde Island
Well worth a visit is the spectacular aquarium at Tueneset, 3km along the coast, which has plenty of outdoor activities including feeding time at the giant seawater tank, and otter, penguin and seal-watching. Or take a boat trip to Runde Island, which is visited by up to half a million seabirds a year, not least adorable puffins.
Ready for Norway?
Start searching for your dream holiday by clicking below.
Catalan cool
The Catalonian capital of Barcelona provides a vivid mix of ancient and modern.
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Ready for Barcelona?
Visit Barcelona on selected holidays in summer 2022 on Britannia, winter 2022/23 on Iona or summer 2023 on Arvia. Some Arvia and Britannia cruises even include an overnight stay!
Stylish Santorini
A particular highlight on many Mediterranean fly-cruises is the volcanic island of Santorini, the most southern of the Cyclades islands and reputedly the site of the 'Lost City of Atlantis'.
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Ready for Santorini?
Join family-friendly Azura in summer 2022 or 2023 on a fly-cruise and step from your jet straight into your holiday in the glorious Mediterranean.
Atlantic beauties
The Atlantic islands of Madeira and Lanzarote have different personalities, and both are full of unexpected delights.
For scenery - Jameos del Agua Tourist Centre
Pioneering local artist, architect and environmentalist, César Manrique, has left his mark on the island through dramatic sculptures and structures that work in harmony with the surrounding landscape. The jaw-dropping Jameos del Agua tourist centre, which reshapes a series of volcanic tunnels and caves, must be seen to be believed.
For landscapes - Timanfaya National Park
Equally impressive on a grander scale is the spooky basalt landscape of Timanfaya National Park. A trip to stylish Teguise, considered the oldest settlement in the Canaries and home to a charming Sunday market and craft shops is highly recommended if you're lucky enough to visit Lanzarote on a Sunday. Another quirky Manrique creation, the lava-carved Lagomar, is nearby.
Ready for Lanzarote?
Visit Lanzarote on selected holidays in summer 2022 and winter 2022/23 on Iona or Ventura sailing from Southampton or join a fly-cruise on Azura. You can also explore these islands with our new Excel class ship Arvia.
For incredible views - Cabo Girão cliff
Not far from the lovely capital Funchal is the Cabo Girão cliff, which has a viewpoint with glass floors – dizzying but spectacular at 580 metres. If you are fit and feeling adventurous you can walk a levada or two (the network of irrigation channels that carries water from the rainier northwest to the drier parts of the island is a hiker’s delight).
For nature - Monte Palace Tropical Garden
More sedate but just as pretty is the array of glorious gardens, including the Monte Palace Tropical Garden and the Palheiro Gardens, both in Funchal. Don’t forget to sample Madeira’s most famous export, the eponymous sweet wine.
Ready for Madeira?
Visit Madeira on selected holidays in summer 2022 and winter 2022/23 on Iona or Ventura sailing from Southampton or join a fly-cruise on Azura. You can also explore these islands with our new Excel class ship Arvia as she bursts onto the scene with two celebratory festive cruises in December 2022.
Ready to book?
Here's a recap of the top 2022 destinations discussed in this article.
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