Extend the summer this year with Viking Cruises recently-launched Caribbean cruises and take advantage of the company’s great introductory offers with prices from £2,490 per person.

Brighten up the winter months with a trip to sun-drenched beaches and azure blue seas dotted with emerald green islands. Viking Cruises West Indies Explorer is the perfect way to banish winter blues by drifting between paradise isles in the Caribbean this winter.

Calling at nine ports in nine different countries over 11-days, the cruises offer the ideal way to explore the rich heritage of the West Indies’ colonial past. Starting in Puerto Rico, with its historic capital San Juan and lush rainforests, the scene is set for a cruise that effortlessly combines discovering the history and culture of this mesmerising region, with plenty of time to sit back and relax in the sun.

A guided tour reveals the unique character of each new island. The British influence that is still evident on the stunning island of Barbados, the fascinating mercantile history of the sugar plantations on St Kitts and  St Martin, with its contrasting French and Dutch past on each side of the island, are just a few of the highlights of the cruise.

And, when not out exploring, enjoy the glamour and elegance of Viking Star – a 930-guest, all-balcony cruise ship with multiple dining options at no extra charge, a stunning spa with pool and sauna or simply enjoy a rum punch with your feet dangled in the ship’s infinity pool.

Prices start from £2,490 including flights, nine guided tours, all meals as well as beer, wine and soft drinks at mealtimes.