🌍✈️ Our 2026 Travel Plans: Cruises, Coastlines & Bucket List Adventures

2026 is officially our year of unforgettable journeys — and we couldn't be more excited for what's ahead! Between two amazing cruises with P&O and a legendary road trip through the Scottish Highlands, next year is all about ticking off dream destinations, one epic adventure at a time. 🛳️🏔️🌴

Northern Europe Bound: Iona, We’re Coming Back!

After an incredible experience onboard P&O Iona, we couldn’t resist coming back for more — and first up in 2026, we’ll be heading off on a 7-night Northern European cruise packed with culture, charm, and a dash of continental flair. 🍷🌆

Ports of call include:

• 🌷 Amsterdam (from Rotterdam), Netherlands – Canals, bikes, and stroopwafels await!
• 🍫 Bruges (from Zeebrugge), Belgium – Cobblestone streets, medieval charm, and world-famous chocolate
• 🍺 Hamburg, Germany – A modern harbour city bursting with history, architecture, and riverside vibes

Add in sea days filled with Iona’s infinity pools, sky domes, and fabulous food, and this cruise is the perfect blend of exploration and relaxation.

🚗🌄 But That’s Not All… The NC500 Is Calling!

Next, we’re heading north to take on one of the UK’s most scenic road trips — the iconic North Coast 500 in Scotland. 🏴

We’ll be spending 8 days driving the full NC500 loop, starting and ending in Inverness, exploring the rugged coastlines, dramatic lochs, windswept beaches, and remote villages of the Scottish Highlands.

Expect:

• 🏞️ Breathtaking coastal drives
• 🐑 Wild, remote landscapes
• 🏰 Hidden castles and highland history
• 🌅 Peaceful stops in places like Durness, Applecross, and Ullapool

This trip is going to be a total contrast to our cruise adventures — and that’s exactly what we love about it.

☀️ Paradise Awaits: Caribbean Cruising on Arvia

As if that wasn’t enough, later in the year we’ll be ticking off a big bucket-list adventure: a 14-night Caribbean cruise on P&O Arvia, starting with a flight straight into the heart of the tropics — Barbados! 🌴🌊  We will be celebrating our 20th Wedding Anniversary year also. 

We can’t wait to sail through turquoise waters, explore lush islands, and indulge in laid-back island life. Here’s a taste of the paradise that awaits:

Tropical stops include:

• 🏝️ Antigua – Home to 365 beaches (yes, one for every day!)
• 🌺 St Maarten – Dutch and French flair, stunning bays, and vibrant markets
• 🏔️ St Kitts – Rainforests, history, and panoramic railway views
• 🥥 Martinique – A slice of French-Caribbean culture with botanical beauty
• 🌊 Tortola – Gorgeous bays and hidden coves in the British Virgin Islands
• 🌴 St Lucia – The iconic Pitons, lush rainforests, and unforgettable scenery

And that’s just the start — with more ports, pampering on board, and those unforgettable Caribbean sunsets, this cruise promises to be pure bliss.