By Sara Macefield, Travel Writer

Cruising offers the perfect holiday for all seasons whether you're a sun-lover wanting to sail to sultry hotspots or a snow and ice fan keen to encounter cool climates.

Never before has there been such a wide range of destinations for cruise passengers to explore – and the choice continues to grow.

When it comes to following the sun, the biggest destination is the Caribbean - the world's most popular cruising ground, packed with beautiful scenery, tropical weather and thousands of idyllic islands.

Virtually every cruise line sails to this corner of the globe and the best time to go is during winter when the weather is more settled and there is no threat of hurricanes.

This is when you'll find the best pick of cruises, from the world's largest ships to the smallest. From busy, buzzing cruise stops such as St Thomas, Antigua and St Maarten to tiny deserted islands in the Bahamas, Grenadines or British Virgin Islands where you may be the only ship.

Opt for a three or four-day cruise from Florida to the Bahamas or four-week voyages that include islands in the east and west Caribbean, plus an unforgettable trip through the Panama Canal.

Closer to home, the Mediterranean is a long-standing summer hotspot packed with culture and history against a backdrop of beautiful scenery and classical old cities.

Cruise from the UK or fly to a European port such as Barcelona or Venice and sail to popular spots such as Naples or Civitavecchia (for Rome), and Athens where the wonders of ancient civilisations await.

For some Eastern promise, take a trip along the Persian Gulf and experience the different desert cultures and tribal traditions of this intoxicating region on one-week cruises from Dubai that run during winter and spring.

Alternatively, continue eastwards to Asia where there is a growing range of voyages. Some cruise lines even base ships in the region to offer regular sailings throughout the year.

The main ports tend to be Hong Kong, Bangkok and Singapore, which are well-served by flights from the UK, but ships also sail to areas such as Vietnam, Shanghai, the Philippines and Indonesia.

Cruising is an ideal way to explore Australia and New Zealand, along with numerous exotic islands dotted throughout the South Pacific.

Hawaii is another popular Pacific stop. Some voyages start in the islands while others sail from American cities including Los Angeles or San Diego, giving travellers a chance to get a taste of mainland USA where they can add a few days on pre or post cruise.

During the summer months, Bermuda is another ideal cruising spot with ships sailing from New York and spending a few days at the island before sailing back.

Not only can it work out cheaper than staying in a hotel, but many cruise passengers take the chance to combine the cruise with a city stay in the Big Apple too.

The Indian Ocean is ripe for discovery by ship where islands such as Mauritius and the Seychelles offer an idyllic tropical escape, while the east coast of Africa and ports such as Mombasa open up the chance to go on safari.

Alternatively, take the temperature down and put on your cold weather gear to tackle the Polar regions which offer an irresistible combination of superb wildlife-spotting and an untouched habitat.

In summer, the Arctic Circle is the place for beautiful scenery and virtual 24-hour daylight along with the chance to spot polar bears, reindeer, whales and walrus plus countless species of birds.

During the winter months, this region is popular for its famous natural light-show as the famous Northern Lights illuminate the skies – another popular draw for cruise ships.

Most Arctic sailings follow the Norwegian coast, while expeditionary ships with ice-strengthened hulls continue further north to the Russian Arctic and the Barents Sea.

Other cruises may call at Iceland before sailing westwards to Greenland with its icy promise of beautiful mountains, spectacular vast glaciers and beautiful fjords.

Winter is also the turn of Antarctica to show off its spectacular vista of massive icebergs and mountain ranges with colonies of penguins, seals and seabirds.

But cruises here are only feasible during a small window between November and February at the height of the Southern Hemisphere summer.

The Arctic tends to feature in cruises that visit the Norwegian fjords, with some cruises departing from UK ports.

However, the Antarctic is considerably harder to get to, involving flights to South America and a few days' sailing across the notorious Drake's Passage before the ship reaches the so-called White Continent.

Another highly popular cruising area known for its stunning scenery, fabulous wildlife and adventurous excursions is Alaska.

These cruises depart from ports along the east coast of North America such as Seattle, San Francisco or Vancouver and follow one of two routes – the classic Inside Passage or the Glacier Route.

Either way, you will get to experience the majestic wilderness of this unspoilt land and its rich wildlife-spotting opportunities with bears, countless birds, whales and dolphins.