As winter sets in, we all dream of escaping the chilly British climate and heading off for a dose of unseasonal sunshine.

Most of us confine our dreams of a winter break to a week or so, but there is a way to give the worst of a British winter a miss altogether.

Every January, just as the rest of us are recovering from the excesses of Christmas, getting back to our everyday routines and bracing ourselves for the long, dreary haul towards spring, some lucky souls are packing their trunks and preparing for a grand adventure.

They're off on a cruise - and not just for a couple of weeks. Having signed up to sail around the world, they can look forward to three glorious months of sunshine and relaxation on a leisurely journey which will take them to revisit old holiday haunts and discover new treasures in far-flung corners of the earth.

The chance to take a world cruise has long been cited by Pools and Lottery winners as an essential element of their lavish new lifestyle. Look at some of the ports of call featured in around the world cruise brochures and it's easy to see the appeal.

But you don't have to be a Lottery winner to enjoy a World cruise. Many cruise lines offer affordable 'sectors' of World cruises