Table Of Content
A Christmas cruise also lets you escape winter weather and icy roads, frozen fingers, or snow days. It can also be easier to arrange for family members from distant homes to get together when you’re all on the same ship, rather than juggling many different schedules and commitments. After the holiday, you don’t have the hassle of cleaning up after the exuberance or putting away decorations – you just have to unpack your luggage after the cruise.
Festive Stockings for the Whole Family
It will be the line's first ship that features suites with exclusive access to a private restaurant, lounge and sun deck. Sun Princess will also boast an innovative new "cabana cabin" along the ship's extra-wide 10th deck with access to a private deck area. The cruise doesn't call on Australian ports, but you can easily tack on a land-based pre- or post-cruise stay since the ship sails from Sydney. Access Disney Cruise Line's newest private island when you sail Disney Fantasy this Christmas.
Ensuring Smooth Travel
Yet, at the heart of it all is the universal sentiment of Christmas – a time of love, reflection, and celebration. Remember, a Christmas cruise is as much about the journey as the destinations. By being proactive, embracing the onboard offerings, and keeping a few key tips in mind, you can ensure a festive voyage that might just become your new favorite holiday tradition. Depending on your preferences – be it tropical beaches, historic cities, or icy landscapes – there’s a Christmas cruise just waiting to be explored.
Mother Faces Charges After Leaving Kids Home as She Goes on a Cruise
It's never too early to plan your holiday getaway, especially as these cruises are among the quickest to sell out. Here are the best Christmas and New Year's cruises still available in 2024 and holiday sailings in 2025 to book now, as well as some useful tips about holiday cruise travel. Many guests even bring Christmas gifts onboard to exchange with family members on the cruise, as well as extra gifts for crew members who are celebrating the holidays far from their own families.

Night South America CruiseDetails
Get into the holiday spirit while sailing around Australia and New Zealand. Or spend Christmas Eve during a once-in-a-lifetime cruise around the Galapagos Islands. Spend an unforgettable vacation on one of our Christmas cruises, where you’ll enjoy the spirit of the season while sailing to some of the most spectacular destinations around the world. Whatever style you're looking to celebrate in, you'll cruise through this year's holiday season stress-free. Whether you celebrate Christmas or Hannukah, you’ll find your most treasured holiday traditions at sea — with festive tree and menorah lighting ceremonies on every sailing in December.
Loss Of Family Traditions
More than one passenger is likely to be wearing a Santa hat, whimsical antlers, a light-up necklace, seasonal sweater, or other holiday attire. Menus are infused with holiday favorites and seasonal drinks with hot chocolate, eggnog, cranberry, or pumpkin may appear as specials during Christmas sailings. No matter what holiday you may celebrate – or none at all – these fabulous facets of a cruise vacation are always available. While there may be more holiday touches on board during the Christmas season, you never need to worry about the basics of a cruise vacation being neglected. Aboard our ship decked out in festive décor, travel to some of the most fascinating destinations in the country as you are treated to the best in holiday-inspired cuisine, music, and onboard and onshore enrichment. Unless you sail with an adult-only cruise line, there will be lots of children onboard due to having off from school.
A blend of tradition and luxury, Princess Cruises offers a quintessential Christmas experience. For those seeking an intimate and culturally immersive Christmas experience, Viking River Cruises offers the perfect setting. If you’re not a fan of the cold, a Christmas cruise can be a warm haven. Many itineraries, especially those in the Caribbean, Australasia, or the South Pacific, promise balmy weather and sun-drenched beaches. The Christmas festivities, which begin the day after Thanksgiving and run through December 25, culminate in a delicious Christmas dinner.
tropical holiday fun
Cruise ships are usually decorated by early December, and in some cases by Thanksgiving. We also found a lunch option on Saturday with matzoh ball soup and potato latkas (super yummy), but I’m thinking this may have just been a regular part of the main dining room lunch menu. As part of the Christmas Day activities for children, one of Santa’s helpers read stories aloud to children sitting listening intently (and some less … the excitement of the day lol!). For those that wanted an official photo with Santa, the ship’s photographer was there. There were a couple of Holiday shows featuring the cruise line singers and dancers in the main theater.
Carnival Christmas Dinner Menu Released - Cruise Hive
Carnival Christmas Dinner Menu Released.
Posted: Mon, 04 Dec 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]
You will never forget the memories that you make on a Christmas Holiday cruise to paradise. The line understands its family-forward "fun" ships are built for cheery escapes, and its Christmas celebrations fit perfectly into that world. Seasonal holiday events include Christmas caroling, an ugly sweater competition and a live holiday show with appearances by Santa and the Grinch. They can't be at home celebrating with their families because they're working hard to make your holiday special. While gratuities are often included in your fare or added automatically to your final bill, consider tipping extra on a Christmas cruise.
In this post, we’ve gone over the various festivities, activities, as well as how the cruise ship will be decorated for Christmas and the holiday season. Christmas and holiday cruises are very popular with families and children, and the cruise ship will be sailing at full capacity. Everyone onboard is in the festive spirit, and the ships are beautifully decorated. You get to enjoy a fantastic meal with no stress or clean-up, and there are lots of fun activities you can take part in.
A New Year cruise lets you get Christmas at home out of the way first, and then escape for a fantastic cruise. There are always workarounds though, or compromises that are worth making because of how special a Christmas cruise is. We ordered room service for breakfast on Christmas Day so that we could enjoy it in bed with our presents. That’s not to say you can’t do these on a cruise – though it would be frowned upon if you went to the buffet or dining room without getting properly dressed. I think that’s part of what makes a Christmas cruise worth trying – you get to break from the norm and try something different, while still preserving the spirit of what makes Christmas such a wonderful time of the year.
Coeur d'Alene Christmas Cruise returns, this time with a renovated North Pole - The Spokesman Review
Coeur d'Alene Christmas Cruise returns, this time with a renovated North Pole.
Posted: Sun, 26 Nov 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]
A holiday sailing can dramatically reduce the traditional craziness of the season. Instead, those tasks are taken care of by the ship’s crew, and guests can truly relax and enjoy the season. If you want to be sure you are onboard a holiday sailing, check the dates carefully or contact the cruise line to ensure their seasonal celebrations will be in full swing on your departure date.
Ocean cruises tend to focus more on Northern Europe, particularly Belgium and the Netherlands, for these cruises. Cruise line Santas tend to be pretty authentic too – these aren’t the Santas you’d meet in a shopping centre where you can spot the fake beard from a mile away. It all makes for a more magical experience for the kids (and the big kids) in your group.
Whether your regular Christmas scene features buckets of rain or a howling snowstorm, you’ll get the opportunity to escape it all and enjoy the tropical sunshine instead. From Mexico to the Caribbean and right over to The Bahamas, there are plenty of holiday cruise destinations just waiting for you. Rest assured, this Christmas season is ready to bring you plenty of tropical joy.
Everyone has their own Christmas traditions that they do every year, and on a cruise ship you’ll see elements of those everywhere as you get chatting with other guests, or see the events taking place onboard. One of the best things about Christmas is the way that everything looks so pretty when decorated – whether that’s your own home, your street, or your town. But trust me, you ain’t seen nothing until you’ve seen a cruise ship decked out for the festive season. If you’re traveling with family or friends, consider packing small, lightweight gifts for Christmas morning. Also, some passengers like to bring small tokens or cards for the cruise staff as a thank-you for working during the holidays. While you’ll be packing your regular cruise wear, don’t forget some holiday-themed clothes.