1. Stress-free Christmas preparations
Cruising at Christmas grants guests a free pass from all the hassle of planning, decorating, cooking, entertaining visitors and cleaning up at home. Instead, you can spend your time booking your dream trip and planning activities to do at the ports of call. Then, embark the ship and sit back and relax for the whole journey! Almost all cruise ships go the extra mile in making Christmas cruises merrier, ensuring that travellers don’t miss out on the timeless Christmas traditions even on board!
2. Early and long celebrations
The holiday festivities typically last for a week on a Cruise-mas, so you can enjoy the magical moments much earlier and for longer than usual. Spend each day at sea like it’s December 25th, as the seasonal spirit is always in full swing throughout the duration of your cruise. Christmas sailings generally begin in late November or early December and even stretch past New Year, so every day is like a holiday on board!
3. Ornate decorations and magical atmosphere
Every Christmas season, cruise ships transform into a winter wonderland, brimming with twinkling lights, ornate decorations and a kaleidoscope of colours! The public areas, from the halls to entertainment facilities and restaurants, are decked out in style. Royal Caribbean takes decorations on holiday cruises to the next level – every ship in its fleet has a giant Christmas tree as the atrium’s main centrepiece. The line also creates an entire gingerbread village, complete with gumdrop roofs and a train set, and the Royal Promenade and Royal Esplanade are also adorned with tasteful holiday displays.
4. Festive fare and holiday-inspired beverages
What’s Christmas without a festive fare? A special menu is offered throughout holiday sailings, offering everything from sumptuous oven-roasted turkey to themed sweet treats, to make every dining experience more memorable! Bars and lounges on board the ships of Celebrity Cruises serve holiday-inspired cocktails, such as candy cane and gingerbread martinis plus seasonal favourites, including classic mulled wine and creamy hot chocolate. The best part? You get to satisfy your taste buds with delectable food without the stress of cooking or cleaning up after yourself!
5. Themed entertainment programmes
The fun just never stops on board a Christmas cruise, with all the exciting activities and entertainment programmes you can enjoy! From grand parades and sing-alongs to holiday movie screenings and themed musical productions, you’ll be immersed in an atmosphere of holly, jolly cheer. MSC Cruises hosts a wide range of delightful festivities for guests of all ages, including Santa’s extravaganza for kids, Christmas Prom for teens and a White Christmas Night for adults. Meanwhile, Princess Cruises offer gingerbread house construction games, card-making activities and holiday films on the Movies Under the Stars screen.
