A Holiday to Remember: Cruising at Christmas and New Year

Christmas at Sea

Every Christmas, it’s a universal tradition to exchange presents and gather with family at home. But how about adding an extra sprinkle of enchantment to the holidays and break from the usual stay-in celebrations? Here are some reasons why you should consider spending Christmas at sea…

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.

Journey of Joy

When you’re not spending magical moments at sea, you can discover incredible destinations during the most beautiful season of the year. Get your mittens ready for a colourful Christmas market adventure or swap your woolly hat for a cap, as you visit sun-drenched winter sun locations…

1. Colourful Christmas markets

Every major city prepares for their traditional Christmas markets as early as November. MSC Cruises is known for its Christmas Market getaways, transporting travellers to the most charming European cities with the best Christmas Markets, including Hamburg, Rotterdam and Bruges! Explore over 30 Christmas markets in Hamburg, with stalls selling handmade crafts, decorations, and sweet traditional treats. Or stroll around Bruges, a quaint city that turns into a fairy-tale wonderland, where you can taste delicious Belgian chocolates and locally brewed beer!

2. Warm winter sun cruises

If you’re looking for an entirely different Christmas season, a winter sun cruise is perfect for you! Prepare for a voyage like no other, docking at some of the best sun-drenched locations on earth, such as the Caribbean, Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand. Swap snow and cold weather blues for sandy beaches, endless sunshine and laid-back, culture-rich towns. And if you don't want to be too far away from home, the Canary Islands make an ideal destination for a winter sun cruise as it remains mild and balmy in winter. Several cruise lines offer winter sun sailings with various itineraries, including Norwegian Cruise Line and P&O Cruises, so you’ll be spoiled for choice!

3. Magical Northern Lights

Catch the mesmerising display of lights gracing the dark winter night skies, exclusive to parts of the Northern Hemisphere near the Arctic Circle. The poetic spectacle is called the Aurora Borealis or the Northern Lights. Hunt for the celestial ballet of green and purple waves in the skies from your cruise ship or on land. Some of the most popular destinations that offer excellent viewing spots for this elusive light show are Norway, Iceland, Sweden and Finland.

Cruising at New Year

Ring in the New Year at sea for a truly spectacular moment to remember! Most cruises sail out from Christmas all the way to New Year, but there are also some sailings that take place right after Christmas. From festive parties to special menus, there are plenty of offerings that await on board as you welcome the New Year…

1. Lavish New Year’s Eve party

Conclude the year and welcome the next in style and glee with an unforgettable New Year’s Eve party, featuring a themed night with costumes, vibrant live music and beautiful decorations. Princess Cruises has a special dinner menu exclusive for New Year’s Eve, plus a complimentary glass of champagne for a toast. You can also expect a ‘balloon drop’ at midnight that creates a dramatic and colourful effect. Royal Caribbean also hosts a balloon and confetti drop on the Promenade, Esplanade and Centrum. The line also distributes party gifts for guests, as well as decorative headbands and party horns.

2. Exuberant firework display

What’s a New Year celebration without exuberant firework displays? Cruise ships will often sail via coastal cities so guests can catch the glamorous sparkle catapulting towards the sky from their balcony, while others will stay overnight in port to let guests experience the buzzing, traditional New Year festivities ashore. Select cruise lines make the effort to organise their own fireworks display, that guests can witness on deck for a highlight of their cruise journey!

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