Cruise companies go above and above each winter as they roll out the holly for holiday celebrations. As if endless shrimp and stunning coastlines weren’t alluring enough! Seasonal activities, festive decorations, and even more mouthwatering goodies than normal are included in these specialized sailings, which liven up the open seas. After all, it’s the season to indulge! There are options for every vacation style and price range, whether you want to zip around the Caribbean Sea with Mickey Mouse on a Disney Christmas cruise or experience luxury and intimacy onboard a European river cruise.
Disney Cruise Line
During their holiday sailing, Disney Cruise Line elevates magic to a completely new level. The U.S. Virgin Islands, Grand Cayman, and other exotic locations can be visited with a flurry of excitement from ports in Florida and Texas. The ships have a magnificent 24-foot Christmas tree as its focal point, along with garlands, poinsettias, and holiday-themed entertainment and activities. What’s the best part? All of this is in addition to the line’s extensive year-round selection. Ships light up the sky with a unique midnight spectacle that’s sure to get everyone in the holiday spirit as the only cruise line presenting fireworks at sea. Several beloved Disney characters dress up for the season, and Kris Kringle himself might make an appearance!
Princess Cruises
Princess Cruises guarantees a forecast that includes daily snowfall, whether you’re going to sunny Sydney, Australia, or the Mexican Riviera. These flurries are fake, but they have come to symbolize their holiday festivity. Once you’ve warmed up with your virtual yule log, you can meet Santa Claus or listen to the Yuletide Carolers enchant you with Christmas favorites. While the youth and teen centers throw their own Christmas celebrations, visitors can enjoy creating unique souvenir ornaments or engaging in a gingerbread house-making competition. When they sail during Hanukkah, there are additional festivities like menorah lighting, holiday decorations, themed crafts, and a reading of Sammy Spider’s First Hanukkah.
Cunard Cruise Line
The affluent British cruise line approaches the holidays with a sense of refinement. Here, afternoon tea is festively laced with stollen and other traditional European Christmas sweets. Enjoy the beauty of the gingerbread village while you indulge in holiday customs like mince pies, Christmas carolers, and Santa visits. After admiring the magnificent Christmas tree in the Grand Lobby, you can browse the opulent onboard shops and surprise your loved ones back home with gifts. Itineraries can include transatlantic voyages on the Queen Mary 2 or a tour of the Portuguese and Spanish coasts of Western Europe.
Norwegian Cruise Line
Norwegian Cruise Line invites customers to simplify the holidays this year with cruises to Europe, Mexico, and South America. In addition to Christmas cruises, they also offer Thanksgiving, New Year’s, and Hanukkah sailings. On Thanksgiving, visitors can unwind while someone else creates a scrumptious turkey supper. That in itself is cause for gratitude! Christmas cruises feature breathtaking decorations, live performances, and a variety of onboard activities, including quizzes with a jolly holly theme and an ugly sweater contest. They convey the meaning of the season, whether you want to simply relax by the pool or want to attend a Christmas service on board.
Adventures by Disney River Cruises
Due to the universal appeal of visiting several locations in one trip, River cruises are no longer exclusive to a certain demographic. Two cruise itineraries that focus on seeing Europe’s iconic Christmas markets are available thanks to a partnership between Adventures by Disney and AmaWaterways. As you cruise along the Danube, making stops in Germany, Austria, and Hungary, all the hassles of a European vacation vanish.