Holiday Cruises
There's nothing festive about holiday hustle & bustle, especially when you combine it with cooking, cleaning, and worrying about where the in-laws are going to sleep. Holiday cruises offer a unique opportunity for you and your loved ones to get away from the chaos and get back to the celebration.
When you sail during a holiday, you won't have to agonize over planning big meals or corralling everyone together for a game of scrabble. From exquisite dining options to family-friendly entertainment, you'll find that all the details have been taken care of for you on a cruise. Your job? Sit back and relax!
Plus, a cruise is the perfect solution to gathering friends and family from around the globe together in one place. You'll not only be able to spend time with your loved ones in a stress-free environment, but you'll also be visiting several exciting destinations with them. Snow white beaches, cobblestone streets, ancient cities and exotic lands. . .wherever you choose to go, know that a cruise will make this holiday an unforgettable one.
Select a line to view specific holiday information
Carnival Cruise Lines
Thanksgiving: Traditional Thanksgiving food is served in the dining room. This includes roasted turkey, yams, mashed potatoes, cranberry relish, giblet gravy and pumpkin pie. Yum!
Hanukkah: All ships have a Menorah set-up and a cruise staff member will conduct the lighting ceremony each evening.
Christmas: The ships' atrium and promenade areas are lavishly decorated in the spirit of the season and feature signage with traditional holiday greetings. Wreaths, trees, lights, and other traditional touches abound. Watch out for mistletoe! An elaborate revue in each ships' main show lounge evoking a "home away from home" atmosphere with cozy sets featuring faux oversized fireplaces, large comfortable sofas, Christmas trees with decorations created by the kids from the "Camp Carnival" program.
Other Carnival Christmas Festivities include:
- Seasonal music in the staterooms
- Caroling
- Viewings of holiday movies such as "The Polar Express", and readings of stories like "Twas the Night Before Christmas".
- A visit from Santa!
Christmas menus are traditional and include seasonal delights such as oven roasted turkey, with all the trimmings, and freshly baked pecan pie amongst many other selections.
New Years Eve: New Year's Eve with Carnival is highlighted by the traditional countdown. Complimentary noisemakers, party favors and champagne are provided for "Fun Ship" revelers to ring in the new year with. When schedules permit, one of the formal nights on board takes place on New Year's Eve; if the schedule does not permit, then the night is slightly less formal.
Religious Services: When available, a Clergyman or Rabbi will be on board for religious holiday services. This is subject to stateroom and guest/crew count limitations and availability of booking a Clergyman or Rabbi during his most holy days. *For those ships docked in port on Christmas Day, the Information Desk can provide guests with a list of local churches that are conducting services that the guests may attend.
Celebrity
Thanksgiving: Seasonal decor and a typical Turkey dinner will be provided.
Hanukkah: A menorah lighting ceremony will be held, and traditional fare such as potato pancakes and jelly doughnuts is offered.
Christmas: Celebrity ships are decorated with winter greenery and Christmas ornaments. Caroling and special holiday shows are offered as entertainment. Santa visits the children, and on Christmas even, Midnight Mass is held. Traditional Christmas dinner of either turkey or ham is served in the dining room.
New Year's Eve: Each of the lounges will host a party, and a special celebration for children is given as well. Complimentary noisemakers and hats will be handed out to help ring in the New Year. Adults will be able to partake in a special champagne toast.
Disney
Thanksgiving: On Thanksgiving Day, guests will delight in a traditional Thanksgiving feast complete with roast turkey, stuffing and all the trimmings. After enjoying as much as they care to eat, guests can relax in a deck chair or partake in some of the many shipboard activities such as themed craft projects for the children. To top off the festivities, Mickey and Minnie will don their Thanksgiving costumes.
Hanukkah: Multiple faith and interdenominational holiday services will be held for both Christmas and Hanukkah cruises.
Christmas: A nearly three-deck-tall tree festooned with decorations will reside in the atrium lobby, where "snow" flurries fall and a tree-lighting ceremony occurs. The holiday fun even extends to Disney's private island, Castaway Cay. When the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder arrive at the sandy Bahamian isle, the island will be transformed into a Magical Wonderland -- a "snowy" holiday hideaway. "Snow" flurries will fall like magic, Christmas trees will glow and carolers will croon. Mr. and Mrs. Snowman, wearing shell noses and tropical attire, will greet guests with a sleigh full of presents. The tram that transports guests across the 1,000-acre island will be reindeer themed, complete with antlers and tail. At the beach, kids can dive into holiday-themed activities that include making candy cane reindeer, paper plate angels and snowflake mobiles.
Other Disney Christmas Festivities include:
- A Christmas Day visit from Santa Goofy, with surprises for all the kids.
- International holiday caroling by crew members from around the globe
- Special family time for designing and decorating gingerbread houses.
- A reading of "The Night Before Christmas" by Mrs. Claus.
- Traditional holiday feasts in Disney's three themed dining rooms
New Year's Eve: A ship-wide party to ring in the new year and a New Year's Day tailgate party will be held.
Holland America
Thanksgiving: Ships are decorated with an autumnal theme, and a traditional Thanksgiving dinner is served.
Hanukkah: A rabbi will be on board for Hanukkah.
Christmas: Holland America provides an elegant and traditional atmosphere to celebrate the Yuletide season in. All throughout each ship, massed poinsettias, wreaths, Christmas trees, and gingerbread villages are on display. There is a tree lighting ceremony, complete with caroling and sing-alongs. Special holiday fare, such as roast turkey, pheasant, and goose, plus all the traditional Christmas day trimmings paired with eggnog or champagne, is offered.
Other Holland America Christmas Festivities include:
- Royal Dutch High Tea with fanciful holiday cookies and pastries
- Ceremonial Yule Log Parade through the main Dining Room
- A visit from Santa, with gifts and photos
- Santa's Milk & Cookies Late Night Snack
- Christmas story telling
- A Protestant minister and a Catholic priest will be on board.
New Year's Eve: Holland America will host a special New Year's Eve Holiday Ball with complimentary champagne toast.
NCL
Thanksgiving: A full Turkey dinner will be provided for passengers.
Hanukkah: A rabbi will be on board, and each night there will be a lighting of the menorah.
Christmas: All ships are decorated in the spirit of the season, with poinsettias, lights and trees. Crew members perform in holiday-theme shows, caroling fills in the ships hallways, and Santa stops by with a bag of goodies for the kids.
New Year's Eve: NCL hosts several parties both on deck and in the lounges/bars of each ship. Hats, noisemakers and streamers are provided to passengers, and the captain leads a New Year countdown from the bridge.
Princess
Thanksgiving: Ships will feature a traditional Turkey menu for dinner.
Hanukkah: Passengers celebrating Hanukkah on board can participate in religious services, including special prayer and song services conducted by a Rabbi who sails during the holiday period. A special area of the ship is reserved for those participating in these events and ships display menorahs and fresh flower arrangements decorated in the Hanukkah colors of blue, silver and white.
Christmas: Trimmed from stem to stern in festive holiday décor and a Christmas tree adorning the ship's mast, Princess ships will reflect the season in a variety of ways. Special menus and culinary displays will offer traditional goodies. Strolling carolers and live musicians will fill the air with the sounds of the season.
On Christmas Eve, passengers will sit down to a dinner of traditional holiday fare, and on Christmas Day passengers can enjoy a cup of eggnog, plus a sumptuous brunch including roast turkey and all the trimmings. Freshly prepared stollen (German holiday bread) and Christmas cookies round out the seasonal treats.
Other Princess Christmas Festivities Include:
- Gingerbread decorating, balloon making, face painting, games and other competitions.
- A visit from Santa, who comes bearing gifts and stays for a special photo session
- Holiday variety shows
- Midnight mass and inter-denominational church services
- Free late-night group kid sitting sessions for parents who wish to stay up later on Christmas Eve
New Year's Eve: Princess hosts a fun-filled New Year's Eve party where revelers can count down to the new year with music, confetti, noise-makers and a balloon drop. Earlier in the evening, passengers will enjoy a special New Year's Eve menu. And once the new year arrives, football fans will be pleased to know they won't miss the day's traditional college bowl games, as the telecasts will be shown (if available) in a shipboard lounge or on some vessels' giant Movies Under the Stars screen, complete with a full buffet of "munchies" such as popcorn, chips, mini hot dogs or burgers, and other assorted goodies.
Free late-night group kid sitting sessions for parents who wish to stay up later on New Year's Eve are available.
Royal Caribbean
Thanksgiving: Royal Caribbean offers guests a cornucopia of dining and entertainment options on their Thanksgiving sailings. Specially theme decorations and a traditional turkey dinner will be offered. Games, festive arts and crafts, and special "Thanksgiving Adventure" activities will be available for the whole family to indulge in.
Hanukkah: Traditional Hanukkah religious services will be held on board, with a Rabbi (on select ships) and menorah. A kids' history of Hanukkah will be read, and there will also be a sing-along in addition to games and food.
Christmas: Royal Caribbean decorates their fleet for Christmas and holds traditional religious services, with a priest on board select ships. A slew of holiday activities are hosted, such as cookie decorating, ice-skating (select ships), caroling, movies, face painting, and more. There is a special parade, featuring Santa and his elves!
New Year's Eve: Ring in the coming year with a memorable New Year's Eve celebration jam-packed with spirited onboard revelries such as themed and extended late-night parties for kids, teens and adults; complimentary party favors; a champagne toast; live entertainment in all lounges; and a captain's countdown.
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