Christmas Cruises, New Years Cruises, & Other Holiday Cruises

Table Of Content

• A Christmas Cruise Vacation for the Whole Family
• Christmas cruises 2024 & 2025
• Night Christmas Markets On The RhineDetails
• Hallmark Channel will launch a Christmas cruise in 2024

On a holiday cruise, you can leave the cooking, cleaning and decorating to the pros and simply enjoy time with your family. Christmas and New Year's cruises can also be good options for people trying to avoid the crush of relatives or who don't have family but still want to spend the holiday surrounded by other people and festive cheer. Holidays onboard are decked out with everything you love most about the season. Gather 'round for a sumptuous Thanksgiving dinner — without lifting a finger.

A Christmas Cruise Vacation for the Whole Family

Cookie decorating, visits with Santa and Christmas games are part of the holiday fun. On New Year's Eve, gather for a special party with a complimentary midnight Champagne toast, party favors and live music. Don't forget your holiday best, as Zaandam will host a Christmas Eve formal ball with dinner and dancing, as well as a midnight Mass. Other seasonal events include a holiday-themed high tea service, holiday choir performances and Santa meet-and-greets. 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.

Christmas cruises 2024 & 2025

This four-night Very Merrytime Bahamian cruise sails from Port Canaveral, Florida (near Orlando) to Disney's Castaway Cay, followed by a day at the new Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point. The new island destination will highlight island culture with work by local artists and Bahamian music throughout the colorful beachside resort. It's best to double-check with your cruise line before attaching anything to your door or in your cabin, as rules and regulations differ per line.

A Hallmark Channel Christmas Cruise Is Coming: How to Book (Exclusive) - PEOPLE

A Hallmark Channel Christmas Cruise Is Coming: How to Book (Exclusive).

Posted: Tue, 11 Jul 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

Night Christmas Markets On The RhineDetails

Instead of layering up in woolens, you could be donning a swimsuit, sipping on a cocktail by the pool, and still revel in the Christmas spirit. The ships are decked out in festive décor, so even as you sunbathe or swim, the atmosphere remains cheerfully Christmassy. Despite the fact it's one of the younger European Christmas markets, in 2010 the '12 Days of Christmas' in Dublin attracted the record number of 145,000 visitors. Stained glass, wooden toys, craft jewellery and artwork can be found at the regenerated Dublin Docklands.

POLAND - Krakow Christmas Market "Rynek Glowny"

Spend Christmas Day in Honfleur, one of the cutest cities on the voyage. Be sure to get the town's specialty, a steaming bowl of moules frites (mussels with fries), for Christmas lunch. After three days of touring smaller towns, you'll return to Paris, where the Eiffel Tower is visible from the banks of the Seine. Day two will bring you to Rouen, where you are invited to join Christmas Eve dinner and midnight mass. You'll also get to see more of Rouen on day four and take a guided tour. If you have free time, be sure to stop in at La Couronne, the oldest operating restaurant in France and the place that inspired Julia Child to start cooking.

The Silver Origin's Christmas sailing will include many festive enhancements, beginning with an extensive overlay of greenery and ornaments throughout the interiors of the ship. The ship's culinary team will prepare a special Christmas Eve and Christmas Day dinner menu, along with mulled wine, eggnog and hot chocolate. Spend close to two weeks exploring the farthest reaches of the earth on the Antarctic Explorer itinerary aboard Viking's Polaris.

Night 7 Nt Eastern Caribbean & Perfect Holiday

Each ship in the Riverside Luxury Cruises fleet is all-suite and comes with butler service. Ships offer an indoor pool and a Jacuzzi to use before or after your trips ashore. Chrissy Callahan covers a range of topics for TODAY.com, including fashion, beauty, pop culture and food. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, watching bad reality TV and consuming copious amounts of cookie dough. Count down and count your blessings on the biggest night of the year with a special New Year’s Eve dinner followed by a midnight celebratory Champagne toast. If you’ve pre-booked special Christmas-themed excursions or tours, make sure you have all the details, confirmation receipts, and necessary items (like walking shoes for tours).

However, to be 100% sure, booking a year in advance is highly recommended. Whether it’s a Christmas service or a Hanukkah service with nightly menorah lighting at sunset, guests are welcome to celebrate their holiday with family and friends. And an extra-special, live-on-stage Holiday Show puts everyone in the spirit. The Jeweled Christmas in Natchez tour features a visit to The Towers, one of the state's most opulent privately owned antebellum homes. Guests will ooh and ahh over the festive decorations and displays that include over 100 Christmas trees.

Oceania Cruises

While the cruise will likely have its own entertainment, there’s something special about listening or watching your festive favorites. If you have particular dietary restrictions or a favorite festive treat, consider packing them. While cruise lines are accommodating, having your favorite Christmas cookie or specialty tea can add a touch of home.

The cruise also visits Antwerp, where you can explore the various Christmas markets that are spread throughout the city. Your trip ends in Brussels, with a whole day to explore the cute squares and charming markets and try local fare. In Vienna, Austria, the whole city comes alive with lights and a festive spirit. One thing not to miss here is the extra-charge excursion to a local winery, where you will celebrate the year's harvest and vintage. The last day in Germany is spent in Cologne, where you can visit the beautiful Christmas markets that dot the city landscape, as well as lace up some skates to glide around an open-air ice rink. The cruise ends in Amsterdam, where you can choose to visit the Rijksmuseum, the Rembrandt House Museum or the Van Gogh Museum, along with taking a scenic canal cruise through the city.

Choosing a Christmas cruise doesn’t mean forgoing the essence of the holiday; it simply means reinventing it. Whether you seek warmth, relaxation, adventure, or novelty, the myriad benefits of a Christmas cruise ensure an unforgettable holiday experience. On an all-inclusive cruise, the staff takes care of the minutiae, leaving you free to soak in the festivities, relish gourmet meals, and partake in entertainment options without the typical holiday stress. For many, the idea of Christmas conjures up images of snowflakes, pine trees, and families gathered around a roaring fireplace. Throughout the city there are smaller markets - one unique is Manger Market, selling the components for those who try to build authentic manger. Many other markets can be found around Dresden, and each of them has its own attractions and intimate flair.

Your best bet for traditional holiday dinner options (think roast turkey, smoked ham, mashed potatoes and gravy) will come from the main, included dining options on board. It can't hurt to ask if any extra-fee restaurants are doing a Christmas or New Year's menu if you're looking for a more intimate holiday meal. Fill the December holidays with tropical, action-packed days and unforgettable memories. Start a new tradition with the biggest holiday cruise celebration at sea. After you’ve gotten in the spirit with your in-room virtual yule log, mingle with Santa Claus or be enchanted with holiday classics performed by the Yuletide Carolers. Guests can design keepsake ornaments or compete in a gingerbread house-making contest, while younger passengers can attend their very own holiday parties at the onboard youth centers.

And count on at least four efforts at "Jingle Bell Rock," with each one getting a little drunker and giggly than the last. (There's a reason this event has been scheduled for a late-night time slot.) But let's hope no one tries their hand at "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer." That song totally goes against the Hallmark Channel spirit. There are also Festive Time on the Romantic Rhine itineraries that don't include the land-based post-cruise days if you want a shorter trip. If your cruise starts in Amsterdam, you don't have to be on the ship until 4 p.m.

On one of our luxury Christmas cruises, you can rest easy knowing that every member of the family will enjoy the vacation of a lifetime. Adults can schedule an indulgent afternoon at The Spa, while the kids are entertained at Camp at Sea. Teens can mingle with other teens at the Teens Club, while grandparents will love the nightly family dinners that take place in the main dining room.

Upcoming Costa Cruises: 2024 Prices, Itineraries + Activities on Cruise Critic

Table Of Content

• Temporary shutdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic
• Costa Mediterranea Review
• Night 130 Night Round World CruiseDetails
• Night North Europe CruiseDetails
• Night Mediterranean CruiseDetails

For any cruises listed, Cruise Critic does not guarantee any specific rates or prices. After Carnival's take over, a new-building program commenced for the line, utilizing Carnival Cruise Lines Spirit-class and Destiny-class design platforms for the new ships. According to the Turkish media, the 103,000-ton is the largest cruise ship ever hosted at the shipyard, which offers a 370-meter-long drydock. While several sources point to an inaugural cruise in late June, a startup date wasn’t revealed on Neonyx’s website. Additional details about itineraries and dates are expected to be announced soon. The cruises will be an “adults-only heaven,” Neonyx added, with itineraries sailing to four destinations in Greece and Turkey, including Mykonos, Santorini, Piraeus and Çeşme.

Temporary shutdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic

Shorts and tank tops are banned from the dining room in the evenings, though. Costa Mediterranea attracts an international crowd, which varies depending on the itinerary. For European sailings, the vast majority of passengers will be European, with new passengers embarking and disembarking at every port. When the ship moves to the Caribbean, the mix starts to shift, with more and more passengers from North and South America as the season progresses. Though you might expect a lot of Italians, the ship is also popular with French passengers on its Caribbean itinerary, due to a call on French Guadeloupe. The cruise fare pretty much only includes your accommodations, meals in select restaurants and tea and coffee.

Costa Mediterranea Review

Designed by parent company Carnival's Joe Farcus, they leave virtually no surface unadorned. Prepare for an abundance of bling, with Carerra marble, Murano glass, terrazzo, mosaics, inlaid wood (both real and faux), quite a few bare breasts (on artwork, not passengers), and a flock of Cupids with cherubic penises dangling overhead. Throw in an Egyptian-themed theater and a Chinese-inspired bar for good measure, and you could experience visual overload.

Night 130 Night Round World CruiseDetails

Costa Cruises Celebrates "National Made in Italy Day" - Crew Center

Costa Cruises Celebrates "National Made in Italy Day".

Posted: Mon, 15 Apr 2024 12:23:31 GMT [source]

Fortunately, Mediterranea's cabins are roomy and low-key in their decor, so your eyes get a break. Time and time again, it has been proven that the expertise and knowledge of a cruise specialist can enhance every aspect of your cruise experience. Mediterranea's evening attire is "elegant casual," which is interpreted a bit differently by different nationalities. For some women, it's slacks and a blouse; for others, it's a spangled spandex minidress. A few men sport a jacket and tie, while others don a polo shirt with the collar turned up, Euro-style.

Cruise Critic is not a booking agent and does not charge any service fees to users of our site. Our partners who list cruise pricing on Cruise Critic are required to provide prices for cruise only or cruise packages, per person, double occupancy, and are based on specific cabin types and sailing dates, and may not be available for all cabin types/sailings. When you book with one of our partners, please be sure to check their site for a full disclosure of all applicable fees as required by the U.S. Most sailings have two formal nights, where men are requested to wear a jacket and tie or tuxedo, while women are directed to wear a dressy pants outfit or cocktail dress. In practice, outfits were all over the map, from casual to the occasional tux. The ship's over-the-top gaudy interiors take a bit of getting used to.

Popular activities, on most ships, include 4D cinemas, a Grand Prix simulator, laser mazes and the Samsara Spa and gym. Evenings are all about dining, bars, shows in the theater and to an extent, the casino. Costa's ships also appeal to a wide range of ages, from 20-something first-time cruisers to retirees, and its fun, active vibe attracts a strong family audience, though the "Neo" ships are adults-only and attract an older crowd. Joining four other ships acquired by the Greek-ship owner during the pandemic, the Magica remained in cold layup in Greece before sailing to Turkey earlier this month. The Mykonos Magic originally entered service for Costa Cruises in late 2004 as the Costa Magica. After three years out of service due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2,720-guest ship was sold to Seajets in early 2023.

Carnival subsidiary

Extras include gratuities, beverages, ice cream, specialty coffees and tea, specialty dining, shore excursions, spa treatments and retail shop purchases. The Costa Victoria debuted in 1996, and was the largest cruise ship ever built in Germany at the time, and largest for the Costa.[11] Its completion cost was covered by selling the Eugenio Costa. The Costa Victoria would be the final ship completed under the Costa family brand before the line was taken over by Carnival Corporation & plc. The ship was scheduled to have a sister, the Costa Olympia, which was never completed for the line after the shipyards bankruptcy, and instead the uncompleted hull was sold to Norwegian Cruise Line.

Night Mediterranean CruiseDetails

Lowest pricing is based on our 3rd party pricing supplier and valid as of April 23rd, 2024. Costa Cruises is a European experience that primarily is geared toward Europeans. Costa Cruises is well-known for its Italian ambience onboard, vibrant entertainment and Samsara Spa, one of the best at sea. Costa cruises around the world were cancelled in March 2020 due to the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic. CruiseGenie.com a service of Smart Traveler, puts you in touch with the best cruise counselors for your lifestyle and budget - and our service is FREE. Renamed Goddess of Night, the Mykonos Magic is seen on the website with a new livery that includes a dark hull adorned with artistic and astronomical motifs.

In conclusion, the expertise of a cruise travel specialist can make a significant difference in your cruise vacation. By leveraging their knowledge, connections, and attention to detail, they save you time and money, while ensuring that all your needs are met and exceeded. With a specialist by your side, you can embark on a carefree vacation, confident that every aspect of your journey has been thoughtfully planned and curated to provide you with a memorable and fulfilling cruise experience. The Italian attitude extends to entertainment and the genial party atmosphere onboard. In the evenings, there are up to seven different dance venues to choose from, playing everything from Italian favorites and dance standards to Latin and Euro-pop. Entertainment staff, known as "animators," lead line dances and conduct wacky events like the "Mr. Costa Contest," which includes a partial striptease by contestants.

We thoroughly enjoyed the polite European habit of acknowledging fellow passengers when entering or departing an elevator. Don't be surprised if a complete stranger greets you with, "Bonjour, Madame," or departs with a "Buona sera!" as the doors close. The ship received a multimillion dollar refit in November 2013, but this was focused on the hull and mechanical side of the ship. However, some worn items, such as carpets, curtains and upholstery were replaced.

Furthermore, Cruise Critic makes no guarantees for availability of prices advertised on our site. Listed prices may have blackout dates, qualifications or restrictions.

On European itineraries, Costa attracts mostly passengers from Italy, France, Germany, Spain, Portugal and the U.K. On Caribbean cruises, the demographics are still geared strongly toward European travelers with a larger smattering of North Americans. Cruises originating in Chinese ports cater exclusively to Chinese passengers. On 27 February 2012, Costa Allegra suffered an engine room fire and went adrift in the Indian Ocean. After several days adrift without power, the ship was towed to the Seychelles island of Desroches, but was unable to dock there. She was then towed to Mahé, Seychelles, where the passengers disembarked.

If you're a fan of the boot-shaped country, you'll likely love being aboard Costa Mediterranea. After a few years of "trying to please everybody," Costa -- operator of the only Italian-registered cruise ships -- is returning to its roots, with a renewed focus on its theme, "Italy's finest." By day, unless the ship is in port, most people gravitate to the pool, which can be both noisy and crowded.

With a design based on Carnival Cruise Line’s Destiny-Class, the Mykonos Magic offers an array of modern amenities, including a specialty restaurant, two main dining rooms, a shopping area, a large casino, a two-deck nightclub, three pool decks and more. Ship staff make a real effort to accommodate various nationalities when it comes to announcements, excursions, entertainment, menus and signage. Major announcements are made in Italian, English, French, Spanish and German -- and there are designated hosts who conduct separate passenger orientations in those languages as well. Many staff are multilingual, instantly hopping from one language to another. On the downside, repetition of info in multiple languages can get tedious.