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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.