Wednesday, April 10, 2024

Funtastic Holiday Cruises Holiday Sailings

christmas on a carnival cruise ship

Guests can use the details to be sure and pack an ugly holiday sweater, hone their holiday trivia knowledge, or otherwise be prepared to join in all the festive fun. Carnival Cruise Line has a full lineup of holiday activities and events planned this year, with games, shows, parties and more. Carnival Celebration will be offering 7-8 night roundtrip Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries from Miami through the holiday season. Kids will especially love the idea of decorating your door with a wreath, stockings, a basket of candy canes or anything else that will keep your cabin extra festive. It's worth noting that, with the exception of the Steakhouse Selections, all the items on Carnival Cruise Line's Christmas menu are complimentary when enjoyed in the main dining room. Keeping in the spirit of the season, a special non-denominational Christmas service will be held on either December 24 or December 25, depending on the vessel’s location and itinerary.

Land Vacations

If you want to show your holiday spirit on land in a tropical destination, trade in your classic ugly sweater for a much cooler headpiece. Santa hats and Hanukkah-themed headbands look good with shorts or a bathing suit -- and they look exceptional in photo opps, too. Candles are big no-nos on cruise ships, which can make decorating your room for Hanukkah a little trickier, but certainly not impossible. Consider packing a small, battery-operated menorah to brighten up your cabin. The Christmas festivities, which begin the day after Thanksgiving and run through December 25, culminate in a delicious Christmas dinner. This dinner features traditional favorites like the Christmas turkey (oven-roasted with all trimmings) and pumpkin pie with whipped cream.

christmas on a carnival cruise ship

Holiday Cruises with Carnival

While there is a lot going on that makes Christmas cruises extra memorable, these holiday sailings also command a premium price and often sell out months, if not years, before the holiday season. It may be necessary to plan well in advance to take advantage of the best deals, especially if airfare or pre- and post-cruise hotel accommodations may be necessary. Furthermore, while you will certainly notice the holiday spirit onboard, it does not generally come across as too overwhelming. While seasonal touches will be found everywhere, the “regular” parts of a cruise don’t disappear, and cruise lines take great care not to intrude on any individual’s seasonal choices.

Themed entertainment and events

Decorating stateroom doors or inside one’s cabin, for example, can use favorite holiday themes or special decorations from home (just be sure the items are permitted onboard!). Furthermore, you don’t need to shop for gifts that may just get forgotten, lost, or broken in a few months, and instead the cruise is your gift to yourself and the family members or friends who join you. Onboard, you will make memories to last a lifetime with the different ports of call you visit, shore tours you experience, specialty dining you indulge in, and other fun. A special production show to celebrate Christmas and other holidays of the season will be also be performed, and guests can join in the festivities with Carol-oke – karaoke featuring the favorite tunes of the season. The Dive-In Movies will be Christmas and holiday favorites as well, with timeless laughs to share.

Just be sure to bring along some double-sided tape to best affix the more delicate pieces to your furniture, which will keep them safe from damage during sudden ship movements. With an overwhelming world of choices, we understand you may need some personal assistance to plan your perfect vacation. From finding the right destination to choosing the best departure date, we're here to help. Plus, our experienced travel consultants have access to exclusive vacation deals to make sure you get the best value for your time and money. You better watch out for cupid because love is in the sea air when you celebrate Valentine's Day with Carnival. All you want for Christmas is breakfast in bed… On a cruise you can have just that, with 24-hour room service.

Seasonal activities aren’t the only holiday fun you’ll find on a Christmas cruise. Whether you relish a visit from Santa or celebrate by lighting a Hanukkah menorah, you can celebrate both Christmas and Hanukkah on a winter cruise. Cruise lines go all-out with seasonal decor (generally from Thanksgiving through New Year's), holiday activities, religious services and festive food and drink. Even better, you don't have to cook, clean or make nice to your least favorite relatives.

Consider bringing festive attire/door decor

christmas on a carnival cruise ship

If your holiday plans this year include cruising during Christmas with your loved ones, you’re all in for a very merry time. There’s no need to worry about Santa struggling to find you out at sea because the man himself will be flying in from the North Pole for a special visit to your ship. With your holiday itinerary packed with days of endless fun onboard and at incredible ports of call, you’ll certainly be full of the Christmas spirit when it comes time to greet him. You already know that Carnival cruises feature legendary fun for all, so coming together to enjoy a holiday at sea is a great way to make the occasion even more special. What better way to celebrate the holidays and sporting events but on a Carnival Cruise with family and friends. You will enjoy specially-planned events, timely decorations and special seasonal dishes.Events and activities may vary by ship and are subject to change.

New Year's Cruises with Carnival

A special Christmas performance will showcase holiday music throughout the ages, Seabourn singers will sing Christmas carols throughout each ship and there will be an eggnog, glogg or Gluhwein party scheduled. Restaurants will offer holiday-themed dishes and there’ll be holiday movies scheduled on Funnel Vision. Holiday-themed merchandise will also be available to purchase, along with holiday photos with fun festive backdrops. Passengers arriving in Disney's private island, Castaway Cay, will be greeted with a holiday display. For kids, there will be a visit from Santa with gifts for kids and teens, kid-friendly interactive classes and a Fun Factory holiday carnival. Keep reading for a line-by-line roundup of onboard celebrations to find the best Hanukkah and Christmas cruises for you and your family.

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Even in the middle of the sea, Santa and his reindeer find their way onboard for a special visit with kids cruising during Christmas. Part of the novelty of welcoming the Christmas season on a cruise is that it’s something new and different. Keep that mentality when it comes to local holiday traditions in the ports of call you are visiting. As mentioned, cruise itineraries throughout Europe, for example, will offer plentiful Christmas cheer on and off your ship, with holiday markets, classical concerts, and other portside celebrations of the season. Freestyle Travelers is the ultimate resource for cruisers seeking to explore the seas.

With a ‘home away from home atmosphere, it will feature an oversized faux fireplace, comfy cushions and throws, a Christmas tree, and of course, a visit from Santa, and a lot of singing and dancing. We highly recommend you attempt to convince your entire group to go all-out and match or at least stick to the ugly-sweater theme. Then, ask the cruise ship's photographer to take some fun photos for a holiday cruise to remember. Most cruise lines will have community candle-lighting ceremonies (often with latkes) each night of the holiday, but those menorahs are usually flameless, as well.

You can also sing carols together around the tree, do some Christmas-themed arts and crafts, and mail letters to Santa in a special mailbox in the lobby. It is important to note that even during the holiday season, cruise lines do not sacrifice their signature services, fun, and luxury. While Christmas arrives every year on December 25, the exact dates when holiday celebrations occur on cruise ships can vary. A main dining room dinner during Christmas includes dishes like ham, turkey and beef wellington, with dessert options like spice cake or a traditional French buche de noel. On a holiday cruise, priests are typically present onboard to hold special mass on both Christmas Eve and Christmas.

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These desserts are sure to add a sweet note to your Christmas celebration. When bringing holiday greeting cards, we recommend using blank options so you can add personalized messages and specific holiday wishes to each receiver. You'll have to get creative while simultaneously adhering to your ship's rules.

When you cruise with Carnival over Christmas, you’ll spend the holiday doing whatever it is you love best. You’ll have plenty of time to catch up with friends and family, plus you’ll get to vacation in a warm, exotic destination at the same time! Whether your regular Christmas scene features buckets of rain or a howling snowstorm, you’ll get the opportunity to escape it all and enjoy the tropical sunshine instead. From Mexico to the Caribbean and right over to The Bahamas, there are plenty of holiday cruise destinations just waiting for you.

If you want to be sure you are onboard a holiday sailing, check the dates carefully or contact the cruise line to ensure their seasonal celebrations will be in full swing on your departure date. The exact dates of holiday sailings vary throughout the Carnival fleet, with the first ships – Carnival Conquest and Carnival Radiance – being festively decorated on November 24, 2023, the day after Thanksgiving. Some ships will also feature “snow” in the ship’s atrium for an extra magical experience to welcome the holiday season. On Celebrity, you can spend a silent night, holy night at the spa or attending a Christmas movie under the stars. Themed shows and music can be found around the ship, as well as traditional foods for your holiday meal.

However, guests can also choose from grilled cod, garlic shrimp, a New York Strip Steak, while vegetarian choices include portobello mushrooms. For a surcharge, guests can also choose out of a broiled lobster, lobster & filet mignon, or grilled double-cut lamb chops. Carnival Cruise Line releases the Christmas Day dinner menu and we've got all the details on festivities that will take place on board. If you'd rather be slightly more subtle with your attire yet still perfectly festive, slip on some fun socks.

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