The itinerary begins with a pre-cruise hotel stay in New Orleans, where the bustling Bourbon Street awaits exploration. The Mississippi river sailing includes stops along the river at Nottoway, Louisiana; Natchez, Mississippi; St. Francisville, Louisiana and an overnight in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Take the line's newest flagship for a Christmastime spin on a round-trip Fort Lauderdale itinerary that features port calls at Cozumel, Mexico; Belize City, Belize; and Roatan, Honduras. Three sea days give guests plenty of time to explore all the attractions on board, from a dome-covered pool area to a top-deck family activity zone.
Day Eastern Caribbean Holiday
All rates are based on double occupancy (twin share) and don't include cruise lines or travel agencies promotions, group booking rates or any other special offers and discounts. Beloved Disney characters dress in holiday attire for meet-and-greets, and Santa Claus makes appearances on most sailings. Cruises visiting Castaway Cay, Disney’s private island, offer even more festive fun, as the Bahamian paradise is decked out for the season with a Christmas tree and faux-snow flurries. This is all in addition to Disney Cruise Line's plentiful year-round perks. That’s why Princess, voted the best cruise line for multigenerational families (Portholes) offers the best Christmas cruises for families and guests of all ages. Kids can go play in our youth and teen centers, where they’ll enjoy fun holiday parties (and you’ll enjoy evening kid-sitting for a nominal fee so parents can celebrate a festive night out too!).
Best Christmas Markets in Germany
You'll be immersed in the holiday spirit with port stops in Passau, Germany; Linz, Vienna and Weissenkirchen, Austria; and Esztergom and Budapest, Hungary. Prague's Christmas markets take place in Wenceslas Square and Old Town Square. The markets feature the expected holiday decor and wooden toys, but they also offer Czech specialties, like blacksmith's wares, ceramics and glasswork.
Small Gifts
While the ship provides a plethora of activities, don’t miss out on the wonders of your cruise ports. For many, the idea of Christmas conjures up images of snowflakes, pine trees, and families gathered around a roaring fireplace. 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.
Viking River Cruises
Lille's primary market is on Place Rihour, in 80 wooden chalets with extraordinary gift ideas, Christmas decorations, nativity figurines and festive food. The nearby Grand Place features 50-m high Big Wheel which lights up the square and provides a great view of the whole city. Xmas-NYE mini cruises are Holiday travel specials that are pretty hard to find. Offered mainly in Europe, the roundtrips are mainly from large ports in England (Dover, Southampton, Hull). The company owns numerous large-sized Ro-Pax ships/cruiseferries with regularly scheduled crossings from UK ports (to France, Holland, Belgium) visited almost exclusively as shopping and Christmas Market destinations.
Best Christmas & Holiday Cruise Deals
While on board, passengers will enjoy festive holiday decorations, special holiday performances, seasonal cuisine and Christmas cocktails. 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. Carnival's seven-night Eastern Caribbean sailing is an excellent way to experience Carnival's Celebration Key, the line's new private destination on the south side of Grand Bahama Island. If you want to score the best prices on a holiday cruise, book far in advance. Spend close to two weeks exploring the farthest reaches of the earth on the Antarctic Explorer itinerary aboard Viking's Polaris.
The cost of a Christmas cruise varies based on the cruise line, sailing date, itinerary and how far in advance you book it. Several Christmas cruises are very affordable and could cost less than $50 per person per night before tacking on taxes, fees and gratuities. Upgraded cabins, luxury cruises or specialty itineraries, on the other hand, could cost 10 times that amount. Like many southern Caribbean cruises, this trip is port intensive with only two sea days, one of which falls on Christmas Day.
Ensuring Smooth Travel
Carnival Cruise Line Announces Fleet Holiday Decoration Schedule - Cruise Hive
Carnival Cruise Line Announces Fleet Holiday Decoration Schedule.
Posted: Wed, 01 Nov 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
This year, spend the holidays in a warm winter wonderland with your favorite holiday traditions — plus some epic new ones — onboard the world’s boldest ships. Bring everyone together for Thanksgiving memory-making that the whole family will be grateful for. Sailings in December keep magical Christmas celebrations dancing through your head. Most cruise ships will go out of their way to make your trip especially cheery. Decorations may go up as early as Thanksgiving and by mid-December, you’ll likely find grand trees, glittering displays and twinkling lights.
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 of the extra-fee restaurants are doing a Christmas or New Year's menu if you're looking for a more intimate holiday meal. Holiday sailings sell out earlier than other itineraries, as people plan their holiday vacations months in advance. Suites and special cabins (family, spa, solo rooms, etc.) will book up the fastest. Consider booking your holiday cruise a year in advance; if you're booking your Christmas 2022 cruise now, understand that you'll be limited for choice when it comes to accommodations. Germany has long Christmas markets tradition for centuries like the ones in Frankfurt, Dresden, Munich and Bautzen.
The best prices will be for early bookings; you likely won't find any last-minute discounts. If you do, they'll either be on windowless inside cabins or guarantee cabins, where the cruise line picks your room location. If you haven't planned your holiday getaway, there's still time to book a Christmas cruise.
Most co-branded cruise cards won’t make sense for anyone but the most loyal cruisers but other travel rewards credit cards are still great choices. The best way to check the cost of a Christmas cruise is to start the reservation process online or call a travel agent—getting a quote is not a commitment to buy. Nearly all cruise lines quote a starting price but the rate will change based on the exact type of stateroom you prefer and number of passengers in your room. Mandatory taxes and fees can also increase your total cost but will be included in your final quote. Families with school-age kids often cruise over winter break, meaning a ship’s atmosphere might take on a new personality around Christmas.
Give yourself a bucket list gift for Christmas and book a Panama Canal cruise for your winter vacation. Adding to the cheer, guests and the ship's crew can participate in caroling, and despite no chimney in sight, a special visitor from the North Pole is scheduled to make an appearance. If you do, they might be on windowless inside cabins or guarantee cabins, where the cruise line picks your room location.
While cruise lines are accommodating, having your favorite Christmas cookie or specialty tea can add a touch of home. This could include battery-operated fairy lights, door decorations, or window clings with festive designs. However, with a bit of foresight and flexibility, these potential drawbacks can be addressed, ensuring your Christmas cruise is a memorable and joyous experience. With a plethora of onboard activities, events, and shows, it can sometimes feel overwhelming, leading to FOMO (Fear of Missing Out).
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