The winter holidays are a popular time to cruise, and ships
fill quickly – but there’s still time to book a great itinerary for you and
your family, especially if you work with your professional travel advisor.
If you haven’t taken a holiday season cruise before, it’s absolutely
delightful. You won’t miss out on any of the festivities, music, food or
fellowship that you look forward to at the holidays (and you won’t need to
clean or cook while you’re afloat, unless it’s in a demonstration kitchen).
Throughout the holiday season, cruise ships are beautifully decorated
with glittering ornaments and twinkling lights (providing abundant selfie
opportunities). The galley crew creates special holiday dinners with
traditional favorites, sometimes with a local twist. You’ll hear the sounds of
the season throughout the ship, too, and crew members and passengers often get
together for sing-alongs and caroling.
During December, Santa is likely to make an appearance or
two, equipped with special gifts for the children on board. In fact, if you
sail a popular cruise line during the holidays, expect to see lots of happy
children on board; even luxury cruises may have more children and family groups
than usual.
Here are a few tips for making the most of your holiday
cruise:
If you look forward to attending worship services on
Christmas Day, check itineraries carefully. Many onshore businesses and
attractions are closed on Christmas Day, so some ships spend the day at sea and
offer onboard, clergy-led worship services. Or, you may call on a port where
you can attend a local church service or celebration. If you have a preference,
be sure to choose your itinerary accordingly.
Pack a little bling for yourself and your stateroom. Bring
some festive clothing and accessories (such as reindeer-antler headbands,
holiday-themed jewelry and party hats). You can dress your stateroom up a
little, too, with some sparkly ornaments, holiday cards or a small wreath for
your door. Don’t bring strings of lights or candles, which are fire hazards.
Finally, leave your holiday gifts at home. You don’t want to
use luggage or stateroom space for packages. You could consider the cruise
itself to be one big, amazing holiday gift, or get your companions to agree to shop
for gifts in the ports you visit. You may want to purchase small gifts for the
crew members who serve you – after all, they’re away from home and working
during the holidays.
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