Holiday voyages in December and January are some of the most popular voyages and cruise vacations. Rather than wait to book these vacations, the cruise specialists and travel advisors at CruiseCompete encourage travelers to plan and book their holiday cruises now.
Currently Princess Cruises, Holland America Line and MSC Cruises all have voyages in December departing from Florida or California. Take a peek here:
https://www.cruisecompete.com/specials/holiday/christmas_cruises/1
And New Years’ cruises, too, are plentiful with Oceania, Princess Cruises, Holland America Line and MSC Cruises planning very special voyages:
https://www.cruisecompete.com/specials/holiday/new_years_cruises/1
For those still looking for a reason to cruise over the holidays, here are nine great reasons:
1.Sparkling clean Ships – This is the time to board a gorgeous cruise ship. They are pristine clean.
2. Truly festive atmosphere – After Thanksgiving, the cruise lines get in the holiday spirit by decorating their ships from bow to stern. Some cruise lines spend in excess of $100,000 annually on holiday decorations. Christmas trees, lights, garland and even artificial snow bring the festive season alive at sea. Hanukkah celebrations also are observed. Religious services are held aboard each ship.
3. Special guests – Christmas-time cruises would not be complete without guest appearances from Santa, Mrs. Claus and their elf friends. They make appearances on many ships during the holiday season for fun and relaxation leading up to Christmas Day. As expected, Santa’s bag of goodies is full for the kids on board.
4. New Year’s fun – Ringing in the New Year is a splash aboard a cruise ship. Elaborate parties take place at sea for persons of all ages and tastes. Special food, entertainment, toasts, party favors and more make the night memorable. For sports fans, many of the cruise lines offer special all-day tailgate parties to watch New Year’s Day football.
5. No snow – A holiday cruise is ideal for persons looking for a change of scenery as colder weather moves in at home. With Caribbean temperatures in the low 80s during this time of year, the closest one will come to cold weather on a cruise ship is the air conditioning. Some ships do feature snow falling in the ship’s atrium, but it is manmade and designed to melt before hitting the floor.
6. Great food – Nobody goes hungry on a cruise vacation, especially during the holidays. A variety of eats are available 24/7. Cruise menus fit the season, with world-class chefs preparing traditional Thanksgiving and Christmas meals, plus special kosher foods during Hanukkah. There are no shortages of gingerbread, cookies, pies and other deserts.
7. Kid’s activities galore – With children on holiday break from school, many families love to cruise during December. There is so much to do on a cruise, including a range of supervised activities for kids ages 3-17, pool activities, special lounges and dedicated nightclubs for tweens and teens. Vacation with your children yet without any stress.
8. True relaxation – Leave the hustle and bustle (and accompanying stress) of the holidays behind and enjoy a more relaxed atmosphere with the family on a cruise vacation. There is no better way to spend an afternoon in December than lying poolside instead of cooking, while sailing across the ocean or snorkeling through a secluded reef on a cruise line private island.
9. Unique gifts – A cruise vacation is one holiday gift that will be truly appreciated. Plus, there is world-class shopping onboard the ship and in various ports. Special shipping arrangements can be made to get the gifts home. If Santa is going to visit the kids, the cruise lines recommend small token gifts that are easy to hide and transport. Leave big gifts at home to open before or after the trip.
There are many reasons to take a holiday cruise! For more information about cruises, cruise ships, holiday cruises and more, please explore All Things Cruise as well as visit CruiseCompete and let a travel advisor help you find your dream holiday cruise.
Heidi, Editor-In-Chief
