Top Christmas Cruises for a Joyful Celebration

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Deck the halls with boughs of holly, Fa la la la la, la la la la. 

‘Tis the season to be jolly, Fa la la la la, la la la la. 

Yeah, that’s right! Soon, it will be ‘that’ time of the year, and here we are talking about Christmas cruises!

Planning a cruise on Christmas? While Christmas is an excellent time for cruise trips, which one is best suited for you? Which one is suited for family fun? Traveling with kids? Which one is the best kidfriendly cruise? Prefer to unwind and relax and have a quiet Christmas trip away from kids? Or do you want a romantic getaway cruising to the Caribbeans? Whatever you want, there are several cruises to choose from. Read on to learn more about Christmas cruises and which cruise is best suited for you.  

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Are Christmas Cruises Worth It?

Day by day, cruises are gaining traction, especially during holidays. So, it is no wonder that Christmas cruises are very popular these days! Other than the Christmas festivities and fun, I think Christmas cruises are so ‘In’ these days because you get a completely relaxed vacation devoid of cooking, cleaning, decorating, and entertaining.  While Christmas cruises are very expensive, it is absolutely worth every penny!

Also, Christmas is a time to be with family and kids, which also means most cruises are filled with kids. Most cruises offer youth programs. The good thing about this is that parents can unwind and relax while the kids are engaged with other kids of similar age, making friends and having fun. 

Here are some of the cruise lines that offer the most enchanting ‘Spirit of Christmas.’

Royal Caribbean

Royal Promenade 

Royal Caribbean’s Christmas cruises offer festive entertainment, activities, and cuisine, making it a stress-free way to celebrate the season. The ship will be decked out with glowing Christmas trees and holiday decor. Santa’s elves will spread cheer across the ship with a visit from Saint Nick himself. You can also attend Christmas mass on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Dining includes Christmas classics at various restaurants, plus a special Bottomless Galley Brunch. Royal Caribbean is popular with families with children of all ages. 

Other Onboard festivities include 

  • Lighting of the massive Christmas tree 
  • Caroling 
  • Ugly sweater making 
  • Parties with DJ 
  • Holiday Trivia 
  • Pajama movie nights 
  • Christmas giveaways by the elves 
  • Gingerbread cookie decorating classes 
  • Holiday games 

Royal Caribbean offers popular winter cruises to the Western Caribbean, Mexican Coast, Southern Caribbean, Puerto Rico, and Mexican Riviera. Here are some of the cruise itineraries for this Christmas.  

Itinerary  Sailing On  Ship  Prices From 
7-night cruise from Miami to the Western Caribbean and CocoCay  Dec 21  Icon of the Seas  $2053 
4-night cruise to the Bahamas from Port Canaveral  Dec 23 & 30   Utopia of the Seas  $885 
6-night cruise from Fort Lauderdale CocoCay, Falmouth & Labadee  Dec 22  Oasis of the Seas  $949 
7-night cruise from Miami to Puerto Rico and Sint Maarten  22 & 29  Symphony of the Seas  $1385 
7-night cruise from Los Angeles to the Mexican Riviera  20 & 27  Navigator of the Seas  $1401 
4-night Cruise from Miami to Labadee (Haiti)  19  Independence of the Seas  $381 
7-night cruise from Port Canaveral to the Mexican Coast and CocoCay  Dec 29  Wonder of the Seas  $1922 
8-night cruise from Fort Lauderdale to the Southern Caribbean and CocoCay  Dec 28  Oasis of the Seas  $1787 

For all itineraries, visit the Royal Caribbean official website  

Celebrity Cruises 

Main_Atrium_Staircase_Aboard_the_Celebrity_Equinox_
Joe Ross from Lansing, Michigan, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

At Celebrity Cruises, you can experience the true sense of Christmas with their classic Christmas meals, festive decorations, and holiday-themed shows. Adults can relax at The Spa while kids enjoy Camp at Sea. Forget all the cooking and cleaning and just sit back and relax, eat, drink, and be merry this Christmas without lifting a finger. For those who are worried that the cruise will be full of kids, celebrity cruises offer adult-oriented cruises. 

Onboard festivities include 

  • Join the carolers 
  • Watch Christmas movies and shows  
  • Spend Christmas with Santa 

Here are some of the popular Celebrity Winter Cruises

Itinerary  Sailing on  Ship  Prices From 
7-night cruise from Tampa to the Bahamas & Mexico   Dec 20  Celebrity Constellation  $955 
7-night cruise from Fort Lauderdale to Eastern Caribbean  Dec 21  Celebrity Apex  $1,401 
8-night cruise from Fort Lauderdale to Southern Caribbean   Dec 21  Celebrity Reflection   $1,315 
7-night cruise from Fort Lauderdale to St. Maarten, St. Thomas, & Puerto Plata  Dec 22  Celebrity Ascent  $1,560 
11-night cruise from Fort Lauderdale to Southern Caribbean  Dec 22  Celebrity Eclipse  $2,002 
11-night cruise from Fort Lauderdale to Panama Canal & Southern Caribbean  Dec 23  Celebrity Beyond  $2,433 

For all itineraries, please visit the Celebrity Cruises official website 

Norwegian Cruise Lines

Christmas on Norwegian Breakaway 

Norwegian Cruises offers traditional festive menus, Santa visits, Christmas movies, family-friendly activities, and youth programs for the kids. NCL offers Christmas cruises to destinations including the Caribbean, Bahamas, Mexican Riviera, Hawaii, Europe, Mexico, and South America. What better way to spend Christmas than cruising to the most exotic places, away from the winter chills? 

Itinerary  Sailing On Ship  Prices From 
Hallmark Christmas Cruise November  Nov 5 & 17  Norwegian Gem  $1,265 
3-day Cruise from Miami to the Bahamas: Great Stirrup Cay & Nassau  Dec 24  Norwegian Pearl  $279 
5-day Cruise from Miami to The Caribbean: Great Stirrup Cay & Cozumel  Dec 19   Norwegian Pearl  $309 
7-day Cruise from Miami to The Caribbean: Harvest Caye, Cozumel & Roatan  Dec 21  Norwegian Bliss  $949 
7-day Cruise from Galveston, Texas, to The Caribbean: Harvest Caye, Cozumel & Roatan  Dec 22  Norwegian Escape  $1,099 
7-day Cruise from Los Angeles to Mexican Riviera: Cabo & Puerto Vallarta  Dec 20  Norwegian Joy  $1,129 
7-day Cruise from Miami to The Caribbean: Great Stirrup Cay & Dominican Republic  Dec 20   Norwegian Encore  $1,329 

For all itineraries, please visit the Norwegian Cruise Line official website. 

Carnival Cruises

 

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Carnival Christmas Cruises offers you a festive mood with decorated and lighted Christmas trees and all the frills and fancies that come with Christmas. Some of the activities include Christmas tree lighting, caroling, ugly sweater parties, traditional Christmas cuisine, Christmas movies, Santa visits, and Grinch appearances. On Christmas Eve, attend the Christmas mass, dress up for the Christmas gala dinner, and explore festive decor throughout the ship. Carnival Cruises gives you a perfect opportunity to spend a perfect Christmas with your family. 

Onboard festivities include 

  • Holiday Shows: Singing, Dancing 
  • Music trivia: Guess the Song 
  • Ugly Sweater competition 
  • Holiday Trivia, Holiday Radio, and TV Trivia
  • Holiday Bingo 
  • Holiday Movie 
  • Wishes For Santa 
  • Holiday Snow Friends Hunt 
  • Holiday Arts and Crafts 
Itinerary  Sailing on  Ship  Prices From 
4-Day Cruise to Baja Mexico from Long Beach, LA  Dec 23   Carnival Radiance  $559 
4-Day cruise to The Bahamas from Port Canaveral, Florida  Dec 23   Carnival Glory  $739 
5-Day cruise to The Bahamas from Jacksonville, FL  Dec 23  Carnival Elation  $849 
5-Day cruise to the Western Caribbean from New Orleans, LA  Dec 23  Carnival Valor  $804 
5-Day Cruise to Mexican Riviera from Long Beach, LA  Dec 26  Carnival Firenze  $749 

For all itineraries, please visit Carnival Cruise Line official website 

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Virgin Voyages

 

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Enjoy a luxurious Caribbean or Indian Ocean holiday cruise with Virgin Voyages, a chance to experience Christmas in exotic destinations with specialty meals, themed cocktails, Christmas-themed activities, and decor. Spend time with dear ones, reconnect with family, or escape on an adults-only vacation. Get the vacation you want and deserve!  

Itinerary  Sailing on  Ship  Prices From 
5-night cruise to the Dominican Republic from Miami (Round Trip)  Dec 15  Valiant Lady  $2,388 
4-night cruise from Miami Bahamas  Dec 26  Valiant Lady  $1,790 
6-night cruise from Miami (Round Trip) to Mexico, Honduras, and the Bahamas  Dec 22   Scarlet Lady  $2,816 
8-night cruise from Miami (Round Trip) to the Dominican Republic, Virgin Islands, and the Bahamas  Dec 14  Scarlet Lady  $2,708 

For more itineraries, please visit Virgin Voyages official website 

You may also like: When Is the Best Time to Cruise the Caribbean?

MSC Cruises

The traditional decorations and Christmas trees adorned in lights on MSC ships are a sight to be seen. MSC offers Christmas cruises with a variety of holiday activities. Adults can enjoy MasterChef Christmas, Christmas karaoke, and the Christmas Shows. Children can participate in Santa’s extravaganza, watch a movie with Santa, enjoy Doremix Xmas, and participate in the Kids Xmas Parade. Additionally, Winter Wonderland at Doremi Village offers games, line dances, and other Christmas magic.   

Itinerary  Sailing on   Ship 
7-Night cruise to the Caribbean & Antilles from New York (Round Trip)  15 & 29 Dec  MSC Meraviglia 
7-Night cruise to the Caribbean & Antilles from Miami (Round Trip)  15 & 29 Dec  MSC Seaside 
4-night cruise to the Caribbean & Antilles from Port Canaveral (Orlando)  Dec 15  MSC Seashore 
14-night cruise to the Caribbean & Antilles from Miami  15 & 29 Dec  MSC Seaside 
4-night cruise to the Caribbean & Antilles from Miami (Round Trip)  16 & 30 Dec  MSC Divina 

For details, please visit MSC Cruises official website 

You may also like: When Is the Best Time to Book a Cruise?

Oceania Cruises

 

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Oceania Christmas Cruises offers luxurious holiday cruises with a variety of destinations and experiences. From seven-day cruises to grand voyages lasting months, Oceania’s holiday cruises offer the perfect festive experience. You can celebrate Christmas and New Year together on Oceania cruises while enjoying luxurious accommodations, gourmet dining, and festive celebrations onboard. Oceania’s all-inclusive packages ensure that everything you need is included in your voyage fare, from gourmet food to vintage Champagnes and premium wines. In Oceania, every detail of luxury is taken care of. 

Onboard festivities include 

  • Christmas carols 
  • Tree lighting ceremony 
  • Holiday Gourmet lunch and dinner 
  • Dazzling evening performances 
  • Enchanting melodies of a string quartet
Itinerary  Sailing on    Ship  Prices From 
50-day cruise from Miami to Rio de Janeiro   Dec 07  Oceania Marina  $14,849 
38-day cruise Miami to Buenos Aires  Dec 07   Oceania Marina  $8,799 
10-day cruise from Miami (round-trip) to Hidden Caribbean Coves   Dec 17   Oceania Vista  $4,399  
16-day cruise from Miami to Los Angeles: Beyond the Panama Canal Dec 23  Nautica  $3,999 
14-day cruise Miami (round-trip): Festive Caribbean  Dec 22  Oceania Insignia  $3,655 
14-day cruise from Miami to Bridgetown  
Dec 21  Oceania Sirena  $2,925 

For details, please visit Oceania Cruises official website 

Christmas Market Cruises 

A Christmas market cruise offers an enchanting way to experience the holiday season. Sailing through scenic rivers, such as the Mississippi River, during Christmas has a mesmerizing quality. Plus, as you sail along, you’ll have the unique opportunity to experience the spirit of Christmas in charming towns that host Christmas with festive markets selling handcrafted gifts, Christmas treats, and beverages. Mississippi River Cruises by American Cruise Lines and Viking River Cruises offer the best Christmas Market Cruises. 

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When should I book a Christmas cruise?  

It is always better to reserve your spot months in advance. Reserving your cruise during the early bird offer is the best way to get the cheapest rates. If you miss the early bird window, wait for some offers or promotions. 

Conclusion  

When choosing a cruise, make sure it is tailored to your needs. When you are traveling with kids, would you want to go on a cruise where the majority are adults? Your kids would hate it, right? So, when cruising with kids, choose something that has kids’ and youth programs.   

If you want to spend romantic, intimate time with your partner or you prefer a vacation with no kids around, choose an adults-only cruise.

Price: Holiday cruise prices tend to be on the higher side, especially during Christmas and New Year’s. But it is totally worth it. In my experience, someone who has spent their Christmas on a cruise often returns, regardless of the expense. 

All-inclusive packages: The good thing about all-inclusive packages is that you can relax and enjoy everything onboard without worrying about the budget. Plus, holiday cruises have plenty of perks that come with all-inclusive packages, and you wouldn’t want to miss out on them. 

Note: In addition to these popular itineraries, several other Christmas cruises are available. Check their official website to get the full information before making an informed decision.  

Who are the celebrities on Hallmark Christmas Cruise Sail 1, 2024?

Jonathan Bennett, Rachel Boston, BJ Britt, Brooke D'Orsay, Heather Hemmens, Tyler Hynes, Will Kemp, Hunter King, Kevin McGarry, Kristoffer Polaha, and Ashley Williams were the celebrities on Hallmark Christmas Cruise Sail 1.

Who are the celebrities on Hallmark Christmas Cruise Sail 2, 2024?

Jonathan Bennett, Benjamin Ayres, Wes Brown, Erin Cahill, Paul Campbell, Nikki DeLoach, Sarah Drew, Aimee Garcia, Tyler Hynes, Kimberley Sustad, and Andrew Walker are the celebrities on Hallmark Christmas Cruise Sail 2.

Are Christmas cruises worth it?

Yes, totally! With the ships adorned with Christmas lights and decor and the luxury of traditional Christmas food and drink, it is an opportunity you should at least experience once.

What cruise line is doing the Hallmark Christmas cruise?

NCL’s Norwegian Gem is hosting a Hallmark Christmas cruise from Miami, Florida, to Nassau, Bahamas, on November 5 to 9 & November 17 to 21.

Are Christmas cruises cheaper?

No, Christmas Cruises are way more expensive than any other cruise.

Fanny Dorris

Meet Fanny Dorris! She's been writing about her love for cars, travel, and lifestyle for over 5 years. Fanny's adventurous spirit takes her to new and exciting places all around the globe, where she enjoys exploring different cultures and trying out new cuisines. When she's not out and about, you can find Fanny whipping up some delicious treats in her kitchen, filling her home with the sweet aroma of freshly baked goods.

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