Increasing numbers of people are choosing to book a cruise holiday over the Christmas period. Whether it’s the cold British weather, or the expense of hosting a UK Christmas, it’s easy to see why people are drawn to cruising over the festive season:
- a cruise is fairly stress-free and it provides an opportunity to relax
- you don’t need to think about entertaining others
- there is no need to cook a Christmas dinner or put up decorations
- you can enjoy quality family time at exciting destinations around the globe
- the travel element is educational, whatever your age
I spent a number of Christmases on cruise ships, both as a crew member and a passenger. Here are my tried and tested tips on what to remember when planning a cruise over the festive period.
1. Pick your itinerary carefully
Caribbean
Whilst “winter sun” may sound exotic, it’s important to establish where you want to go. Caribbean cruises are very popular with Europeans and Americans. This is because of the sunshine, beaches and activities on offer.
This is my favourite type of winter itinerary but Christmas in the sun always feels surreal to me, as it’s so different to Christmas at home. The on board atmosphere is often relaxed and upbeat, but it’s important to remember that most people who are working on the ship are away from their own friends and family.
The bigger cruise lines often base some of their fleet in the Caribbean over the UK’s winter period. This means that passengers will have to fly to join a ship. But because the ships are already in the Caribbean, sea days are limited which leaves more room for extra ports on the itinerary.
If you don’t want to fly both ways, consider booking a repositioning cruise, which only requires one flight. If you book a fly cruise, flights should be included in the cost of your holiday. Other types of Christmas fly cruise destinations include Hawaii, Miami and New York.
Europe
If you want to cruise from the UK, most cruise ships will travel to the Canary Islands or the Mediterranean for Christmas. Some go to colder places such as Amsterdam and Belgium.
If you do book a cruise from the UK, keep in mind that the weather can be unpredictable. Whilst the Canaries are often warm, the Western Mediterranean can be cold and wet during winter months. The Bay of Biscay can be very rough at this time of the year, as I’ve been unfortunate enough to witness more than once! There is also a heightened risk of ships aborting ports, particularly in Belgium and Amsterdam. This is often because of adverse weather conditions.
If you are considering a Christmas markets cruise, these normally take place before Christmas.
It’s also important to consider whether you want to spend Christmas Day at sea or in port. A lot of itineraries factor in a sea day for 25 December. Some cruises will either depart on this day or make a stop in a port. Remember that shops may be closed, as it’s a public holiday in many countries.
2. What to pack for a Christmas cruise
Different cruise lines have different dress codes. My experiences of Christmas at sea have always been with P&O Cruises. Their dress code tends to be more relaxed on Caribbean cruises, and more formal on European itineraries. They often have a formal evening on Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve, which are great opportunities to dress up.
Other cruise lines may not have a formal dress code, so this is something to consider when picking the right ship for you. If you want a more “dressy” experience, consider the glitzier brands such as Cunard or Celebrity Cruises.
If you don’t need to fly to join a cruise ship, you have more flexibility with your luggage allowance. Fly-cruising is more restrictive as you can’t take as much with you. I opted to pack the lightest of evening dresses for the Caribbean, partly because it’s very hot out there. It’s often hard to pack a different outfit for each night, so consider a capsule wardrobe you can change around.
3. What to expect on board the cruise ship
The majority of cruise ships embrace Christmas and the atmosphere on board will be warm and upbeat. You’ll find a host of special activities such as:
- Father Christmas coming down the funnel
- a crew pantomime
- a passenger choir and church service
- Christmas dinner on the big day
The ship will also be full of decorations for the occasion.
For children, there’s the opportunity to meet Father Christmas and there are lots of tailored activities to keep them amused.
Officers and crew are away from their loved ones, so it’s an important time of year for them too. They have their own festivities below decks, but they still work throughout the day. They have a range of entertainment including Secret Santa, Christmas discos and Christmas dinner. It’s also important to remember that many of the crew don’t celebrate Christmas for their religious reasons.
For those who don’t like celebrating Christmas, there are options for you too. Some ships avoid Christmas celebrations altogether, so this is the perfect way to escape from it all. Check with your travel agent or cruise line to find out more.
4. Cruising at New Year
When you book a Christmas cruise, think about whether you want to be away for New Year’s Eve too. For me, New Year’s Eve on a ship is one of my favourite holiday experiences. I loved watching the incredible fireworks in Madeira, known to be one of the best displays in the world. I also like the option of going ashore during the day for a bit of exercise, before the big event.
If you’d prefer to be at sea come midnight, then expect deck parties (in warm weather), live music and lots of dancing. Whatever you decide, you’re unlikely to be disappointed by New Year’s Eve on a cruise.
Visit the cruise advice section of my blog for more helpful tips to help you plan your cruise.
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