For many people the idea of spending the festive season on a cruise is bliss, not only do you wave goodbye to any hectic Christmas preparations but you also get the opportunity to catch some mid-winter sun or alternatively enjoy a winter wonderland break.
For those of you who have never been on a Christmas cruise but are considering one next year, we have come up with five top reasons to take a Christmas cruise holiday…
1) Stress free
Celebrating Christmas on a cruise ship is an ideal way to remove yourself completely from any Christmas planning or organising. Once you’re on your chosen ship, everything will be taken care of. All your meals will be provided, the entertainment will be on tap, and best of all the ship’s staff will ensure your time aboard is a memorable one.
2) Destination options
Cruising during the festive season means you can effectively decide where you spend Christmas. Maybe you’ve always dreamed of escaping England’s dreary winter weather in favour of some Caribbean sunshine, or perhaps you’re looking to spend Christmas day on a snow safari in Norway. There’s a fantastic variety of cruise destinations to choose from, with many cruise line’s offering itineraries to Europe, the Caribbean, South America, Scandinavia, Alaska and Asia.
3) Dining Galore
For some, cooking during the Christmas season might not be as fun as it’s often made out. However, choose to cruise during the holidays and you’ll have onboard chefs happy to prepare all your meals for, offering not just the Christmas cuisine standards, but also expertly prepared regionally-influenced dishes that will really get your taste buds going.
Many cruise lines offer a choice of eateries, ranging from fine-dining to buffets. Some also give you the chance to eat at speciality restaurants such as Marco Pierre White’s White Room on P&O Cruises and Jacque Pepin’s restaurant on Oceania’s Marina.
4) Great for Kids
It might not appear so at first but spending Christmas aboard a cruise ship is actually a great option for families with children. Many cruise lines cater brilliantly for children during the festive season with a wealth of themed entertainment, activities and parties – not to mention special appearances from Santa himself!
In addition to this, those with younger children can take advantage of onboard resident babysitters and enjoy an evening out safe in the knowledge that the little ones are in safe hands.
5) Rejoice or Escape the Festive Season
Taking a cruise over the Christmas period offers the chance to either embrace the festive season or avoid it completely – it’s completely up to you. Many cruise lines such as Royal Caribbean and Princess will provide the ultimate Christmas celebrations with carol singers; festive events and a celebratory dinner will all the trimmings.
However, for those just looking for a bit of peace and relaxation you’ll be delighted to know that many cruise lines are also conscious of the fact that not all guests wish to celebrate Christmas so many provide non-Christmassy activities and events as well. So if you’re looking to leave the party hats at home, a Christmas cruise may also be one for you.
Take a look at our selection of Christmas Cruises
