Have you ever thought about celebrating Halloween on a cruise? Be warned! You won’t be able to resist after reading this blog.
Being at sea doesn’t mean you have to miss out on celebrating one of the best holidays of the year. In fact, cruises are one of the best ways to celebrate the spooky season. For many mainstream lines, Halloween-themed cruises are grand events packed with costume parties, pumpkin-carving contests and even onboard trick-or-treating.
Below, we’ve highlighted the most spectacular Halloween-themed cruises, from renowned family-friendly cruise lines like MSC to less-suspecting names like Celebrity. Whichever line you sail with, expect lots of activities and special events – and remember to pack your best Halloween costume!
Holland America Line
When it comes to celebrating Halloween, Holland America has left no (grave)stone unturned. In the kitchen, Chef Rud Sodamin creates a range of “pumpkin-centric” recipes, while Master Mixologist Dale DeGroff is on hand at the bar to serve your favourite cocktail with a Halloween twist – I’d recommend sinking your teeth into the vampire martini!
Throughout October, spirits run high on all eleven ships. Onboard, guests of all ages can participate in a wide range of activities, including:
- Trick-or-treating
- Costume parties
- Pumpkin carving contests
- Halloween-themed movie nights
- A masquerade party in the Crow’s Nest
Holland America has also put together an exciting collection of Halloween-ready shore excursions in some of the line’s favourite haunts, many of which are available to book year-round but are unsurprisingly popular from October. Highlights include:
Ghosts & Gravestones – Key West, Florida, USA
Board the Trolley of the Doomed if you dare! Key West’s frightful past comes to life with tales of murder, superstition and a bizarre love story with a grave-robbing twist! Follow your Ghost Host through the narrow streets of Old Town to one of the island’s haunted Civil War forts, home to Robert the Doll, who holds the title of the World’s Most Haunted Child’s Plaything.
Be warned – this tour is not suitable for young children or the faint-hearted!
The Ghosts of Old Quebec – Quebec, Canada
The cobblestone streets and ancient buildings of Old Quebec set the scene for a terrifying visit to the dark side of this historic city. As the skies darken, your costumed tour guide strikes a match and lights his lantern. Following closely behind, you’ll hear tales of more than 300 years of murders, executions and mysterious ghost sightings and hauntings.
Caution! Children under the age of 12 are not permitted to take part in this tour.
Celebrity Cruises
Let Celebrity put a spell on you in 2023. Whether you’re a child or an adult, you’ll enjoy celebrating the spookiest time of the year with this appeals-to-all-ages cruise line.
Children can choose from various activities, including costume contests with multiple categories for winners and trick-or-treating. Furthermore, as part of Camp at Sea – the only fully customisable children’s programme in the industry – children can participate in Halloween-themed arts and crafts and frightfully fun games.
For adults, there is an exclusive Silent Disco Party with Halloween-themed cocktails. In fact, seasonal cocktails are available to order in all of the ship’s bars and lounges throughout October.
Alternatively, bring the whole family together with a Halloween-themed movie night under the stars. Previous showings include Beetlejuice, Ghostbusters, Hocus Pocus, Frankenstein and Casper. Other family-friendly activities include a Halloween-themed trivia night and a spooktacular dance party in the Grand Plaza.
MSC Cruises
MSC is one of the most family-friendly cruise lines there is. So it’s no surprise that the award-winning operator is a popular choice when booking a Halloween-themed cruise.
From 10 October to 2 November, prepare to be thrilled by decorations, costumed entertainers around the ship, fangtastic menus and a wide range of activities guaranteed to delight guests of all ages.
For the little ones:
- A costume parade
- A child-friendly Scary House for trick-or-treaters
For teenagers:
- Costume and makeup competitions
- A late-night Halloween-themed party
For all ages:
- Halloween-themed karaoke
- Halloween-themed dance lessons, where you can learn the routines to songs like Thriller by Michael Jackson and Monster Mash by Bobby Pickett
Norwegian Cruise Line
While Norwegian is well-known for catering to the younger generation, the cruise line is one of the best options for adults looking for some Halloween-themed fun. Adults can release their inner child with a wide range of activities not offered by any other cruise line, including:
- A murder mystery dinner
- Scary movie-themed trivia
- An escape room designed especially for the occasion
Of course, children will have plenty of fun celebrating the spooky season onboard. Child-friendly activities include:
- Dance parties
- Trick-or-treating
- Costume contests
Find out more
To enquire about booking a Halloween cruise for 2023, please call our Voyage Consultants on 0800 008 6677.
