Christmas Cruises
Sprinkle a little extra magic on the festive season and experience the joy of our luxury Christmas cruises in 2025 or 2026.
If you’ve ever dreamed of spending Christmas on a cruise ship, you’ve come to the right place. From relaxing ocean and river cruises to once-in-a-lifetime expeditions to Antarctica, our collection of festive cruises caters to every traveller. We partner with over thirty of the world’s finest cruise lines, offering hundreds of itineraries to spectacular destinations worldwide, many with exclusive fares and special offers.
What is Christmas like on a cruise ship?
Spending the festive season at sea is unlike any other holiday. From the moment you step on board, you’ll be welcomed by sparkling lights, elegant decorations, and the unmistakable spirit of Christmas. Throughout your voyage, you can expect themed entertainment, seasonal activities, and festive menus curated by world-class chefs.
Choose a sailing that includes Christmas Day itself and you’ll enjoy a traditional feast with all the trimmings, without lifting a finger afterwards.
Different lines also cater to various styles of celebration. Couples seeking a refined experience will appreciate Cunard, Regent Seven Seas, and Celebrity Cruises for their timeless elegance and exceptional dining. Families can look to P&O Cruises, MSC, and Royal Caribbean, whose festive sailings offer something for every generation. Meanwhile, solo travellers will find a warm welcome on board lines such as Fred Olsen, Silversea, and Ponant, with special events and dining options designed to bring people together.
Where to cruise at Christmas?
Whether you dream of a sun-drenched winter escape or want a classically Christmassy setting for your holiday, you’ll find no shortage of options when deciding where to cruise at Christmas. The Caribbean stands out as a top choice, picture yourself on a pristine beach, savouring a cocktail on the big day. But if you prefer a closer-to-home celebration, P&O Cruises and Cunard offer festive journeys to the Canary Islands, departing stress-free from Southampton—no flights required.
Alternatively, to immerse yourself in the magic of Christmas, why not consider a river cruise? AmaWaterways and Scenic River Cruises offer a range of itineraries to Europe’s best Christmas markets in cities like Vienna, Cologne, and Prague. Or, for an unforgettable winter wonderland adventure, set sail with Hurtigruten on a Northern Lights cruise departing from Dover. Spend six enchanting days above the Arctic Circle, seeking out the mesmerising Aurora Borealis while revelling in various festive activities.
Finally, for the ultimate White Christmas experience, we recommend looking into the Antarctica expedition cruises offered by lines like Silversea, Seabourn and Lindblad Expeditions. Not only are you guaranteed to see some snow – and lots of it – but you’ll also have the opportunity to explore The White Continent in-depth before on a series of shore excursions and Zodiac trips.
Christmas Cruises from Southampton and other UK ports
Opting for a cruise that departs from Southampton or another UK port presents many advantages, especially during Christmas. Firstly, it eliminates the hassle of international flights, which will eliminate stress, especially during one of the busiest times of year for airports. Travel by car, coach or train to your chosen port, enjoy a seamless embarkation process and get ready to immerse yourself in festivities during the most wonderful time of year.
If you’d prefer to avoid flying to an overseas embarkation port, we’d recommend choosing an itinerary that departs from one of the many UK ports. Cruising from the UK has never been so popular, so several fantastic cruises are available with the following operators:
- Ambassador Cruise Lines (London Tilbury)
- Cunard (Southampton)
- Fred Olsen Cruise Lines (Liverpool, Portsmouth, Southampton)
- Hurtigruten Expeditions (Dover)
- MSC Cruises (Southampton)
- P&O Cruises (Southampton
In 2025 and 2026, the lines above will offer itineraries to the Canary Islands, the Caribbean and Northern Europe. Highlights include a 10-night Baltic cruise with P&O Cruises that visits Amsterdam and Copenhagen and a 19-night Queen Mary 2 sailing from Southampton to New York in 2025, which includes calls to a collection of Caribbean islands, including St Maarten, Barbados, and St Lucia.
Christmas Cruise Deals
As one of the UK’s leading luxury cruise specialists, we offer some of the best Christmas cruise deals. Choose from a collection of voyages and take advantage of free cabin upgrades, complimentary onboard credit, and fares, including drinks and WiFi on selected sailings. Furthermore, thanks to our partnership with luxury operators like Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Silversea Cruises and Seabourn, we can offer discounted fares on various cruises departing through December 2025 and 2026.
In addition to our Christmas deals, we can tailor every aspect of your winter holiday to suit your preferences. Using our international network of hotel suppliers, tour operators, and airlines, we can add optional extras such as extended in-destination stays, bespoke tour experiences, and even little luxuries like chauffeur transfers between your home and the airport. Just ask your Voyage Consultant for details when making your enquiry.
What makes us so special? Our prices are often better than what the operators advertise, and you won’t find this many deals anywhere else. However, due to demand, you’ll find some voyages can sell out up to 18 months in advance, so we’d recommend booking early to ensure you get your desired accommodation on your chosen voyage.
Book your Christmas cruise with us.
If you want to spend Christmas on a cruise, you’ll find our full range of festive itineraries for 2025, 2026 and 2027 below. To learn more or to receive an unbeatable quote for your cruise, call our team at 0800 008 6677 and let your dedicated Voyage Consultant do the rest. Alternatively, please submit an online enquiry for your preferred cruise.
