Every year, holiday cruises seem to become more and more popular, as American vacationers opt to leave behind the headaches of cross-country car and air travel and the mess of huge meals. Before booking a cruise, though, it’s important to think about the kind of holiday experience you want. A little research in advance can help avoid some bad surprises and unpleasant memories.
Booking
Above all, it is important to understand that holiday season cruises are incredibly popular. Thousands of people annually seek out the fun parties and good food available on cruise ships this time of year. For this reason, prices generally rise quite a bit, and cabins are booked early. In order to ensure a spot on a holiday cruise, sign up at least a few months in advance.
Atmosphere
Virtually every cruise ship offers a traditional holiday experience, and each line typically goes all out to get in the spirit. At Thanksgiving and Christmas, that means lots of seasonal decorations and a huge turkey dinner. To accommodate those who celebrate Hanukkah, there is typically a rabbi on board who leads services and a lighting of the Menorah. New Year’s Eve almost always involves a ship-wide party, a countdown to midnight, and plenty of champagne.
Aside from the seasonal festivities, there can be a big difference in the holiday experience from ship to ship. Larger ships often have plenty of family-friendly amenities, such as extended baby-sitting hours on New Year’s Eve and special clubs and activities for teens. These kinds of features are very attractive to families with children— and larger ships can have around 1,000 kids on board!
Young passengers can be great fun for some cruisers, but something of a headache for others. For those who’d like a quieter holiday cruise, consider sailing on a smaller or older ship. Also, think about an itinerary longer than a week, or a route beyond extremely popular destinations like the Caribbean. Smaller ships and longer itineraries tend to be less popular with families with children, and therefore offer better opportunities for a quieter, more intimate holiday celebration.
Whatever sort of holiday cruise you’re dreaming of, be sure to do a little planning beforehand. That is the best way to ensure you’ll return home with plenty of happy holiday memories!
