Celebrate Christmas on a Cruise Ship This Year
Let’s be honest. Sailing away for the holidays sounds dreamy until you see the price tag or start wondering how your mother-in-law will react when you’re not there to carve the ham. The idea of taking a Christmas cruise raises a lot of questions: Is it worth the cost? What about missing traditions? Will it still feel like the holidays on a ship in the middle of the Caribbean?
I get it. As someone who has taken five cruises with Holland America Line, including one unforgettable trip during the Christmas season, I know these thoughts well.
A holiday cruise is often a once-in-a-lifetime splurge, not something most families do every year. But I also know how magical it can be, even if it doesn’t involve snowflakes and ugly sweaters.
As a teacher, I love traveling over the holidays. It means I don’t have to use up precious vacation days, and I get to do something special while the world slows down.
For our Christmas cruise, we booked a sailing out of Fort Lauderdale a week before Christmas. That timing was no accident. I wanted to be home on Christmas Eve to still celebrate with family. Best of both worlds, right?
That trip turned out to be one of the most memorable cruises I’ve ever taken.
Here’s why it might be worth booking your own holiday cruise and a few things to consider before you go all-in on gingerbread at sea.
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The Pros of a Christmas Cruise
Festive Decorations and Events
Let’s start with the fun stuff.
Holland America didn’t skimp on the Christmas cheer.
The ship was decked out with a towering Christmas tree, twinkling lights, and an entire gingerbread village that made you feel like you were walking through a Hallmark movie.
Each lounge area was decorated with giant, festive gifts and brightly decorated garland.
We enjoyed the tree lighting ceremony with Christmas caroling, hot chocolate, and apple cider in the atrium.
There were sugar cookie decorating events, and they even screened the movie, Elf on the World Stage. Yes, I laughed just as hard as I did the first time I saw it.
The onboard library was stocked with holiday book titles. And fellow passengers delivered a Christmas card in our cabin mailbox.
The holiday mood was definitely in full swing.
Holland America even offers a Winter Holiday Stateroom Decorating Package you can purchase, which includes festive touches like stockings, a holiday blanket, and cheerful cabin décor.
It’s a fun way to bring the holiday spirit into your own space onboard.
Specialty Holiday Menus
Each dining venue added its own spin on holiday classics, and the presentation made it feel like a celebration.
Lucky for us, Morimoto by Sea opened its first restaurant on our cruise, and we were able to partake in the opening ceremony, giving us something else to celebrate.
In the Lido Market, holiday music played while the menus featured traditional holiday fare.
Main dishes in the dining room included items such as carved beef tenderloin, roasted goose, and honey ham, alongside creative desserts like white chocolate snowmen, bread pudding, and Santa sundaes.
There’s something deeply satisfying about enjoying a multi-course Christmas dinner without peeling a single potato.
Other standout holiday dining events included the Nutcracker Afternoon Tea, where white-gloved service and tiered trays made it feel extra fancy, and Breakfast with Santa, which was a hit with families and nostalgic adults alike.
Holiday Drinks
If you’re the type who loves a themed drink, you’ll be in holly jolly heaven.
The bars and lounges served up seasonal cocktails that added a little extra cheer to the mix.
Think peppermint martinis, cranberry mimosas, and warm mulled wine.
You could even find hot cocoa with a splash of Baileys for a grown-up twist. Whether you wanted something cozy or a little festive and fruity, the drink menus felt tailored to the season.
Celebrating in the Caribbean
Even though we traded snowflakes for sunshine, the Christmas spirit wasn’t missing.
Seeing Christmas lights on palm trees and Santas in board shorts was surreal but charming.
It was different, but it still felt like Christmas.
The Not-So-Festive Side
Unexpected Weather Delays
Now, for the flip side.
Our cruise got off to a rocky start—literally.
Bad weather and our ship coming out of dry dock delayed our departure, so we ended up staying two extra nights in Fort Lauderdale.
This was not ideal when you’ve already packed your patience and your sunscreen.
It was an inconvenience, sure, but it wasn’t a dealbreaker. In fact, it gave us a couple of extra days to enjoy Fort Lauderdale, relax, and reset before boarding.
Our itinerary was ultimately altered, and we missed THREE of our planned ports. We did visit Half Moon Cay and Key West, but missed many eastern Caribbean islands I was looking forward to visiting.
To their credit, Holland America handled it like pros.
They kept us updated, put us up in a hotel, and compensated us generously.
Missing Out on Holiday Traditions Back Home
Still, cruising at Christmas isn’t for everyone.
The biggest hurdle? Missing your usual traditions.
Even though I planned the cruise so we’d be home on Christmas Eve, being away from my extended family during the days leading up to it was harder than I expected.
The ship was full of multi-generational families celebrating together, and while it was heartwarming to watch, it made me miss mine even more.
Another thing to consider is the weather whiplash.
For those of us who grew up associating the holidays with scarves and snowflakes, sweating through December in sandals takes some adjusting.
It’s festive, just not in the traditional sense.
Holiday Shore Excursions… or Lack Thereof
Once we got to the islands, I noticed something a bit disappointing: the shore excursions had absolutely nothing to do with the holidays.
No Christmas markets, no festive tours—just the usual sun-and-sand activities.
While the Caribbean isn’t exactly a hotbed of winter wonderlands, I would have loved to see at least one holiday-themed shore excursion to match the festive mood on board.
Should You Celebrate Christmas on a Cruise Ship?
It depends on what you want from the holidays.
If you’re craving a break from the shopping, cooking, and never-ending to-do list, a Christmas cruise might be the breath of fresh air you need.
The crew does everything for you—the decorating, the meals, the entertainment. You get to actually relax while enjoying breathtaking views, which is not a word most people associate with the holiday season.
It’s also a great option if you have limited vacation time or want to escape the cold for the islands.
For me, as a teacher, the timing was perfect. I didn’t have to take extra days off, and I still got to enjoy the holidays without stress.
But if you’re someone who lives for your grandma’s mashed potatoes or insists on watching It’s a Wonderful Life in fuzzy socks with hot cocoa, you might feel a little out of step.
That said, nothing’s stopping you from bringing your traditions onboard.
Pack those fuzzy socks. Bring a small stocking. Watch your favorite movies on your tablet while nibbling Christmas cookies from the Lido Market.
Are Christmas Cruises Worth the Cost?
Let’s talk dollars and sense.
Holiday cruises aren’t cheap. They’re some of the most expensive sailings of the year.
You’re not just paying for a cruise; you’re paying for the convenience of celebrating Christmas without lifting a finger. For many people, that’s worth every penny.
If you’re traveling as a couple, like we did, you can splurge a little without it getting out of control.
But if you’re bringing the whole family, the price tag adds up fast. That’s why I’m still working on convincing everyone to come with me next time—group rate, anyone?
Still, it’s an experience that sticks with you. It’s not just a vacation; it’s a story you’ll tell for years. It was worth it to me, and I’d do it again in a heartbeat.
When Do Cruise Ships Decorate for Christmas?
Curious when the floating winter wonderland actually goes up?
Most cruise lines start decking their ships right after Thanksgiving.
Carnival, for example, typically begins decorating two days after Thanksgiving, with most vessels fully adorned by early December, and decorations remain through New Year’s Day.
Holland America Line typically follows suit. By the beginning of December, ships are decked out with festive décor like gingerbread villages, trees, garlands, and lights.
So if you board in early December, or on a cruise labeled as a holiday voyage, you’ll likely step into an onboard atmosphere awash in twinkling lights and Christmas music.
Final Thoughts on a Christmas Cruise
Would I take a Caribbean cruise over Christmas again? Absolutely.
But next time, I’m bringing more family along.
There’s something special about celebrating Christmas on a cruise ship.
There’s a kind of joyful simplicity that reminds you of what the holidays are really about. No piles of dishes, no mall parking lots, no stress. Just good food, twinkling lights, and time together (or alone, if that’s more your style).
And who says Christmas has to come with cold weather and chaos?
Sometimes it looks like a piña colada in hand, a steel drum version of “Jingle Bells” in the background, and a warm ocean breeze on your skin.
So, is it worth it to celebrate Christmas on a cruise ship?
Without a doubt, even with the delay and the little pang of homesickness, celebrating Christmas on a cruise ship was one of the most relaxing and joy-filled ways I’ve ever spent the holidays.
There’s no meal to cook, no shopping to stress about, and no holiday hustle.
I would especially recommend Holland America, which knows how to throw a holiday celebration at sea with just the right mix of class and comfort.
Just be sure to pack a Santa hat with your swimsuit. Plus, nothing beats a Caribbean sunset.
Thinking About Booking a Christmas Cruise?
I recommend:
- Sailing a week before Christmas if you want to be home on the 24th
- Packing a few holiday touches (stockings, decorations for your stateroom door)
- Booking early—these cruises fill fast
- Bringing family or friends if you can (it makes the holiday spirit even stronger)
- Preparing for the unexpected (weather delays can happen, and travel insurance is your friend)
Whether you’re escaping the chaos or chasing a new kind of Christmas magic, this kind of trip is something special. And yes, it’s totally worth it.
Happy cruising, and Merry Christmas from somewhere sunny!
