What to expect on a Christmas cruise

[NCLSEA123]

We just booked our first Christmas cruise on NCL (Majesty 12/17) and we were wondering what kind of things to expect on a Christmas cruise. We would appreciate any input anyone has to give. Thanks!!

[Jim Gallup]

What to expect on a Christmas Cruise:

 

High prices for flights.

Overbooked flights.

Delayed and cancelled flights.

Very long lines at the airport

Lost suitcases.

No way to track lost suitcases (those people are on holiday, just like you)

High prices for cruises.

Overbooked ships.

Long lines everywhere on the ship.

Crew who would much rather be at home for Christmas with their families.

No emergency cabins for broken toilets, air-con, etc.

No upgrades available.

Many, many, many children and young families.

Many first-time cruisers.

Many tours, museums, shops closed for Christmas.

Usually (not always) the worst weather of the year.

Many Christians complaining about lack of Christmas decor.

Many non-Christians complaining about too much Christmas decor.

Everyone complaining that the Christmas dinner, cooked by a German and served by a Filipino, does not tast the same as their mother's Christmas dinner back in Ohio.

 

Why do I know this? I have worked 27 Christmas cruises on 9 different cruise lines. Two of those Christmas Cruises were great; three were so-so; 22 of them were absolute disasters.

Good luck........................

[bobnsandi]

We just booked our first Christmas cruise on NCL (Majesty 12/17) and we were wondering what kind of things to expect on a Christmas cruise. We would appreciate any input anyone has to give. Thanks!!

Can't speak for NCL, but we spent Christmas 2004 aboard RCCL's Legend of the Sea. It was one of our most memorable cruising experiences.

 

The crew couldn't do enough for us. The ship was decorated to the nines. Dinner was awesome.

 

We'll be aboard the Pride of America, the first newly built U.S.-flagged ship in fifty years, this Independence Day. We can hardly wait to see what NCL has in store for us.

 

Enjoy and remember, look at the positive and ignore the negative. Cruising is always fun if you have the right frame of mind.

[Luv_to_Cruise]

Hi Bobnsandi,

 

You couldn't have said it better, "Look at the Positive, and Ignore the Negative". There are always glitches, but certainly the joy of being on the ocean, sailing to new places and meeting new friends outweighs anything else! For us this year, sailing for the first time with family at the Holiday season is going to be loads of fun. I've never been on a bad cruise, even when skirting a hurricane on the way to Bermuda.

[NCLSEA123]

Thanks for the input. Can anybody speculate on what kind of activities there will be around Christmas time??? Thanks

[XTEACH281]

We have done the week before Christmas and Christmas week and they have both been terrific. The ship was decorated nicely (and we "wrapped " our cabin door with Christmas paper- not only festive- but flat to pack and helps you find your room quickly !) We also took dollar store sized Christmas trees with tiny trimmings ! Carnival hadfree champagne for several hours the day we boarded , and a priest and children's choir came on board in Cozumel to do a Christmas Eve mass - which was so popular the priest ran out of communion ! Then on Christmas Eve, they had caroling in the atrium lobby- and with the voices upstairs and below- it was great . We had done major gifts before we left, and bought little things just to give that day. We would do another holiday cruise in a heartbeat !

[bobnsandi]

Thanks for the input. Can anybody speculate on what kind of activities there will be around Christmas time??? Thanks

It is difficult to even speculate since much of what happens depends on the cruise director and the budget s/he is given. You can be pretty much assured that it will "special".

[Dolphins]

I couldn't have said it better. You will never find me on a cruise ship during school holidays.