What to expect from our Christmas cruise 2013

[L & S]

We have just booked to go on the Oceana, 19th December 2013, Cruise E330

 

We havn't been on a cruise over the Christmas period before and we are really looking forward to it. We would be interested to hear from anyone who has been on a Christmas cruise, what can we expect?

 

:D:D:D:D

[Mozo9]

Different ship but we just had Christmas and New Year on Ventura and enjoyed it. Ship nicely decorated, not too much. Santa and his elves visited Christmas Eve and there was much singing of Here it is Merry Christmas etc. There was midnight mass. Everyone on board got a present, grown ups got a nice beach towel. Santa was in his grotto Christmas day afternoon and all children up to 17 got a present.

 

Christmas day was a sea day. There were carols in the morning and the Queens Speech was broadcast, although you are 4 hours behind so it was 11am. Christmas night was our first formal night and everyone made a big effort. It was very glitzy. We were on late dining and there was Christmas crackers and party hats. Traditional Christmas dinner was on the menu including plum pud. As far as I'm concerned it's the way to go, didn't miss home at all, although we had the family with us.

[Mozo9]

Ah should have said, this was in the Caribbean, we sailed from Barbados.

[L & S]

Thanks very much for replying. It sounds as if you had a great time and we are looking forward to this cruise even more after reading your reply. It sounds exactly what we hoped it would be. :D We also think its the way forward to us, all our families have got families of their own now, so we don't feel guilty about leaving them behind. :D:D

[dorsetlad]

We were on the Oceana cruise for last Christmas, and thoroughly enjoyed it. We had a school choir singing carols in the atrium before we sailed, and that sort of set the theme for the whole cruise. The catering staff built a gingerbread village at the base of the atrium and together with a display of decorated Christmas cakes outside the Adriatic restaurant, were on display all week. The ship was very tastefully decorated throughout. There was midnight mass, and on Christmas morning the usual service of carols & lessons in the theatre. Santa Claus made an appearance after coming down the funnel, and all passengers received a Christmas present. The crew choir performed carols for us in the atrium on Christmas day. All in all there was a very festive feel to the whole week, and I'm sure you will enjoy it. We are already looking foward to next Christmas which we will be spending on Aurora. If you look here, these are a few of the 300 odd photos I took during the cruise. https://picasaweb.google.com/brianhanfrey/ChristmasCruise201202?authkey=Gv1sRgCIPhoY6Dt-D9fQ Enjoy.

 

Brian

[L & S]

Thanks so much Brian, this cruise is just getting better. Great photos too. I will be showing these to our friends who will also be on the cruise with us. Now we are wishing the months away, although we do have a land based holiday in the USA in May......cruising still tops it though.!!

 

Linda

[HomelessBear]

We have been on xmas / new year cruises for the past five years and love them. We were on the Azura the Christmas before last (Princess cruise on this last xmas). The ships have a tree in the atrium, and P&O dress up the staircases in the main area, which looked really pretty.

 

You may find more children on xmas cruises (except the adults only of course) - or you may not....we've experienced both. There'll be turkey dinner on the menu (but other options if you don't want this), Santa coming aboard for the younger ones, and P&O left us a lovely box of champagne truffles each in our cabin.

 

I'm sure you'll have a great cruise.