christmas decorations

[joeyancho]

We are cruising December 6-13. Will the ship be decorated for Christmas? Will there be carolling or anything else?

[caribill]

Decorating starts right after Thanksgiving, so it should be decorated for your cruise.

 

It might be too early for caroling, but there will be plenty of holiday music in the background.

[Putterdude]

Likely they will still be decorating during your cruise but it should be complete before your cruise ends.

[Lovetocruiseprincess]

We normally cruise that time of year & we've never seen them fail to decorate just after the thanksgiving cruise although I haven heard the Christmas carols at that time.

[paul929207]

We sailed twice over US Thanksgiving and the ship was decorated for Christmas during the cruise

[Lovetocruiseprincess]

Last year on the Emerald they even added individual door decorations on all decks. A very nice touch we haven't seen before on any of their ships.

[dorisis]

We like to sail early in Dec. ,before the school holidays, and the ships are ALWAYS decorated for Christmas.

[cdngrl]

I've only sailed once after your thanksgiving. It was a 30 day south America cruise. the ship was decorated beautifully but that was it. there was nothing else festive and I got off December 23. after that I said I wouldn't sail that time of year again as I missed all the build up to Christmas.

 

in retrospect it may just have been that ship. as we know they all do things differently but I'm not willing to risk missing out again. rumour had it they didn't want to offend the folks who don't celebrate. I wanted to go to the kitchen and ask if I could bake gingerbread! (and I'd sing carols while doing so!)

[Coral]

I've only sailed once after your thanksgiving. It was a 30 day south America cruise. the ship was decorated beautifully but that was it. there was nothing else festive and I got off December 23. after that I said I wouldn't sail that time of year again as I missed all the build up to Christmas.

 

in retrospect it may just have been that ship. as we know they all do things differently but I'm not willing to risk missing out again. rumour had it they didn't want to offend the folks who don't celebrate. I wanted to go to the kitchen and ask if I could bake gingerbread! (and I'd sing carols while doing so!)

 

We have sailed several times from Thanksgiving to the New Years. Usually the decorations go up the weekend after Thanksgiving.

 

We did a 10 day cruise December 16-26 one year to Mexico. It was funny but I enjoyed it as we missed all the "shopping frenzy" that we had at home (crazy stores, parking lots filled, long lines, crazy drivers).

 

They will do snow the month of December but the Christmas caroling and other Christmas activities happen on only the cruise that covers Christmas. We have cruised the week before and caroling and gingerbread contests only happen on Christmas cruises.

Edited August 30, 2014 by Coral

[cdngrl]

...we missed all the "shopping frenzy" that we had at home (crazy stores, parking lots filled, long lines, crazy drivers).

 

I think that is partially what I missed!

[PescadoAmarillo]

We've cruise the last three Christmases on the Emerald Princess and I have lots of photos and information about Christmas-specific activities and movies on my blog. Have a great cruise!

 

http://pescadoamarillo.blogspot.com/search/label/Christmas

[Waimea'sMom]

We always sail the Hawaii itinerary the first two weeks of December. The ship is always beautifully decorated -- particularly the atrium area. Christmas carols are also playing over the loudspeaker. I do miss some of the stuff at home but I always really enjoy sailing that time of year. We have a small artificial tree in our cabin -- with the mini lights installed and plug it in occasionally. And I usually bring eggnog and hot chocolate on board with me -- all the better to enjoy the decorations.

[OCruisers]

Normally, Princess ships are decorated immediately after Thanksgiving or by the first sailing afterwards.

Princess contracts out their decorating with a private company specializing in that sort of thing.

LuLu

[geoherb]

We have sailed several times at Christmas and the week before. Christmas cruises are special--and they go all out for them with carolers dressed in Victorian garb during embarkation, snow in the atrium, Santa, special theatrical productions, gingerbread houses, eggnog, dinner menus, etc. The week before Christmas, the ship will be decorated, but you don't get anything special.

[Lovetocruiseprincess]

We have sailed several times at Christmas and the week before. Christmas cruises are special--and they go all out for them with carolers dressed in Victorian garb during embarkation, snow in the atrium, Santa, special theatrical productions, gingerbread houses, eggnog, dinner menus, etc. The week before Christmas, the ship will be decorated, but you don't get anything special.[/quote]

 

except lots and lots of kids. :D

[geoherb]

Yes, there will still be lots of kids on board anytime around the holidays. A lot depends on the date you sail. We've taken cruises that started in mid December--on the 14th and 17th--when there did not seem to be as many. The Christmas ones definitely have more. The good thing about most Princess ships is that there are plenty of quiet areas to get away from them, including the adults-only pool areas. Princess also hires extra staff for the children's clubs during this time of year to keep them occupied. The only time we had a problem with children was on the Sun Princess. At the time, the adults-only pool was right beside the other pool. I don't know if it's still that way.

Edited August 30, 2014 by geoherb

[4cats4me]

Yes

 

 

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