What to expect on a Christmas Cruise

[rockyhou]

An avid cruiser here and have purposely stayed away from booking any holiday week cruise. This year we got a free cruise (inside) from the onboard casino and for a nominal fee we upgraded to a balcony, it was too good to pass up so we are booked on the Jade for Christmas.

 

I am wondering what I can expect on a Christmas week cruise...since it is the holiday week will the ports be fully operating or will I find many stores closed etc.? Luckily with this itinerary the ship will be at sea on the 24th and 25th, but the week leading up to the actual holiday will I see a difference in port activity? Also since we are at sea for the actual holiday, I am now wondering does the ship usually do anything in recognition of Christmas, besides being decorated. For example, holiday themed shows?, Better Christmas dinner in the main dining? Any church services or caroling?

 

I am looking forward to the cruise, but now wondering if my holiday will feel like just any other day at sea? Not that a day at sea is bad..I love those days :)

[GORDONCHICK]

The ports should be fully operational and open. We zip lined and cave tubed in Belize on Christmas day in 2013. Christmas type food will be on the menu for the MDR & buffets. There is usually caroling in an area of the ship. There will only be a church service if they've booked clergy for the cruise or a passenger volunteers for this.

 

Personally, I don't care for cruising at Christmas. I like to be home. Now, I LOVE cruising at Thanksgiving....

Edited August 18, 2015 by GORDONCHICK

[Barb Nahoumi]

I'm sure that there will be plenty of holiday based foods and entertainment on board.

 

Many families with kids as well.

[drvalo]

While many of the activities and events are just like any other cruise, there will be many Christmas-y activities and decorations - lots of decorations. The ship looks very festive.

 

Usually some sort of gingerbread village in the atrium or dining room or both.

 

A special Christmas show in the main theatre. Very nice!

 

Christmas music played throughout the ship.

 

A special menu in the MDRs. It was very good! I don't remember the "always available" even being available.

 

Santa made an few appearances and seemed to be available for pics.

 

PX also seemed to decorate their cabins and especially their doors.

 

Honestly, we didn't notice as many kids as we thought would be there. Perhaps, families like to be home for the holiday if they have small children.....So Santa can find them!

 

On the days leading up to the holiday, the various ports' stores were also busy with holiday shoppers and had some "specials". Not sure how special they really were, but certainly everything was open for holiday shopping. There were also excursions running as usual.

 

My family is so dispersed that we usually celebrate not on the actual holiday, so it was a very nice change of pace to be on a ship on the actual holiday.

 

It was a different sort of Christmas, but it was Christmas.

Edited August 18, 2015 by drvalo

[www3traveler]

I will be on The Getaway for Christmas this year and I can not wait.

[zqvol]

An avid cruiser here and have purposely stayed away from booking any holiday week cruise. This year we got a free cruise (inside) from the onboard casino and for a nominal fee we upgraded to a balcony, it was too good to pass up so we are booked on the Jade for Christmas.

 

I am wondering what I can expect on a Christmas week cruise...since it is the holiday week will the ports be fully operating or will I find many stores closed etc.? Luckily with this itinerary the ship will be at sea on the 24th and 25th, but the week leading up to the actual holiday will I see a difference in port activity? Also since we are at sea for the actual holiday, I am now wondering does the ship usually do anything in recognition of Christmas, besides being decorated. For example, holiday themed shows?, Better Christmas dinner in the main dining? Any church services or caroling?

 

I am looking forward to the cruise, but now wondering if my holiday will feel like just any other day at sea? Not that a day at sea is bad..I love those days :)

 

The only difference that you will notice on the ship will be a few Christmas decorations. In spite of what people tell you decorations on the ships are few and far between. A tree in the atrium, one in one of the dining rooms and some garland n the atrium. In the ports you will see a few decorations and that is about it. Everything runs just like a non holiday. If you didn't know it was Christmas yu could not tell from the ships or activity on shore.

Edited August 18, 2015 by zqvol

[drvalo]

The only difference that you will notice on the ship will be a few Christmas decorations. In spite of what people tell you decorations on the ships are few and far between. A tree in the atrium, one in one of the dining rooms and some garland n the atrium. In the ports you will see a few decorations and that is about it. Everything runs just like a non holiday. If you didn't know it was Christmas yu could not tell from the ships or activity on shore.

 

You forgot about the very big wreaths in the windows on the back of the ship. The table decorations in the dining rooms. The gingerbread village(s). They played Christmas music in the background pretty much all the time. Santa was here and there on my actual Christmas cruise. Perhaps you were not looking for the decorations. I have not always cruised on Christmas day, but i have cruise but almost every cruise has been the week before Christmas. The only ship which seemed lacking in decoration was the Epic. The OP will be on the Jade. Jewel class ships seem to do a great job with the decorating.

Edited August 19, 2015 by drvalo