If you haven’t been on a cruise in December, I highly recommend it. The ships are decorated the entire month so you don’t have to actually be on the ship on Christmas day to have a Christmas cruise.

I go in early December so it doesn’t impact my Thanksgiving plans or my Christmas plans. Another great aspect of the Christmas cruise is you can actually repeat the same cruise on the same ship as you did over the summer and it will feel different because of the additional Christmas shows and activities.

Ship Decorations

All of the ships will have a large Christmas tree in the atrium. Carnival Magic’s green color scheme goes well with the Christmas decorations.

Carnival Dream had white lights on the tree instead of the green lights Carnival Magic had.

The decorations start appearing on ships towards the end of November. If you have a late November or early December cruise you may catch some of the decorating happening.

This Christmas Village showed up mid-cruise.

I find the signs from the different ships interesting. The above Christmas Village on a cruise out of New Orleans says do not touch. The one below out of Florida says do not eat.

Cruise directors may have special outfits during the holiday season.

You may even catch Santa Claus on the bridge.

Port Decorations

If you schedule a cruise out of New Orleans the right weekend you may be able to catch the Krewe of Jingle parade.

Many of the ports you visit will look a little different than they did when you visited them during the summer.

Shows

There is always a special Christmas show which includes performances from the kids groups and special guests such as Santa Claus and the Grinch.

Activities

There will be many activities throughout the week starting with a tree lighting the first night.

A holiday duck hunt is one of the activities that could be on your cruise.

Christmas Card and Ornament making are a couple of sea day activities I have seen on December cruises.

A letter to Santa is always an option. They have the stationary and a mail box next to the tree in the atrium. There’s a chance Santa may read your letter on the Morning Show.

There will always be an option to tell Santa what you want in person as well.

The ugly Christmas sweater contest is an activity you may see in December.

A Christmas Carol night in the atrium is always on the schedule.

It may even snow in the atrium.

Food

If you are on the ship for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New Year’s, you can enjoy one of these special menus in the Main Dining Room.

Drinks

December is a time when you would be able to catch Carnival’s seasonal Pumpkin Ale on the ships.

If you have a good alchemist at the Alchemy Bar they may be able to whip you up a special holiday cocktail like this Christmas in Hawaii drink.

Or maybe a cocktail that appears as if it’s been snowed on.

If you haven’t experienced a December cruise yet, It’s something I recommend doing. I have been booking them for several years now and I plan to continue to book December cruises in the future.

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