Cruise ship holidays are popular throughout the year with different destinations better depending on the season. So where is best to travel on a cruise over Christmas and the winter months? The cruise experts at Lonely Planet have compiled advice in their book The Cruise Handbook.
Winter also makes the best time to visit Antarctica. “The short window for seasonal passage starts in November, as the ice pack thaws.”
Other northern destinations also come into their own in this season thanks to the aurora borealis.
“The Northern Lights flicker on perfect for viewing around Iceland, Greenland, the Faroe Islands and other northern destinations,” revealed the Lonely Planet experts.
However, if you’re after warmer climes, there are cruises for that, too.
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For instance, South American cruising gets more popular now as the weather warms up.
It’s also a popular season to cruise Down Under. “Cyclone season starts the first of November in Australia, but with most storms in March, this is still the most popular time to set sail,” stated The Cruise Handbook.
The festive season is a good opportunity to make the most of milder temperatures in Egypt, as well.
“Consider a cruise down the Nile River during winter, when temperatures have dropped,” the experts explained.
A favourite tradition onboard is the gingerbread village. Guests can also expect a hearty Christmas dinner with roast Norfolk turkey with all the trimmings.
Cruise Critic also suggests a cruise with Saga Cruises which offers Christmas market cruises aplenty with lots of mince pies and eggnog on board.
On Discovery in the Mediterranean, crew even put on a pantomime with carol singing for guests to join in, plus a Christmas dinner.
Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines is also great for traditional fun. There’s a Santa cocktail party and Midnight Mass as well as a plethora of Christmas-themed entertainment and festive food.
P&O Cruises and Cruise & Maritime Voyages round up Cruise Critic’s top five cruises for Christmas.