Best Christmas Cruise Deals 2024 & 2025
Christmas Cruises from Southampton, New Year’s Eve Cruises, and More
If you’re thinking about doing something different for Christmas, whether you want to see some snow somewhere special or soak up a bit of winter sunshine, embarking on a December cruise is a fantastic way to celebrate the festive season. With cruise ships donning Christmas decorations, hosting festive entertainment itineraries, and often offering a schedule of themed onboard events, you’ll find the festive spirit in full while at sea and a whole host of unforgettable experiences waiting.
From the stunning Norwegian Fjords to the white-sand beaches of the Caribbean, and everywhere in-between, there are a lot of excellent options when it comes to booking onto a cruise in December for Christmas. So, whether you’re diving into the latest cruise deals for a last-minute adventure this winter or planning ahead, you’ll find some of the best Christmas and New Year cruises below; although, this really is just a taste of the festive fun waiting for you.
Contents:
Top Christmas Cruises 2024
With December right around the corner, there’s never been a better time to hop on a cruise for the holidays; here are some of the best Christmas cruises sailing throughout the festive season.
- In Search of the Northern Lights at Christmas from Southampton (14 nights) - Balmoral, 22 December 2024
- A Canarian Christmas from Tenerife (7 nights) - Marella Discovery 2, 24 December 2024
- Northern Europe from Southampton (7 nights) - MSC Preziosa, 20 December 2024
- 7nt Disney Hotel Stay with Bahamas from Port Canaveral (11 nights) - Disney Fantasy, 19 December 2024
New Year’s Eve Cruises 2024
For those of you who want a winter getaway, but would rather spend Christmas itself at home, there are a fantastic selection of sailings available where you’ll be able to see in the New Year at sea.
- New Year's Eve Bali Stay, Malaysia & Thailand to Singapore (19 nights) - Celebrity Millennium, 27 December 2024
- Northern Europe from Southampton (7 nights) - MSC Preziosa, 27 December 2024
- New Year Western Europe from Southampton (5 nights) - Arcadia, 29 December 2024
- Southern Caribbean Holiday from Ft Lauderdale with Miami Beach Stay (12 nights) - Eurodam, 28 December 2024
Upcoming Christmas Cruises in 2025 and Beyond
If you’re looking a little further ahead, here’s a selection of December cruises from Southampton and Christmas adventures you can look forward to in 2025 and 2026.
- Paradise Islands from Barbados (7 nights) - Marella Explorer, 21 December 2025
- Christmas & New Year Eastern Caribbean from Barbados (14 nights) - Arvia, 19 December 2025
- A Canarian Christmas & A New Year's Dream from Tenerife (14 nights) - Marella Voyager, 19 December 2025
- Festive Taster from London Tilbury (2 nights) - Ambition, 19 December 2025
New Year’s Eve Cruises 2025 and Beyond
Celebrating New Year’s Eve at sea is always exciting, especially when you consider the fact that you’ll have an incredible new destination waiting for you in the New Year. If you like the sound of that, here’s a selection of sailings perfect for beating the winter blues and seeing in the New Year.
- Aussie Bites & Kiwi Sites from Sydney to Auckland (17 nights) - Regent Seven Seas Explorer, 27 December 2025
- New Years Eve Northern Europe from Southampton (5 nights) - Aurora, 29 December 2025
- New Years Eve Canary Islands from Tenerife (7 nights) - Azura, 27 December 2025
- Christmas Markets of Holland & Belgium from Tilbury (3 nights) - Ambition, 14 December 2026
Christmas Cruise FAQs
Where is the best place to cruise at Christmas?
The answer to this question depends on what you want from your Christmas cruise. If you’re looking for snow, then the best winter destinations for Christmas and New Year’s are in the northern hemisphere – short breaks in Europe, transatlantic crossings to New York, and adventures to the Fjords and Norway.
If you’re looking for winter sun and sandy beaches, then destinations in the southern hemisphere are where you’ll find it; the Caribbean is a popular destination alongside Australasia cruises and voyages to South America.
Are cruises over Christmas expensive?
With this a popular time of year to embark on an adventure, cruises over Christmas can be considered expensive; however, the cost of a cruise can vary dramatically depending on a number of factors – no matter the time of year. The length of your cruise, the cruise line you sail with, and the stateroom you’re staying in will all impact the price of your cruise.
However, you will find seasonal sales – like Black Friday and Cyber Monday – starting in the months before Christmas, which can help you save money on cruises in December and January – be that this year, next year, or the one after that!
Are cruise ships crowded at Christmas?
Cruises can feel crowded any time of the year, but you’ll find that cruise ships are more likely to be sailing at full capacity during Christmas and the winter break because it’s a popular time to set sail on an adventure. With schools often being on break at this time of year, it’s a fantastic time for family cruises – and you won’t have any trouble finding people to socialise with onboard.
Can you bring a Christmas Tree on a cruise ship?
This largely depends on the cruise line you’re sailing with, but in many cases you can bring a small pre-packaged synthetic Christmas Tree on a cruise ship for the holidays. When it comes to decorations, you may be allowed to bring battery-operated lights, but it’s best to avoid bringing anything that requires attaching to any surfaces.
Some cruise lines, such as Disney Cruise Line, sell holiday-themed decorations and you can decorate your stateroom door with themed magnets – which is a great way to celebrate with your fellow cruisers and make your stateroom door easily identifiable. However, in any case, you will often find that cruise ships decorate popular public spaces onboard with their own Christmas decorations; so, you’ll never be too far away from a Christmas tree while at sea.
What happens on a cruise at Christmas?
A Christmas cruise is full of festive activities and fun for all the family, with unique decorations throughout, holiday-themed entertainment, and – in some cases – even a visit from Santa himself!
The specifics of what happens on a cruise at Christmas, though, depends on the itinerary you’re enjoying, the cruise line you’re sailing with, and – when it comes to facilities and amenities – the cruise ship. Examples of what you’ll find, however, include: a Christmas carol concert in the theatre, a traditional Christmas dinner on Christmas Day, themed quizzes, and more.
To find out a little more about this, please see our blog for Christmas cruises in 2023 here – an article with information on what the top cruise lines have to offer and a good indication of what to expect in 2024, 2025, and beyond.
Book Your Next Christmas Getaway with Iglu Cruise Today
Ready to start looking at the latest cruise deals? We have offers on mini cruises, luxury getaways, solo adventures, and so much more on Iglu Cruise. Or, for more on cruising and the cruise industry, check out some of the latest blogs from the Iglu Cruise team below: