Hanukkah and Christmas Cruises: A Guide to Onboard Festivities

Whether you relish a visit from Santa or like to light a Hanukkah menorah, you can celebrate both Christmas and Hanukkah on a winter cruise, in a climate that’s probably warmer than back home. Cruise lines go all-out with seasonal decor (generally from Thanksgiving through New Year's), holiday activities, religious services, entertainment, and festive food and drink, from cookie decorating to holiday martinis.

On some sailings, there are even Ugly Sweater Christmas Parties, so be sure to pack your ugliest, most festive one. Even better, you don't have to cook, clean or make nice to your least-favorite relatives, and the Lido Deck is always open for some chill time.

Of course, every cruise line puts its own spin on holiday cheer. Keep reading for a line-by-line roundup of onboard celebrations to find the best Hanukkah and Christmas cruises for you and your family. You just might find this to be the most festive time of year on board a cruise ship.

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Azamara

Azamara Pursuit (Photo: Azamara Cruises)

Azamara ships will be decorated for the holidays from the beginning of December. Crew will perform carols at various times and in different venues, Christmas cookies will be served the entire voyage and a priest will be onboard to lead religious services. Guests can also join a tree-trimming party. The cruise director will have a special Christmas Show on Dec. 25.

The ships will offer holiday-themed buffets in Windows Cafe, as well as special menus in the main dining room, themed buffets in Windows Café, and specialty restaurants on Dec. 24 and 25.

Carnival Cruise Line

Carnival Conquest departs Miami (Photo: Aaron Saunders)

On Carnival's Christmas cruises, dubbed Funtastic Christmas Cruises this time of year, ships will be decorated with holiday wreaths, Christmas trees and lights, a mailbox for letters to Santa and signs proclaiming traditional holiday greetings. Seasonal music will play in passengers' cabins.

The cruise director and staff will offer several holiday-themed shows throughout each cruise, and at least one seasonal movie, such as "The Polar Express," will be shown. A special holiday performance, featuring children and the decorations they made in the kids club, will be a highlight. Santa will visit with gifts for the kids, and a traditional Christmas dinner — featuring turkey and pecan pie — will be served. There is also an Ugly Sweater Competition.

As part of Carnival's Seuss at Sea program, there will also be special Grinchmas activities, including arts and crafts, face painting, character breakfasts, and an appearance by the Grinch himself.

Celebrity Cruises

Celebrity Edge arrives in Auckland New Zealand for the first time (Photo: Celebrity Cruises)

During the season, Celebrity ships will be decked out in festive decor, including Christmas trees covered in tinsel and ornaments. Special programming features choirs singing carols, a holiday-themed show, Christmas movies, gingerbread houses and cookie decorating.

For kids, there will be a visit from Santa with gifts for kids and teens, kid-friendly interactive classes and a holiday carnival. There will be Christmas services on the holiday itself.

Cunard

Christmas onboard Cunard Line (Photo: Cunard Line)

Cunard takes Christmas and the art of decorating its three ships seriously, with Yuletide planning schemes underway each year from as early as February. The line’s most treasured decorations are carefully stored away in Southampton and maintained by a specialist team, with new pieces added to the collection of every year.

All the halls are decked with holly, or at least something joyful, and there’s a massive Christmas tree in the grand lobby plus a Gingerbread Village created by the chef patissier. Passengers can expect programming peppered with festivities, including themed quizzes, game nights and movie showings.

There are traditional Christmas menu that includes Norfolk turkey with all the trimmings followed by Christmas pudding that tastes divine.

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Disney Cruise Line

Disney Dream at Castaway Cay (Photo: Disney)

On Disney’s "Very Merrytime Cruises" passengers can enjoy holiday-themed displays like a gingerbread house, poinsettias, garland, lights and a 24-foot tree in the atrium, where Santa Claus will also make an appearance, and Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse oversee the tree lighting. Dickens-inspired carolers, Storytime with Mrs. Claus, spectacular festive fireworks at sea and themed crafts in the youth activities spaces are just some of the festivities taking place.

Disney characters will of course be in holiday attire and available for photos with guests. Restaurants will offer holiday-themed dishes and there’ll be holiday movies scheduled on Funnel Vision, a huge outdoor screen on the pool deck. Holiday-themed merchandise will also be available to purchase, along with holiday photos with fun festive backdrops. Passengers arriving in Disney's private island, Castaway Cay, will be greeted with a holiday display.

Holland America

Holland America Line's Rotterdam (Photo/Holland America Line)

Holland America’s Christmas cruises feature tree lighting, an international choir performance (comprised of crew members), a midnight mass in World Stage and a visit from Santa with presents for the kids. New this year is a breakfast with Santa. 

Additionally, Nutcracker Afternoon Tea service will be available on the cruises' sea days as well as dinner menus for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in the dining rooms featuring Christmas turkey, glazed ham, goose, filet mignon, English plum pudding and more, focusing on dishes around the world (commonly served at Christmas). Canaletto will offer Italian-themed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day dinner and bars’ and cafes’ specialty drinks include Minty Elf Martini and Eggnog Latte.

Other activities include a Christmas Eve Ball, festive movies, and carols and sing along at Billboard Onboard, the piano venue on Holland America's ships. Religious services are offered as well.

MSC Cruises

MSC Seaside (Photo: MSC Cruises)

Fleetwide, Santa will bring a gift to each kid, such as Lego, Chicco, board games, sustainable toys and MSC Cruises merchandise, and there’s a Movie with Santa. Ships feature traditional decorations, Christmas trees and lights, and the debut of Winter Wonderland in Doremi Village. Festive entertainment includes Christmas karaoke, MasterChef Christmas Edition, a Christmas-themed disco game, a Christmas production in the theater, a Christmas parade, themed trivia, and a Christmas tree lighting ceremony with caroling and “snow.” Passengers can also participate in an onboard Christmas mass.

On Christmas Day, a special dinner features traditional Italian touches including Panettone. There’s also a Christmas Day brunch with buffet additions like Christmas cookies and a “Happy Holidays” cake.

Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian Encore (Photo: Norwegian Cruise Line)

Norwegian ships are decorated with trees, garlands in the atrium and main dining rooms during the festive season. Christmas caroling by crew members, whether in the piano bar or in the atrium, adds a jolly vibe as does themed trivia.Special family events for the festivities are also available, such as arts and crafts and meeting Santa Claus hanging out by the pool. Christmas menus are specially curated for Christmas, featuring traditional dishes like roasted turkey and baked country ham, plus chocolate Yule log, and the chefs make a giant gingerbread house. A special Christmas Eve Mass will be held onboard the ship and, on some itineraries, church services on Christmas Day.

Oceania Cruises

Oceania's Marina returns to service after refurbishment (Photo: Oceania Cruises)

Oceania ships will be decorated with festive yet tasteful festive decor, with trees, garland and gingerbread villages for passengers to admire. At embarkation, guests will be greeted by Christmas carolers to help set the festive tone and a string quartet on the ship performs Christmas classics throughout the sailing. Christmas dinner will include a seven-course feast including a roast turkey with apple stuffing and sweets like Christmas pudding. On both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, there will be a special festive show, along with Christmas caroling. Santa and his helpers will make a special appearance aboard each of the ships on Christmas Day.

Princess Cruises

Enchanted Princess (Image: Princess Cruises)

A tree-lighting ceremony will take place early in the season and passengers can take Christmas crafts classes, including card making. Princess ships will be adorned with festive decor, including evergreens on deck and sparkling Christmas trees in the Piazzas, while cabins TVs will feature virtual Yule logs and a range of Christmas programming. Santa arrives on board, too, and Christmas carolers are in abundance, adding additional cheer.

Passengers can take a seat for the Holiday Wishes variety show and the "Twas the Night Before Christmas" reading. Other Christmas celebrations feature gingerbread house- and snowman-making competitions, Christmas movies, family-pyjama breakfasts and an Ugly Christmas Sweater contest. Interdenominational church services are also available. 

Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Seven Seas Navigator (Photo: Seven Seas)

The ships will be festively decorated for the festive season — think magnificent gingerbread house displays, lights, Christmas trees and wreathes — and passengers can attend Christmas-themed entertainment in the Constellation Theater. Entertainment staff roam the ship singing Christmas carols.

On Christmas Eve, Regent's dinner menu will feature a roasted goose, and on Christmas Day, the line will offer a traditional American Christmas dinner also featuring some European specialties. An interdenominational service will also be held on Christmas Eve. Christmas cookies, eggnog and Christmas carols will be part of the festivities.

Children have an opportunity to meet and greet Santa, too.

There will be candle-lighting services each night of Hanukkah as well as a Hanukkah dinner, featuring gefilte fish, matzo ball soup, latkes, roast chicken and cheesecake, concluding the eight-day celebration.

Royal Caribbean

Enchantment of the Seas (Photo: Royal Caribbean International)

On Royal Caribbean's Christmas cruises, ships will be decorated for the festive season. Christmastime activities include a tree-lighting ceremony, a Christmas-movie marathon shown poolside and at the Aqua Theater (passengers are encouraged to dress in their PJs), an ugly sweater party, gingerbread cookie-decorating classes and themed scavenger hunts and trivia. There’s also a special event to celebrate Santa's arrival, plus family time with Santa and his elves, and festive arts and crafts in the Adventure Ocean kids club.

Royal Caribbean’s restaurants offer additional themed options on menus, including a Christmas-themed Bottomless Galley Brunch and Christmas dinner in the dining room, while the entertainment teams put on festive shows and activities, including caroling on Christmas Eve and an Ugly Christmas Sweater contest. A priest is also onboard to conduct mass services on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Seabourn

Seabourn Quest (Photo: Seabourn Cruises)

Seabourn ships will be decked out for Christmas with a gingerbread "village" (complete with cookies to keep passengers from eating the display), Christmas trees throughout the public areas and evergreen decorations on the railings. From Christmas Eve through the day after Christmas, an additional display made up of a gingerbread house, themed chocolates and candy, Christmas cookies and dried and fresh fruits will adorn all the buffet service areas.

On Christmas Eve, a basket or plate of Christmas goodies will be delivered to each cabin at turn-down. A special Christmas performance will showcase festive music throughout the ages, Seabourn singers will sing Christmas carols throughout each ship and there will be an eggnog, glogg or Gluhwein party scheduled. A Catholic priest will be onboard during these cruises.

Christmas Eve dinner is a traditional meal with a duck main course. Christmas Day brunch includes extras such as Yuletide log cake and cookies, and there will be Christmas High Tea featuring stollen and Christmas cake. The feasting continues with a Christmas Day formal dinner featuring a traditional roast turkey, as well as decorations, paper crowns and Christmas crackers.

Seadream Yacht Club

SeaDream Innovation (Photo: SeaDream Yacht Club)

On SeaDream I and SeaDream II, Christmas is celebrated in the line’s signature yacht club fashion. On Christmas Eve, festivities include SeaDream’s crew singing Christmas carols during cocktail hour. Santa makes an appearance with gifts given to any children onboard. Christmas Eve and Christmas Day menus feature traditional, festive dishes and passengers enjoy an after-dinner Christmas party at the open-air Top of The Yacht Bar with Glühwine and gingerbread cookies served, as you sail during the evening, through open waters.

Each ship is tastefully decorated with several real Christmas trees, Christmas ornaments and poinsettia plants. A highlight is the ship’s elaborate handmade gingerbread house; each year the “house” is a different theme.

Silversea Cruises

Silver Shadow in Shimizu, Japan (Photo: Silverseas)

Christmas: Not only will Silversea's ships be decorated for the season, but the cruise line's master chefs will get into the act, as well. Expect themed cocktails and themed meals. Cheery and whimsical gingerbread cottages, chocolate creations and cookies will add to the decor, along with the traditional greenery and ornaments. During the season, eggnog, mulled wine and hot chocolate will be available.

Christmas services will be led by onboard clergy. Both passengers and crew can participate in caroling. There will also be a special festive offering in the show lounge and a visit from Santa Claus for all onboard.

Viking

Viking Ocean Cruise ship in Iceland (Photo: Viking)

Viking ships will sport elegant decorations and twinkling lights for the festive season. Various onboard activities and culinary surprises will be festive-themed, and you can even learn how to bake your own gingerbread cookies. On Christmas, a festive dinner, which varies by ship and chef, will feature classic Christmas dishes.

Virgin Voyages

The Manor on Scarlet Lady (Image: Virgin Voyages)

Virgin Voyages' jaunty ships get in the festive spirit, truly amping up its signature-red hue. The ships will be decked out in whimsical décor (think Christmas trees), while passengers can enjoy special meals and cocktail creations. There’s even a photo booth to capture fun moments among friends and family. Guests are also encouraged to wear their Ugliest Christmas Sweater, in addition to sporting something red for the line’s Scarlet Night.

Windstar Cruises

Wind Star at Sea (Photo: Windstar Cruises)

Each Windstar ship will be decorated with beautiful festive decorations, including trees, wreaths, garlands, gingerbread villages, lights and other traditional adornments. The crew will put on a Christmas talent and caroling show, and the captain reads “The Night Before Christmas.”

Christmas movies make a special appearance on Windstar’s in-room entertainment system nearly all of December, and Christmas music is played during Christmas week. Christmas cookies and candy canes, mandarin oranges, roasted peanuts and chocolate candies are placed as welcome gifts in cabins and suites on the Christmas Day, and you can also book a table at the Christmas High Tea. Christmas cocktails and egg nog are available, too. 

The ships' executive chefs will go all-out with a special festive menu, featuring seasonal ingredients. Dishes include roasted Christmas turkey with bread stuffing and mashed sweet potatoes, slow-roasted prime rib of beef with rosemary jus, honey glazed ham with bourbon sauce and pineapple chutney, butter-poached lobster tail with parmesan risotto and grilled asparagus, vegetable and mushroom Wellington, and Christmas desserts that include the Chocolate Bûche de Noël and Christmas pudding souffle.