Holiday Cruise Destinations: 6 Destinations for a Festive Vacation

A holiday cruise comes in many different shapes and sizes. You could be sailing down a river in Europe checking out the local Christmas Markets and sipping on hot cocoa or mulled wine. You might be sailing down to the Sydney Opera House to experience their iconic fireworks display. Or maybe you’re heading for warmer weather simply to use your vacation to escape the snow. All forms of celebration are valid, and a cruise can be the perfect way to toast to a new year or wallow in Christmas spirit and cheer. If you are contemplating using your upcoming vacation time for a cruise this season, then we’ve got just the thing for you. Here are 6 holiday cruises that are perfect for celebrating in whichever way fits you best.

Christmas Markets on the Rhine

For our first pick for a holiday cruise this season, we have the Christmas Markets on the Rhine River in Europe. Sail on a riverboat to the enchanting holiday markets of cities like Cologne and Strasbourg, where you can indulge in hot mulled wine and traditional holiday treats while admiring handcrafted ornaments and trinkets. Between stops, the scenic Rhine River comes to life with charmingly festive decorations and snow-covered castles along the riverbanks, while you enjoy onboard activities, from gingerbread decorating to Christmas caroling. If you’ve ever wanted to feel like you were living in a Christmas fairy tale, this is the place to do it!

Caribbean Festive Retreat

While Christmas is usually known for being snowy and cold, there are many who (understandably) choose to migrate South for their seasonal festivities. Holiday cruises to the sun-drenched beaches of the Caribbean are a great way to celebrate the season without freezing your tuchus off in the process. To keep you in the holiday spirit, you can enjoy themed onboard events like festive dinners and parties, as well as visits from Santa Claus, often appearing with his own surfboard or parasail. But snorkeling, jet-skiing, and paddleboarding in crystal-clear waters or enjoying traditional Caribbean music and dance performances are perfectly legitimate ways to celebrate the season too!

Antarctica – A Different Kind of White Christmas

While Santa technically lives on the North Pole, a holiday cruise to Antarctica feels like the closest you’ll ever get to what it would actually be like to visit him. The ethereal beauty of Antarctica’s stark landscape provides the perfect backdrop for a winter celebration, even though it will actually be summer here. The time of year makes it the best time for a polar excursion, with 24 hours of daylight providing endless opportunities for exploration and admiration. Take part in Antarctic wildlife lectures to learn about the penguins, whales, and other wildlife that live here. Just don’t expect to see any actual reindeer!

Hawaiian Paradise for the Holidays

For the complete opposite holiday cruise experience from an Antarctic excursion, you can head to the paradise that is the Hawaiian Islands. As a tropical destination, this has many of the same perks as a Caribbean destination, but the laid-back spirit of Hawaii lends itself particularly well to any festive celebration. Trade in Christmas carols and hot cocoa for traditional Hawaiian luaus with hula dancing, fire-knife performances, and local feasts, and you’ll never want to celebrate Christmas any other way. A week later, welcome in the new year with the vibrant fireworks displays put on at iconic Hawaiian locales like Honolulu or Lanai for a New Years celebration you’ll never forget!

Mediterranean Magic

The Mediterranean is home to some of the oldest cities in the world, and they have been celebrating Christmas since before the United States even existed. So it should come as no surprise that there are many Mediterranean cities like Barcelona and Venice that have stellar Christmas Markets and iconic festivities. Holiday cruises to this area combine all the history of places like Vatican City and the Grand Canal with traditional celebrations and old-world holiday cheer. Indulge in regional delicacies like Italian panettone and Spanish turron while you visit charming coastal towns along the coast to see how the locals ring in the new year.

Related: Mediterranean Cruises: Top Ports to Explore

New Year’s in Sydney

For the last entry on our list of holiday cruises, we head to Sydney Australia for a New Year’s celebration like no other. Ring in the new year with front row seats to Sydney’s legendary New Year’s Eve fireworks display, right on the deck of your cruise ship. Enjoy dinner at a New Year’s Eve gala held onboard, complete with a midnight countdown. Then join the celebrations at Sydney’s Circular Quay after the fireworks to keep the party going. Between the festivities held on shore and the themed New Year’s Eve parties and live entertainment on the ship, you’ll have no shortage of celebrations to take part in all night long!

To book your own holiday cruise, visit Cruises.com for the largest selection of cruise line deals — we can help you book the smart way! We give you our exclusive bonus offers and all qualifying cruise line offers, plus all of the cruise line loyalty program benefits. Book online at Cruises.com or call 800-288-6006 today.