December dilemma: to sail or to snorkel?
Some families opt to vacation during the holidays, even if it means throwing traditions overboard
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Carnival also features a large electric menorah in the atrium aboard every "Fun Ship" during Hanukkah. The shipboard staff schedules a time before the first dinner seating to allow guests the opportunity to gather before the menorah to light the candles. Song and prayer sheets will be handed out to guests at this time.
Crystal Cruises' two ships, the Symphony and the Harmony, continue the line's well-known luxury experience with a holiday extravaganza that includes more than $100,000 worth of seasonal decor such as handcrafted ornaments, ornate sleighs, old English toy soldiers, and a dozen twinkling Christmas trees. And that's on each ship.
Guests will also enjoy an elegant Christmas dinner, eggnog party, Christmas brunch, and elaborate buffet, as well as a holiday-themed production show. Clergy will be onboard to conduct midnight Mass and Protestant religious services.
Crystal always has a rabbi onboard for Hanukkah (sundown Nov. 29 through Dec. 7 this year) and has a menorah-lighting each evening during that time.
Disney Cruise Line guests enjoy a festive holiday celebration sprinkled with pixie dust on sailings between Nov. 24 and Jan. 1. The celebration starts at Disney's private cruise terminal at Port Canaveral, Fla., where festive holiday decor and Disney characters dressed in their season's best await guests. Onboard, cruisers will find the ships decked with boughs of holly and filled with holiday-themed entertainment and family activities.
Highlights include a nearly three-deck-tall tree in the atrium lobby, where "snow" magically falls; a Christmas Eve visit from Goofy with surprises for kids enrolled in children's programming; international holiday caroling by crew members from around the globe; special family time to design and decorate gingerbread houses; a classic holiday story time hosted by Disney characters; and traditional holiday feasts in three themed dining rooms. There will also be presentations of the new movies "Santa Claus 2: The Mrs. Claus" and "Treasure Planet." Holiday religious services will be offered for those of many faiths.
Shipwide parties will ring in 2003, and football fans can cheer their teams at New Year's Day "tailgate parties" in the ESPN Skybox and Promenade lounges.
Princess Cruises' ships will be trimmed from stem to stern in festive holiday decor, including Christmas trees, wreaths, holly, and mistletoe. Expect yuletide carolers to stroll the decks singing holiday tunes, and themed production shows during the voyage. Christmas dinner features traditional favorites such as roast turkey, plum pudding, and chocolate yule logs. Passengers can attend midnight Mass or interdenominational church services.
Youth counselors on Princess Cruises provide a wide array of activities including parties, singalongs, and arts and crafts classes, where kids can create ornaments to decorate the ship's Christmas tree. Junior cruisers can also participate in a holiday play, performed for passengers. On Christmas morning, each child on the cruise receives a present.
For those who celebrate Hanukkah, a rabbi will sail on Princess cruises during the holiday period and conduct special prayer and song services. An area of the ship will be reserved for those participating in the services, and the ships will display menorahs and fresh flower arrangements decorated in the Hanukkah colors of blue, silver, and white. Kosher meals are available throughout the sailing, when requested in advance, and dining rooms plan to feature specialty items such as matzo ball soup and gefilte fish.
