christmas cruises with royal caribbean

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Royal Caribbean Christmas and New Year

Christmas cruises 2024, 2025, 2023 new year's eve.

All Royal Caribbean Christmas and New Year cruise offers listed here are just itineraries and not cruise deals for sale. Vessels are ordered alphabetically. Comparing all the ships in the Royal Caribbean fleet is a most convenient way to select the best for you Holiday voyages as departures (homeports, dates), destinations (regions, visited countries), itineraries (ports of call, arrival dates, port times) and also to compare cruise prices.

CruiseMapper shows cruise prices per person. These are only indicative fares on the ship's lowest category staterooms. All rates are based on double occupancy (twin share) and don't include cruise line or travel agency promotions, group booking rates or any other special offers and discounts.

Royal Caribbean Christmas and New Year cruise deals are a "mega ship" travel choice for inexpensive December Holiday vacations. RCI's best features are the world's biggest cruise ships ever, top sea travel destinations and signature uniqueness.

The list of exotic RCI Xmas destinations includes Asia (from Singapore and China), Australia (Sydney to NZ and the South Pacific Islands), South America (from Brazil) and Europe (Mediterranean itineraries with UK departures).

Just like with the rest of the "big ship" companies, most RCI voyages for Christmas are roundtrips to the Caribbean, with departures from Florida (Miami, Tampa, Fort Lauderdale, Port Canaveral).

Royal Caribbean's Caribbean ships also depart from New York/New Jersey, Baltimore, Galveston, New Orleans, plus the special roundtrips from Puerto Rico (San Juan) and Panama (Colon).

Royal Caribbean Holiday specials feature unique onboard activities and signature activities offered by no other line. The special cuisine and one-time-in-the-year-only entertainment menu on the ship is another reason to spend the year's merriest time at sea. As to the prices on RCCL cruise package deals, their ticket prices are not cheap, and often perfectly match the size of their ships. Following the most common pattern for big lines Holiday itineraries, the majority of Royal Caribbean voyages for New Years are round-trips departing from Florida ports (Miami, Tampa, Fort Lauderdale, and Port Canaveral). Another set of highly popular deals includes the round-trips to the Caribbean leaving from New York (NYC and Bayonne NJ), Baltimore, Galveston, and New Orleans, along with the line's deals from Puerto Rico and Panama. The list of the Royal Caribbean New Year destinations also includes Southeast Asia, Australia, Europe and South America (Brazil departures).

Next tables show all Royal Caribbean Christmas New Year cruise itineraries as ships, departure ports, call ports (dates and arrival/departure times) and regions.

12 best Christmas cruises for 2024 and 2025

It's the most wonderful time of the year ... to go on a cruise.

Trade the glow of a Christmas tree in your living room with the warmth of the sand and the sun on a holiday cruise. Skip the mulled wine on your stovetop for some of the world's best at a European Christmas market.

Christmas cruises can level up your holiday celebrations — and are an ideal opportunity to escape the conventional holiday celebrations in place of an adventure.

On a holiday cruise, you can leave the cooking, cleaning and decorating to the pros and simply enjoy time with your family. Christmas and New Year's cruises can also be good options for people trying to avoid the crush of relatives or who don't have family but still want to spend the holiday surrounded by other people and festive cheer.

Winter cruises feature holiday-themed activities for all ages, special feasts that capture the magic of the holiday season and port calls at destinations that let you enjoy the holiday spirit without shivering from frigid temperatures.

For more cruise news, reviews and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter .

It's never too early to plan your holiday getaway, especially as these cruises are among the quickest to sell out. Here are the best Christmas and New Year's cruises still available in 2024 and holiday sailings in 2025 to book now, as well as some useful tips about holiday cruise travel.

Holiday cruise tips

Before you book, keep in mind a few key facts about Christmas cruises.

Rates will be high

Expect cruise fares to be among the highest of the year during the holiday weeks as demand increases.

The best prices will be for early bookings; you likely won't find any last-minute discounts. If you do, they might be on windowless inside cabins or guarantee cabins , where the cruise line picks your room location.

Sailings will sell out

Holiday sailings sell out earlier than other itineraries, as people plan their holiday vacations months in advance. Suites and special cabins (family, spa and solo rooms and so forth) book up the fastest.

Consider booking your holiday cruise as early as possible, as the December sailings often fill up a year in advance .

Consider your own decorations

The crew will decorate public areas on board, but passengers often go all-out decorating their doors and cabins for the holidays.

Magnetic doors on cabins are blank canvases for the imagination. You'll find stateroom doors on Christmas cruises covered in wrapping paper, adorned with garlands or dotted with holiday-themed images.

It's best to double-check with your cruise line before attaching anything to your door or in your cabin, as rules and regulations differ per line. If you're not creative, check if your cruise line offers cabin decoration packages for preorder prior to your sailing.

Specialty dining is not advised on the actual holiday

Most of the specialty dining restaurants on major cruise lines have set menus that do not change for the holidays.

Your best bet for traditional holiday dinner options (think roast turkey, smoked ham, mashed potatoes and gravy) will come from the main, included dining options on board. It can't hurt to ask if any extra-fee restaurants are doing a Christmas or New Year's menu if you're looking for a more intimate holiday meal.

Expect holiday hours in port

Most cruise ships will plan for Christmas to be a sea day, but if you're in port on Dec. 25 (or on Boxing Day, as many islands celebrate the day after), expect shops, restaurants and attractions to have modified hours or be closed.

Onboard services won't stop, so if all your top lunch spots in port are closed, you're always guaranteed a hot meal on the ship.

Consider a holiday bonus for the crew

Cruise ship crew members go beyond the standard service on all lines for the holidays, whether it's a kind note wishing you well, a Champagne toast for New Year's or a fanciful towel creation.

They can't be at home celebrating with their families because they're working hard to make your holiday special. While gratuities are often included in your fare or added automatically to your final bill, consider tipping extra on a Christmas cruise. The hardworking staff will appreciate your extra generosity during the holiday season.

Best Christmas cruises for 2024

If you're on the hunt for the ideal holiday getaway, consider these Christmas cruises for this year's holiday vacation. (Note: These sailings had availability at the time of writing, but prices may change or ships sell out at any time.)

4-night Very Merrytime Bahamian cruise on Disney Cruise Line

Sail dates: Dec. 22-26, 2024

Ship: Disney Fantasy

Access Disney Cruise Line's newest private island when you sail Disney Fantasy this Christmas. This four-night Very Merrytime Bahamian cruise sails from Port Canaveral, Florida (near Orlando) to Disney's Castaway Cay, followed by a day at the new Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point. The new island destination will highlight island culture with work by local artists and Bahamian music throughout the colorful beachside resort.

This sailing is one of Disney Cruise Line 's Very Merrytime Cruises, so expect plenty of holiday-themed surprises and special moments. Disney's December sailings feature snow flurries in the ship's atrium, pop-up meet-and-greets with Disney characters dressed in their holiday best and a Christmas wonderland on the beach at Castaway Cay and Lookout Cay.

Rates start at $4,862 for two adults sharing an inside cabin, including all taxes and fees.

16-night Circle Hawaii Holiday cruise on Holland America

Sail dates: Dec. 18, 2024-Jan. 3, 2025

Ship: Zaandam

The 16-night Circle Hawaii Holiday on Holland America's Zaandam is a great way to retreat from the cold this December. The extended itinerary will whisk you away for both Christmas and the New Year.

The ship sails round-trip from San Diego with stops in Honolulu; Kahului, Maui; and Hilo and Kona, Hawaii. You'll spend five days traversing the Pacific Ocean on your way to Hawaii and five days at sea returning to the west coast for one more stop in Ensenada, Mexico, before returning to San Diego. You can also enjoy scenic cruising by the Kilauea Volcano.

Don't forget your holiday best, as Zaandam will host a Christmas Eve formal ball with dinner and dancing, as well as a midnight Mass. Other seasonal events include a holiday-themed high tea service, holiday choir performances and Santa meet-and-greets.

Rates for inside cabins start from $1,739 per person, not including an estimated $282 per person in taxes, fees and port expenses.

13-night New Zealand holiday cruise on Celebrity Cruises

Sail dates: Dec. 20, 2024-Jan. 2, 2025

Ship: Celebrity Edge

The most appealing holiday itinerary on Celebrity Cruises takes you Down Under for a two-week celebration, sailing round-trip from Sydney.

You'll cruise during the region's summer season with an itinerary that traverses the picturesque Milford Sound, Doubtful Sound and Dusky Sound before making port stops in Dunedin, Napier, Auckland, Tauranga and Bay of Islands, New Zealand.

The cruise doesn't call on Australian ports, but you can easily tack on a land-based pre- or post-cruise stay since the ship sails from Sydney.

If you're feeling the holiday spirit, sign up to join a group of crew and passengers to go caroling around the ship. Cookie decorating, visits with Santa and Christmas games are part of the holiday fun. On New Year's Eve, gather for a special party with a complimentary midnight Champagne toast, party favors and live music.

The lowest cabin fares start at $1,664 per person, plus $444.55 in taxes, fees and port expenses.

15-night South Africa Intensive Voyage on Azamara

Sail dates: Dec. 20, 2024-Jan. 4, 2025

Ship: Azamara Pursuit

Azamara is known for its travels to less-frequented ports, often with longer stays providing more time for immersion. Go somewhere new with Azamara's 15-night Christmas and New Year's cruise around South Africa. Azamara Quest sails round-trip from Cape Town with stops along the east coast of South Africa, including Port Elizabeth, Richards Bay, Durban and Mossel Bay.

Holiday events include caroling concerts, pop-ups with Christmas cookies and hot chocolate, and a special tree-trimming party on Dec. 24. Azamara Quest will time its popular White Night pool deck party to coincide with New Year's Eve. The line has a tradition of seeking out the oldest person on board to ring the ship's bell two minutes prior to midnight to literally "ring out the old." Then the youngest passenger on board will "ring in the new" as the clock strikes 12 o'clock.

Rates start from $2,784 per person, not including $196 in taxes, fees and port expenses.

7-night Christmas Markets on the Danube cruise on AmaWaterways

Sail dates: Dec. 9-15, 2024

Ship: AmaBella

A river cruise through Europe is the most convenient way to visit many of the continent's famous Christmas markets.

Your ship will dock in the heart of each city, usually just a few steps from the markets. Sailing with AmaWaterways during the holiday season, guests return from a day exploring the markets to events on board that include tree-trimming, caroling and a fun European tradition called "Shoes for St. Nick," where passengers who leave their slippers outside their stateroom awake to find them filled with sweets.

Unlike most Christmas-related retail stores in the U.S. that stay open through the holiday season, many of Europe's Christmas markets close up shop by Dec. 22, so you'll need to take your vacation before Christmas itself. AmaWaterways' seven-night Christmas Markets on the Danube cruise takes place aboard AmaBella. You'll be immersed in the holiday spirit with port stops in Passau, Germany; Linz, Vienna and Weissenkirchen, Austria; and Budapest.

Rates for the weeklong cruise start at $3,699 per person, not including $224 in port charges and taxes.

7-night Western Caribbean cruise on Princess Cruises

Sail dates: Dec. 21-28, 2024

Ship: Sun Princess

Debuting in February 2024, Sun Princess is the first of Princess Cruises ' brand-new Sphere-class series of ships.

Take the line's newest flagship for a Christmastime spin on a round-trip Fort Lauderdale itinerary that features port calls at Cozumel, Mexico; Belize City, Belize; and Roatan, Honduras. Three sea days give guests plenty of time to explore all the attractions on board, from a dome-covered pool area to a top-deck family activity zone.

The 4,300-passenger vessel will be about 21% bigger than the current biggest ships in the Princess fleet. It will be the line's first ship that features suites with exclusive access to a private restaurant, lounge and sun deck. Sun Princess will also boast an innovative new "cabana cabin" along the ship's extra-wide 10th deck with access to a private deck area.

It will be easy to get into the holiday spirit while on board Sun Princess, with festive decor throughout the ship and an occasional "snowfall" in the Atrium. If you're traveling with kids, you can leave cookies for Santa and carrots for his reindeer. Christmas caroling, storytime and other holiday events will help you create special holiday memories.

Rates for the Western Caribbean cruise start at $957 per person for an inside cabin, not including $153 in taxes, fees and port expenses.

12-night Antarctic Explorer cruise on Viking

Sail dates: Dec. 22, 2024-Jan. 3, 2025

Ship: Viking Polaris

While instinct might say to stop by the North Pole to check in on Santa's operations, it's just too cold, dark and icy for cruising. Instead, head toward the South Pole and Antarctica for a Christmas expedition.

Spend close to two weeks exploring the farthest reaches of the earth on the Antarctic Explorer itinerary aboard Viking 's Polaris. The route sails round-trip from Ushuaia, Argentina, before traversing the Drake Passage and cruising Antarctica for seven days. You'll have a cruise line-provided pre-cruise stay in Buenos Aires the night before you fly down to Ushuaia to meet your ship.

You'll explore the icebergs and cliffs of Antarctica on Christmas, presumably followed by a hot cocoa or a warm cocktail on deck. Afterward, treat yourself to Nordic-inspired dishes like smoked salmon and caviar, along with holiday treats like krumkake (a Nordic take on the cannoli) and sandkaker (Norwegian sugar cookies).

As with all Antarctica itineraries, ports and destinations on the continent change by the day, depending on weather and climate conditions. Rates for available staterooms on the cruise start from $15,495, including airfare, port taxes and fees.

Best Christmas cruises for 2025

If you want to score the best prices on a holiday cruise, book far in advance. Here are a few cruises to consider for your 2025 Christmas vacation.

Royal Caribbean: 7-night Eastern Caribbean & Perfect Day cruise

Sail dates: Dec. 20-27, 2025

Ship: Icon of the Seas

Catch a ride on the world's largest cruise ship during the 2025 holiday season. Highlights of Royal Caribbean 's new Icon of the Seas include a reconfigured Aqua Theater, now set at the bow of the ship inside a giant glass dome and featuring a dazzling 50-foot waterfall and dancing robotic arms, and Category 6, the largest waterpark at sea with six waterslides, including the tallest drop slide at sea.

This holiday-week sailing departs round-trip from Miami with stops in Philipsburg, St. Maarten; Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas; and Perfect Day at CocoCay (Royal Caribbean's private island in the Bahamas). Three days at sea might not be enough time to try everything on board!

Holiday highlights often include Christmas Eve caroling, an ugly Christmas sweater crafting competition, Christmas ornament and gingerbread cookie decorating classes, and holiday games and trivia.

The lowest available cabin category for this sailing is an ocean-view cabin, starting at $3,266 per person, not including $182.51 in taxes, fees and port expenses per person.

7-night Eastern Caribbean cruise on Carnival Cruise Line

Sail dates: Dec. 21-Dec. 28, 2025

Ship: Carnival Celebration

Carnival's seven-night Eastern Caribbean sailing is an excellent way to experience Carnival's Celebration Key, the line's new private destination on the south side of Grand Bahama Island. Carnival Celebration sails round-trip from Miami with stops in Celebration Key; Nassau, Bahamas; Amber Cove, Dominican Republic and Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos, so you can get some much-needed beach time and warm weather.

The line understands its family-forward "fun" ships are built for cheery escapes, and its Christmas celebrations fit perfectly into that world. Seasonal holiday events include Christmas caroling, an ugly sweater competition and a live holiday show with appearances by Santa and the Grinch.

Rates for inside cabins start at $1,049 per person, not including an estimated $215.65 per person in fees.

14-night Galapagos cruise on Silversea

Sail dates: Dec. 13-27, 2025

Ship: Silver Origin

Escape to the exotic Galapagos Islands for the holidays with a Silversea cruise. On the 14-night sailing round-trip from San Cristóbal, Silver Origin will alight at a remarkable 27 ports throughout the archipelago.

The Silver Origin's Christmas sailing will include many festive enhancements, beginning with an extensive overlay of greenery and ornaments throughout the interiors of the ship. The ship's culinary team will prepare a special Christmas Eve and Christmas Day dinner menu, along with mulled wine, eggnog and hot chocolate.

Adding to the cheer, guests and the ship's crew can participate in caroling, and despite no chimney in sight, a special visitor from the North Pole is scheduled to make an appearance.

The "door-to-door" rate for this sailing starts from $24,400 per person, including port fees and taxes. It includes a transfer service to the airport, airfare, shore excursions, premium alcoholic beverages, all gratuities, butler service and a return transfer back home at the end of your trip.

11-night Monteverde Cloud Forest & Arenal Volcano cruise tour on Windstar Cruises

Sail dates: Dec. 16-27, 2025

Ship: Wind Spirit

Give yourself a bucket list gift for Christmas and book a Panama Canal cruise for your winter vacation.

Windstar Cruises ' Wind Spirit — a cruise ship that's part yacht, part four-masted sailing ship — is sailing down Costa Rica's Pacific coast and through the Panama Canal during the 2025 holiday season.

The journey begins with a five-day land tour of Costa Rica, taking guests to the Arenal volcano and Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve. You'll then head to Puerto Caldera to board Wind Spirit. The ship will sail south to Quepos and Puerto Jimenez, Costa Rica. Then it's on to ports in Isla Parida and Balboa (for Panama City) in Panama before sailing through the Panama Canal.

To sweeten the holiday, Windstar gifts each cabin with a basket of Christmas cookies, candy canes, mandarin oranges, roasted nuts and chocolate candies.

Rates for the 11-night Central American getaway start from $5,599 per person, not including $474 in port fees and taxes.

7-night Roundtrip New Orleans Christmas cruise on American Queen Voyages

Sail dates: Dec. 22-29, 2025

Ship: American Countess

Glide up the Lower Mississippi River and soak in the charms of historic towns decked out in their holiday finest. This American Queen Voyages itinerary will also visit the special European-style Christmas market in Natchez, Mississippi, created especially for the line.

The itinerary begins with a pre-cruise hotel stay in New Orleans, where the bustling Bourbon Street awaits exploration. The Mississippi river sailing includes stops along the river at Nottoway, Louisiana; Natchez, Mississippi; St. Francisville, Louisiana and an overnight in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Guests can opt for a premium holiday shore excursion in Natchez. The Jeweled Christmas in Natchez tour features a visit to The Towers, one of the state's most opulent privately owned antebellum homes. Guests will ooh and ahh over the festive decorations and displays that include over 100 Christmas trees.

While on board, passengers will enjoy festive holiday decorations, special holiday performances, seasonal cuisine and Christmas cocktails.

Rates for the seven-night Roundtrip New Orleans Christmas cruise start from $3,819 per person, including taxes, port fees and gratuities.

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Holiday Cruises with Royal Caribbean

This Christmas season, "Deck the Holidays" with Royal Caribbean. Santa and his hardest working elves have made Royal Caribbean your one-stop shop for holiday entertainment, feasts, activities and much more when you take a Christmas or holiday cruise. Why deal with the stress of putting on all of the holiday festivities yourself when all of your favorite traditions and experiences can be found right on board at the tips of your fingers? When you book your holiday sailing or Christmas cruise with The Cruise Web, you are just one call away from the holiday vacation of a lifetime!

Christmas Cruises with Royal Caribbean

"Come Seek" top-notch Christmas holiday activities, experiences, entertainment and cuisine on a Christmas cruise with Royal Caribbean.

Christmas Activities aboard Royal Caribbean

• Walk for polar bears and join the crew on deck for a walk in support of the World Wildlife Fund's arctic programs.
• Sing along to your favorite timeless holiday tunes Christmas Eve caroling.
• Create your own ugly Christmas sweater at an ugly sweater crafting session. Afterward, rock your creation at the Ugly Sweater Party featuring a live DJ and competition for the ugliest sweater.
• Learn how to decorate like a pro in one of Royal Caribbean's Christmas ornament or gingerbread cookie decorating classes!
• Put your holiday know-how to the test with onboard holiday games and trivia.
• Attend a pajamas movie night featuring your favorite Christmas movies!

Christmas Experiences with Royal Caribbean

• Elves on deck! Be on the lookout for Santa's elves spreading Christmas cheer from bow to stern. And who knows... Saint Nick might be making his own special appearance as well!
• Marvel at the glowing Christmas trees and other holiday decor on display throughout the ship!
• A priest will be onboard for those who wish to attend mass on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, or both!
• Holiday story time will be hosted by Santa's elves.

Holiday Cuisine aboard Royal Caribbean

• Why spend your Christmas in the kitchen when you can enjoy decadent holiday cuisine stress-free with Royal Caribbean?
• Get your fill of all your favorite holiday dishes at 150 Central Park, Giovanni's Table and Chops Grille when you take a Christmas cruise with Royal Caribbean.
• Royal Caribbean also offers a special holiday-themed version of their traditional Bottomless Galley Brunch where you can eat as much as your ho-ho-heart desires!

View 2024 Christmas Cruises

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Thanksgiving Cruises with Royal Caribbean

Enjoy stress free turkey-time when you celebrate Thanksgiving with Royal Caribbean! Take part in all your favorite Thanksgiving traditions minus the planning and production hassles.

Thanksgiving Activities & Experiences with Royal Caribbean

• Participate in Thanksgiving-themed arts and crafts with the whole family.
• Watch first hand as the Captain of the ship performs a Turkey Pardon.
• Not a fan of the jam packed shopping malls on Black Friday? Instead, take part in Royal Caribbean's countdown to the holidays shopping events. Holiday specials are available at all onboard shops, including gift packages.

Thanksgiving Cuisine aboard Royal Caribbean

• Get in the Thanksgiving "spirit" with Holiday-themed cocktails.
• And of course, a traditional Thanksgiving dinner will be served in the main restaurant featuring all your Thanksgiving favorites!

View 2024 Thanksgiving Cruises

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New Year's Eve Cruises with Royal Caribbean

Ring in the New Year with Royal Caribbean!

• Begin your year with a bang! Experience a stunning ship-wide party complete with champagne and party favors.
• Enjoy New Year's themed cocktails and exceptional holiday-inspired menus created by Royal Caribbean's expert chefs on New Year's Eve.

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Ready for Your Holiday Cruise with Royal Caribbean?

For more information on holiday cruising with Royal Caribbean and to book your stress-free holiday vacation, call The Cruise Web's expert consultants today at 1-800-377-9383!

* Onboard amenities, experiences, features and prices are subject to change without notice. Activities and availability vary by season and sail date. Information accurate at time of publication, but subject to change. Call 1-800-377-9383 to confirm current holiday experiences, pricing and availability.

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7 Cruise Lines Offering Festive Holiday Cruises in 2023

Celebrate the festive season on the high seas with these Hanukkah, Christmas, and New Year's cruises.

Courtesy of Disney Cruise Line

As if never-ending shrimp and beautiful coastlines weren’t enticing enough, cruise lines go all out each winter for holiday celebrations. These special sailings bring cheer to the high seas with seasonal activities, festive decor, and even more delicious treats than usual. ‘Tis the season to indulge, after all. 

Whether you’re interested in dashing through the Caribbean Sea with Mickey Mouse on a Disney Christmas cruise or embarking on a lavish and intimate experience aboard a European river cruise , there’s something for every travel style and budget. Here are seven of the best cruise lines for holiday cruises in 2023.

Viking Cruises 

Courtesy of Viking

Viking Cruises, a Switzerland-based luxury cruise line , is known for the distinct modern touches it brings to sailings. The brand is known for its river cruises, which offer meticulous service and attention to detail on a fleet of small ships (typically 200 guests or fewer) — and these intimate voyages are extra blissful during the holidays.

Viking offers a number of European Christmas-market cruises that combine culture-centric sightseeing with festive spirit. Onboard you can enjoy live performances, regional specialties, tree trimming, and freshly baked yuletide cookies and cakes. See the City of Light lit up for the season as you glide through Paris on the Seine, or follow a two-day tour of Berlin with a voyage along the Elbe to Prague. If an American holiday is more your style, opt for one of Viking's Mississippi River cruises with highlights like Creole dining in New Orleans and from-the-water views of nearby historic estates all aglow for the season. 

Disney Cruise Line

Disney Cruise Line takes magic to an entirely new level during its holiday sailings. The line's Very Merrytime Cruises depart from ports in Florida, California, and Texas and head to destinations ranging from the Bahamas to western Mexico — all with a flurry of holiday festivities along the way. Merrytime ships are transformed with festive decor (including a 24-foot Christmas tree), and offer a range of seasonal activities and entertainment.

Beloved Disney characters dress in holiday attire for meet-and-greets, and Santa Claus makes appearances on most sailings. Cruises visiting Castaway Cay , Disney’s private island, offer even more festive fun, as the Bahamian paradise is decked out for the season with a Christmas tree and faux-snow flurries. The best part? This is all in addition to Disney Cruise Line's plentiful year-round perks .

Norwegian Cruise Line

Courtesy of Norwegian Cruise Line

With sailings to six different continents, Norwegian Cruise Line gives guests plenty of options for a relaxing holiday, wherever they want to spend it. In addition to Christmas cruises , Norwegian offers New Year, Hanukkah, and even Thanksgiving sailings. On the latter, guests can sit back and relax as someone else prepares an unforgettable turkey dinner. Now that is a reason to be thankful. 

Christmas cruises add awe-inspiring decor, live performances, and a slew of onboard activities, like an ugly sweater contest and themed holiday trivia. Whether you want to sip eggnog by the pool or attend an onboard Christmas-carol singalong, Norwegian delivers plenty of reasons to set sail this season. 

Princess Cruises

Courtesy of Princess Cruises

Whether you're sailing to sunny Sydney or the Mexican Riviera, Princess Cruises promises a forecast that includes a daily snowfall. Don’t worry — these flurries aren't real, but they have become a staple of the line's holiday celebrations.

After you’ve gotten in the spirit with your in-room virtual yule log, mingle with Santa Claus or be enchanted with holiday classics performed by the Yuletide Carolers. Guests can design keepsake ornaments or compete in a gingerbread house-making contest, while younger passengers can attend their very own holiday parties at the onboard youth centers. 

The line's Hanukkah sailings bring extra fun like menorah-lighting ceremonies, festive decor, themed crafts, and a reading of "Sammy Spider’s First Hanukkah." And if New Year's is your favorite winter holiday, Princess has cruises for that too, with special offerings including champagne-fueled New Year's Eve parties and big-screen telecasts of all the college football games happening on New Year's Day.

Adventures by Disney River Cruises

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River cruises may have a reputation of appealing to older travelers, but people of all ages are discovering they're a great way to travel. Adventures by Disney offers a range of family-friendly river cruises thanks to a partnership with AmaWaterways, and in the wintertime, three of their itineraries focus on Europe's historic Christmas markets . On these journeys, you'll glide along the Danube or Rhine rivers, making stops in countries like Germany, Austria, and France. Choose a Rhine voyage to see the canals of Amsterdam lit up for the holidays or a Danube trip featuring a shore excursion to a festive outdoor ice-skating rink in the heart of Vienna. No matter which itinerary you select, all meals are included, and you can partake in onboard activities such as gingerbread cookie decorating and a mulled wine tasting. 

Courtesy of Cunard Line

A sophisticated British cruise line, Cunard takes an elevated approach to the holidays. Here, champagne is served in elegant crystal, and afternoon tea is accompanied by stollen and other traditional European Christmas cakes. Soak up the splendor of the onboard gingerbread village or sip eggnog as you enjoy deckside traditions like Christmas carolers, mince pies, and visits from Santa. 

After you gawk at the stunning Christmas tree in the Grand Lobby, you can visit the onboard luxury shops (like Liberty of London, Garrard jewelers, and more) to pick up last-minute gifts for your loved ones. Itineraries include the line's famous transatlantic crossings on the Queen Mary 2 in addition to other regional journeys across the globe, from Australia and New Zealand to the Caribbean and the Canary Islands.

Royal Caribbean

Courtesy of Royal Caribbean International

From the moment you step aboard one of the line's winter cruises, Royal Caribbean kicks the holidays into overdrive. Every December sailing comes with Christmas and Hanukkah programming built in, so you can enjoy Royal Caribbean's unique brand of holiday cheer on more than 650 itineraries around the world. These voyages get the entire family involved with a range of activities, like gingerbread decorating classes and an ugly sweater party. There are special Christmas menus and a cookies-and-milk corner, plus holiday classics shown on the poolside movie screen.

The traditional lighting of the ship’s massive tree has become a mainstay of the celebrations, while many can’t get enough of the annual holiday-themed version of their famous Bottomless Galley Brunch.  Have fun and know you’re doing good by participating in a special walk for polar bears on the ship’s deck in support of the World Wildlife Fund’s Arctic program. 

Related Articles

Christmas Cruises from Tampa

Christmas holiday cruises are truly special events and they are available out of Tampa, Florida. Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, Celebrity and Carnival cruise lines offer departures. All cruise lines decorate their ships and provide fun festivities.

A holiday cruise to the Caribbean is a warm and festive way to celebrate a wonderful time of the year. Leave the cooking and decorating to someone else this year. Feast on Christmas Day dinner with all the trimmings. Enjoy your time with the whole family.

You can combine a Christmas cruise with a New Year cruise from Tampa to extend your vacation. A cruise is an excellent way to celebrate the holiday.

December 20, 2024: 7-night Christmas cruise on Celebrity Cruises . Round-trip from Tampa to Cozumel (Mexico), Nassau (Bahamas) and Bimini (Bahamas).

December 21, 2024: 8-night Christmas cruise on Carnival Cruise Line . Round-trip from Tampa to Limon (Costa Rica), Colon (Panama), the Panama Canal (partial transit) and Grand Cayman (Cayman Islands).

December 21, 2024: 7-night Christmas cruise on Royal Caribbean . Round-trip from Tampa to Cozumel (Mexico), Roatan (Honduras), Belize City (Belize) and Costa Maya (Mexico).

December 23, 2024: 5-night Christmas cruise on Carnival Cruise Line . Round-trip from Tampa to Cozumel (Mexico) and Grand Cayman (Cayman Islands).

December 23, 2024: 11-night Christmas cruise on Norwegian Cruise Line . Round-trip from Tampa to Puerto Plata (Dominican Republic), Tortola (British Virgin Islands), Catalina Island (Dominican Republic), Aruba, Curacao and Grand Cayman.

There are also other options for cruises from Florida over Christmas : • Christmas cruises from Fort Lauderdale • Christmas cruises from Jacksonville • Christmas cruises from Port Canaveral

Protect Your Trip »

10 top christmas cruises for 2024 & 2025.

Set sail for the holidays on your next cruise vacation.

Top Christmas Cruises

Courtesy of Azamara

If you're ready for a break from holiday traditions and family gatherings at home, consider booking a Christmas cruise. What makes a better present than the chance to leave all the planning, cooking, cleaning and decorating behind – and celebrate the holidays in beautiful destinations in the U.S., the Caribbean or other countries around the world?

If you're dreaming of a white Christmas, you can book a festivity-filled river cruise along Europe's iconic waterways and bundle up in your winter gear to explore the Christmas markets in the snow. If you prefer sunshine and warm temperatures, celebrate the holidays in an exotic locale in the South Pacific Ocean, sailing crystal-clear turquoise waters and relaxing on white sand beaches surrounded by palm trees.

Whether you prefer to stay close to home or jet off for a bucket list adventure, one of these cruises may just be the perfect gift to celebrate your holidays in style.

Find your perfect cruise

Hallmark Channel Christmas Cruise

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Put your name on the waiting list for November 2024 if you want to set sail on what Hallmark touts as the "jolliest vacation ever." The Hallmark Channel – known for its year-round holiday-themed programming with Christmas in July, Countdown to Christmas and Christmas Fridays – will host the first-ever Hallmark Channel Christmas Cruise sailings in November 2024 from Miami to the Bahamas . Lucky fans of the television channel will travel with their favorite Hallmark stars on one of two four-night cruises on Norwegian Cruise Line 's Norwegian Gem during the 2024 holiday season.

Highlights of the Hallmark Channel Christmas Cruise include photo opportunities and panels to meet the stars. Attend Christmas craft workshops or tastings with Hallmark's winemaker – the wines have names like Jingle (cabernet sauvignon) and Joy (sauvignon blanc). Guests can also look forward to "carol-oke" singalongs, cookie decorating, an ugly sweater contest and a world premiere viewing of the new Hallmark Channel Christmas movie "Countdown to Christmas."

AmaWaterways

Courtesy of AmaWaterways

AmaWaterways offers more than a dozen itineraries to visit the Christmas markets in 2024 and 2025 along the Rhine, Moselle, Main, Danube and Rhone rivers – and to see the holiday splendor of Europe's grand cities, such as Vienna , Budapest, Amsterdam and Prague. Travelers can stroll through snow-dusted medieval squares and fairytale markets. Enjoy the chalet-inspired stalls, thousands of colorful lights, festive decorations, ice skating rinks, whimsical handmade gifts, Christmas carolers, carousels and more.

The river cruise line's seven-night Iconic Christmas Markets itinerary sails from Nuremberg, Germany, to Budapest, Hungary , along the Danube. It features a visit to Nuremberg's Christkindlesmarkt – one of the world's oldest and most famous Christmas markets. Sip hot mulled wine or feuerzangenbowle (a red wine and rum punch) and sample savory specialties like Nuremberg bratwurst, flammkuchen (pizza) and kartoffelpuffer (fried potato pancakes). Be sure to save room for sweet delights like schaumkuss (also known as schokokuss), a chocolate-covered marshmallow, or lebkuchen, a traditional spiced cookie.

While on board the ship, guests can participate in festivities like tree-trimming, cookie decorating, caroling and "Shoes for St. Nick." This European tradition encourages passengers to leave their slippers outside their stateroom door before bed. In the morning, they wake up to slippers filled with tasty treats like children in Europe find on Saint Nicholas Day.

Celebrity Cruises

Courtesy of Celebrity Cruises

Celebrate Christmas Day at sea in the South Pacific Ocean during Celebrity's 2024 New Zealand Holiday cruise on board Celebrity Edge. This round-trip 13-night itinerary embarks on Dec. 20, 2024, from Sydney . It includes seven ports of call and five sea days. After ringing in the new year sailing between the Bay of Islands, New Zealand and Sydney, guests will disembark the ship on Jan. 2, 2025.

If you'd prefer to travel to the Canary Islands to celebrate Christmas and usher in the new year on the Mediterranean Sea in 2025, then reserve a stateroom or suite for Celebrity Cruises ' Canaries, Morocco & Spain itinerary. The 12-night voyage sails round-trip from Barcelona , embarking a few days before Christmas 2025 on Celebrity Infinity. The festive voyage features eight ports of call, including island of Gibraltar; the Moroccan cities of Casablanca and Tangier; three destinations in the Canary Islands; and Malaga, Spain.

On the ships, guests can revel in the joyous spirit of the season with festive Christmas trees, traditional holiday meals created by a Michelin-starred chef, themed shows and pop-ups, carolers, gingerbread winter villages, and even a visit from Santa. The onboard bars serve up holiday-inspired cocktails along with other seasonal favorites, including spiked apple cider and classic mulled wine. On New Year's Eve, plan to join in the merriment with fellow cruisers during the big countdown bash.

If you want to cross South Africa off your list of must-visit destinations , consider spending Christmas and New Year's Eve sailing round-trip from Cape Town on Azamara 's 15-night South Africa Intensive Voyage. The 2024 voyage departs Dec. 20 on Azamara Quest and includes stops in Port Elizabeth, home to one of the densest elephant populations in the world, and Richards Bay, which is teeming with exotic wildlife and stunning landscapes. For a once-in-lifetime experience, reserve a spot on the Safari 4X4 Hippo Cruise in the Hluhluwe–iMfolozi Park. This protected park is a white rhino sanctuary, home to South Africa's "big five": lions, elephants, buffalos, rhinos and leopards.

If the Land Down Under is at the top of your list of places to visit, plan ahead for next year to spend the holidays aboard Azamara Pursuit in 2025. The line's 21-night Australia Intensive Voyage will set sail on Dec. 14, 2025, from Singapore . This extended sailing features 10 ports of call in three countries, with two overnight stays, before travelers disembark in Melbourne, Australia , on Jan. 4, 2026.

Guests on board the holiday cruises will be treated to Christmas performances, including singalongs and carols performed by the crew. There will be special menus in the restaurants, holiday-themed buffets, religious services and a tree-trimming party. Festive treats like hot chocolate, cookies and snacks are provided throughout the cruise. The New Year's Eve White Night party, where all the guests don their best white attire, will take place throughout the ships and on the pool deck with entertainment, music and light bites.

Courtesy of Viking

Viking's 12-day Christmas on the Main & Moselle cruise sails between Paris and Prague in 2024 and 2025. The adults-only sailing affords passengers 18 and older the opportunity to visit four European countries: France, Germany, Luxembourg and the Czech Republic. In addition to browsing the chic boutiques in Paris and a variety of Christmas markets in Germany, you'll want to explore iconic landmarks like Reims Cathedral in France and the Luxembourg American Cemetery. Don't miss the famed wines produced in the regions, including Champagne, Moselle, riesling, Müller-Thurgau and gewürztraminer. In Cochem, Germany, you'll want to sample white mulled wine and regional delicacies produced from the red vineyard peach.

The holiday spirit continues on board the ships with Christmas-themed cooking demonstrations in addition to festive decorations with garland, lights and gingerbread houses. Guests will also taste regional cuisine, enjoy cultural performances on board the ship and ashore and learn about the history of the Christmas markets and local holiday traditions.

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Disney Cruise Line

Kent Phillips | Courtesy of Disney Cruise Line

Disney Cruise Line offers dozens of Christmas-themed cruises from November through December in 2024. Cruisers looking to celebrate the holidays with Disney's cast of characters can book a Very Merrytime cruise as short as a three-night sailing from Port Canaveral, Florida, to the Bahamas . For a weeklong getaway, consider the line's seven-night Eastern Caribbean voyage on board Disney Fantasy that sails round-trip from Port Canaveral. Ports of call on the itinerary include Tortola in the British Virgin Islands; St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands; and the cruise line's private island , Disney Castaway Cay.

On the first evening of every sailing, guests can gather around the 24-foot-tall Christmas tree for the tree lighting ceremony, a holiday singalong and the introduction of Santa Claus. Other festivities on Disney Cruise Line include the fun-filled Mickey and Minnie's Holiday Party, themed Very Merrytime activities for children of all ages, carol singers, and Christmas-inspired food and beverages. Disney characters like Mickey and Minnie Mouse will be sporting jolly new holiday attire during the special voyages.

Windstar Cruises

Courtesy of Windstar Cruises

Celebrate the holidays with a bucket list getaway to the sun-drenched islands of Tahiti . On this voyage, you'll set sail a few days before Christmas 2024 aboard the 312-passenger, all-suite yacht Star Breeze for Windstar's seven-day Dreams of Tahiti cruise. The round-trip sailing from Papeete, Tahiti, includes stops in the islands of Moorea, Raiatea, Motu Mahea (Tahaa), Bora Bora and Huahine. In Bora Bora, guests will be treated to a special evening Windstar Destination Discovery Event with dinner under the stars and traditional Polynesian fire dancing.

For an extended European holiday in 2025, the line's Star Collector: Winter in Spain and the Rivieras cruise sails from Malaga, Spain, to Rome on Dec. 13 aboard the intimate Star Legend. The 14-day itinerary includes ports of call in Spain, France, Italy and Gibraltar. During the cruise, you can visit must-see attractions like Michelangelo's sculpture of David in Florence and explore the historic Roman theater ruins in Cartagena, Spain. Cruisegoers will also have a chance to sample wines from the famed appellations of Tuscany in Italy and Andalusia in Spain, and taste culinary specialties like bouillabaisse in France.

On board the ships, guests can join in the holiday spirit with festive Christmas trees and decorations as well as holiday-inspired cocktails and treats. Special programming for the voyages includes a Christmas movie, a gala tea, an interdenominational Christmas service and a Christmas Eve dinner. Christmas morning brings more celebrations throughout the day, with holiday meals, a Yuletide afternoon tea and a Christmas dinner followed by a variety show in the evening.

Norwegian Cruise Line

Courtesy of Norwegian Cruise Line

Grab the swimsuit, flip-flops and sunglasses – and check the Panama Canal off your must-visit list – for a tropical holiday aboard Norwegian Cruise Line 's Norwegian Gem. The line's 11-day cruisetour begins Dec. 9, 2024, and includes three days to see the canal that some consider the "eighth wonder of the world" and visit vibrant Panama City. After embarking on Dec. 11, you'll transit the canal and then sail to ports in Costa Rica; Jamaica; Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands; Cozumel, Mexico; and Norwegian's private island, Great Stirrup Cay in the Bahamas, before disembarking in Miami on Dec. 20.

Plan ahead to Christmas 2025 by reserving accommodations on Norwegian's newest vessel – and the first in the Prima Plus class – Norwegian Aqua. The seven-day Caribbean round-trip voyage from Miami on the new ship (scheduled to launch in April 2025) will set sail on Dec. 21, 2025. The cruise includes tropical ports of call in the Dominican Republic, the U.S. and British Virgin Islands, and Great Stirrup Cay. For a special celebration, splurge on luxurious suite accommodations in The Haven. The ship-within-a-ship retreat features a private restaurant, a lounge, a sundeck, a concierge desk and 24-hour butler service.

Holiday-themed activities on Norwegian's vessels vary by itinerary and ship. Still, guests will find plenty of festive fun on board, including traditional holiday fare and holiday-inspired musical sets, trivia, and family and youth programming. Guests are invited to offer interdenominational services for fellow passengers during the sailing. You'll also find Hanukkah services listed in the Freestyle Daily Program.

Holland America Line

Courtesy of Holland America Line

Celebrate the Christmas holidays in Hawaii during Holland America Line 's round-trip Circle Hawaii Holiday voyage from San Diego on the ship Zaandam, embarking on Dec. 18, 2024. Guests aboard this voyage will sail to Honolulu, Hilo and Kona on the Big Island of Hawaii as well as Kahului, Maui . You'll also get to enjoy scenic cruising at the Kilauea Volcano; visit Ensenada, Mexico; and join in the holiday festivities on the ship during relaxing days at sea.

If you've been dreaming of visiting far-flung destinations in Asia, such as Halong Bay, Vietnam, or Bangkok, Thailand – or seeing Komodo dragons in the wild in Indonesia – the 28-day Far East & Indonesian Holiday Collector itinerary will be an adventure of a lifetime. The voyage on board Westerdam embarks in Hong Kong on Dec. 7, 2025, with exotic ports of call in Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore. On Christmas Day, guests will visit the picturesque port town of Probolinggo on the coast of East Java in Indonesia. On New Year's Eve, the ship docks in Semarang, Indonesia; here, you can visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Borobudur, home to an impressive Buddhist temple site dating back to the eighth and ninth centuries.

Back on board the ships, holiday celebrations include a Christmas tree lighting, Santa's arrival, a midnight mass, a Christmas concert, special menus for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, and a New Year's Eve Party and countdown. There are Hanukkah festivities with candle lightings and latkes served in the Lido. Guests will also enjoy viewing the holiday villages around the ship created by Holland America's culinary team.

Silversea Cruises

Courtesy of Silversea Cruises

For a life-changing experience and the merriest Christmas of all, spend the holiday with several species of waddling penguins, giant seals and majestic whales while visiting the ice-covered shores of the White Continent. The 10-day round-trip expedition from Puerto Williams, Chile, on Silversea 's Silver Cloud sets sail a week before Christmas in 2024 for the Antarctica Peninsula. Five days of excursions allow travelers on this Antarctica cruise to explore this surreal and magical part of the world. Weather permitting, guests will even take a Zodiac cruise with the expedition team in the South Shetland Islands the day after Christmas.

If you're planning ahead to 2025, consider a longer adventure where you'd fly the infamous Drake Passage one way from Puerto Williams (saving two days at sea) and land on King George Island in Antarctica. This 15-day expedition aboard Silver Cloud begins on Dec. 21, 2025, and features four days of excursions in Antarctica and three days in the South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands. You'll also spend three days in the Falkland Islands, where you'll have more chances for unforgettable wildlife encounters with black-browed albatrosses, fur seals, Commerson's dolphins, imperial cormorants, and adorable rockhopper and Magellanic penguins.

Festive touches on the ship include Christmas trees and lights, gingerbread houses, holiday arts and crafts, caroling, religious services, and musical performances by the crew and professional entertainers. Guests will also enjoy a traditional holiday dinner on Christmas Day.

Why Trust U.S. News Travel

Gwen Pratesi has been an avid cruiser since her early 20s. She has sailed to destinations around the globe on nearly every type of cruise ship built, including the newest megaships, luxury yachts, expedition vessels, and river ships in Europe and on the Mekong River. She used her extensive knowledge and experience with the cruise industry to write this article. Pratesi covers the travel and culinary industries for major publications, including U.S. News & World Report.

You might also be interested in:

The top river cruise lines.

• The Top Cruises on Small Ships
• The Best Themed Cruises
• The Best Christmas Lights Displays in the U.S.
• The Best Christmas Vacations

Tags: Travel , Cruises , Winter Vacations , Christmas

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• Royal Caribbean International

Christmas Cruise on Royal Caribbean insights

By Cancruizer , November 26, 2018 in Royal Caribbean International

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I'm wondering, for those who have done a Christmas cruise with Royal Caribbean, what is to be expected? I know the ship will be decorated beautifully, but what will they have in way of activities, special meals ect? 

Thanks so much!

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Yes, decorations on all Royal ships go up this week until first of the new year. Santa comes every week, lots of Xmas music below deck... Great Xmas Day meal

I traveled last year on the Oasis.  Decorated, great Christmas dinner, movies all Christmas themed.  Busy week.  I didn't love that they were showing Christmas movies for days after Christmas. But, it was a great cruise.  The specialty restaurants increase their prices this week as well, so the holiday nights are more expensive, and the week-dining eating packages are usually not available.

13 hours ago, Cancruizer said: Hi All,   I'm wondering, for those who have done a Christmas cruise with Royal Caribbean, what is to be expected? I know the ship will be decorated beautifully, but what will they have in way of activities, special meals ect?    Thanks so much! Ilana

Turkey will be one of the choices in the MDR.

We were on Grandeur for Christmas and New Years  in 2016. Santa came down the elevator Christmas morning as “snow” was falling into the Centrum. Santa had a gift for each child (a beach towel) and we could get pictures of the child with Santa.  Eggnog was handed out Christmas morning.   There was Christmas related meals in the MDR on both Christmas Eve and day.  Christmas music was everywhere for the entire cruise.  And of course, the ship was beautifully decorated.

Our adult son it was the most “christmassy” Christmas he had ever seen. 😂

8 hours ago, nanseev said: I traveled last year on the Oasis.  Decorated, great Christmas dinner, movies all Christmas themed.  Busy week.  I didn't love that they were showing Christmas movies for days after Christmas. But, it was a great cruise.  The specialty restaurants increase their prices this week as well, so the holiday nights are more expensive, and the week-dining eating packages are usually not available.

The ultimate dining package for this year's Freedom Christmas cruise is cheap, $126.  The reason is that you can't use it in Chops or Giovanni's for  Christmas Eve or Christmas Day dinners,  Those run $75 pp!  So the only place to use the plan those nights is Sabor (or the MDR which you could do without spending the $126).

Does anyone have a copy of a Christmas Eve or Christmas dinner menu to post?  Thanks.

We were on Ovation Last Christmas in New Zealand. Carol Service on xmas eve in the main shopping area with all the Officers. and Midnight Mass in the theatre, Then Santa arriving Christmas Day from the Pod.

Atmosphere on the ship was amazing.

On 11/26/2018 at 6:40 PM, ONECRUISER said: Yes, decorations on all Royal ships go up this week until first of the new year. Santa comes every week, lots of Xmas music below deck... Great Xmas Day meal

Thanks!! I'm on for Christmas this year - should be fun :-)

21 hours ago, nanseev said: I traveled last year on the Oasis.  Decorated, great Christmas dinner, movies all Christmas themed.  Busy week.  I didn't love that they were showing Christmas movies for days after Christmas. But, it was a great cruise.  The specialty restaurants increase their prices this week as well, so the holiday nights are more expensive, and the week-dining eating packages are usually not available.

I hadn't even thought of the Christmas movies, fun (I guess for a while, lol). Thanks for the info!

14 hours ago, Host Clarea said:   Turkey will be one of the choices in the MDR.

Good to know, thanks :-)

13 hours ago, sjb317 said: We were on Grandeur for Christmas and New Years  in 2016. Santa came down the elevator Christmas morning as “snow” was falling into the Centrum. Santa had a gift for each child (a beach towel) and we could get pictures of the child with Santa.  Eggnog was handed out Christmas morning.   There was Christmas related meals in the MDR on both Christmas Eve and day.  Christmas music was everywhere for the entire cruise.  And of course, the ship was beautifully decorated.   Our adult son it was the most “christmassy” Christmas he had ever seen. 😂   Sherri 🙂

I have to say that sounds amazing!! Wow

12 hours ago, clarky213 said: We were on Ovation Last Christmas in New Zealand. Carol Service on xmas eve in the main shopping area with all the Officers. and Midnight Mass in the theatre, Then Santa arriving Christmas Day from the Pod. Atmosphere on the ship was amazing.

Sounds wonderful! Thanks for sharing your experience with me :-)

The ship will be beautifully decorated. "Santa" will visit and IIRC there were little gifts for all of the children (I think my son got a torch/Maglite type thing). There was carol singing on the Royal Promenade on Christmas Eve, and I'm fairly sure there was a religious service in the theatre. There was a traditional Christmas meal in the MDR (turkey etc), to be honest it wasn't as good as I would make at home, what can you expect for mass catering? But it was fine. We did a B2B with the changeover on Christmas Day, so we actually got everything twice lol (because they did the Christmas stuff, gifts/eggnog/Santa/turkey dinner etc on both Christmas eve and Christmas Day!) Be aware that you will pay a premium for a Christmas or New Year cruise. 

FWIW I thought they did New Year better than Christmas, the New Year celebrations were massive. Four or five different parties in different locations each with a different theme/vibe. 

Allure Dec 17 2011 - Jan 3 2012

blushfulstall

Are there premiums for alcoholic drinks as well? Now it's making me reconsider if we should opt for the beverage package...

19 minutes ago, blushfulstall said: Are there premiums for alcoholic drinks as well? Now it's making me reconsider if we should opt for the beverage package...

There are usually a few drinks on the menu that are higher in price than is covered by the beverage package, but I've not seen reports of regular drink prices being raised for holiday cruises.

We sailed on Anthem over Christmas 2017.  It was a gift to our children and their significant others (all are in their twenties) and my parents.  It was fabulous to not stress about shopping and wrapping gifts for everyone (other than some OBC and a cruise-related gift bag for each) and to not decorate.  

The ship was beautifully decorated.  Santa gave gifts to all children on Christmas morning.  There was a special Christmas dinner menu (although I don't have a picture of it).  We loved sailing over Christmas and would love to do it again (but sailing over Christmas is VERY expensive).

We have sailed the week before Christmas a few times, and the ships were of course beautifully decorated then as well.

Looking forward to checking out the Christmas tree and decorations in 10 days time aboard Adventure! This will be my first time to cruise around the holidays 🙂

Katemusical

We are sailing on the Indy leaving Xmas Eve. I can't wait! Cruising on Xmas is so special and seems like an extra gift.

I assume that all of the activities (Santa, etc) will be in the dailies...is that correct?

On 11/26/2018 at 5:35 PM, Cancruizer said: Hi All,   I'm wondering, for those who have done a Christmas cruise with Royal Caribbean, what is to be expected? I know the ship will be decorated beautifully, but what will they have in way of activities, special meals ect?    Thanks so much! Ilana

quite frankly, we were unimpressed.   way too many LARGE multigenerational family groups.  there will be  holiday themed dinner, caroling,  HoHo Claus will give out  cheap trinkets to the kids.  when we last went, they didn't jack up the price in specialties for the 24th and 25th and 31st.  now they do and you don't get much more  for the extra cost.  there will probably be a service of some sort at midnight. (ours was run by a Catholic Priest but  more non denominational.  )

the backgrounds for photos are much more holiday themed.  

Thanks to all for the great replies. Super helpful - much appreciated!

Some say great, very christmasy. Others were not inpressed.  Guess I'll have to make up my own mind in 3 weeks!

25 minutes ago, starrcards said: Some say great, very christmasy. Others were not inpressed.  Guess I'll have to make up my own mind in 3 weeks!

I don’t see how you couldn’t be impressed 🙄 .  We had a great time and would love to do it again!

Sherri, we have cruised RCCL 5 times so far (Grandeur, Jewel x 2, Empress and Oasis) and have enjoyed every one.   I like to think of myself as a foodie but not a food snob.  I find no problem with RCCL food as many posters do. I can find something new to try in any venue.  The same goes with the ship.  I don't have time to look for rust or dirt in the door tracks.  I'm on vacation and my job is to have fun and enjoy myself, not nit pick everything.  We are looking forward to our Freedom Christmas cruise and from all the posts and pictures, it seems great.  Sorry, if I don't win a prize at the Meet&Mingle or if Santa's gift on Christmas isn't worth at least $10K, I'm still going to have a great time.  It's Christmas and I'm with my family.  And best yet, RCCL is doing all the cooking and decorating.  Merry Christmas.

58 minutes ago, sjb317 said: I don’t see how you couldn’t be impressed 🙄 .  We had a great time and would love to do it again!   Sherri 🙂

easy.   when very large family groups camp out  hoarding all the tables on the pool deck  all day.   when it takes an hour to get a particular background photo because the  family in front of you wants pics with just the adults, then just the kids then the kids with gram and gramp, etc and so on.  when the suite/Concierge Lounge is overrun by the kids who swoop in and  grab all the chocolate covered strawberries and desserts in the first 3 minutes of cocktail hour.  when the pool deck is wall to wall people  all day and all the loungers are  taken up by the kids at night watching  the movie on the big screen.  when the hot tubs have more kids bobbing around in them then the main pool does.  when your Christmas Day excursion on Nassau doesn't happen because the tour operator never shows up and won't answer his phone.  

there is more to a holiday sailing than pretty decorations and the same turkey dinner in the MDR as is served the second formal night.

so now we go the first 2 weeks of December.  still all the decorations, the caroling and the  atmosphere,   without the crowds

The two times we cruise during Christmas, they also had a Christmas themed Ice show.

We cruise the week before Christmas every year as well and they are always decorated and varies from ship to ship.

4 hours ago, spookwife said:     easy.   when very large family groups camp out  hoarding all the tables on the pool deck  all day.   when it takes an hour to get a particular background photo because the  family in front of you wants pics with just the adults, then just the kids then the kids with gram and gramp, etc and so on.  when the suite/Concierge Lounge is overrun by the kids who swoop in and  grab all the chocolate covered strawberries and desserts in the first 3 minutes of cocktail hour.  when the pool deck is wall to wall people  all day and all the loungers are  taken up by the kids at night watching  the movie on the big screen.  when the hot tubs have more kids bobbing around in them then the main pool does.  when your Christmas Day excursion on Nassau doesn't happen because the tour operator never shows up and won't answer his phone.     there is more to a holiday sailing than pretty decorations and the same turkey dinner in the MDR as is served the second formal night.   so now we go the first 2 weeks of December.  still all the decorations, the caroling and the  atmosphere,   without the crowds

Wow, you always seem to have nightmare cruises!  54 cruises and we’ve never had one with that many issues,  no matter what time of year. 😀 .  

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Royal Caribbean abruptly bans essential travel item from cruises leaving customers fuming

Countless holiday-makers have been left scrambling after a major cruise line quietly banned an essential item from its ships.

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Royal Caribbean is now banning multi-plug outlets from its cruises.

According to the New York Post , the cruise line quietly added the gadget to the list of banned items on its website, which now reads “Extension Cords and Multi-Plug Outlets/ Power Strips”.

While it has always prohibited extension cords and power strips due to the fact they could start electrical fires, multi-plug outlets were not previously forbidden, The Street reported.

Multi-plug outlets are valuable to holiday-makers charging multiple devices in cruise ship staterooms, which often do not have many power outlets.

Cruise lovers expressed disappointment with the new policy.

“They’ve never been banned before … I will simply go elsewhere for my cruises,” disgruntled customer Kristina Lambert wrote on X, explaining that between several phones, tablets and two CPAP machines, they need more outlets than are available in a typical stateroom.

CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machines use mild air pressure to keep breathing airways open while a person sleeps, and is commonly used to treat sleep-related breathing disorders such as sleep apnoea.

“Either provide a reasonable amount of charging ports in rooms or take back this ban,” the US businesswoman wrote in an exchange with the cruise line.

“You’ll lose at least our business if you make this stupid ban.”

“The biggest problem with this is for people like my husband who use a CPAP machine, with so many ships without outlets near the beds,” echoed Corey Graft, the YouTuber behind the account MidshipsCruise.

“We had tried asking for one on the ship to provide, but they never have one available, so we, of course, bring our own. This is a medical device that these people need to use.”

Others agreed Royal Caribbean should be providing the devices to guests.

“If I can’t bring it, then they should supply it,” one of Midships’s followers argued.

“If they would simply provide enough outlets or USB ports in the room, this wouldn’t even be a subject of conversation,” another replied.

However, some said they understood the reason for the policy.

“The ban could be because people are plugging in too many items and overloading the circuits,” one said.

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“Better than stranded in the middle of the ocean on a burning ship,” another added.

The Post reached out to Royal Caribbean for an explanation about the ban but the cruise line did not immediately respond.

This article originally appeared on the New York Post and has been reproduced with permission

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Woman sues Broward County after mistaken identity leads to arrest, jailing

By Allen Cone , Nikiya Carrero

Updated on: September 20, 2024 / 11:52 AM EDT / CBS Miami

FORT LAUDERDALE -  A woman has filed a lawsuit against Broward County , the Broward Sheriff's Office, arresting deputies and correction officers, claiming she was mistakenly arrested after coming home from a Royal Caribbean Cruise on Christmas Eve two years ago. 

Jennifer Heath Box, 50, who was jailed for three days, described her ordeal during a news conference Thursday with her attorneys with the Institute for Justice, a nonprofit law firm.

Box said the arrest violated her constitutional right to be "free from unreasonable searches and seizures," as well as her "right to due process." 

The attorneys representing Box said she was mistaken for another woman, also from Texas, named Jennifer Delcarmen Heath, who is 23 years younger.  

BSO defended the arrest, saying it was based on information from the U.S. Customs and Harris County, Texas, where the arrest originated.

"The Broward Sheriff's Office sympathizes with the difficult situation Ms. Jennifer Heath Box was in late last year," BSO said in a statement Thursday. 

"Had it not been for the arrest warrant filed by the Harris County Sheriff's Office, Customs and Border Patrol would not have flagged Ms. Box, BSO would not have been notified and she would not have been arrested."

What led to the arrest?

In December 2022, Box went on a cruise aboard Harmony of the Seas with family members to celebrate her younger brother Mark beating cancer for the second time. 

On the morning of Christmas Eve, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol alerted a BSO deputy that a passenger exiting a cruise ship at Port Everglades had an outstanding warrant for her arrest on a charge of felony child endangerment.

When Box scanned her ID to get off the ship, she said deputies surrounded her and told her there was a warrant for her arrest.

Box, knowing they had the wrong person, gave deputies her license and date of birth, and explained that all three of her children were now adults. 

"They had the wrong person"

BSO Deputy Peter Peraza handcuffed her on the ship and took Box to a police car for additional questioning, according to the lawsuit. While in the car, she continued to tell them they had the wrong person.

The suspect in the child endangerment was younger than one of Box's children.

Their height, eye color, hair and skin tone differed, along with the home address, driver's license number, Social Security number and Harris County System Person Number, the attorneys said.

"The issue was the fact that my driver's license photo was attached to her warrant," Box said. "None of my information was attached to the warrant other than my photo. So at that point I thought I was going to be released."

Although the booking officer ran her driver's license number and told Peraza she had no outstanding warrants, the officer insisted she was the right person based on the photo attached to the warrant, Box alleges.

Box's time in jail 

She said she was strip searched.

"Over the next three days, she faced horrible conditions," according to a news release from the Institute for Justice. "A male inmate routinely tried to enter Jennifer's cell while she was alone, and officers blasted death metal over the speakers and freezing air into the cell, making it so cold that she had to sleep back-to-back with another inmate just to keep warm. " 

Her brother Mark, who is a police officer, was able to figure out that a Harris County employee had accidentally attached Jennifer's driver's license photo to the warrant instead of the suspect's photo.   

On Dec. 27, Jennifer was released from custody.

Missing Christmas with the family

"It was really difficult for me because having to call my kids and tell them I wasn't gonna be there for Christmas and to hear that I hurt them because I wasn't there," Box said.

"Broward County officials just told her, 'It happens,'" the Institute for Justice said in the news release. "But by this point, she had already missed Christmas with her children, and her eldest son, who serves in the Marines, was deployed before she returned home."

BSO said in the statement, "The actions of the BSO deputy involved in arresting Ms. Box were reviewed by the Broward Sheriff's Office Internal Affairs Division, and no employee misconduct was found. The matter is now closed." 

Harmony of the Seas, launched in 2015, has a maximum capacity of 6,780 passengers and 2,300 crew, and its homeport now is Galveston, Texas.

Box said this was the first time going on a cruise and because of her experience, it will be her last one.

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Norwegian unveiled plans for a new cruise ship — complete with a roller coaster waterslide and night club to take on Royal Caribbean

• Norwegian Cruise Line says its 3,550-guest Norwegian Luna will debut in 2026.
• The company's 21st vessel would have family-friendly amenities such as a roller coaster-like waterslide.
• Luna could be a good option for families who prefer a new build but don't enjoy mega cruise ships .

If you're tired of only hearing about ultra-large cruise ships or ultra-expensive small ones, Norwegian Cruise Line has the answer.

On Wednesday, the popular cruise company unveiled details of Norwegian Luna, its next Prima Plus Class ship.

The upcoming vessel, Norwegian's 21st, would have family-friendly amenities like infinity pools, a high-tech sports court, and a cross between a roller coaster and waterslide.

The cruise liner is scheduled to kick off its maiden season in April 2026 with weeklong Caribbean cruises roundtrip from Miami.

At 1,056 feet long and 156,300 gross tons, Luna would be larger than the company's preceding Prima Class vessels but smaller than any ships its competitor, Royal Caribbean, has debuted over the last 15 years.

If you don't love giant cruise ships, Royal Caribbean's dazzling mega-ships could make for an overwhelming vacation.

The largest, Icon of the Seas, is 1,1960 feet long and 250,800 gross tons. It may be packed with family-friendly activities like a waterpark and an ice skating rink, but you'll have to share these amenities with another 7,599 guests.

Two of Royal Caribbean's less sizable cruise ships are also scheduled for Miami cruises in 2026. But by then, the newer of the two, Independence of the Seas, will already be 18 years old.

So, if you want to cruise out of Miami but prefer a new, large-but-not-too-large vessel, the 3,550-guest Norwegian Luna could be a great option for you and your family.

The ship is expected to be identical to Norwegian's upcoming Norwegian Aqua , scheduled to debut in March 2025. The pair of floating resorts won't have as many attractions as Icon of the Seas, but they would still hold their ground in the family-friendly cruise industry.

Like Aqua, Luna would have signature Norwegian amenities such as a 10-station food hall, a 10-story-tall dry slide, and Ocean Boulevard, an open-air walkway with restaurants, pools, and lounges.

Young children would have a water playground while adults have an al fresco lounge with infinity hot tubs.

Along with a new Thai restaurant, wine bar, and plant-based eatery, Aqua and Luna would also debut two firsts for the cruise line: the Aqua Slidecoaster and the Glow Court. Norwegian calls the former a cross between a roller coaster and a waterslide, and the latter a high-tech sports court that turns into a nightclub at sundown.

The ships may not have as expensive or playful cabins as Royal Caribbean's $100,000-a-week Ultimate Family Townhouse . But they would debut Norwegian's new two-story, three-bedroom Haven suites complete with a living and dining room, butler service, and access to an exclusive outdoor lounge.

Norwegian Luna's maiden season fares range from $1,400 per person for an interior cabin to $18,500 per person for the Owner's Suite. Not too steep compared to Icon of the Seas' cheapest 2026 itinerary, which comes in at about $1,710 per person for seven nights.

Watch: Inside the world's biggest cruise ship that just set sail

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How a mom ended up in a Broward jail after a cruise. It’s a case of mistaken identity

A military mom from Texas who had traveled to South Florida for the winter holidays was forced to spend Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in a Broward County jail and miss seeing her son before he left for a three-year deployment with the Marines.

Now, she’s suing Florida’s second largest county in a case of mistaken identity.

Jennifer Heath Box and her legal representative, the Institute for Justice, filed a civil lawsuit filed in Fort Lauderdale federal court on Sept. 19 against Broward County and deputies with the Broward Sheriff’s Office.

She is suing for unspecified damages and claiming law enforcement mistakes and the violation of her Fourth and Fourteenth Amendment rights, which include unreasonable seizure and arbitrary deprivation of liberty.

What the suit says happened at Port Everglades

The defendants in the case are Broward County, sheriff’s deputies Peter Peraza and Monica Jean, and others including a corrections specialist, booking officer and corrections officer. Once the county is served, it will have about 21 days to respond, said Jared McClain, the Institute’s lead attorney in the case.

When Broward deputies arrested Jennifer Heath Box on Dec. 24, 2022, while she came off a Caribbean cruise, they had the wrong person, according to the suit. The person they thought they had detained was Jennifer Delcarmen Heath, also a Texas woman, but one with an arrest warrant for child endangerment in Harris County, Texas.

“There were over a dozen reasons why BSO officers should have realized that Jennifer [Heath Box] wasn’t wanted for child endangerment in Harris County, Texas,” the Institute of Justice says in the suit. “But they ignored each one. ... They overlooked overwhelming evidence that they had the wrong person.”

The Broward Sheriff’s Office said in a statement that it “sympathizes with the difficult situation Ms. Jennifer Heath Box was in.”

BSO’s Internal Affairs Division reviewed the deputy’s actions and determined that “no employee misconduct was found,” and the sheriff’s office considers the matter “now closed.”

Her attorneys say they will also argue this case was a misuse of an arrest warrant. And that in out-of-state cases, “you can’t just rely on their name alone,” to handcuff somebody, McClain said in an interview with the Miami Herald.

After 75 hours in detention, Heath Box was freed after her family persisted that deputies had the wrong woman.

Finding joy in a tough year

The year 2022 had gotten off to a rough start for Heath Box, now a 50-year-old mother of three adult children who lives in Richmond, Texas, with her husband, Kyle Box.

In January, her brother Mark was diagnosed with testicular cancer for the second time. But he got treatment and improved, so she invited him, his wife and their kids to join her and her husband for a December cruise.

They met in Fort Lauderdale on December 18, 2022, and their ship, Royal Caribbean’s Harmony of the Seas, departed Port Everglades the same day. It would return on Dec. 24.

Heath Box planned to quickly return to Texas to spend time with her children for Christmas. Her son, Joshua, had recently completed training with the Marines and was scheduled for deployment to Japan for three years and had to fly to Seattle right after Christmas.

End of the cruise and the start of trouble

Around 6 a.m. Christmas Eve, Heath Box and her family were preparing to get off the ship. When she scanned her identification to disembark just before 6:30, a security alert went off. She was immediately taken out of the line by ship security. Eight deputies surrounded her and her husband, according to the federal lawsuit.

When she asked what was going on, she was told, it’s “for a warrant,” according to the suit. After she pressed for more information, Deputy Peraza told her it was for “endangering a child” and was from Harris County, Texas.

None of her children were minors. According to the suit, her husband, Kyle, told the deputies: “I think you have the wrong person.” Deputy Jean responded: “That’s why we verify.”

She was asked her age. She promptly provided her driver’s license and passport, her lawyers say.

By this point and even long before the ship returned, law enforcement should have known they were targeting the wrong person, the lawsuit contends.

The warrant had another name, birth date, home address, height and eye color.

“It should have been obvious that Jennifer Heath Box was not subject to the warrant,” her lawyers wrote in the suit. “Everything BSO officers needed to tell the two women apart was readily available to them before they decided to board a cruise ship on Christmas Eve.”

She said she was handcuffed and taken to jail as her husband and other cruise passengers watched.

On Christmas Day, she faced a judge and was denied bond. She wasn’t given the chance to consult with an attorney, to review the arrest warrant or to speak to the judge, according to the suit.

That evening, she was transferred to Broward County’s Paul Rein Detention Center. There, guards blared death-metal music throughout the cells at all times of the day and night, the lawsuit says.

Previous mistaken identity cases

In 2010, BSO arrested Paola Londono on a different person’s warrant as she disembarked from a cruise ship with her 9-month-old son in her arms. In January 2022, BSO arrested the wrong Leonardo Silva Oliverio.

The complaint says all of these cases could have been avoided if “BSO had used their fingerprints to confirm their identity as part of the booking process.”

It also says the work to free Heath Box shouldn’t have fallen to her family members.

A strong family

Her husband, Kyle, and brother Mark, a cop, hired an attorney in Texas. And on Dec. 26, they figured out who Jennifer Delcarmen Heath was and learned she was on the run. They also consulted with law enforcement officials in Harris County and got help.

A Texas deputy discovered that an official with the Houston Police Department mistakenly attached Heath Box’s driver’s license photo to the arrest warrant for Delcarmen Heath, the lawsuit claims.

The Broward Sheriff’s Office then acknowledged to Heath Box that they had the wrong Jennifer.

She was finally freed on the morning of Dec. 27.

By that time her son was already in Seattle, about to depart to Japan for his three-year assignment with the Marines.

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Royal Caribbean Cruise Ship Passenger Disappears Overboard on Trip to Hawaii

The Coast Guard said the cruise ship left Brisbane, Australia, about two weeks ago and was on its way to Hawaii after a stop in Tahiti. It is expected to dock in Honolulu on Friday.

Published April 27, 2023 • Updated on April 27, 2023 at 9:45 am

The U.S. Coast Guard said Wednesday it was searching for a cruise ship passenger from Australia in waters south of Hawaii.

The ship Quantum of the Seas notified the Coast Guard of a man overboard at 11:03 p.m. Tuesday, about 870 miles south of the island chain. NBC affiliate KHNL reports the ship's crew remained on scene to search for the man for approximately two hours.

A C-130 air crew took off at 7 a.m. the next morning and arrived two hours later at the scene about 500 miles south of the Big Island town of Kailua-Kona. After six hours on site, the air crew returned to Air Station Barbers Point on Oahu to refuel. Coast Guard crews will resume searching Thursday morning.

24/7 New York news stream: Watch NBC 4 free wherever you are

Information on the missing individual was not immediately available.

Quantum of the Seas is operated by Royal Caribbean International. The company didn't immediately respond to an email message.

Get Tri-state area news delivered to your inbox. Sign up for NBC New York's News Headlines newsletter.

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Royal caribbean cruises ltd. (rcl) hit a 52 week high, can the run continue.

Have you been paying attention to shares of Royal Caribbean (RCL) ? Shares have been on the move with the stock up 5.2% over the past month. The stock hit a new 52-week high of $173.4 in the previous session. Royal Caribbean has gained 31.1% since the start of the year compared to the 0.4% move for the Zacks Consumer Discretionary sector and the 4.2% return for the Zacks Leisure and Recreation Services industry.

What's Driving the Outperformance?

The stock has an impressive record of positive earnings surprises, as it hasn't missed our earnings consensus estimate in any of the last four quarters. In its last earnings report on July 25, 2024, Royal Caribbean reported EPS of $3.21 versus consensus estimate of $2.77.

For the current fiscal year, Royal Caribbean is expected to post earnings of $11.57 per share on $16.41 billion in revenues. This represents a 71.05% change in EPS on a 18.1% change in revenues. For the next fiscal year, the company is expected to earn $13.37 per share on $17.88 billion in revenues. This represents a year-over-year change of 15.48% and 8.9%, respectively.

Valuation Metrics

Royal Caribbean may be at a 52-week high right now, but what might the future hold for the stock? A key aspect of this question is taking a look at valuation metrics in order to determine if the company has run ahead of itself.

On this front, we can look at the Zacks Style Scores, as these give investors a variety of ways to comb through stocks (beyond looking at the Zacks Rank of a security). These styles are represented by grades running from A to F in the categories of Value, Growth, and Momentum, while there is a combined VGM Score as well. The idea behind the style scores is to help investors pick the most appropriate Zacks Rank stocks based on their individual investment style.

Royal Caribbean has a Value Score of A. The stock's Growth and Momentum Scores are A and D, respectively, giving the company a VGM Score of A.

In terms of its value breakdown, the stock currently trades at 14.7X current fiscal year EPS estimates, which is not in-line with the peer industry average of 18.4X. On a trailing cash flow basis, the stock currently trades at 12.8X versus its peer group's average of 8.8X. Additionally, the stock has a PEG ratio of 0.49. This isn't enough to put the company in the top echelon of all stocks we cover from a value perspective.

We also need to look at the Zacks Rank for the stock, as this supersedes any trend on the style score front. Fortunately, Royal Caribbean currently has a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy) thanks to rising earnings estimates.

Since we recommend that investors select stocks carrying Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy) and Style Scores of A or B, it looks as if Royal Caribbean passes the test. Thus, it seems as though Royal Caribbean shares could have potential in the weeks and months to come.

How Does RCL Stack Up to the Competition?

Shares of RCL have been soaring, and the company still appears to be a decent choice, but what about the rest of the industry? One industry peer that looks good is Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NCLH) . NCLH has a Zacks Rank of # 1 (Strong Buy) and a Value Score of A, a Growth Score of A, and a Momentum Score of B.

Earnings were strong last quarter. Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. beat our consensus estimate by 17.65%, and for the current fiscal year, NCLH is expected to post earnings of $1.58 per share on revenue of $9.38 billion.

Shares of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. have gained 23% over the past month, and currently trade at a forward P/E of 12.59X and a P/CF of 7.95X.

The Leisure and Recreation Services industry may rank in the bottom 62% of all the industries we have in our universe, but there still looks like there are some nice tailwinds for RCL and NCLH, even beyond their own solid fundamental situation.

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Breaking news, royal caribbean passenger sues florida sheriff over mistaken identity arrest after holiday cruise.

A “degraded” Royal Caribbean cruise passenger alleges she was subjected to humiliating treatment across three days inside a Florida jail when she was mistakenly arrested after a family vacation in 2022.

Jennifer Heath Box, 50, filed a civil rights lawsuit against the Broward County Sheriff’s Office on Thursday claiming she was wrongfully arrested and detained for 3 days because deputies failed to realize their mistake.

“I have nothing but anger and frustration. You feel completely broken when you’re arrested, because you’re humiliated, you’re degraded,” Heath Box said at a press conference on Thursday. “So it breaks you.”

Heath Box had returned to port in Fort Lauderdale aboard the Harmony of the Seas on Dec. 24, 2022, after a family vacation that made stops in the Bahamas, Jamaica and Haiti.

The trip served as a celebration for her brother, a Georgia police officer who had just completed his cancer treatment.

Heath Box had two hours before her flight back to Houston, Texas where she would celebrate Christmas with her oldest son who was leaving for a three-year deployment to Japan with the Marines.

As she disembarked from the ship, Heath Box scanned her ID triggering an alert at the gate.

“It automatically came up with a warning,” Heath Box said, according to WPLG. “At that point, security surrounded me along with the police, asked me if I was Jennifer Heath and asked me to remove my jewelry.”

“I said, ‘What am I being arrested for?’” Heath Box said. “That’s whenever they said ‘child endangerment.’ They escorted me off the ship in front of everyone.”

The warrant was issued by officials in Harris County, Texas for Jennifer del Carmin Heath, wanted in a felony case involving a 1-year-old and a 3-year-old child.

Besides the same first and middle names, there was little more the two women had in common.

The wanted suspect was 23 years younger than Heath Box, was five inches shorter and had different colored hair, eyes and skin tone.

Heath Box pointed out the multiple discrepancies between her and the warrant, but her photo was attached to the warrant — the reason Sheriff’s Deputy Peter Peraza made the arrest.

Peraza had previously been reinstated to the sheriff’s office after he was acquitted of manslaughter charges in the 2013 shooting death of a man with an air rifle, according to the outlet.

Following his reinstatement, Peraza was stationed to work at the port.

Heath Box said she was humiliated when she arrived at Broward County Jail and was strip-searched, shackled, given prison clothes and issued blankets.

During her intake, a detention deputy had ran her driver’s license but found nothing in the system for the then 49-year-old.

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“She came out and she handed the DL to Peter and she said, ‘We ran her DL and we don’t have anything in the system for her,’” Heath Box said. “Peter came back and said, ‘No. It is her. Let me show you. I can prove to you it is her. I will show you the picture.’ Again, that was all he was focused on.’”

Heath Box spent three days in the jail, where she claims she was given a full body cavity search and deputies blasted her cell with death metal music and freezing air.

Heath Box says even though the jail was extremely cold, she was given a thin jail uniform while the guards wore stocking caps, heavy jackets and gloves. She said she and her cellmate slept together back-to-back to keep warm.

She was released from jail when Broward learned of Harris County’s mistake but did not receive an apology and was told that “stuff happens.”

“What I went through shouldn’t happen, and the fact that I’ve spent so long just trying to get my life back together,” Heath Box said.

Heath Box and her attorney, Jared McClain say they aren’t suing Harris County because only one employee made a mistake.

They are going after the sheriff’s office because multiple deputies and later their supervisors refused to acknowledge several obvious discrepancies.

“There were at least 10 differences between the woman on the warrant, Jennifer del Carmen Heath, and the woman standing with me today, Jennifer Heath Box, all of which should have been glaringly obvious to Broward County’s deputies,” said Bobbi Taylor, an attorney from the Institute for Justice.

The Broward County Sheriff’s Office said Peraza had followed the appropriate protocols and an internal review was conducted but no employee misconduct was found.

With Post wires

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