Cruising during holidays is one of the best times to take a cruise vacation! What makes them so great? Well, where do I start? We have been on several holiday-time cruises. I’m not just talking about Christmas; we have also been on cruise ships during Labor Day weekend, around the Fourth of July, and on Halloween. Each of these times has been a unique and fun experience.
Labor Day cruisers tend to be the people who really want to let their hair down, since two- to four-day cruises that sail over the weekends have a tendency to attract the “partiers.” Even though we are not into the party atmosphere, there are enough activities to keep us entertained and enjoying our vacation. We have learned to avoid the areas where the lounges are located so that we’re not overwhelmed by the wilder crowd. It’s funny to see that the intoxicated passengers are the ones walking straight when the ship is rocking from side to side, since they’re used to a spinning room—those of us who do not drink are the ones that end up bouncing off the walls as we walk!
We have taken one July cruise, and let me tell you: It was HOT! Another feature of summer cruises is that there tends to be a lot of families, since the kids are out of school. From that perspective, if you are not a fan of having children running all around, summer cruises are not the best choice for you. If you have kids and you are used to the commotion that they can cause, it’s a wonderful time to vacation. They’ll have a great time meeting others just like them! That’s one of the great things about a cruise vacation: There is something for everyone. All major cruise lines have areas dedicated for kids, and they have trained staff to keep the kids engaged and entertained. The cruise lines have it figured out. If the kids have a great time, the parents have a great time, and everybody’s happy, then a cruise vacation will be at the top of the list for next year.
Most of our holiday cruises have been over Halloween. If you take a Halloween cruise, be ready to laugh and laugh and laugh. Cruisers really use their imaginations when it comes to picking their costumes. Even the adults get dressed up and transform themselves back to when they were trick or treating, and this is a site to behold, so make sure you have your camera! There is usually a parade of costumes down the through the common areas, with stops along the route for dancing and showing off. We are going again this Halloween and, if I do say myself, we have really outdone ourselves with our costumes! Sorry I can't reveal our costumes at this time; they’re top secret! I’ll post pictures after we get back.
Our near-Christmas cruise was one of the best ones we have done. I was very surprised how much the ship’s decorations slanted towards a Christian theme. There were several banners hanging in the main atrium and traditional music piping through the sound systems, but the most striking to Shirley and me was a gingerbread city at the main entrance to the main show theater. This was a complex city with decorations and lighting, but one thing in particular got our attention: In the center of the city was a large church with a steeple rising high above the rest of the city, and written on it was “He was born to save the world.” We just couldn’t believe that, in this world of political correctness, this was on display. And it wasn’t in a place that no one would see it; everyone who went to the show theater passed right by it. We were impressed!
I have some clients who have decided they must be on a cruise ship on Christmas Day. They are a very sweet and kind retired couple, and this will be the fourth Christmas I have booked them. This year I asked decided to ask them: Why Christmas? Don’t they miss all the grandchildren coming over on Christmas Day? Annie answered, “That’s why we go on Christmas. We want our holiday to ourselves.”
There are a million reasons to spend the holidays at sea! Whether it’s a fun-filled summer trip, a shipwide Halloween party, a stress-free winter getaway, or a romantic Valentine’s escape, you’re guaranteed to find a cruise that lets you celebrate the way you want. It’s not too late to book your December cruise, and it’s not too early to start planning next year’s family vacation. Call Agape today!
