CruisingAg01

I wish I had packed more layering pieces such as short sleeves shirts with sweaters. The weather was wonderful but it did tend to fluctuate a bit depending where you stood on the ship or if in port. I had a good variety of clothes but tended to wear the same sweater every day because everything else was too warm or too cold. I don't think there's any way to predict what you need so you might as well overpack if you can.

My traveling party figured this would be a once in a lifetime trip and we did excursions that we probably would have balked at in the Caribbean (money wise). I don't regret that one bit. If you can, spend the money and get the most out of the experience. 

Read everything you can -- the boards, the reviews. It's informative, fun and gorgeous and it won't take away from the actual experience. 

No kids AND never cruised at Christmas which I know makes me highly qualified to respond to your question.....but I think it might actually be easier to set all the presents up at home right before you leave (put the kids in the car), take a picture with your phone and then on Christmas morning pretend you got an emergency txt from your house-sitter who had noticed some activity at your house the night before and went over that morning and snapped a picture for you. That way you have something exciting to show the kids and they have something to look forward too when the cruise is over.

Even if you played that out in real life -- had a neighbor actually set up presents for you and really send you a picture that morning and you paid those extra cell charges while at sea -- it might still be worth it to avoid lugging those presents on the ship with you.

I'd also be afraid that something could go wrong on the ship - a room steward who misunderstood, the rare but possible lost luggage, or another kid who was jealous that your kids still got Christmas and so spilled the beans.

Hope others have some real experiences to share. If not, I'm sure you'll have a great time regardless of how you decided to handle this. A holiday cruise sounds like a lot of fun.