nicole2380 Posted August 11, 2013 #1 Share Posted August 11, 2013 We will be cruising over Christmas week Dec. 21 through the 27th. What kind of stuff do they do? Will Santa be on board? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
winddawn Posted August 11, 2013 #2 Share Posted August 11, 2013 (edited) We will be cruising over Christmas week Dec. 21 through the 27th. What kind of stuff do they do? Will Santa be on board? Hi Nicole. I have taken several Christmas cruises. The ship will be decorated. They usually have an elaborate gingerbread village set up along the promenade. There will be a traditional Christmas dinner. I remember Santa joining the ship when I cruised on Holland America over Christmas, but do not remember Santa on Carnival. My memory may be incorrect though. It is an enjoyable cruise. Lots of staff members (the ones in the white uniforms) will have their families on the ship too. They play Christmas music in the public areas. I hope you have a great time enjoying your Christmas cruise. Edited August 11, 2013 by winddawn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare bluejay555 Posted August 11, 2013 #3 Share Posted August 11, 2013 I would LOVE to do a Christmas cruise someday! Enjoy!!! :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogbert's mom Posted August 12, 2013 #4 Share Posted August 12, 2013 They also make it snow in the atrium. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovefuninthesun Posted August 12, 2013 #5 Share Posted August 12, 2013 They also make it snow in the atrium. That sounds amazing- so much fun! Sent from my iPhone 5 using Cruise Critic App Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nicole2380 Posted August 12, 2013 Author #6 Share Posted August 12, 2013 Thank you for the all the help. We are looking forward to this cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
winddawn Posted August 12, 2013 #7 Share Posted August 12, 2013 Thank you for the all the help. We are looking forward to this cruise. I hope you have a great time. Perhaps you can make it an annual family tradition. Are you going to pack presents in your suitcase? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guxu Posted August 12, 2013 #8 Share Posted August 12, 2013 Yes, Santa was onboard when we took Christmas cruises. Kids got gifts from him (long line though). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ccruisequeen Posted August 12, 2013 #9 Share Posted August 12, 2013 They also make it snow in the atrium. Snow starts on Thanksgiving cruises Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clairentommy Posted August 12, 2013 #10 Share Posted August 12, 2013 we're cruising over christmas too.....can't wait to see the decorations on the ship and enjoy the atmosphere....it will be so different from all my other christmas' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stepbrod Posted August 12, 2013 #11 Share Posted August 12, 2013 Our family is doing the same. Family of eleven. We are going to draw names over the Thanksgiving holiday and then buy a small gift and exchange on Xmas day. We are so excited. First Xmas cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nicole2380 Posted August 17, 2013 Author #12 Share Posted August 17, 2013 (edited) Yes we are packing one small gift for each of us. We made a limit of 10 dollars. I have a feeling I will go over our limit. :D Edited August 17, 2013 by nicole2380 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare mitsugirly Posted August 18, 2013 #13 Share Posted August 18, 2013 We have sailed twice on Christmas cruises (although it was the week prior to Christmas and returning back home 2 days before Dec 25th) and we love it. We are doing it again this Christmas. Although we have not been on Carnival during these Christmas cruises, all ships usually decorate with huge trees and gingerbread houses and so on. The ship is usually beautiful. Our Christmas cruise last year had a Santa and a Grinch on it. :D I of course chose to have my picture taken with the Grinch since I thought it was really funny. Also, if you are in the Caribbean, the ports also decorate for Christmas (well at least the Mexican ports did; Costa Maya & Cozumel and Roatan did too). :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shawne71 Posted August 18, 2013 #14 Share Posted August 18, 2013 Snow starts on Thanksgiving cruises We were on Carnival Destiny in mid-December and I don't remember seeing any snow. :confused: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Tapi Posted August 18, 2013 #15 Share Posted August 18, 2013 (edited) We didn't get any snow either. :( Decorations were a nice touch and Santa was onboard. They also had a Menorah for those celebrating Hanukkah. On our sailing, Carnival tiptoed around the "C" word (Christmas) all week long. They just didn't want to say it. My wife and I thought it was amusing how they kept trying to avoid using the word. For example, the Fun Times would say "Join us for a special holiday celebration, withy music from the season" :rolleyes:. Edited August 18, 2013 by Tapi Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reno3 Posted November 10, 2013 #16 Share Posted November 10, 2013 (edited) We have sailed twice on Christmas cruises (although it was the week prior to Christmas and returning back home 2 days before Dec 25th) and we love it. We are doing it again this Christmas. Although we have not been on Carnival during these Christmas cruises, all ships usually decorate with huge trees and gingerbread houses and so on. The ship is usually beautiful. Our Christmas cruise last year had a Santa and a Grinch on it. :D I of course chose to have my picture taken with the Grinch since I thought it was really funny. Also, if you are in the Caribbean, the ports also decorate for Christmas (well at least the Mexican ports did; Costa Maya & Cozumel and Roatan did too). :) OMG! I love Christmas but I really love the Grinch. Looking forward to having my picture taken with him :D They also make it snow in the atrium. Do they post it in the Fun Times when they will make it snow in the atrium:confused: NOTE; just found a couple of other posts that say they had snow Christmas Eve tine the atrium. Edited November 10, 2013 by reno3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
forwardcabin Posted November 10, 2013 #17 Share Posted November 10, 2013 Yep...Santa was on our last Christmas cruise... Here's hoping you see Sant on your Christmas cruise. Bon Voyage! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare mitsugirly Posted November 10, 2013 #18 Share Posted November 10, 2013 OMG! I love Christmas but I really love the Grinch. Looking forward to having my picture taken with him :D I love the grinch too! He made bunny ears over my husbands head when they took the picture. It was funny. I didn't bother to tell him until we went to go look at the pictures. :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Manatee Mom Posted November 10, 2013 #19 Share Posted November 10, 2013 They also do a special show on Christmas that also included Chanukkah and Kwanza. They bring all the camp kids up and have them sing as well. For those that celebrate Chanukkah they had candle lighting every night in the lobby run by guests. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spaniel Lover Posted November 10, 2013 #20 Share Posted November 10, 2013 One thing to watch out for on a Christmas cruise is whether or not you'll be in port on Christmas day. We did a Christmas cruise once and were visiting a port in Mexico on Christmas day. If we had been smart, we would have booked a Carnival shore excursion that day. Instead, we just walked off the ship and headed in to town to explore. Stupid me... it hadn't occurred to me that just about every shop and restaurant in town was closed down for the biggest holiday of the year. Looking back, it boggles my mind that I just expected to be able to have a normal day in Mexico that day. What the heck was I thinking?!? So... live and learn... never visit somewhere on Christmas day and expect that the locals will be ready to feed and entertain you just like any other day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kcwingwalker Posted November 10, 2013 #21 Share Posted November 10, 2013 (edited) Christmas was a sea day for us and Santa arrived right on time! Crew members seemed happy and many were dressed as elves.............lots of "Ho Ho Ho" too. Edited November 10, 2013 by kcwingwalker Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arby70 Posted November 10, 2013 #22 Share Posted November 10, 2013 I think it would be so much fun to take a Christmas cruise too. Maybe we'll have to try to get one in before my grandson gets much bigger. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LadyTenorJD Posted November 10, 2013 #23 Share Posted November 10, 2013 I sailed once at Christmas and I would do it again. It was my first Carnival cruise, and I had a wonderful time. The ship is decorated for Christmas, as it is in early December (I sailed last December, and there were decorations up already). There are trees all over the ship, as well as wreaths and lights. We were in port on Christmas Day (St. Kitts), and we spent it on the beach. There was a Christmas show listed in the FunTimes for the kids, but I didn't go. I heard from others that Santa was there. A special meal was served in the MDR that night. I exchanged Christmas gifts with my friend that evening. We had fun. I'd do it again. Sent from my iPad RCCL Monarch of the Seas June 2011--Lost My Cruise Virginity Carnival Miracle December 2011--Christmas at Sea Carnival Ecstacy December 2012--34th Born Day Celebration Carnival Imagination March 2013--Last Minute Getaway Carnival Valor July 2013--Friend's 40th Born Day Celebration Carnival Freedom December 2013--35th Born Day Celebration Carnival Ecstasy March 2014--Spring Break Carnival ??? August 2013--TBA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LadyTenorJD Posted November 10, 2013 #24 Share Posted November 10, 2013 One thing to watch out for on a Christmas cruise is whether or not you'll be in port on Christmas day. We did a Christmas cruise once and were visiting a port in Mexico on Christmas day. If we had been smart, we would have booked a Carnival shore excursion that day. Instead, we just walked off the ship and headed in to town to explore. Stupid me... it hadn't occurred to me that just about every shop and restaurant in town was closed down for the biggest holiday of the year. Looking back, it boggles my mind that I just expected to be able to have a normal day in Mexico that day. What the heck was I thinking?!? So... live and learn... never visit somewhere on Christmas day and expect that the locals will be ready to feed and entertain you just like any other day. I think it depends on the port...I was in Key West one Christmas (land trip) and there was plenty to do, although the stores and the Hemingway house were closed. Sent from my iPad RCCL Monarch of the Seas June 2011--Lost My Cruise Virginity Carnival Miracle December 2011--Christmas at Sea Carnival Ecstacy December 2012--34th Born Day Celebration Carnival Imagination March 2013--Last Minute Getaway Carnival Valor July 2013--Friend's 40th Born Day Celebration Carnival Freedom December 2013--35th Born Day Celebration Carnival Ecstasy March 2014--Spring Break Carnival ??? August 2013--TBA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gescn Posted November 10, 2013 #25 Share Posted November 10, 2013 How long do they keep the ship decorated after Christmas Day? We sail Dec. 26, I'm hoping the decorations are still there! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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