Nov 4, 2005
Sam Ion
If you're hoping to spend Christmas, Hanukkah or Kwanza somewhere where you don't have to do the dishes and put up with Uncle Charlie, check out your travel agent's cruise brochures.
According to the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), the 150 ships of its member lines will be decorated in festive style, complete with twinkling Christmas tress, garlands, wreaths and mistletoe.
Many ships will have nightly lightings of menorahs.
The choices of destinations are amazing -- the Caribbean, of course, the Mexican Riviera, French Polynesia, South America and even Antarctica.
Onboard, entertainers may lead you in caroling.
There'll be screenings of favourite holiday season movies like It's A Wonderful Life and Miracle On 34th Street as well as college bowl games. You can watch in theatres or tucked away in your own cabin.
On Dec. 25, most ships will offer an ecumenical Christmas worship service with a Roman Catholic Mass also celebrated on some lines.
And oh my, the food!
You'll enjoy gala holiday meals on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year's Eve. Expect egg nog on Christmas morning; champagne and noise makers on New Year's Eve.
Kids aren't forgotten. In many cases, Santa makes an appearance and hands out gifts to kids. Ship staff read favourite holiday stories like 'Twas The Night Before Christmas and How The Grinch Stole Christmas.
Here are some of the things different cruise lines are planning:
Royal Caribbean International says passengers will be treated to festive holiday menus, Christmas caroling and a special television interview with the captain on how Santa will find the ship to deliver presents, followed by a visit from Santa himself.
Crystal Cruises passengers will have the unusual opportunity to celebrate Hanukkah, Christmas and New Year's Eve on its holiday cruises.
Hanukkah dreidels, hand-crafted ornaments, toy soldiers, Christmas trees, New Year's noisemakers, menorahs, seasonal gifts and more come together for a joyous and luxurious celebration through either the Mexican Riviera or Caribbean.
Disney ships will be decked with boughs of holly and sparkling Christmas trees.
There'll be a tree-lighting ceremony in the atrium lobby, complete with magically falling snow. Christmas Day will bring a visit from Santa Goofy with surprises for all the kids. Castaway Cay, Disney's private island, will be transformed into magical wonderland, complete with snow and a tropical Christmas tree.
Holland America Line may have the ultimate in variety. From the exotic -- celebrating Christmas with penguins in Antarctica or toasting Hanukkah beneath Hawaii's Kilauea volcano -- to a popular Caribbean or Mexican cruise, Holland America Line guests can celebrate the holidays on one of 20 voyages.
Santa pays a visit to the ships, sometimes arriving by parasail.
Sports fans will enjoy college bowl games broadcast onboard.
Carnival Cruise Line passengers will celebrate the holidays "Fun Ship" style with elaborate decorations, food, music and entertainment, all reflective of the season.
These special voyages are highlighted by a spectacular "Holiday Extravaganza" production show featuring elaborate sets and costumes as well as a special performance by kids participating in the line's "Camp Carnival" children's program.
Norwegian Cruise Line passengers sailing during the holidays will find festively-decorated ships and Santa on board with toys for kids and teens.
Members of the cruise staff will lead the caroling, and a holiday show will feature the crew and children sailing onboard. Roman Catholic priests and Protestant ministers will be on board to conduct Christmas Eve services.
Princess Cruises will celebrate the holidays around the globe with Christmas and New Year's cruises in the Caribbean, Mexico, the Panama Canal, Australia, Asia, South America, Hawaii and the South Pacific. Ships will be trimmed from stem to stern in festive holiday dÈcor, complete with wreaths, holly, mistletoe and, of course, Christmas trees, which often decorate even the ship's mast. Santa always makes a visit for junior cruisers, and passengers will enjoy a special Christmas dinner featuring traditional favourites.
By the way, if you're wondering how the cruise ships managed during the hurricanes, Royal Caribbean Cruises CE) Richard Fain says, "Unfortunately,
cruise employees have gotten quite good at rearranging port calls and delaying ship turnarounds on a few days notice to avoid big hurricanes."
After Katrina, several lines were forced to shift entire embarkation operations to different states. Hurricane Wilma created a different problem with ports being badly damaged.
"The cruise ports in Cozumel were very, very badly damaged," Mexico
Ministry of Tourism representative Torres told Travel Weekly magazine.
"It's clear we are looking at two to three months of repairs before they are useable again. No one is quite sure when Cozumel's piers will be open to ships again, so cruise lines like Norwegian that have ships calling into Cozumel and
Cancun have modified the itineraries of the Norwegian Dream and the Norwegian Sun."
Speaking of the Mayan Riviera, don't give up on holiday there this winter because of what you saw on CNN. The Mayan was not hit as badly as Cancun,
so resorts are already open and Canadian favourites, such as the Bahia Principe, the Rius, Iberostars, Grand Palladium Colonial and the Barcelo Maya Beach,
have announced they'll open Nov. 10. The Royal Hideaway, Allegro Playacar and the Grand Xcaret will open Feb. 1. Cozumel, unfortunately, will have nothing open for awhile.
Sunquest will start limited flights to Cancun on Nov 12 with full service to begin again in December.
And Signature is starting weekly flights to Huatulco Nov. 7th, moving them up from mid-December.
Sam Ion is This Week's regular travel writer. She can be reached at
sion10@cogeco.ca
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