What are Christmas cruises like on Celebrity (besides being full of kids)?

[junglejane]

We're thinking of booking the Silhouette for Christmas 2014. I've read Lawgirl's thread about kids running amok. That is certainly a concern and is duly noted, but on this thread I just want to ask about the atmosphere and activities on a Christmas cruise on X. We spent Christmas 2012 on the Sapphire Princess in the Mexican Riviera. We thought Princess did a lovely job in creating a fun holiday theme to the cruise, including beautiful decorations in the atrium, Christmas carolers, activities like a Gingerbread decorating competition, having the Captain read the "Night Before Christmas" to the kids in the atrium, a visit from Santa for the kids in the theatre, interdenominational church service, a special holiday menu in the MDR, etc.

 

Our own kids will be 18 and 13 by then, so it's not like they need a visit from Santa! It's more a question of whether Celebrity's Christmas cruises have a festive holiday spirit. We love Celebrity and the Silhouette's itinerary is one we haven't done yet. Any feedback from those who have been on such cruises will be very welcome.

[20pluscruises]

We're thinking of booking the Silhouette for Christmas 2014. I've read Lawgirl's thread about kids running amok. That is certainly a concern and is duly noted, but on this thread I just want to ask about the atmosphere and activities on a Christmas cruise on X. We spent Christmas 2012 on the Sapphire Princess in the Mexican Riviera. We thought Princess did a lovely job in creating a fun holiday theme to the cruise, including beautiful decorations in the atrium, Christmas carolers, activities like a Gingerbread decorating competition, having the Captain read the "Night Before Christmas" to the kids in the atrium, a visit from Santa for the kids in the theatre, interdenominational church service, a special holiday menu in the MDR, etc.

 

Our own kids will be 18 and 13 by then, so it's not like they need a visit from Santa! It's more a question of whether Celebrity's Christmas cruises have a festive holiday spirit. We love Celebrity and the Silhouette's itinerary is one we haven't done yet. Any feedback from those who have been on such cruises will be very welcome.

 

On th Reflection the Captain didn't read a Christmas story, but did make a visit to each and every table in Blu. It was a very nice touch.

 

Santa and many elves in the foyer for the kiddies who each recieved a gift

 

Christmas carolling in the foyer...it was pretty bad...but only singing these songs once a year may have been the reason.

 

Blu had lobster for Christmas or Christmas Eve dinner...can't remember which day

 

They also had American Idol finalists as their evening shows. Not the reason we booked the cruise, but it was a great show and they even autographed CD's and did a little picture taking after. I enjoyed it, and Hailey Reinhart was seen around the ship on most days. She also did a second Christmas show. Bo Bice was with her on the first show. He is now with the band Blood Sweat & Tears as their new lead singer. Both are very talented and down to earth. They also did a question and answer session during the day. I would even consider booking an American Idol cruise in the future (sans Christmas cruise and if the timing was right).

 

Ginger houses were already out on display.

 

The Jazz singer in the Ensemble lounge did Christmas songs one evening.

Edited January 4, 2014 by 20pluscruises

[junglejane]

On Princess they also had their own Gingerbread Houses on display, but one day the activity staff held a contest in Club Fusion where they gave every team/family a kit and a fixed amount of time to build a house. There were actually some very serious adult teams that went all out. All the houses were then put on display for a few hours, and the winners eventually went on display in the atrium.

 

Our family loved Blu and AQ on our last X cruise (also on the Silhouette) but right now AQ is also about an extra $550 pp over a 2D so we will have to skip it this time.

[obnurse]

JungleJane: the experience you had on Princess is a tough act to follow! It sounds perfectly wonderful, IMHO! I love the idea of the captain reading to the kids! I am a Christmas nut and have never traveled over Christmas (elderly mom) but does that sound nice!!

[Trep586]

We just did the Silhouette for Christmas and yes there were instances where kids were running amok. There was a group of young boys playing football on the bocce lawn right next to the Sunset bar and the ball kept hitting people at the bar. No parents in sight and the boys seemed oblivious to how disruptive they were being.

 

They ship's grand foyer was very nicely decorated but we and other guest agreed that the cruise wasn't very "Christmas'y". There was an office caroling event and Christmas night they did a show in the theater but that was about it.

 

But all in all and great cruise and I'd do it again!

[Snowescapee]

Def following this post. We are debating doing a Christmas cruise for 2014 but I def want the Christmas feel to it. The Princess experience Junglejane describes is what I envision but I love Celebrity too....hopefully some will chime in after the holidays!

[obnurse]

Let's hope Celebrity is out there watching the boards! I couldn't cruise over Christmas unless it was Christmas on board the ship, too. I like Celebrity, but jungle jane described what I would want on a Christmas cruise and she was on Princess.....come on Celelbrity....step it up for us Christmas nuts out there!

[AlkiRagdoll]

I just completed the Xmas-NYE Solstice cruise. There were many kids under 15 on the cruise, less of the 15-18 range. In general the kids had tons to do and were away from the adults. There is a kids club and if they choose to participate there are a lot of activities for them, and the activities staff cater to kids.

 

I was disappointed to see two very drunk/stoned girls that i guessed to be in the 13-15 range. I talked with one of the girls during the day as she asked me about one of my hobbies. 5 hours later it was clear she was under the influence, and i strongly suspected so was her friend. I tried to get the staff to intervene but they said that since i observed no drinking, they couldn't do anything. I never did see these girls with parents. On several occasions i saw teen boys drinking beer by the pool but i was told that their parents ok'ed them to drink (it was an international cruise).

 

A couple of kids clearly ran wild, but many others were very well behaved, dressed for dinners, and a pleasure to be around.

[Gig103]

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I tried to get the staff to intervene but they said that since i observed no drinking, they couldn't do anything. I never did see these girls with parents. On several occasions i saw teen boys drinking beer by the pool but i was told that their parents ok'ed them to drink (it was an international cruise).

 

It's good that the staff are not busybodies like you. Why do you consider it your business that they were drinking? They aren't your kids to discipline and you didn't say either were disturbing the peace or even counted among the "running amok" crowd. Adults get drunk/stoned too, do you call the Hotel Director (hyperbole) on them too? :rolleyes:

[AlkiRagdoll]

Gig103 not to derail the thread - but i lost my only child at this similar age due to his drinking. Among my many wishes is that someone had cared and been a "busy body". I understand what alcohol does to a brain on someone at that age. Adults can care for themselves, a 15 yr old cant. I made my earlier comments never dreaming i would be attacked, but in educating a parent considering a cruise including two teens.

[Janet987]

We were on the very first Solstice Christmas cruise and loved it, "Christmasy" enough for us. Holiday cruises are going to vary by ship, ports, schedules, but we had decorations, Santa for kids, caroling, services, Xmas show and dessert buffet, etc. Everything you mention Princess had. Enough kids and teens on board, but well behaved.

Christmas Eve was a port day, so there was a Special Holiday Menu in the MDR that night (can't remember but maybe turkey, stuffing, prime rib, and Xmas desserts?). Christmas Day was in Tortola, we sailed on a cat to Norman Island that morning! We were back on ship in time for a huge Brunch Buffet in the MDR, Xmas ice sculptures, more Xmas desserts again. If Christmas means snow and sleigh bells to you, a cruise ship won't cut it :) but we still talk about the Christmas morning we spent sailing through Drake's Passage in the BVI.

Edited January 5, 2014 by Janet987

[Redtravel]

I have taken many Christmas cruises. Lots of kids including mine. Lots of family groups. Decorations are nice. Music is okay. It stops on Dec. 26th. I have never felt overwhelmed by loud Christmas music. It is better than many places on land that blast Christmas music, have tasteless decorations, etc. Christmas cruises are nice.

[BosoxI]

Let me preface my remarks by saying that while it's fine to have fun with Santa and pretty decorations, Christmas for me is the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. Having said that, my experience on the Pacific Princess in 2009 and 2010 was very disappointing. Never a "Merry Christmas" from the crew, not even on December 25. Christmas "carols" were sung but they were only secular things like Jingle Bells, Chestnuts Roasting...and my all time favorite carol "A Few of my Favorite Things". I voiced my disappointment to the cruise director, the same woman on both cruises, and she looked at me like I had two heads.

 

Contrast that with our experience on Celebrity Eclipse the last two years. "Merry Christmases" were widely wished by staff and passengers alike. A choir of passengers performed traditional carols in the atrium. Carols were softly played in the passageways. A Protestant service was held on Christmas day and a Catholic priest celebrated Mass at midnight and on Christmas morning. To be fair, Princess had a priest on board, too. Both ships were nicely decorated but for DW and me, it seemed that the Eclipse presented a brighter, happier situation, nicely combining the religious and secular aspects of the day.

 

Of course our experience covered all of two ships, so it's limited, but based on these four cruises, Celebrity wins hands down.

[NLH Arizona]

Gig103 not to derail the thread - but i lost my only child at this similar age due to his drinking. Among my many wishes is that someone had cared and been a "busy body". I understand what alcohol does to a brain on someone at that age. Adults can care for themselves, a 15 yr old cant. I made my earlier comments never dreaming i would be attacked, but in educating a parent considering a cruise including two teens.

I'm so sorry about your son. I wanted to thank you for caring, sometimes it takes more than just a child's parent to keep them safe.

[jgnova]

It sounds like each sailing is a unique experience resulting from a combination of the ship staff skills, the number of kids, and how their parents have raised them. We've taken two (on Mercury from Baltimore) and never noticed hoards of kids running amok. We did see quiet groups of kids participating in scavenger hunts. One sailing had a door decorating contest. Oddly enough, one sailing seemed to have more oldsters in carts than kids.

 

And kids are not necessarily the worst that can happen. I've seen horror stories of sailings that wound up discounting their rates very heavily and were filled with a bunch of locals who wanted a cheap break. The reports from those sailings make last week's report sound bland.

 

j

[BosoxI]

They also had American Idol finalists as their evening shows. Not the reason we booked the cruise, but it was a great show and they even autographed CD's and did a little picture taking after... I would even consider booking an American Idol cruise in the future (sans Christmas cruise and if the timing was right).

 

ng.

 

I am very glad you were so lucky and enjoyed that show. On the Eclipse 12/14 sailing the AI performers were quite bad. I've never seen so many people in the audience leave a show in the middle of a performance. DW and I lasted until the second performer sang his second song. Then we, too, made for the exit. :p

[SAC69]

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It's good that the staff are not busybodies like you. Why do you consider it your business that they were drinking? They aren't your kids to discipline and you didn't say either were disturbing the peace or even counted among the "running amok" crowd. Adults get drunk/stoned too, do you call the Hotel Director (hyperbole) on them too? :rolleyes:

 

Bring on the busy bodies. I prefer people who care versus people like you.:rolleyes:

Edited January 5, 2014 by SAC69

[20pluscruises]

I am very glad you were so lucky and enjoyed that show. On the Eclipse 12/14 sailing the AI performers were quite bad. I've never seen so many people in the audience leave a show in the middle of a performance. DW and I lasted until the second performer sang his second song. Then we, too, made for the exit. :p

 

WOW!!! When people leave...it's bad!!!!!!!!!

[Tiggertastic]

we had a fantastic time on the Eclipse in 2012, very christmassy indeed and the new years eve party was fabulous. We are booked for 2014 for the 2 weeks over christmas and new year

 

We did NCL this year (2013) and although they did the carols, a christmas show, gingerbread houses and lots of trees, celebrity had them beat

 

Yes we had over 500 kids on board on both cruises and they took part in lots of things with the clubs and with parents etc

[20pluscruises]

It sounds like each sailing is a unique experience resulting from a combination of the ship staff skills, the number of kids, and how their parents have raised them. We've taken two (on Mercury from Baltimore) and never noticed hoards of kids running amok. We did see quiet groups of kids participating in scavenger hunts. One sailing had a door decorating contest. Oddly enough, one sailing seemed to have more oldsters in carts than kids.

 

And kids are not necessarily the worst that can happen. I've seen horror stories of sailings that wound up discounting their rates very heavily and were filled with a bunch of locals who wanted a cheap break. The reports from those sailings make last week's report sound bland.

 

j

 

Interesting, as I wondered if this was the case on our cruise. I checked the day before departure and there were A LOT of rooms still available. However, the day of the cruise it was sold out.

[Strinkle]

we had a fantastic time on the Eclipse in 2012, very christmassy indeed and the new years eve party was fabulous. We are booked for 2014 for the 2 weeks over christmas and new year

 

We did NCL this year (2013) and although they did the carols, a christmas show, gingerbread houses and lots of trees, celebrity had them beat

 

Yes we had over 500 kids on board on both cruises and they took part in lots of things with the clubs and with parents etc

We were also on the 2012 Eclipse Christmas 14 day cruise & I thought it was wonderful. Maybe because it was 14 days there were not a lot kids & they were not out of control. We are thinking of the Equinox 10 day Christmas & New Years for 2014

[middlehaitch]

We were on one of the Mercury Christmas/New Year cruises with jgnova in 2010/11 (hello and how are you both?), and I can second his sentiments.

There were children, but none running amok. There was a Father Chrtstmas and elves for them to visit and the kids club to keep them occupied during the day. We only saw them when they were out on well escorted adventures; all looked like they were having fun.

The ship was decorated in an understated elegance with a Christmas tree in the Grand Foyer as well as one in the MDR, lots of pointsettia too. There were carolers around the ship too.

Both the Christmas and New Year menus in the MDR were a little more extravegant and the New Years party, on the pool deck, was a blast!

Great music, a large Ice sculpture of 2011, and a lot of the ship's officers and staff joined in the party. A huge Congo line danced all around the deck.

There may have been a few who had imbibed one too many, but it really was the one, no one was rude or obnoxious.

I would cruise Christmas every year if I could afford it.

Cheers, h.

[junglejane]

Thanks for the responses. Overall I get the impression that Celebrity does a decent job creating a Christmas-y atmosphere. This will be the last Christmas before our older DD1 goes off to college, so we are thinking that it might be hard to schedule a Christmas cruise for the next 8 years! (DD2 is 4 years behind DD1 in school.)

[Philomath]

We were on the Constellation Christmas cruise and thought there was a great balance of holiday decoration and events. There was a second show Christmas night which was entirely Christmas songs and performances, a special dinner menu Christmas Eve, and a Christmas morning brunch with lots of decorations as well. Lots of cute cabin door decoration along with the ship's trees and foyer gingerbread houses.

 

I have to concur about the American idol performers - they were not good at all and those who didn't leave early wished they had! On the bright side, they really made us appreciate what spectacular singers the actual constellation performers are :D actually the best I've seen on all my cruises!

[Strinkle]

There was another thread yesterday about the last Equinox Christmas cruise that everyone that is considering going on a Christmas cruise should read. It is making me reconsider about 2014. I hope that more people complain to Celebrity so it will not get out of control next time.