Holiday Events

[Schoifmom]

I just received this reply on Facebook in response to my inquiry regarding holiday events on December cruises.

 

With a festive on-board atmosphere, elaborate decorations and an array of traditional cuisine, entertainment and activities, Carnival’s ‘Fun Ship’ holiday cruises are the ideal option for reconnecting with friends, families and loved ones. A festive mood is created as soon as guests arrive on board, with the ship’s atrium and promenade areas lavishly decorated in the spirit of the season and featuring signage with traditional holiday greetings - for the 2015 holiday season, all ships will be decorated by December 6th.

Holiday Show: A highlight of the Christmas cruise is an elaborate Holiday Show in the main show lounge evoking a ‘home away from home’ atmosphere with a cozy set featuring a faux oversized fireplace, comfy cushions and throws, a Christmas tree with decorations created by the children from Camp Carnival and Camp Ocean, and of course, a visit from Santa.

The Spirit of the Season Atrium Moments is made up 2 magical evenings (3 on select ships) filled with holiday fun:

Let it Snow and Caroling: Celebrate the magic of the season with our very own Christmas Carol-infused winter wonderland. Sing-a-long to holiday classics and let it snow! (sorry, no snow on the Carnival Breeze and the Carnival Sunshine).

Visit from Santa, Caroling and Ugly Sweater Contest: Tis the season! Put on your most festive ugly sweater, warm up those vocal chords and gather around to help us welcome Santa himself. (The Ugly Sweater Contest will not take place on the Carnival Legend and Carnival Spirit).

Tree Lighting and Caroling: Gather your family and friends for our traditional holiday kick off, the lighting of the tree. This event takes place the first evening of the cruise on the following ships: Carnival Breeze, Carnival Conquest, Carnival Ecstasy, Carnival Glory, Carnival Splendor and Carnival Victory.

 

Be on the look-out for a special Dr. Seuss character….The Grinch!

Popular holiday-themed movies are shown on the in-stateroom televisions as well as seasonal holiday music.Other holiday movies will be shown in Camp Carnival, Camp Ocean and on Carnival’s Seaside Theatre, Dive-In Movies.

Christmas Day or Christmas Eve Service (depending on the ship's itinerary) lead by cruise staff.

Holiday Arts and Crafts session

Holiday menus include the traditional oven roasted turkey with all the trimmings and freshly baked pumpkin pie, among many other selections.

If a clergyman of any faith wishes to perform a service, it is on a ‘volunteer basis’ only – see Clergy Program below.

For those ships docked in port on Christmas Day, the Information Desk can provide guests with a list of local churches that are conducting services that the guests may attend.

 

Holiday Decorations and The Spirit of the Season Atrium Moments

Our fleet will be decorated on cruise departures following Thanksgiving with the exception of these ships: Carnival Glory on December 5th, Carnival Victory on December 3rd, Carnival Paradise on December 3rd and Carnival Pride on December 6th. Public areas are adorned with oversized Christmas trees, wreaths, lights, mistletoe and other traditional touches including a red mailbox for children to send a letter to Santa.

 

The Spirit of the Season Atrium Moments will be featured on cruise departures following Thanksgiving and through Christmas. On the following ships, Atrium Moments will be featured starting with these cruise departures: Carnival Glory on December 5th, Carnival Victory on December 3rd, Carnival Paradise on December 3rd and Carnival Pride on December 6th.

 

Holiday Show

As well as our Christmas sailings, our Holiday Show will also be featured on the following holiday season cruise departures:

Carnival Breeze: December 13 and December 19

Carnival Conquest: November 28 through December 20

Carnival Dream: November 29 through December 20

Carnival Ecstasy: November 27 through December 25

Carnival Elation: December 17 and December 21

Carnival Fantasy: November 25 through December 24

Carnival Fascination: November 30 through December 24

Carnival Freedom: December 19

Carnival Glory: December 5 through December 19

Carnival Imagination: November 29 through December 24

Carnival Inspiration: December 7 through December 25

Carnival Legend: December 1 through December 20

Carnival Liberty: November 29 through December 20

Carnival Magic: November 29 through December 20

Carnival Miracle: November 28 through December 19

Carnival Paradise: December 17 and December 21

Carnival Pride: December 6 through December 20

Carnival Sensation: November 29 through December 24

Carnival Spirit: November 30 through December 19

Carnival Splendor: December 6 through December 20

Carnival Sunshine: November 28 through December 19

Carnival Triumph: December 5 through December 24

Carnival Valor: November 28 through December 19

Carnival Victory: December 3 through December 21

[theriac]

Thank you for this information. It's sounds pretty much exaxtly what I thought would be offered. It's been a long time since I sailed over Christmas and those sailings were on NCL. I appreciate you posting this information for those of us sailing during the holiday season.

[Debbie does cruising!]

Thank you! I am sooooo excited now! Love Christmas! :)

[mulan1123]

Woohoo!! Thank you for posting this! I was wondering what (and if) there would be any Christmas festivities happening on my cruise on the Glory departing Dec 12!! I'm more excited now for my cruise!!!

[HollandAvery]

We'll be missing out on the holiday show...I'm pretty bummed :(

[JJ823]

Wow! I wasn't expecting all of that :) We are on the Sensation December 13th

[8335GOULR]

Hello... I have a question about gifts. Has anyone brought wrapped gifts onboard? We will be onboard Christmas Day and I want to have some small things for my son. Do you just put them in your carry on?

[theriac]

Hello... I have a question about gifts. Has anyone brought wrapped gifts onboard? We will be onboard Christmas Day and I want to have some small things for my son. Do you just put them in your carry on?

 

I'm putting bags in my luggage which will lay flat and not take up much room. I was just planning on putting a few gifts in my checked luggage. I'm also fortunate where I drive to port so I will bring an extra bag that will only hold the gifts I'm bringing.

 

I'm just not sure if they will be ok with wrapped gifts. If it has to be wrapped I'd bring the square flat lying wrapping paper that will lay flat in your luggage and wrap on board.

 

The last thing you want is security to open up your son's gifts in front of him.

[8335GOULR]

That is really helpful, thank you. Okay, so if I use a gift bag, you think I can put it in checked luggage?

[SadieN]

They also have a giant menorah during Chanukah. Latkes, challah and Manischewitz are served.

[theriac]

That is really helpful, thank you. Okay, so if I use a gift bag, you think I can put it in checked luggage?

 

Yes, I don't see why not. That's what I'm doing.

[8335GOULR]

I'm getting more excited now. Thank you! This is going to be a great cruise. Anybody else going in Paradise Christmas week?

[theriac]

I'm getting more excited now. Thank you! This is going to be a great cruise. Anybody else going in Paradise Christmas week?

 

I'm on the Victory. It leaves the same day. I was between the two cruises as I live 20 minutes from Port of Tampa but having a Balcony won. I was on the Paradise in May and had a wonderful time and thoroughly enjoyed the ship. The cruise director Steve was humorous at the different events I saw he hosted.

[8335GOULR]

Can't wait! I have prepaid everything I possibly can. Ready to relax and soak up the sun. Thank you for the great advice. I hope you will enjoy your cruise.

[mikel24m]

We are cruising a couple of days after New Years does anyone know when the Christmas decorations around the ship are taken down

[theriac]

We are cruising a couple of days after New Years does anyone know when the Christmas decorations around the ship are taken down

 

Usually after the new years cruise

[ILUVPOMS]

We took our first Christmas cruise last year and liked it so much we are going again this year.

Wrapped gifts are fine to bring with you. We put the wrapped boxes in our checked luggage. We brought bows in our carry on so they didn't get flattened and a couple of bagged gifts in our carry on. The bag gifts went right through the scanner, but even if security wanted to look at them, they could just pull out the tissue paper and look inside. No problems as long as the presents were not normally restricted items. I would suggest not bringing too many presents through carry on as it really slowed down the security process.

I wanted to share this since we had the same question last year and were pleasantly surprised how easy it was.

 

Vacation Mary