Decked in dazzling décor, a mammoth menorah and tinseled trees aplenty, Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ Seven Seas Grandeur made holiday magic during its December 2023 maiden voyage from Miami.

PHOTO: © REGENT SEVEN SEAS CRUISES®

Sarah Fabergé, great-granddaughter of the storied Russian jeweler Peter Carl Fabergé, presided over the opening gala as godmother of Grandeur. Standing on stage in a sparkly silver gown, she christened the ship with a jaw-dropping masterpiece. The reveal of the fantastical pearl- and jewel-encrusted egg — the first Fabergé egg to reside permanently at sea — crowned an already buoyant mood.

Cruise lines are starting to capitalize on the holiday spirit en masse, offering new routes and more festivities for the upcoming season. Global demand for cruising is on the rise, according to the 2025 State of the Cruise Industry Report. One-third of families sail with at least two generations, and 28 percent sail with three to five generations, making a cruise an ideal setup for holiday celebrations.

“The holidays are all about making memories,” said Ken Rush, director of entertainment, Royal Caribbean, “and there’s no better place to celebrate than at sea.”

Royal Caribbean is gearing up for its 10th year of Deck the Holidays celebrations, replete with mailboxes for guests to post letters to Santa, holiday movie nights on the pool deck, ornament making, caroling and a “Decked in Red” deejayed dance party.

“I think people are craving something special and stress-free for the holidays,” said GG Mack of personal concierge service GG Mack Luxe Travel. “Instead of cooking, cleaning or hosting, they want to celebrate somewhere warm, festive and easy; and a cruise checks every box.”

“For many of my clients, it’s not just a vacation,” she added. “It’s their way of slowing down and reconnecting without the holiday chaos.”

Whether bound for the beaches of French Polynesia, the cultural riches of the Caribbean or anywhere in between, cruise ships enable travelers to visit multiple destinations without the typically attendant troubles of repacking suitcases or missed layovers. But cruising during the holidays eliminates additional hassles for historically harried hosts. Instead of cooking up complicated menus catering to a multitude of family members with dietary restrictions, they can leave the preparation — and the cleanup — to the professionals.

“A holiday at sea alleviates the pressure on the family chef, a welcome departure from the traditional holiday,” said Michele Lindsay, founder, Blue Pointe Travel, a boutique advisory firm. “Multigenerational families find this type of vacation to be relatively stress- free in a season that is full of decisions and potentially demanding situations.”

PHOTO: © DISNEY CRUISE LINE,

For children, tweens and teens, Disney Cruise Line hosts 119 Very Merrytime voyages aboard its six ships, complete with tree-lighting ceremonies, holiday parties featuring Mickey and Minnie, Disney characters roaming the decks in holiday attire, and Santa Claus sightings. Disney turns Castaway Cay, its private island in the Bahamas, into a winter wonderland with snow flurries and a bedecked Christmas tree.

Luminara, The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection’s newest vessel, will host its first holiday sailing: a seven-night round-trip voyage from Singapore, with stops in Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Phuket. After an extravagant brunch, guests can spend Christmas Day in Langkawi, Malaysia, relaxing on tropical beaches or trekking through rainforest to the Seven Wells Waterfall.

Vacationers dreaming of a white Christmas have their choice, too. This year, Silversea hosts two Antarctic cruises during the holidays. The 18-day voyage aboard Silver Wind and 15-day sailing on Silver Cloud feature multiple excursions along the Antarctic Peninsula with stops in South Georgia, the Falkland Islands and Chile for an unforgettable holiday.

© UNIWORLD BOUTIQUE RIVER CRUISES

But aquatic journeys aren’t limited to ocean liners. Uniworld Boutique River Cruises is planning voyages to Christmas markets across Belgium, Austria, Hungary, Switzerland, Germany, France and the Netherlands. This year’s Magical Parisian Holiday sailing takes travelers along the Seine aboard the intimate, 128-passenger S.S. Joie de Vivre.

“Travelers are drawn to the ease of celebrating aboard a luxurious floating boutique hotel, visiting multiple destinations while only unpacking once,” said Ellen Bettridge, president and CEO, Uniworld Boutique River Cruises.

Crystal Cruises is preparing for a pair of 20-night holiday- themed sailings aboard its two ocean liners. Crystal Serenity will travel from the Caribbean to the Pacific, while Crystal Symphony sails from Cape Town to Mombasa. Both will have glühwein on deck, Champagne toasts at midnight and homemade Christmas cookies throughout the ships.

“The ships transform into floating winter wonderlands,” said Günter Lorenz, vice president of food and beverage, Crystal Cruises. “It’s beautifully decorated with festive touches, twinkling lights and the comforting scent of holiday pastries coming from our galleys.”