christmas cruise jumper

What to Pack for Christmas Market River Cruise

Are you wondering what to pack for a Christmas Market River Cruise? In this guide we cover what to wear on a Christmas Market River Cruise for the weather, dress code and terrains as well as essential non clothing items for visiting Winter in Europe .

Important Note : This post may contain affiliate links which means if you click through and make a purchase I will make a small commission at no extra cost to you. 

Table of Contents

Considerations for what to pack for Christmas Market River Cruise

Before we get onto our Christmas Market river cruise packing list, we thought that it would be worth pointing out some of the things to consider before putting your packing list together.

River Cruises are Different to Ocean Going Cruises

The first thing we want to point out is that river cruises are very different to ocean going cruises in term of shore excursions, dress codes and also the size of cabins

Therefore even if you are seasoned ocean cruisers you will find that there are different requirements for packing.

All cruise cabins, river, sea going and even world cruises are small. Therefore it is really important to pack light and not overpack . Lots of clothes and large luggage will quickly fill up your river cruise cabin. Therefore a river cruise capsule wardrobe is an essential.

For tips on how to pack a capsule wardrobe generally without having to worry about laundry service check out the below posts:

• 54321 packing method
• Sudoku packing method

Best Luggage for a River Cruise at Christmas

We also recommend taking the smallest luggage you can possibly get away with. For instance if you can do carry on only that is great but if not we recommend taking  soft sided luggage like this  as it is easier to store under your bed or in the wardrobe.

Overall I would say the smaller the luggage the better for a river cruise.

River Cruise Dress Codes

Whenever we talk about cruises, the most frequent questions we get are around dress codes. And river cruises are no exception.

Now obviously for a Christmas Market River cruise the most important thing to pack for is the weather. However what about when you are on board?

The good news is that the river cruise dress codes tend to be a lot less formal than ocean going cruise ship dress codes. In fact I would say on some the dress code is actually quite casual which means you can leave the evening formal wear at home.

However there are differences depending on the line you are traveling with. For this reason we have summarised the main river cruise line dress codes in their own posts:

• Viking River Cruise Dress Code
• Saga River Cruise Dress Code
• Emerald Waterways Cruise Dress Code
• Avalon Waterways

What to wear on a river cruise formal night

This is a great question and actually the answer is that most river cruises don’t tend to have a formal night like ocean cruises.

Dress codes on river cruises even in the evening tend to be casual to smart casual and not everyone will change after a river cruise shore excursion.

Personally we always prefer to change for dinner but a sparkly top, or a blouse and smarter bottoms would be perfect – we will go into more detail in the next section.

What to wear on Christmas Market river cruise shore excursions?

River cruise excursions tend to be more city orientated and this is very true for a Christmas Market River Cruise. As obviously the primary purpose of the excursions is to visit the Christmas Markets, usually along the Rhine.

Generally speaking for these excursions I would recommend wearing what you would do if you were on a city break in that place normally. Some common places you visit on a Christmas Market River Cruise are

• cities in France such as Strasbourg
• cities in Germany such as Cologne, Frankfurt and Dusseldorf. For a full German Christmas Market packing list click here.

But in essence I would say the key is comfort. There is lots of walking on river cruise excursions so having comfortable walking shoes is an absolute must. As well as having lots of light layers that you can take on and off easily as well as a thick winter jacket paired with winter accessories.

What to wear on Christmas Market River Cruise

So now you know the dress codes involved in a Christmas market river cruise it is time to turn our attention to what to wear on a Christmas market river cruise with our handy packing checklist.

A coat is absolutely an essential for a Christmas Market River cruise. For a Christmas Market cruise we would recommend packing a thick coat with some insulation that also has some waterproofing and wind resistance.

People at Christmas markets, both locals and tourists will be dressed for the weather and practically before anything else. Therefore pick the warmest coat you have instead of being led by a style. For more information on how to pack Winter Coats in suitcases check out this post

Some of our favorite brands of coats for Northern Europe include:

• North Face  and

Click here to shop coats for Northern Europe. 

Winter Accessories

Winter accessories are a must for European Christmas Markets. They are a very practical item for being outdoors in Europe strolling around the Christmas markets but on top of that they can stylishly finish off your Winter Coat outfit. Ear muffs are also advisable.

And be sure to get gloves that are touch screen compatible so as you are likely to be taking lots of photographs.

Click here to shop winter accessories

Layers are the most important thing to pack for a Christmas Market River Cruise. Now the key to a successful Winter outfit for Europe in my opinion is having multiple light layers with you rather than chunky sweaters and bulky jumpers for top layers.

Firstly these are bulky and are hard to pack, especially if you are trying to pack a  minimalist capsule wardrobe  and not  overpack .

Instead you want to have lots of lighter layers that can be combined as part of a  sudoku packing list , and that can be taken on and off as extra layers are required.

I personally never travel in Winter without a merino wool sweater. Merino wool is one of my favorite fabrics to wear in Winter for Christmas Markets. That is because it provides extra warmth as it is an insulating fabric but is also compact unlike a thick knit. This means it is easy to pack, and everyone knows Winter is hard to pack for.

Also merino wool doesn’t absorb smell as quickly as other fabrics.

We also would always pack a festive sweater / festive jumper for a CHristmas Markets River Cruise to help get you in a festive spirit.

And sparkly and glittery sweater wise as this is a nice top to wear for dinners on river cruise.

Click here to shop layers for Europe

Warmer trousers are definitely required for Christmas Markets. Jeans are a great choice as are other heavier weight pants such as cords and wool.

Note: I would personally avoid dresses for visiting Christmas Markets on a river cruise shore excursion due to the weather. However a dress such as a wrap dress or a sweater dress is perfect for on the ship.

T Shirts are a great base for Christmas Markets. We recommend packing more long-sleeve tops over short sleeve tees. And if you feel the cold you may want a thermal base layer too.

For those traveling to Europe in Winter we always recommend packing thicker, flannel pjs no matter the destination.

Underwear and Warm Socks

Goes without saying really. However I think socks are worth talking about in a bit more depth. There is nothing I hate more than having cold feet. Therefore picking the right socks is a really important part of my packing list for Christmas Markets.

I would either pack some thick hiking socks or merino wool socks to make sure your feet stay warm strolling around the stalls at the Christmas Markets.

Shop merino wool socks here.

T hermal Base Layers  / Thermal Underwear (optional)

A thermal base layer comprising of leggings and a long sleeve top don’t need to be on everyone’s packing list. It really depends on how much you feel the cold. My husband never packs them for Europe in December however I always have them.

Shop thermal base layers here.

Best Shoes for a Christmas Market River Cruise

Ankle boots.

Ankle boots are my number one pick for visiting European Christmas Market. They are easier to pack than knee high boots and if you select the right pair are waterproof and come with good soles.

To cope with the weather, we recommend picking something like a Chelsea boot or Dr Martens with a thick sole with good grip.

Click here to shop ankle boots.

For tips on how to pack boots in a suitcase check out this post.

After boots, sneakers are the next best shoe for Christmas markets. Comfortable shoes are important for Christmas Markets as you will be doing a lot walking. And I don’t think sneakers can be beaten on the comfort front.

My favorite sneaker brands for travel are   Hoka  and  AllBirds . Although I love the versatility of a white sneaker these can get discolored quickly on Christmas market river cruises.

I also love the  Ecco brand of sneakers for comping with rain.

What to pack for a Christmas Market River Cruise (non clothing)

Travel documents .

A Passport and/or identification is always required. On top of that remember also your travel insurance, vaccination certificates and visas as well as any other line or country specific documentation.

Pack any meds you need in your carry on and be sure to have prescriptions with you.

Most new ships will have USB charging ports next to the bed however this is by no means on all ships. Don’t get caught out and take a charger with you and a spare cable.

Travel Adaptor

Depending on where you are from, who you are sailing with and where you may need to take a travel adaptor with you to ensure that all your electronics will work.

I personally never travel anywhere without my trusty Universal travel adaptor that works in pretty much all locations.

Click here to shop universal travel adaptors.

Cross Body Anti Theft bag

Pickpockets are found anywhere that there are tourists. And unfortunately this includes Christmas Markets. Therefore you will want to protect yourself from pickpockets while on a river cruise and the sites you are visiting.

Out favourite pick pocket deterrent is to wear a cross body anti theft bag like this. I prefer these to a fanny pack as these can often mark you out as a tourist in Europe.

Click here to shop anti theft bags.

A backpack is also useful for Christmas Markets.

Compact Travel Umbrella

Rain can happen whenever you are traveling in Europe however Christmas Markets can be particularly rainy. So be sure to keep a compact travel umbrella with you at all times.

Click here to shop travel umbrellas.

The cold weather in Europe can dry out your lips very quickly so we recommend always having a lip balm with you when visiting Christmas Markets in Europe.

Click here to shop lip balm for cruise ships.

Although most ships provide toiletries I will always pack some on my own as I think they are better quality than those you get on board most cruise ships.

For more information on the  best toiletries to bring on a cruise  check out this post.

Moisturiser

As your lips can dry out in Winter, so can your skin when face with cold, wet and rainy weather. So on top of lip balm I always carry moisturizer with me. My favorite moisturizer for Winter is  this one.

Reusable Water bottle

You will be doing a lot of walking on river cruise excursions and it is good to stay hydrated. To stay healthy and save the environment we recommend always cruising with a travel water bottle.

And there are lots of great cruise themed water bottles out there too!  Click here to shop reusable water bottles for travel.

European Christmas Markets are beautiful and you will want to be taking lots of photos. Couple this with using your phone for transportation, maps and other travel essentials your battery will drain quickly. Therefore you will want to have a  battery pack  with you at all times

Many people find a lanyard is the best way to keep their cabin key safe and on them at all times on a cruise. You should keep your cruise card with you at all time as this acts as identification on board the ship and also as your payment method.

When looking for a cruise lanyard we think that the best ones are waterproof so can be used on shore excursions where you will be spending a lot of time in the water and can also be used to keep small amounts of cash and a government issued id. 

Click here to shop the best lanyards for cruise travel.

And there you have it our full European Christmas Market River Cruise packing list! We hope this has answered all of your questions but if there is something you still have a question about just pop us a comment below!

15 + Best Festive Outfits for an Unforgettable Christmas Cruise

When preparing for a Christmas cruise, selecting the right clothing is not just about style and comfort but also about embracing the festive spirit of the season.

A Christmas cruise offers a unique opportunity to enjoy the holidays in a warm and picturesque setting, surrounded by the sun, sand, and sea.

To ensure you are well-prepared for both the celebratory Christmas events and the relaxed atmosphere of your cruise, it is important to pack a versatile wardrobe that accommodates various activities and occasions.

This comprehensive list of clothing items, including several essentials as well as some Christmas-themed items, will help you navigate your cruise with style, comfort, and the perfect touch of holiday cheer. You will also discover 5 outfit items that you should avoid packing or wearing on your cruise.

Whether you are basking in the sun by the pool, savoring formal dinners, or donning your Christmas best, this guide will ensure you are well-equipped for a memorable Christmas cruise experience.

Panaprium is proud to be 100% independent, free of any influence, and not sponsored. We carefully handpick products from brands we trust. Thank you so much for buying something through our link, as we may earn a commission that supports us.

Cute Sundresses

Lightweight and colorful, sundresses are essential for your cruise wardrobe. They provide a breezy, comfortable option for casual days on the ship or at port.

Sundresses are ideal for keeping cool while exploring, lounging by the pool, or attending daytime events. Here are the 15 best affordable sundresses made in the USA.   

Cool Shorts

Comfortable shorts are a must for warm-weather destinations. They offer freedom of movement, making them perfect for excursions, beach days, and casual activities onboard the cruise.

Check out the 15 best shorts for both men and women made in the USA. 

Ugly Christmas Sweater

For a touch of whimsy and holiday cheer, pack an ugly Christmas sweater. These quirky and festive sweaters often feature playful patterns or holiday-themed motifs, making them perfect for special holiday events onboard.

Do not forget to check out the 15 best affordable sweaters for broad shoulders. 

Christmas Pajamas

Embrace the holiday spirit with Christmas-themed pajamas. These cozy and fun sleepwear options often feature festive patterns or motifs related to Christmas, adding a delightful touch to onboard Christmas activities and pajama parties.

Make sure to check out the 12 best affordable organic bamboo pajamas in 2023. 

A Santa hat is the perfect accessory for infusing holiday cheer into your cruise attire.  Wear it during Christmas celebrations and parties on the cruise to fully immerse yourself in the holiday spirit. Have a look at the 15 best affordable and sustainable hats and beanies . 

Cute Swimsuits

Bring multiple swimsuits to ensure you are always ready to enjoy the pool, beach, or hot tub. Having options allows you to put on a dry swimsuit after a swim. Discover what to wear over a swimsuit here . 

These are the ultimate convenience for poolside or beach excursions. Easy to slip on and off, they are also great for casual strolls around the ship. Here are the 20 best affordable and sustainable flip-flops for you. 

Stylish sun hats do more than shield you from the sun; they add a touch of elegance to your beach or poolside look. Plus, they provide extra sun protection for your face and neck.

Casual Tops

T-shirts, polo shirts, or casual button-downs are versatile pieces for your daytime activities. They keep you comfortable while ensuring you look stylish and put-together. Check out our selection of the best affordable plus-size linen shirts and tops . 

Light Cardigans

Light cardigans are a great addition for cooler evenings or breezy days when you want to stay warm without overheating. They can be easily layered over your outfits. Discover the 20 best affordable and sustainable cardigans . 

Cute Maxi Dresses

Maxi dresses offer the perfect blend of elegance and comfort. They are ideal for semi-formal dinners on the cruise, ensuring you look sophisticated while feeling at ease. Pick one from our wide selection of the most affordable maxi dresses made in the USA. 

Dress Shirts and Blouses

For formal nights, pack dressier tops that can be paired with nice slacks or skirts. These elevate your appearance and are perfect for special dining occasions.

Nice Slacks or Skirts

These pair seamlessly with your dress shirts or blouses, creating a semi-formal look suitable for dinner. Choose wrinkle-resistant options for convenience.

Check out our ultimate tips on what to wear with orange skirts in case you opt for this vibrant color. 

Cocktail Dress

Formal nights on the cruise call for a cocktail dress for women and a suit or jacket for men. These ensure you look polished and sophisticated at formal events. Here are over 20 best places to rent a cocktail dress near you. 

Light Jacket

Do not forget to pack a light jacket for cooler evenings or unexpected breezy days. It ensures you stay warm while maintaining your style. Discover the 15 best affordable jackets for broad shoulders. 

Active Wear

If you plan to use the ship's gym, include activewear in your packing. Look for moisture-wicking fabrics and comfortable, supportive clothing. Here are the 15 best affordable Australian-made activewear brands you must check out. 

Avoid these Outfits!

Heavy winter coats.

Leave heavy winter coats at home. Christmas cruises typically take place in warm destinations, making bulky winter coats unnecessary. Opt for lighter outerwear that is more suitable for the climate.

Bulky Boots

Snow boots and other bulky footwear are unnecessary for warm-weather cruises. They can take up valuable luggage space and are unlikely to be used in tropical or temperate climates.

Overly Revealing Clothing

While cruise attire can be casual, it is advisable to avoid overly revealing clothing. Dress modestly in dining areas and public spaces to ensure you feel comfortable and adhere to onboard dress codes.

Ripped or Torn Clothing

Keep your clothing in good condition by avoiding torn or overly distressed items. Cruise environments often require neat and presentable attire, so maintaining the condition of your clothing is essential.

Inappropriate Swimwear

Be mindful of the swimwear you choose. While swimwear is appropriate for pool and beach areas, ensure it is tasteful and in line with the cruise environment. Avoid overly revealing or offensive swimwear to respect onboard dress codes and fellow passengers.

Was this article helpful to you? Please tell us what you liked or didn't like in the comments below.

About the Author: Gohar Davtyan

Gohar is a linguist fluent in 5 languages. She has lived and worked in several countries in Asia and Europe. She is passionate about travelling, different cultures, and yoga. Having volunteered in many environmental projects, Gohar feels very strongly about the environment and advocates for sustainable and eco-friendly fashion.

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P&O Ventura – Christmas Cruise Review (Entertainment, Ship, Food & More)

I’ve just disembarked the most eventful cruise I’ve ever taken, the cruise was 12 nights long and we were at sea for Christmas day. 

We had storms, we had medical emergencies, you name it, it happened on this cruise. 

Like most people, I wasn’t able to see my family last Christmas so we decided to make this Christmas a good one. 

Cruise Ship: P&O Ventura Date: 17th December 2021 – 30th December 2021 Destination: Canary Islands

I knew that this cruise could be great, but also knew that if anything went wrong, it wouldn’t just be me affected. In total there were 6 of us taking the cruise and I really really wanted my family to enjoy the cruise. 

I thought I had worried about everything that could happen beforehand but things happened onboard and onshore that I didn’t even consider. 

It definitely wasn’t the perfect Christmas I had imagined.

We boarded the ship on the 17th of December and embarkation was pretty easy. 

Covid Testing and Embarkation – Extra Pressure!

It’s never nice doing the covid tests and worrying if you’ll test positive, but in this situation, one positive result could have meant the end of Christmas for all 6 of us. 

We drove through the covid testing centre and arrived in multiple cars so were all messaging each other ‘NEGATIVE’ when the results came through. Never has negative been so positive!

It was such a relief I genuinely could have cried. I didn’t, I was too excited, but I could have. 

The ship that we were cruising on was P&O’s Ventura. I’ve cruised with P&O before but a couple of my family members hadn’t, I’d promised them good things, so hoped that P&O wouldn’t let me down! 

I knew that there were a few things about P&O that they wouldn’t like, such as the formal nights and dress codes, but I hoped this wouldn’t be a problem. 

I had heard that there would be a formal night on Christmas day and I hoped that wouldn’t be the case, a few of my family members don’t like to dress in formal wear, so I knew they wouldn’t come to dinner in the main dining room if that was the case, which I did feel a bit bad about. 

I didn’t want them to be excluded from Christmas and the idea of having Christmas dinner in the buffet just seemed a bit sad. 

We Were as Prepared as we Could be…

For some reason our luggage tags weren’t ever available to print before the cruise, which meant we had to go to a desk to get luggage tags when we arrived at the port.

Normally you can print everything at home to avoid queuing up to get things but it wasn’t the end of the world, but I’d definitely have preferred to skip this step. 

After that, embarkation was fast and thankfully, we had all of the paperwork we needed. Cruising at the moment does need a lot of paperwork and I feel like my printer can feel it, whenever I NEED to print something, it decides it’s an impossible task and it denies all knowledge of knowing how to print. 

We needed health declarations, vaccine evidence, our negative test results, passports and travel insurance and a few other things later in the cruise line UK return forms and Portuguese entry forms. 

Comparing Ventura to her Younger Sister Iona

I wasn’t too sure how I’d like Ventura, given that I had recently cruised on the newest P&O ship Iona quite recently, I didn’t know how I’d feel about going from the biggest, most exciting P&O cruise ship to a smaller, older version. 

My brother particularly liked Iona, so I hoped he would like Ventura too. 

Boarding The Ship Was Magical – P&O Ventura’s Decorations

When we boarded the ship, we were instantly surrounded by Christmas. I hadn’t really thought about Christmas before this point, I was too nervous about one of us testing positive or forgetting a piece of paper that we needed but as soon as we boarded, it was incredible.

There was singers singing Christmas music, the atrium was decorated beautifully and there was even somebody ice skating in the middle of the atrium. I don’t think I’ve ever had such an amazing ‘wow’ moment when walking onto the ship. 

My parents and brother were already onboard so they met us in the atrium and told me about the juggling elves they had just seen. 

It definitely seemed like a strange kind of Christmassy dream but apparently that was real.

The ship was beautiful, really beautiful and all the crew members were wearing Santa hats.

A British Christmas

This was definitely a good sign that this Christmas cruise was going to feel Christmassy. Being away from home for Christmas is always going to be different but given the fact that P&O are a British cruise line, and I’m British, I hoped that it would feel familiar. 

I was also very excited to try the P&O cruises’ Christmas food, P&O have some of my favourite cruise food and I knew that they’d be able to master roast potatoes and Yorkshire puddings, which is very important to my Christmas! 

On to our Muster Station and Beyond

After meeting the rest of my family we had to go to our muster station to have our QR codes scanned and then we went straight onto a bar to grab a drink. 

We decided to take things slowly, as one of my family members isn’t able to walk long distances and the embarkation did involve quite a bit of walking, embarkation day is a lot of fun, but can also be stressful and tiring, so don’t forget to allow yourself time to take things slowly! 

We were on board for 12 days so had plenty of time to explore. 

We Bought Drinks Packages

We bought drinks packages from the inside pool. I bought the soda package which was great. 

Can Adults Buy P&O’s Childrens ‘Soda’ Package?

I was told pre cruise that P&O’s soda package was only available for children but the website also lets me buy it. The crew were happy to sell it to adults onboard and I was very happy to have it. It is available for adults and we never had any problem using it.

It did make me laugh to have a sticker on my card that said ‘CHILD’ but hopefully P&O will remove the ‘childrens’ from the title of the package, as it is available for all adults, and rightly so, us adults need our soda. 

Why Does Ventura Look so Familiar?

P&O’s Ventura was built in 2008 and you may recognise her even if you’ve never been on a P&O cruise ship. 

Both P&O cruises and Princess are owned by Carnival Cruise Line, in fact Carnival Cruise line owns all of these cruise lines. This means that Ventrua is the same design as the Princess ships Grand, Golden and Star Princess. 

A few years ago I took a cruise on the Golden Princess, which has since been sold and it was really strange being on Ventura and seeing the similarities. 

I almost expected to see the Princess cruises logo at the bottom of the swimming pools.

I tend to think of P&O as being the British version of Princess. 

Ventura Was at Reduced Capacity

There were lots of covid measures in place during our cruise and one of these was reduced capacity. 

At full capacity Ventura can hold 3192 passengers. 

On our cruise she had a little less than 2000. 

I did think that this reduced capacity may make the ship feel quiet but it really didn’t. I think 2/3rd full is about perfect and I’ll be sad when full capacity is in place again.

There were other ways that Covid affected our cruise, but more about that later.

Our Cabins Were on The Pool Deck (Great Location if You Like The Buffet!)

After having a drink we decided to go on to find our cabins, we had 3 cabins onboard, 2 balcony cabins and 1 inside cabin, for once, I wasn’t in the inside cabin! 

There was a little Christmas decoration outside each cabin door and inside each cabin was a little Christmas tree which was so cute.

My cabin was cabin L243 on the Lido deck. 

Our balcony cabins were next door so we asked our cabin steward if he could open the partition between the two cabins. 

It was helpful to have this open as we could all watch the sail aways and ins together without having to go in through the doors, through the cabin, into the corridor, through the cabin and back out the doors again. 

The rooms are only cleaned once per day on P&O cruise ships in the morning, this means that the housekeeping team have different jobs to do in the evenings. 

We would often see our room steward working as a waiter in our dining room. 

I have a massive amount of respect for anybody who works in housekeeping on a cruise ship, or who works as a waiter. I can’t imagine doing both jobs but the crew always did it with a smile. 

The crew were really great on our cruise, especially considering they were away from home for Christmas. 

Our cabin steward was brilliant and we tried not to make too much work for him to do.  

Magical Cookies Kept Arriving…

One thing I did need our room steward to do was to take away the plates when we had magic cookies arrive at our cabin. 

In total 5 plates of around 12 cookies arrived in my cabin during the cruise, I didn’t order them, there wasn’t a note, clearly somebody has just told the staff to keep me well topped up with cookies, and that they did! 

I found my all time favourite cookie on Ventura. Amazing. 

We Watched The Muster Drill in Our Cabins

While we were in our room, we had to watch the safety videos on our TV which we did. 

Pre 2020, muster drills were completely in big lounges or spaces around the ship but now they’re done in your cabin or phone, and I much prefer that.

To learn how muster drills have changed since the cruising shutdown of 2020, check out this post: Muster Drills Have Changed For The Better (REVIEW of New After Covid Process)

The Buffet Has Returned to Self Service

When we had finished the muster drill, we went straight onto the buffet. It was getting towards dinner time so we didn’t want to eat a huge meal but I was looking forward to P&O’s yorkshire puddings so I decided to get one. 

The buffet was back to self service which I did find a little strange. 

When the pandemic hit, almost all cruise lines changed their buffets so that the food would be served to you by the crew, cruise lines are starting to go back to self service now which takes a bit of getting used to. 

I’m sure it’s okay though, as it was impossible to get into the buffet without sanitising your hands multiple times, I saw the crew stopping people who tried to walk in without hand sanitising and the crew were really good at enforcing the mask rules too.

When do Masks Have to be Worn?

Generally speaking masks have to be worn at all times, if you are sat down drinking or eating, you can take off the mask or if you are outside and socially distanced it’s fine to take it off. 

Masks did have to be worn at all times in the theatre but there were no seats closed for social distancing. 

I’ve been on cruises before where people haven’t wanted to follow the rules and have caused trouble that way, on this cruise there was one person who was adamant that nobody could sit besides them for social distancing, it was the first time I’d ever seen somebody being so annoyed at others for not following rules that didn’t exist? 

The crew confirmed, there were no seats to be left for social distancing. 

We saw some amazing shows, including the magic show Astonishing and the shows would often be completely sold out. 

It definitely felt a little weird to be sitting next to people again, but there’s nowhere else you’ll find a group which is fully vaccinated, recently tested and mask wearing people.

Was There Covid on The Ship?

Covid is on almost every cruise ship, even with the testing, it’s impossible to reduce the risk to zero but I think it’s important to remember that even an ‘outbreak’ at sea has a smaller percentage infected than the general population on land. 

The majority have no symptoms or very few symptoms and I knew that P&O had processes in place if I did catch Covid. 

They have cabins set up for quarantining guests and I felt very safe onboard. Safer than I do on land for sure. 

I did take off my mask a couple of times to take photos, but only when nobody else was around. 

Did Covid Affect Our Cruise?

I never saw anybody question the mask rule, or try to avoid wearing a mask which was great. It just became part of everyday life and nobody really thought about it. 

Apart from mask wearing, Covid procedures didn’t really affect our cruise. 

The ship was at reduced capacity and that was great but everything was open as normal. 

It definitely didn’t stop anything from feeling Christmassy. 

The crew were all wearing Santa hats and masks, which I imagine makes an already very difficult job much harder. 

The Daily Schedule on a P&O Cruise

The daily schedule onboard mostly consisted of things like live music, game shows, trivia, guest speakers, dance classes. 

We actually did win trivia once which was amazing, I always take part but haven’t ever won before I don’t think. 

Christmassy Events on The Schedule

From the moment we boarded, there were Christmassy activities on the schedule but this really increased when we got to Christmas eve and into Christmas. 

We visited Gran Canaria and Tenerife first and were docked in Lanzarote on Christmas eve which was amazing. 

We wandered around for a couple of hours in Lanzarote, me in a dress and sandals on Christmas eve and we found a lovely beach to sit on.

It’s been a really long time since I’ve sat on a beach or felt the sunshine, it was great. 

If you’re from somewhere cold, I’d definitely recommend a Christmas cruise to somewhere warm. 

We had beautiful blue skies on Christmas eve and so lots of people were sunbathing. 

It was around 25c (77f) which to us Brits is really warm.

P&O Conducted Covid Tests

In the morning we had a covid tests done onboard, we needed these in order to visit Portugal on Boxing day.

Around 50% of passengers decided to have the test so that they could disembark in Portugal, the remainder stayed onboard. 

The covid test was done in the speciality restaurant Sindu and it was very easy, the test cost £18 per person and this was added onto our onboard accounts. 

We Visited Sindu – A Speciality Restaurant

We did visit the restaurant Sindu during our cruise. It’s described as Indian cuisine with a British twist and I decided to treat my brother and mum to a meal there, as I know how much they like it. 

It is a specialty restaurant which means that it costs extra and each dish had a price, the same way as it would in a restaurant on land. My dad unfortunately couldn’t make it to dinner as he was too seasick, but more about that later. 

Does Santa Visit Cruise Ships?

Santa does visit cruise ships! He can often be seen dancing on the pool deck or giving out presents in the atrium.

On our cruise he arrived on the pool deck and the house band were playing Christmas music. 

This was the first time our cruise had ever felt busy and I wondered where all of these people had come from. 

In the evening there were Christmas carols in the atrium, the atrium did fill up pretty fast so we sat there for half an hour or so before the carols having a couple of drinks. 

P&O have Costa Coffee Cafes Onboard

On the bottom level of the atrium was the Costa Coffee, the rest of my family had bought a soft drinks package which allowed them to have hot drinks from Costa. 

They’d order coffees and hot chocolates while I would order myself a Pepsi.

All of the cakes and food from Costa are included in the cruise fare which is nice. 

It’s here I found my all time favourite cookie. 

I know technically, this is a biscuit not a cookie but I needed to expand the definition a little for my cookie quest! 

I know also that P&O didn’t make these onboard, but that doesn’t matter to me, my contest was based solely on how much I enjoyed eating the cookie, and this was my favourite. 

An Evening’s Entertainment with Asa Elliot & Other Celebrities

In the evening we watched a special Christmas show in the theatre with a man called Asa Elliot which was great, you might recognise him from the TV show Benidorm. 

He wasn’t the only celebrity we had onboard, Ann Widdecombe the politician and author was also onboard and she did a lot of talks in the theatre.

I never went to any but P&O certainly got their money’s worth for whatever they paid her, she was hosting talks and Q&A sessions every few days and they were always fully booked.

The theatre shows had to be pre booked on P&O cruises app, as did meals in most restaurants. 

Joining Virtual Queues Was Much Easier

One part of the app that I loved was the ‘virtual queue feature’ which meant that we would join the ‘queue’ without actually having to go to the restaurant. 

The app would let me know when our table was ready and then we would walk down to the restaurant. 

We decided to pick freestyle dining but there was also the option for fixed dining. 

We usually didn’t have to wait for our table for more than 5-10 minutes but we were almost always eating early when the restaurant opened at around 6pm. 

When we tried to book a table for 6 at 7.30 or later, it would sometimes taken 20-30 minutes for the table to be ready. That isn’t a new thing, but the virtual queue meant that we could stay wherever we were, rather than having to queue up or get one of those buzzers that vibrates when your table is ready. 

The App is Missing a Few Basic Features

P&O cruises app has some great features like being able to book things on the go, and to check your onboard account but it is missing a few basics. 

The daily schedule isn’t in the app, or at least I’ve never managed to find it, which meant that my phone’s camera roll ended up full of photos like this:

If you are taking a cruise where the daily schedule isn’t in the app, definitely take photos like this. 

If you don’t everybody will be asking ‘in what venue was that thing we wanted to go see?!’. 

The App Didn’t Update

The app did cause quite a lot of confusion on our cruise as it turns out that P&O aren’t able to update the app during the cruise. 

Due to bad weather, more about that later, we had shows cancelled and the days changed, the app never reflected the change. 

If you had booked a show on night one, but the show was swapped with whatever was on night two, your booking stayed for the same night, but not the show.

It seemed like a weird way to do it, but I booked the theatre almost everyday so it didn’t make a big difference to me. 

An Angry Man Stormed Off…

Some guests did get quite angry about it though, one man was being incredibly aggressive, shouting and swearing at a person who worked for P&O. 

All because the show had changed and he didn’t have a ticket. 

Each show was on 3x a night, and the remaining seats that hadn’t been booked were released 5 minutes before showtime. 

He definitely could have seen the show, even though he didn’t have a ticket, but when he became aggressive he was asked to leave and he stormed off. 

The things that the crew have to put up with, blows my mind. I don’t know who thinks it’s okay to shout and swear, over a cruise ship theatre show. 

Christmas Day Onboard P&O’s Ventura

For some reason I didn’t make it up in time for the 7am fab abs which was held on the ship on Christmas Day. 

I had a lay in and ate Chocolate for breakfast, just how Christmas is meant to be!

One of the best things about cruising at Christmas is not having to worry about presents, we each had one present to open and as is Christmas tradition, I got some new Christmas pyjamas which was perfect. 

We watched the movie Miracle on 34th Street and had a pretty lazy Christmas day playing games which was nice. I had already watched the best Christmas movie of all time on another sea day, ELF! 

Christmas Day Dress Code Disappointment

I was sad to see that the Christmas day dress code was formal because I knew that meant that a few family members of mine wouldn’t be coming to Christmas dinner in the main dining room. 

There were other options where they could eat but I’m definitely more of a ‘Christmas Jumper’ kinda Christmas girl than formal wear. 

On P&O’s formal nights men have to wear a jacket and a tie or bow tie as a minimum. 

P&O are quite strict on their dress codes and they do like their formal nights. 

We had 3 formal nights during this 12 night cruise. 

Christmas Dinner Onboard P&O’s Ventura

Our Christmas dinner was really nice, it was 5 courses long and it was really busy in the restaurant. 

We usually had freestyle dining but for Christmas dinner, dinner was served at a set time. 

In total the meal took just over 2.5 hours which did feel like a long time. I’m usually an in and out in an hour kinda person but the food was great and I loved the Christmas crackers, we all wore our hats as you should! 

There were plenty of vegetarian options on the Christmas day menu as there always were, P&O are very good at vegetarian and vegan dining, on every menu is at least one vegan starter, main and dessert which I thought was very good. Plus multiple vegetarian options.

I have photos of everything I ate on this cruise, with their descriptions and dietary information in this post: 51 Meals I Ate on my P&O Cruise (Photos and Menus) – Food Review

Don’t read this one if you’re feeling hungry! 

Other Dining Options

We usually ate in the main dining room when it came to dinner time, because there were 6 of us, we would often be doing different things in the day and then would come together at dinner to catch up. 

We also ate in the buffet quite a lot and I had some really good food there, the buffet wasn’t huge by bigger cruise ship standards but there was more than enough choice.

They also had ‘late night snacks’ from 11pm so we would often visit the buffet before bed to get a snack or a cup of tea.

The tea and coffee and water in the buffet is always available and free, even if the buffet is closed because they’re changing from one meal to the next. The drinks machines are there and free to use and they are back to self service again.

If you are somebody who likes a different type of tea than the standard breakfast tea it’s usually a good idea to take a couple of tea bags from the buffet to your cabin. 

I mainly drink peppermint tea so in the evening I would take a couple of tea bags back so that I could have my morning tea. 

My Favoruite Restaurant Onboard Costs £7.50 – The Beach House

We also ate in the beach house which was my favourite restaurant onboard, it costs £7.50 per person which is pretty cheap as far as specialty restaurants go and it’s basically set up in a section of the buffet. 

I had a halloumi sizzler, my brother had a giant and I mean giant burger and I had chocolate cake for dessert. The portions were pretty huge and I washed it down with pints of Pepsi.

Every British Cruise Ship Has a Pub, Ventura is no Exception

In the evening we went back to the theatre to see the Christmas show and then went on to watch Karoke in the pub. 

We spent quite a bit of time in the pub but I definitely think that P&O should have hosted the activities like trivia, that they hosted in the pub in a bigger venue. 

The seats were always taken and if you wanted to go to an event there you’d have to be there very early, which just seemed silly when bigger lounges like the tamarind club and havana were often empty at the time. 

A Gingerbread Surprise!

Outside Havana there were these incredible gingerbread houses and christmas cakes, I very much doubt anybody was able to eat any of this, especially in Covid times but it was impressive how they had made the display entirely with gingerbread. 

One day it wasn’t there, and the next it was! 

There were lots of big lounges onboard like the Metropolis located at the back of the ship which has amazing views from all sides. 

I really didn’t expect to like Ventura as much as I did but I loved the open spaces and felt very comfortable and happy onboard. 

We Loved Our Cabins

After spending such a long time in our cabins, they really did start to feel like home. 

I personally love the design of cabins like this where there is a separate wardrobe area as you walk into the cabin.

There was tons of storage, a kettle so that we could make tea a couple of times a day and very very comfortable beds. 

The design does look a little dated and the tv was tiny and falling off the wall, but I felt very comfortable here and didn’t turn the TV on. 

The bathroom was small and it did have the dreaded shower curtain, but I have a shower curtain at home so this really doesn’t bother me. 

The great thing was that even though the bathroom was small, you could step out into this wardrobe area to get changed. 

The inside cabin was an almost identical design to our balcony cabins and it felt really spacious. 

There were huge mirrors on all sides and it also had the separate closet area. 

This Review Isn’t The Complete Story

I have missed out quite a big part of my Christmas cruise in this video. 

Our cruise was 12 nights long and we spent a full 7 days at sea. 

It was the roughest cruise I’ve ever taken and it did affect quite a few of my family quite badly. 

I didn’t want to include the information in this video, because I don’t want it to take away from the brilliant Christmas I had. 

I loved Ventura, P&O were so helpful, the food was amazing, we saw the sunshine and overall we had a great cruise but I think it’s important though to show you the full picture so I will be bringing you a storm related video next, showing you what it’s like inside a cruise ship during gale force winds. 

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How is Christmas Celebrated on a Cruise (what to expect)

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What Can You Expect on a Christmas Cruise?

Have you been wondering how Christmas is celebrated on a cruise, and what to expect? In this post, I’ll go through the various festivities and activities available on a holiday sailing, as well the  magical feeling that is ever present on board.

Last holiday season, our family did a Christmas sailing on the Regal Princess, which we loved. I’ll be sharing our experience and what we saw, so that you can have a better idea what to expect.

While our personal experience was on a Princess ship, in researching other cruise lines and speaking with cruise passengers who’ve experience holiday celebrations on a cruise, the festivities seem quite universal.

We’ve also cruised on other cruise lines, a couple of weeks before Christmas and have done New Year’s Cruises, and the cruise ships have definitely had a holiday mood!

Why you should book a Christmas Cruise

I’m not sure if this is you, but I know for some people it can seem strange to be away from home during the Christmas holidays.

If you need a little bit of gentle encouragement, here are some reasons why you should do a holiday cruise:

Spending Christmas on a cruise vacation with your family will probably be the most relaxing Christmas ever! Plus, it’s a Holiday for all (yes, I’m talking about you Mom 😉 .

Families we met on board told us how it was quite magical and that they could truly enjoy the holiday and family time, and everyone had so much fun! Whether you are celebrating with immediate family, or even doing a multi-generational cruise , there is something for everyone.

We also met couples that were celebrating the holidays on board, and then heading to see their kids or grand-kids for New Years, due to schedules.

Finally, it can be a chance to start new traditions. Sometimes spending the holidays at home can be difficult. Things may have changed… and celebrating Christmas on a cruise ship might be just what you need.

So, if you’re ready to spend a holiday where no one is cooking, cleaning up and stressed, this is what you can expect from celebrating Christmas on a cruise!

How to make the Holiday celebrations on a cruise even more fun? Check out this post:  15 Special Ways to Celebrate Christmas on a Cruise

How the Holidays are celebrated on a Cruise Ship

Cruise ships start the holiday season a few weeks before Christmas, so even if you’re not on the ship on December 25, you’ll get to experience the be Christmas decorations and the festive atmosphere.

Cruise Ship Christmas Decorations and atmosphere

When we boarded the Regal Princess, the large atrium was decorated beautifully with garland and Christmas balls and more. There was a stunning tall Christmas tree displayed, sparkling with silver touches.

Truly, as cruise passengers entered you could see the smiles on everyone’s faces. Some of the ship staff wore Santa hats and at one point some Carolers were singing. It really felt like a Christmas cruise!!

Tip: Take some family photos in front of the gorgeous Christmas tree. Take home some great memories and relive those moments!

Christmas Activities on a cruise

Throughout the 7 day cruise, there were many holiday activities to join. Here’s some of them, although it’s possible some activities might differ on your cruise.

To note: Although the Christmas and holiday activities were available, all of the other regular cruise activities were still going on. So, if people wanted to hang out by the pool, play bingo, join a Zumba class, or do anything else on a sea day , there was plenty to do.

Christmas themed festivities on the cruise

Gingerbread house decorating

Kids and families were able to participate in gingerbread house decorating. These were displayed later on a table in the Piazza.

Christmas Movies on the large outdoor screen

On the Regal Princess, there is a large outdoor movie screen (Movies Under the Stars). During the day (and possibly evening), a schedule of classic Holiday Movies were playing.

There was Home Alone (total classic now!), Christmas on 42nd Street and more.

Christmas Music

If you’re worried that it won’t feel like “Christmas” on a cruise, Christmas music played in various parts of the ship keep the festive atmosphere alive, even in the Caribbean.

One of our favorite cruise moments happened a few years ago, when we realized you don’t need snow for it to “feel” like the Christmas season. We were on a water taxi in St. Marteen and “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” was being played in Calypso (and it was great!!). It took us a few minutes to realize that all the “Caribbean” music we were hearing were actually Christmas songs!

Holiday Theme Shows

There were a couple of Holiday shows featuring the cruise line singers and dancers in the main theater.

Something that was a lot of fun and very sweet was a little video that was shown at the beginning or the show, featuring many of the children that were on the cruise. Totally warmed your heart!

Christmas Carolers

On embarkation day , as well as on Christmas eve and day, the ship’s singers were dressed as Carolers and sang in the beautiful Piazza (ship’s atrium).

Holiday Choir

Men, women and children who wanted to sing in the choir were able to. Information about how to join is in the daily cruise planner, so do check that out if it interests you.

They did a performance on Christmas, along with so many other Christmas festivities that were going on.

Christmas Morning

Christmas morning was really special, especially for anyone with children. My own son was 18, so truthfully he was likely sleeping in, but I watched in the Piazza and it was awesome!

Santa Claus visit

Santa Claus and his helpers came down the grand stairway in the Piazza to at least a couple of hundred kids, many of them dressed in their pajamas.

Children were lined up for a chance to be greeted by Santa and take a photo if they wanted. Gifts were given to each child (although I’m not sure what it was).

For those that wanted an official photo with Santa, the ship’s photographer was there. However, you could take your own photos as well.

Looking around during this time, we could see children of all ages who were giddy and smiling. Mom and Dads and even grandparents were beaming with camera in hand, as they also had a coffee and pastry, or milk and cookies from the International Cafe. Beautiful moments.

Families, if this is on your Bucket List, do it now. Don’t wait .

As part of the Christmas Day activities for children, one of Santa’s helpers read stories aloud to children sitting listening intently (and some less … the excitement of the day lol!).

Traditional Christmas Dinner

Dinner in the main dining room included a special Christmas menu with some holiday classics including Turkey and Cranberries. Most people dressed up, even though it wasn’t “formal” night.

Answers to common questions people ask about cruising during Christmas time

How is Hanukah celebrated on a cruise?

We haven’t cruised during the 8 days of Hanukah, however we have been told that many cruise ships will have a large Menorah displayed, a nightly candle lighting and some traditional Jewish holiday foods as options in the diningroom.

On our cruise, Hanukah had already passed (Jewish holiday dates change from year to year), however during the Christmas and holiday shows there was often a Hanukah song included.

We also found a lunch option on Saturday with matzoh ball soup and potato latkas (super yummy), but I’m thinking this may have just been a regular part of the main dining room lunch menu.

If you have experienced Hanukah on a cruise, please let me know how it was celebrated.

Is it worth it to take a Christmas cruise?

Online, I  sometimes see people ask this question, “Is a Christmas cruise worth it?”, after all, it’s one of the most expensive times during the year to cruise.

While, I can’t answer this question, as it is a personal one, I can give you my thoughts. If this is when everyone in the family is available and it will be truly a special experience for all, then yes, I think it’s “worth it”.

Experiences and memories are priceless.

Is a Christmas Cruise crowded/are there a lot of kids on board?

Christmas and holiday cruises are very popular with families and children, and the cruise ship will be sailing at full capacity.

While we found that there was more than enough deck chairs (this was Princess) and space around the ship, it certainly did feel more full than other sailings. If you don’t love that busy feeling, you may prefer sailing a week or two before Christmas.

When are cruise ships decorated for the holidays?

I often see people ask in cruise Facebook groups about when certain cruise ships will be be putting up their Christmas decorations.

Cruise ships are usually decorated by early December, and in some cases by Thanksgiving.

Carnival Cruise Lines recently put out a schedule of when their ships will be decorated. I love that  John Heald recently (August) posted  this on his Facebook page.

If you aren’t able to make it for a cruise on Christmas, perhaps consider sailing a week or two prior and enjoying that Holiday Spirit on board.

Recap: How Christmas is celebrated on a cruise ship

In this post, we’ve gone over the various festivities, activities, as well as how the cruise ship will be decorated for Christmas and the holiday season.

If you’re interested in our full review of the Regal Princess – Back to Back sailing Christmas and New Year’s, you can read it here:  Regal Princess Cruise Review Holiday Sailing

You might also enjoy:  15 Special Ways to Celebrate Christmas on a Cruise

Have you cruised during this time of year, or is a Holiday cruise on your Christmas Wish List?

Happy cruising!!

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The 10 most festive christmas cruises for 2023-2024.

Set sail for the holidays on your next cruise vacation.

The Most Festive Christmas Cruises

Courtesy of American Queen Voyages

These festive cruises are full of activities, food and destinations to make your holiday special.

If you're ready for a break from holiday traditions and family gatherings at home, consider booking a Christmas cruise. What makes a better present than the chance to leave all the planning, cooking, cleaning and decorating behind – and celebrate the holidays in beautiful destinations in the U.S., the Caribbean or other countries around the globe?

If you're dreaming of a white Christmas, you can book a festivity-filled river cruise along Europe's iconic waterways and bundle up in your winter gear to explore the Christmas markets in the snow. If you prefer sunshine and warm temperatures, celebrate the holidays in an exotic locale, sailing crystal-clear turquoise waters and relaxing on white sand beaches surrounded by palm trees.

Whether you prefer to stay close to home or jet off for a bucket list adventure, one of these cruises may just be the perfect gift to celebrate your holidays in style.

Book a Christmas cruise on  GoToSea , a service of U.S. News.

Hallmark Channel Christmas Cruise

Put your name on the waiting list for November 2024 if you want to set sail on what Hallmark is touting as the "jolliest vacation ever." The Hallmark Channel – known for its year-round holiday-themed programming with Christmas in July, Countdown to Christmas and Christmas Fridays – will host the first-ever Hallmark Channel Christmas Cruise sailings in November 2024 from Miami to the Bahamas . Lucky fans of the television channel will travel with their favorite Hallmark stars on one of two four-night cruises on Norwegian Cruise Line 's Norwegian Gem during the 2024 holiday season.

Highlights of the Hallmark Channel Christmas Cruise include photo opportunities and panels to meet the stars. Attend Christmas craft workshops or tastings with Hallmark's winemaker – the wines have names like Jingle (cabernet sauvignon) and Joy (sauvignon blanc). Guests can also look forward to "carol-oke" singalongs, cookie decorating, an ugly sweater contest and a world premiere viewing of a new Hallmark Channel Christmas movie.

Read: The Top Party Cruises

AmaWaterways

Courtesy of AmaWaterways

AmaWaterways offers seven itineraries to visit the Christmas markets along the Rhine and Danube rivers – and to see the holiday splendor of Europe's grand cities, such as Vienna and Prague . Travelers can stroll through snow-dusted beautiful medieval squares and fairytale markets with chalet-inspired stalls, thousands of colorful lights, festive decorations, ice skating rinks, whimsical handmade gifts, Christmas carolers, carousels and more.

The eight-day Iconic Christmas Markets itinerary from Nuremberg, Germany, to Budapest, Hungary , features a visit to Christkindlesmarkt in Nuremberg, one of the world's oldest and most famous Christmas markets. Sip glühwein (hot mulled wine) and sample savory specialties like currywurst (curried sausages) and kartoffelpuffer (fried potato pancakes). Be sure to save room for sweet delights like schaumkuss, a chocolate-covered marshmallow, or lebkuchen, a traditional spiced cookie.

While on board the ship, guests can participate in festivities like tree-trimming, caroling and "Shoes for St. Nick." This European tradition encourages passengers to leave their slippers outside their stateroom door before bed. In the morning, they wake up to slippers filled with tasty treats like the children find in Europe on Saint Nicholas Day.

Celebrity Cruises

Courtesy of Celebrity Cruises

Celebrate Christmas Day in the Canary Islands and ring in the new year on the Mediterranean Sea during Celebrity Cruises ' Canaries, Morocco, Spain Holiday itinerary. The 13-day round-trip voyage from Barcelona embarks a few days before Christmas 2023 on Celebrity Infinity. It features eight ports of call, including the Moroccan cities of Casablanca and Tangier as well as Seville and Valencia in Spain.

On the ship, guests can revel in the joyous spirit of the season with festive Christmas trees, traditional holiday meals, themed shows and pop-ups, carolers, gingerbread winter villages, and even a visit from Santa. The onboard bars serve up holiday-inspired cocktails like candy cane and gingerbread martinis as well as other seasonal favorites, including spiked apple cider and classic mulled wine. On New Year's Eve, plan to join in the merriment with fellow cruisers during the big countdown bash.

If you want to cross South Africa off your list of must-visit destinations , consider spending Christmas and New Year's Eve sailing round-trip from Cape Town on Azamara 's 14-day South Africa Intensive Voyage. The 2023 voyage departs Dec. 21 on Azamara Pursuit and includes stops in Port Elizabeth, home to one of the densest elephant populations in the world, and Richards Bay, which is teeming with exotic wildlife and stunning landscapes.

Guests on board the holiday cruise will be treated to Christmas performances, including singalongs and carols performed by the crew. There will be special menus in the restaurants, holiday-themed buffets, religious services and a tree-trimming party. Festive treats like hot chocolate, cookies and snacks are provided throughout the cruise. The New Year's Eve White Night party, where all the guests don their best white attire, will take place throughout the ship and on the pool deck with entertainment, music and light bites.

Tips on Trips and Expert Picks

Travel tips, vacation ideas and more to make your next vacation stellar.

Courtesy of Viking

Viking's 12-day Christmas on the Main & Moselle cruise sails between Paris and Prague in 2023 and 2024. The adults-only sailing affords passengers 18 or older the opportunity to visit four European countries: France, Germany, Luxembourg and the Czech Republic. In addition to browsing the boutiques in Paris and a variety of Christmas markets in Germany, you'll want to explore iconic landmarks like Reims Cathedral in France and the Luxembourg American Cemetery. Don't miss the famed wines produced in the region, including Moselle, riesling, Müller-Thurgau and gewürztraminer.

The holiday spirit continues on board the ship with Christmas-themed cooking demonstrations in addition to festive decorations with garland, lights and gingerbread houses. Guests will also taste regional cuisine, enjoy cultural performances on board the ship and ashore, and learn about the history of the Christmas markets and local holiday traditions.

Read: Bucket List Cruises for Seniors and Retirees

Disney Cruise Line

Kent Phillips | Courtesy of Disney Cruise Line

Disney Cruise Line offers dozens of Christmas-themed cruises in November and December of 2023 and 2024. Cruisers looking to celebrate the holidays with Disney's cast of characters in 2023 can book a Very Merrytime cruise as short as a four-day sailing from Port Canaveral, Florida, to the Bahamas. For an extended getaway, consider Disney Cruise Line 's eastbound eastbound 15-day voyage that embarks in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico , and transits the Panama Canal, disembarking in Galveston, Texas .

On the first evening of every sailing, guests can gather around the three-deck-tall Christmas tree for the tree lighting ceremony, a holiday singalong and the introduction of Santa Claus. Other festivities include the fun-filled Mickey and Minnie's Holiday Party, themed Very Merrytime activities for children of all ages, carolers singing songs, and Christmas-inspired food and beverages. Disney characters like Mickey and Minnie Mouse will be sporting jolly new holiday attire during the special voyages.

Read: The Top Themed Cruises

Windstar Cruises

Courtesy of Windstar Cruises

Celebrate the holidays with a once-in-a-lifetime getaway to the sun-drenched islands of Tahiti . You'll set sail a few days before Christmas aboard the four-masted sailing yacht Wind Spirit. Windstar's 10-day Overwater Bungalow & Tahitian Paradise Cruise Tour also includes a three-night stay in overwater bungalows on the island of Moorea. Resort perks include a half-day private car tour and a romantic beach dinner where you can watch a spectacular French Polynesian sunset over the South Pacific Ocean.

Guests can join in on the holiday spirit around the ship with festive Christmas trees and decorations and holiday-inspired cocktails and treats. Special programming for the voyage includes a Christmas movie, a gala tea, an interdenominational Christmas service and a Christmas Eve dinner. Christmas morning brings more celebrations throughout the day, with holiday meals, a Yuletide afternoon tea and a Christmas dinner followed by a variety show in the evening.

Norwegian Cruise Line

Courtesy of Norwegian Cruise Line

Grab the swimsuit, flip-flops and sunglasses for a tropical holiday on Norwegian Cruise Line 's newest ship, Norwegian Viva. The line's nine-day Caribbean voyage departs round-trip from San Juan, Puerto Rico , several days after Christmas. There are eight ports of call, including stops in the beautiful islands of Curaçao , Bonaire , St. Lucia and Aruba . For a special celebration, splurge on luxurious suite accommodations in The Haven. The ship-within-a-ship retreat features a private restaurant, a lounge, a sundeck, a concierge desk and 24-hour butler service.

Holiday-themed activities on Norwegian's ships vary by itinerary and ship. Still, guests will find plenty of festive fun on board, including traditional holiday fare and holiday-inspired musical sets, trivia, and family and youth programming. Guests are invited to offer interdenominational services for fellow passengers during the sailing. You'll also find Hanukkah services listed in the Freestyle Daily Program. Plan to sleep in on New Year's Day and spend a blissful day relaxing at sea after a late night celebrating New Year's Eve on board the ship.

American Queen Voyages

The holiday-themed, eight-day Roundtrip New Orleans voyage on American Queen begins with an overnight in the city and disembarks just in time to spend Christmas Eve in the Big Easy . The ship – a 417-passenger paddlewheeler that is the largest steamboat ever built – will call on four ports during the sailing on the Lower Mississippi River. In Natchez, Mississippi, guests will find holiday markets exclusively created for the voyage, where you can shop for gifts and sweet treats. You'll also be greeted with bonfires along the riverbanks at the historic Nottoway Resort in White Parish, Louisiana. Join in the real spirit of Christmas with donations to Giving Trees in the port towns that help local charities.

There are plenty of cheery activities on board the ship with Christmas shows, singalongs, caroling and cooking demonstrations. Guests can also put their creative talents to work decorating gingerbread houses, ornaments and cards while sampling holiday-themed cocktails or sipping hot chocolate. Specially prepared dishes will celebrate the traditions of Hanukkah, including traditional foods like homemade latkes (fried potato pancakes).

Read: The Top Mississippi River Cruises

Courtesy of Silversea

For a life-changing experience and the merriest Christmas of all, spend the holiday with several species of waddling penguins, giant seals and majestic whales while visiting the ice-covered shores of The White Continent. The 10-day Punta Arenas to Puerto Williams expedition on Silversea 's Silver Endeavour sets sail from Chile a week before Christmas in 2023 for the Antarctica Peninsula. Five days of excursions allow travelers to explore this surreal and magical part of the world. Weather permitting, guests will even take a Zodiac cruise with the expedition team in the South Shetland Islands on Christmas Day.

Festive touches on board the ship include Christmas trees and lights, gingerbread houses, holiday arts and crafts, caroling, religious services, and musical performances by the crew and professional entertainers. Guests will also enjoy a traditional holiday dinner on Christmas Day.

Why Trust U.S. News Travel

Gwen Pratesi has been an avid cruiser since her early 20s. She has sailed to destinations around the globe on nearly every type of cruise ship built, including the newest megaships, luxury yachts, expedition vessels, and river ships in Europe and on the Mekong River. She used her extensive knowledge and experience with the cruise industry to write this article. Pratesi covers the travel and culinary industries for major publications, including U.S. News & World Report.

You might also be interested in:

• The Top River Cruise Lines
• The Top Cruises on Small Ships
• Cruise Packing List: Essentials for Your Cruise
• The Top Christmas Lights Displays in the U.S.
• The Best Christmas Vacations

Tags: Travel , Cruises , Winter Vacations , Christmas

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• # 4 Bora Bora

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Geek & Movie Christmas Jumpers

637 results

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• Newest Arrivals
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Pokémon Charmander Knitted Christmas Jumper

Pokémon Pikachu Christmas Knitted Jumper Black

• 4.75 4 RRP: £39.99 £19.99 Quick Buy Pokémon Pikachu Christmas Knitted Jumper Black

Jurassic Park Seasons Greetings from Isla Nublar Knitted Christmas Jumper

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Pokémon Bulbasaur Knitted Christmas Jumper

Back to the Future 1.21 Jinglewatts Knitted Christmas Jumper

• 4.0 3 RRP: £39.99 £19.99 Quick Buy Back to the Future 1.21 Jinglewatts Knitted Christmas Jumper

Black Panther Wakanda Forever Knitted Christmas Jumper

• 5.0 1 RRP: £39.99 £19.99 Quick Buy Black Panther Wakanda Forever Knitted Christmas Jumper

Gremlins Don't Feed After Midnight Knitted Christmas Jumper

• 4.5 2 RRP: £39.99 £19.99 Quick Buy Gremlins Don't Feed After Midnight Knitted Christmas Jumper

Harry Potter Back To Hogwarts Knitted Christmas Jumper

• 4.33 3 RRP: £39.99 £19.99 Quick Buy Harry Potter Back To Hogwarts Knitted Christmas Jumper

The Witcher Knitted Christmas Jumper

• 5.0 1 RRP: £39.99 £19.99 Quick Buy The Witcher Knitted Christmas Jumper

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• 5.0 1 RRP: £39.99 £24.99 Quick Buy Pokémon Squirtle Knitted Christmas Jumper

Star Wars Galaxy's Greetings Knitted Christmas Jumper

• 5.0 1 RRP: £39.99 £19.99 Quick Buy Star Wars Galaxy's Greetings Knitted Christmas Jumper

Star Wars X-Wing v TIE Fighter Christmas Jumper

• 4.5 2 RRP: £39.99 £34.99 Quick Buy Star Wars X-Wing v TIE Fighter Christmas Jumper

Star Wars Millennium Falcon Christmas Jumper

Star Wars Baby Yoda Christmas Jumper

Spider Man Miles Morales Christmas Jumper

• 5.0 1 RRP: £39.99 £34.99 Quick Buy Spider Man Miles Morales Christmas Jumper

Marvel Winter Soldier Christmas Jumper

Sam Wilson Captain America Christmas Jumper

Loki Christmas Jumper

• 4.0 1 RRP: £39.99 £34.99 Quick Buy Loki Christmas Jumper

The Nightmare Before Christmas Christmas Jumper

• 5.0 1 RRP: £39.99 £34.99 Quick Buy The Nightmare Before Christmas Christmas Jumper

Stranger Things Christmas Jumper

Star Wars Yoda Christmas Jumper

Star Wars Boba Fett Christmas Jumper

Star Wars The Child Christmas Jumper

Spiderman Christmas Jumper

• 4.0 1 RRP: £39.99 £34.99 Quick Buy Spiderman Christmas Jumper

Captain America Christmas Jumper

Friends Christmas Jumper

Nightmare Before Christmas 8-bit Christmas Jumper

• 5.0 1 RRP: £39.99 £34.99 Quick Buy Nightmare Before Christmas 8-bit Christmas Jumper

Captain Marvel Christmas Jumper

TV Text Christmas Jumper

Harley Quinn: Hey Puddin Christmas Jumper

TMNT Christmas Jumper

• 5.0 1 RRP: £39.99 £34.99 Quick Buy TMNT Christmas Jumper

Stranger Things: Hellfire Club Christmas Jumper

• 3.0 1 RRP: £39.99 £34.99 Quick Buy Stranger Things: Hellfire Club Christmas Jumper

Black Panther 2 Christmas Jumper

Slytherin House Crest Christmas Jumper

Gryffindor House Crest Christmas Jumper

Hufflepuff House Crest Christmas Jumper

Doctor Strange: Eye of Agamotto Christmas Jumper

Ravenclaw House Crest Christmas Jumper

Aladdin: Magical Christmas Jumper

Thor: Stormbreaker Christmas Jumper

Moon Knight Christmas Jumper

Disney The Nightmare Before Christmas Jack Skellington Misfit Love Black Sweatshirt

Shaun Of The Dead You've Got Red On You Christmas Women's Christmas Jumper - Black

• 5.0 2 £29.99 Quick Buy Shaun Of The Dead You've Got Red On You Christmas Women's Christmas Jumper - Black

Marvel The Amazing Spider-Man Snowflake Web Kids' Christmas Jumper - Black

Marvel The Incredible Hulk Christmas Present Kids' Christmas Jumper - Forest Green

• 5.0 3 £19.99 Quick Buy Marvel The Incredible Hulk Christmas Present Kids' Christmas Jumper - Forest Green

National Lampoon Merry Christmas Clark Griswold Women's Christmas Jumper - Black

Disney Frozen Olaf and Snowmen Women's Christmas Sweatshirt - Black

Marvel Yondu Ruined Christmas Christmas Jumper - Denim Blue Acid Wash

What is a christmas jumper.

Christmas jumpers (also known as Christmas sweaters) are a form of clothing usually worn during winter, the season that marks the commencement of the festive holiday. Though they are thought of as staples of this time of year, their popularity was not widespread until the ’80s, during which presenters and singers began wearing them when appearing on television specials.

Throughout most media in which they are present, Christmas jumpers are depicted as knitted items made by the elderly for members of their family, predominantly young boys and girls . However, they have since become more commercialised, and there are many places to buy them.

Geeky Christmas Jumpers

Traditionally, Christmas jumpers are intended to represent the spirit of the holiday season that they accompany, but there’s no denying that the end result is often bland and — dare we say — ugly.

To rectify this unfortunate side effect of one too many snowflakes, our novelty Christmas jumpers (available in all sizes, including plus size) incorporate aspects of well-known franchises that exist in the world of geek culture, drawing inspiration from video games, TV shows, and movies. Some prominent examples are Stranger Things , Star Wars, Marvel, DC Comics, Disney, Elf, Harry Potter, Rick & Morty, The Grinch, Back to the Future , and The Big Lebowski .

Now you can invite some of your favourite characters to join the holiday celebrations. Take Darth Vader , for example: this Dark Lord of the Sith is feared throughout the Star Wars galaxy, yet our team of talented designers have transformed him into a master of festive cheer for these Xmas sweaters. Indeed, a traditional Santa hat adorns his imposing helmet, and his red-coloured lightsaber has been replaced by a candy cane. Who says that villains can’t enjoy the 25th of December?

What to Wear with a Christmas Jumper

If you’re looking forward to rocking your annual geek Christmas jumper, you might be wondering what to wear alongside it. Like any bold fashion item, they don’t complement all parts of your wardrobe, and because of this, you need to be selective.

The first step is to assess the theme of your outfit. Do you own a funny Christmas jumper? A cool one? Maybe even a rude one? The more outlandish the design, the more freedom you have to be creative. That’s not to say that you must go all out. If you’re feeling conservative, it is perfectly acceptable to adhere to tried-and-tested colour combinations. For example, a black or red Christmas jumper complements a pair of blue denim jeans nicely.

Would you believe us if we said that dressing yourself is perhaps the easiest part of the festive season? Try choosing the best Christmas jumper for your significant other or, worse, your entire family. Yes, some brave holiday lovers opt to spread the festive cheer between them, and we have only two words to say in response: good luck.

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