Christmas Cruise Deals

Where Do Christmas Cruises Go in 2026?

The most popular destinations for Christmas 2026 sailings are the Caribbean, Southeast Asia and Japan — in that order, and by a clear margin. Alongside these, a smaller number of sailings cover the Western Mediterranean, Transatlantic routes and the East Coast USA. If you want something truly long-haul, Australia and New Zealand and East Asia also feature. Durations run from 7 nights to 46, with a median of 15 nights — so there’s a genuine range whether you want a fortnight away or a proper extended escape.

The Caribbean at Christmas

The Caribbean draws the most Christmas departures of any region. Embarkation ports include Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades) and San Juan, Puerto Rico — worth knowing that Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades) and Miami are about half an hour apart, so a Florida trip can sail from either. Most Caribbean sailings here are round trips, which keeps the logistics simple: fly out, board, sail, fly home.

Royal Caribbean is the most active line in the Caribbean this Christmas. Odyssey of the Seas sails the region, and if you’re looking at Caribbean cruise deals more broadly, Royal Caribbean’s fare types include last-minute offers and early booking bonuses — worth asking our team which applies to your sailing.

Southeast Asia and Japan for Christmas

Southeast Asia is the second-busiest region, with sailings embarking from Singapore and Hong Kong. The Spectrum of the Seas from Royal Caribbean is the standout ship here — built specifically for the East Asia market, with 16 restaurants including Dadong Wonderland Chinese cuisine, Jamie’s Italian and an Asian-fusion main dining room. The North Star observation capsule rises 300 feet above sea level in a glass pod, and the RipCord by iFLY skydiving simulator and FlowRider surf simulator make it feel closer to a theme park than a traditional ship. See the Spectrum of the Seas cabins and deck plans if you’re choosing your grade.

Japan sailings add something genuinely different to the mix — a region few people think to cruise at Christmas but which rewards those who do. Sailings end in ports including Hong Kong and Singapore, so a flight home from one of those cities rounds off the trip naturally. We can book that return flight, your pre-cruise hotel and any transfers as part of the same package.

Western Mediterranean and Transatlantic

For those who’d rather stay closer to Europe, the Western Mediterranean has a handful of Christmas departures, with Barcelona among the embarkation points. Transatlantic crossings also feature — and if the idea of crossing the Atlantic on a real ocean liner appeals, Queen Mary 1 is purpose-built for exactly that. She’s the world’s only ocean liner designed for the North Atlantic, not a converted cruise ship. On board you’ll find the first planetarium at sea — Illuminations — alongside six speciality restaurants, a Royal Court Theatre with West End-calibre productions, and nightly ballroom dancing in the Queens Room. Check the Queen Mary 2 cabins and deck plans before you decide. Cunard sailings tend to book early for Christmas, so it’s worth enquiring sooner rather than later.

Which Ships Are Sailing at Christmas 2026?

Several ships stand out across the Christmas 2026 programme. Here’s what each one actually offers:

Spectrum of the Seas — Royal Caribbean

Built for the Asian market and sailing Southeast Asia this Christmas. With 16 restaurants, the North Star observation capsule (rising 300 feet above the waterline in a glass pod), the RipCord by iFLY skydiving simulator and a FlowRider surf simulator, this is a ship for people who want their holiday to keep moving. View Spectrum of the Seas cabin grades and deck plans.

Cabin options on Spectrum of the Seas include:

• Inside cabin with virtual balcony (1U) — 15.4 m²: A high-definition screen broadcasts a live sea view directly into your cabin, giving you the feel of a balcony at the inside cabin price.
• Large Ocean-view cabin (3M) — 19.9 m²: More floor space than the standard ocean-view, at a price that still makes sense for most budgets.
• Balcony cabin with sea view (1D) — 18.4 m²: Your own private outdoor space with an unobstructed sea view.
• Ultimate Family Suite (US) — 257 m²: A two-level suite sleeping up to 10 — the largest accommodation on board by a significant margin.

Odyssey of the Seas — Royal Caribbean

Sailing the Caribbean this Christmas. A Quantum Ultra-class ship with a broad range of onboard experiences and itineraries that cover the islands in depth. See the Odyssey of the Seas cabins and deck plans for grade options.

Azamara Onward — Azamara

Small-ship luxury at its most practical: around 692 guests, which means you can dock at ports larger ships simply cannot reach. Azamara’s signature overnight and late-night stays give you real time ashore — this is a ship for people who want to explore, not just tick a port off a list. Dining is boutique-hotel standard: Prime C Steakhouse, Aqualina Italian and a Caviar & Champagne Bar. View Azamara Onward cabin grades and deck plans.

Azamara Onward cabin options:

• Inside cabin (09) — 14.7 m²: Entry-level price with a surprisingly spacious layout.
• Sea-view cabin (04) — 13.3 m²: Natural daylight and a window view that windowless cabins cannot offer.
• Balcony cabin (P1) — 16.3 m²: Private outdoor space with sea views.
• Club World Owner’s Suite (CW) — 52 m²: The largest suite on board — 11 m² bigger than the Ocean Suite and more than twice the size of a Continent Suite.

Crown Princess — Princess Cruises

Refreshed in a 2025 Singapore dry dock, Crown Princess now has a redesigned O’Malley’s Irish Pub and Gatsby’s Casino alongside the Crown Grill and Sabatini’s restaurants. Nearly 900 balconies and a three-storey atrium make the ship feel spacious even at full capacity. View Crown Princess cabin grades and deck plans.

Crown Princess cabin options:

• Inside cabin (IA) — 15.1 m²: Located on middle decks for easy access to lifts and facilities.
• Sea-view cabin (OB) — 16.6 m²: Panoramic window with unobstructed sea views.
• Premium Balcony cabin (B1) — 25.2 m²: Private table and chairs outside — your own outdoor space without the public decks.
• Owner’s Suite (S2) — 63.8 m²: The most spacious suite on board, significantly larger than the Penthouse and Premium Suites.

Princess Cruises offers fare tiers worth considering: Princess Standard covers the cruise itself, while Princess Plus adds casual dining meals, drinks up to $15 each, MedallionNet Max Wi-Fi, pre-paid gratuities, unlimited digital photos and reserved theatre seating. Ask our team which tier fits your travel style.

What Are the Best Christmas Cruise Deals?

Some sailings carry reductions of up to 35% from the price previously listed for that cabin grade — though that figure applies to one departure, and most reduced sailings are closer to 6% off. It’s still worth checking individual departures carefully, because the saving on the right cabin can be meaningful. Cruise1st Packages wrap the cruise together with your flights, hotels and transfers into one price, which is often where the real value sits. Our team can compare the options across lines including MSC Cruises, Azamara, Carnival Cruise Line and Princess Cruises.

A handful of sailings are all-inclusive, covering drinks and dining from the outset. If that’s what you’re after, our all-inclusive Christmas 2026 cruise options and Christmas and New Year 2026 all-inclusive cruises are worth a look alongside this page.

Are There Christmas Cruises from the UK?

The vast majority of Christmas 2026 sailings here depart from ports abroad — Hong Kong, Fort Lauderdale, Sydney, Singapore, San Juan and Barcelona among them — so a flight is part of the journey for almost everyone. As a fly-cruise specialist, Cruise1st can book your flights, hotels before and after the cruise, transfers and tours as a single holiday. You deal with one team, pay one booking, and have one point of contact if anything needs adjusting.

A small number of Christmas cruises from Southampton do feature, which means you can reach the ship by road or rail with no airport involved at all. If that appeals, those sailings are filtered separately and worth checking.

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Make It a Complete Holiday

Because most Christmas departures are fly-cruises, the trip naturally has more moving parts — outbound flight, transfer to the port, the cruise itself, and a flight home. We can handle every element: flights, hotels the night before or after, port transfers, tours at your destination, and insurance. Browse fly-cruise deals or talk to our team about building the right package around your chosen sailing. You can also explore cruise and stay packages if you’d like to add extra nights at the destination before or after you sail.

If you’re still weighing up the year, all 2026 Christmas cruises and 2027 Christmas cruises are both available to browse, and our experts can talk you through the differences. Looking for something festive and all-inclusive? See Christmas and New Year 2027 all-inclusive cruises for next year’s options. For those who prefer to stay closer to home, Christmas cruises from the UK covers the no-fly alternatives in one place.

Want to explore value options beyond the festive period? Our full cruises listing covers year-round departures, and Royal Caribbean cruise deals and last-minute fly-cruise deals are updated regularly if timing is flexible.

*Prices are per person based on 2 people sharing, and are subject to change. This price is not kept up to date and therefore does not reflect live pricing and availability. Prices and any discounts shown were checked on 14 October 2026.

Where a discount is shown, it is a reduction from the price previously listed for that cabin grade on that sailing, not a comparison between cabin grades or against a brochure rate.