disney cruise between christmas and new years

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Your Complete Guide To A Disney Christmas Cruise

Embarking on a Disney Christmas Cruise is like stepping into a holiday storybook where festive cheer meets the magic of Disney on the high seas. A Very Merrytime Cruise with Disney Cruise Line is not just a journey; it’s an immersive holiday experience! These cruises offer families a unique way to spend the holiday season with their favorite Disney characters and the chance to meet Santa Claus himself! Whether it’s your first cruise or a cherished family tradition, a Disney Christmas Cruise promises to be an extraordinary holiday adventure. That’s why we have created this helpful guide to give you the tools you need to have a magical adventure to remember!

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Complete Guide to a Disney Christmas Cruise

Sailing on a Disney cruise ship is an experience drenched in the enchantment of Disney. From the intricately themed staterooms and dining venues to the exclusive character encounters. But what truly sets Disney cruises apart are their special-themed sailings! Guests can immerse themselves in the festive spirit with Very Merrytime Cruises.  My first cruise with DCL was a Halloween-themed voyage back in 2019, I can confidently say that it was a spellbinding adventure. And as a former Cast Member and someone who loves cheap tickets to Walt Disney World , it was the most magical vacation I’ve ever had. In this post, I’ll provide helpful information for those considering a Very Merrytime Cruise . Helping you decide if this holiday-themed journey is the perfect fit for your family’s festive celebration.

What Are Disney Cruise Line’s Very Merrytime Holiday Cruises?

Disney Cruise Line’s Very Merrytime Cruises transform the already magical voyage into a winter wonderland at sea. These cruises, scheduled around the Christmas season, offer guests a unique blend of Disney’s enchanting entertainment and the festive spirit of the holidays. Imagine boarding a ship adorned with holiday décor, complete with a giant Christmas tree, twinkling lights, and garlands galore, setting the scene for a truly memorable Christmas experience.

Related Post: What are the Best Disney Cruise Rooms

When Are the Very Merrytime Disney Cruise Dates?

Now that we know what a D isney Christmas cruise  is, we can start to uncover more details on these cheerful sailings! The V ery Merrytime Disney Cruises  sail dates are November 8th – December 28, 2023. And November 4th – December 29th, 2024. These dates are chosen to maximize the holiday experience, allowing guests to soak in the Yuletide spirit throughout the entire holiday season. When booking a Disney Cruise , one of the first things you should look at is the sailing calendar. This will help determine where you’re sailing from, sailing to, and on what ship you’ll be sailing on. This is also where you can see if your vacation will line up with any specialty cruises!

What are Disney Merrytime Cruise Sail Dates?

• 2023 : November 8th – December 28th
• 2024 : November 4th – December 29th

Christmas Disney Cruise Ships 2023/2024

Disney Magic:

• Sail Dates : December 17, 2023 – December 28, 2023 & November 21, 2024 – December 23, 2024
• Sailing From : Galveston, Texas
• Ports of Call : Progresso & Cozumel, Mexico, & George Town, Grand Cayman

Disney Dream:

• Sail Dates : November 20, 2023 – December 23, 2023 & November 14, 2024 – December 21, 2024
• Sailing From : Fort Lauderdale, Florida
• Ports of Call : Nassau, Bahamas,  Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point , Disney Castaway Cay, & Cozumel, Mexico

Christmas on the Disney Fantasy:

• Sail Dates : December 2, 2023 – December 23, 2023 & November 10, 2024 – December 22, 2024
• Sailing From : Port Canaveral
• Ports of Call : Nassau Bahamas, Disney Castaway Cay , Lighthouse Point, George Town Grand Cayman, Falmouth Jamaica, Cozumel Mexico, Tortola British Virgin Islands, St. Thomas U.S. Virgin Islands

Disney Wish:

• Sail Dates : November 20, 2023 – December 11, 2023 & November 4, 2024 – December 23, 2024
• Ports of Call : Nassau Bahamas, Disney Castaway Cay

Related Post : Discounted Disney Cruise Line Staterooms

What is the Cost of a Disney Christmas Cruise?

You might be wondering if the extra activities and unique experiences of a Very Merrytime Cruise come with a higher price tag compared to regular Disney cruises. While themed cruises may sometimes carry a slightly higher cost, the final price is influenced by several factors beyond just the theme. With Disney Cruise Line, the key elements determine the cost of your cruise . These factors include the sailing date, selected ports of call, and stateroom occupancy. Therefore, it’s possible that your Very Merrytime Cruise could align in price with a standard cruise, or even be more budget-friendly.

How Much is a Very Merrytime Disney Cruise?

• $1,004 – $3,059 per person

It’s worth noting that If you’re looking to sail on a themed Disney cruise, we suggest the Halloween on the High Seas cruises for the price point. The Halloween period overlaps with Hurricane Season. This is often met with lower cruise prices. However, the Holiday sailings tend to be a peak time for travel, potentially impacting the cost and availability.

Related Post :   How Much Does a Disney Cruise Cost Per Person?

Very Merrytime Cruise Activities

The distinctiveness of the Disney Very Merrytime Cruises  lies in the complete transformation of the ship to embody the festive theme. This type of comprehensive thematic overhaul is exclusive to the Halloween and Christmas seasons. During other times of the year, Disney cruises showcase the natural elegance and charm of the Disney fleet without any specific themes. But for Very Merrytime Cruises, the experience is entirely different. The ships are adorned with Christmas decorations, including sparkling lights, festive wreaths, and towering Christmas trees. In addition to the visual transformation, these cruises feature an array of themed activities, entertainment, and special appearances by beloved Disney characters in holiday attire. This level of detailed theming is consistent across all ships that host the Very Merrytime Cruises. With each vessel offering a uniquely immersive holiday experience at sea.

Very Merrytime Cruise Info & Entertainment

• Mickey’s Tree Lighting Magic

Characters Wearing Christmas Outfits

• Santa’s Winter Wonderland Ball
• The Gingerbread House
• Deck the Deck Tropical Holiday Deck Party

Meeting Santa Claus

• Storytime with Mrs Claus
• One of the highlights of the Disney Christmas Cruises is the opportunity to meet beloved Disney characters donning their festive holiday attire. It’s a perfect chance for memorable photos and a unique way to interact with these iconic characters in a Christmas setting.
• No Christmas celebration is complete without Santa Claus, and Disney’s Very Merrytime Cruises make sure of that. Children and adults alike can meet and take photos with Santa, adding an extra layer of holiday cheer to their sea voyage.

Related Post : When is the Cheapest Time to Go on a Disney Cruise?

Is Disney Cruise Christmas Worth It? – V ery Merrytime Cruise Review

Having experienced the magic of a themed Disney Cruise, I wholeheartedly would recommend it to everyone. Especially when you can seize the opportunity to book discounted staterooms through The Park Prodigy. These cruises encapsulate the wonder of the holidays with a unique Disney twist. And offer an array of festive activities, enchanting entertainment, and unforgettable character encounters. The convenience and savings provided by The Park Prodigy make the experience even more enjoyable ensuring a stress-free booking process! This cruise is not just a vacation; it’s a festive celebration that brings the joy of Disney and the spirit of Christmas! Together in a way that’s unparalleled to what you can experience in the theme parks.

Which Cruise Line Is Best for Christmas?

When considering a Christmas cruise, Disney Cruise Line stands out for its unparalleled combination of holiday festivities and Disney magic. From the festive decorations and unique holiday-themed entertainment. Disney offers an experience that’s hard to match. The attention to detail, quality of service, and overall atmosphere make it a highly recommended choice for families seeking a special way to celebrate the season.

Related Post : Enjoy Thanksgiving at Sea!

Disney Christmas Cruise FAQ

Q: Does Disney Do a Christmas Cruise?

A: Yes, Disney Cruise Line offers special Christmas cruises known as Very Merrytime Cruises. These cruises are specifically designed to celebrate the holiday season, featuring festive decorations, themed entertainment, and unique activities that embrace the spirit of Christmas.

Q: Is There a Pirate Night on Disney Christmas Cruises?

A: While Pirate Night is a beloved staple on many Disney cruises, its inclusion on a Disney Christmas Cruise can vary. These themed cruises focus more on holiday festivities. So it’s best to check the specific itinerary of your Very Merrytime Cruise for any themed nights, including Pirate Night.

Q: Do Disney Cruises Decorate for Christmas?

A: Absolutely! Disney cruises are renowned for their elaborate decorations, and this is especially true for the Very Merrytime Cruises. The ships are transformed into a holiday wonderland with Christmas trees, lights, garlands, and other seasonal adornments, enhancing the festive atmosphere onboard.

Q: Can You Do a Disney Cruise in December?

A: Yes, December is a prime time for Disney Very Merrytime Cruises. These special holiday cruises are scheduled throughout the Christmas season, including the month of December, offering guests a unique opportunity to celebrate the holidays in a magical Disney setting at sea.

When is The Best Time to Visit Disney World?

Our   Disney  World Crowd Calendar  is the best tool to help you get the most out of your time in the parks. We break down park crowds, park hours of operation, ticket prices, and average temperature. We also break down   the best time to visit Disney World   based on specific times of the year and special events.

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Are you planning a trip to Walt Disney World? Be sure to speak with a   Disney World Travel Agent   for the most recent deals and promotions. The Park Prodigy will provide a  Free Quote  for all  Disney World Vacation Packages .  The Park Prodigy can also help you save up to $20 per ticket when purchasing your   Walt Disney World Tickets.   A nd we offer promotional discounts for special events such as   Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party Tickets   and  Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Tickets .

Don’t forget to check out our wonderful friends over at  Theme Park Today , as well!

Who We Recommend

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Kurt Gillman

Kurt is a former Disneyland Cast Member and seasoned explorer and is your trusted guide to the world of theme park travel. With countless visits to Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, Universal Hollywood, Tokyo Disneyland, and even aboard the Disney Cruise Line, Kurt's expertise and passion make him the perfect companion for your enchanting adventures. As the Multi-Media Manager, Content Creator and Writer for The Park Prodigy, Kurt hopes his experience and knowledge of the theme park industry can not only save people money, but give them the stress free vacation of their dreams. If he isn’t found trying the newest treats in Disneyland, Kurt enjoys relaxing at home with his dog Sam and playing video games with friends in his free time.

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Holiday-Themed Cruises

A new holiday tradition, seasonal sailings, halloween on the high seas.

From September through October, set sail for a spooky jubilee packed with haunted tricks and fun-filled treats for everyone in the family. Magical mischief and spirited surroundings await you at every turn, thanks to not-so-scary parties, bewitching entertainment and eerie décor.

Very Merrytime Cruises

Delight in a winter wonderland of fun as you share seasonal splendor with loved ones from November through December. Discover a jolly fusion of holiday-themed entertainment, activities and décor—including a 24-foot-tall Christmas tree, sparkling lights and more.

SAIL DATES AND RESERVATIONS

Spirit away for spook-tacular fun during select sail dates in 2024 and 2025.

Unwrap the perfect holiday gift during select sailings in 2024 and 2025.

Very Merrytime Cruises Over the Holidays on Disney Cruise Line

Every year, a Very Merrytime Cruises  take place on most voyages aboard all Disney Cruise Line ships from mid-November through right before Christmas. In addition to the usual activities and fun expected from a Disney cruise, there are many magical holiday extras in keeping with the holiday spirits. Sailings range in length from three to 14 nights with itineraries to the Caribbean and Bahamas, including stops on  Castaway Cay , Disney's private island. There are four ships that host the Very Merrytime Cruise during the holiday season: Disney Magic , Disney Wonder , Disney Dream , and Disney Fantasy .

Holiday Decorations

Families sailing during the holiday season from late November to New Year's Eve are treated to ships decked out from stem to stern with traditional Thanksgiving fanfare, Christmas festivities, and snow flurries.

Decorations onboard the Disney ships include 124 Christmas trees; 4,473 yards of garland; 14,000 yards of ribbon; over 5.5 miles of Christmas lights; and one giant candy cane for a tropical deck party. While Santa shares 300 pounds of gingerbread cookies, the life-size gingerbread house takes 320 hours to make with 650 pounds of gingerbread, 5,250 gingerbread bricks, and 220 pounds of sugar icing.

When the ships stop at Disney’s private island in the Bahamas, Castaway Cay , the celebration continues with a decked-out Christmas tree, Disney character meet-and-greets, and holiday island music. Plus, the island's tram is decorated to resemble a reindeer, complete with antlers and a tail.

Merrytime Cruise Event Highlights

During the cruise, there will be many holiday-themed events to look forward to, from tree lightings to holiday parties.

• Mickey’s Tree-Lighting Magic takes place on the first night of the cruise in the atrium lobby where Disney characters lead holiday carols and the lighting of the glittering, three-deck-tall tree.
• Santa's Winter Wonderland Ball celebrates the arrival of Santa and Mrs. Claus, offering an opportunity to don holiday attire and join Disney friends and princesses for a glamorous ball. There will be appearances by Santa and meet-and-greet opportunities with Disney characters like Anna and Elsa from the hit movie "Frozen ."
• A variety of family holiday activities include building gingerbread houses and meet-and-greets with Santa Claus and favorite Disney characters. Youth holiday craft sessions are held to teach the kids how to decorate stockings and gingerbread men cookies, make holiday cards, and create holiday animation cells.
• Storytime with Mrs. Claus gathers the children in the atrium to hear well-known Christmas stories from her rocking chair by the tree. Holiday storytellers will share tales of Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa, plus a story about the magical feeling of the holidays on a ship.
• At the Deck the Deck Holiday Party, Disney friends lead games such as hula hooping and limbo under oversized candy canes, along with dances for the whole family like the “Yuletide Slide” and a conga line around the pool. The Disney Cruise Line’s farewell on the final night of each cruise, Til We Meet Again, features a special holiday edition with Disney characters and the ship’s crew in a musical finale led by Mickey Mouse.

Thanksgiving Day Events

On Thanksgiving cruises , families can feast on a Thanksgiving Day dinner and more. Guest will receive visits from Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse dressed in traditional Thanksgiving attire, and a special turkey towel animal in their stateroom upon turndown. Also during the special Thanksgiving voyages, big NFL football games are broadcast live on the ships’ outdoor, jumbo LED screen located near the family pool.

New Year's Eve Events

If you cruise on any Disney ship during New Year's eve, expect music, food, fireworks, and a giant midnight deck party. Activities are subject to change depending on each ship and itinerary, but a party hosted by Disney characters dressed in their New Year's best is guaranteed.

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Disney Cruise Line Holiday Celebration Details

Disney is celebrating #HalfwaytotheHolidays and Disney Cruise Line is the perfect place to celebrate the holidays! Learn more below.

Here are all the details from Disney Cast Member Melanie Curtsinger:

The calendar may say July, but it’s never too early to start planning for the holidays, right? From the catchy holiday jingles, themed food and gatherings with family and cherished loved ones, there are so many reasons why it truly is the most wonderful time of the year!

Whether you are looking for a new family tradition or just simply want to add some cheer to the season, Disney Cruise Line has an option to make the magic of the holidays come alive – Very Merrytime Cruises !

From early November through December , the Disney Cruise Line fleet is decked from bow-to-stern with holiday cheer and entertainment during Very Merrytime Cruises. Holiday magic is unwrapped for the whole family with festive holiday decor, favorite characters in their finest holiday attire and a special visit from none other than Santa Claus.

But don’t just take my word for it! Here are some of my favorite things about these special holiday sailings on board Disney Cruise Line.

Holly Jolly Decor

When you enter the atrium for the first time on your Very Merrytime Cruise, your eyes will likely be immediately drawn to the three-deck-tall Christmas tree. That’s right – from garlands, poinsettias and shimmering lights, décor will fill the nooks and crannies of our ships during these holiday sailings, filling your vacation with holiday merriment from the moment you step on board!

Santa Claus! 

What’s a holiday cruise without Santa and Mrs. Claus? We may not be at the North Pole, but you can still be on the lookout for sightings of ‘Old Saint Nick’ while you’re on board, and you won’t want to miss one of our favorite Disney Cruise Line traditions – Storytime with Mrs. Claus.

Characters in holiday attire

Whether it’s Mickey in his winter sweater, Pluto with antlers or Goofy in a full-fledged Santa suit, your favorite characters will be dressed in their finest holiday garb during Very Merrytime Cruises.

Castaway Cay

My favorite thing to do for the holidays is trade in white snow for the white sand beaches on Castaway Cay , Disney Cruise Line’s private island. But even though you may be in the Bahamas, this slice of paradise is decked for the holidays as well – with a tropical flair, of course! A massive Christmas tree, holiday island music and even “snow” flurries await your family, guaranteeing that the only “blue” you’ll be feeling this holiday season is the color of the crystal-clear waters!

RELATED ARTICLE: Very Merrytime Cruise – Our Review and What You Need to Know

Unwrap a holiday adventure for the whole family: a cruise aboard the Disney Magic, Disney Wonder, Disney Dream or Disney Fantasy, all decked out with holiday cheer. From early November through December, Disney Cruise Line adds sparkle to each ship during Very Merrytime Cruises. These holiday-themed cruises feature exclusive offerings for the whole family to enjoy. We recently enjoyed a Very Merrytime Cruise on the Disney Dream! Keep reading for what you need to know about these fantastic cruises.

1 – Preparing for Your Very Merrytime Cruise

We had a lot of fun getting ready for our holiday cruise. We packed matching holiday shirts and brought our own stateroom decorations, along with ordering an in-room décor package. Check out our article on packing for a Very Merrytime Cruise by clicking here .

2 – Holiday Decorations Around the Ship

When you step aboard the ship during your Very Merrytime Cruise, you’ll find it decorated for the holidays. Decorations include a life-sized gingerbread house that smells amazing, garlands, poinsettias, and lights all around the ship. They really do make the ship even more magical. Finally, you’ll find a 24-foot Christmas tree in the atrium.  The tree stays dark until the first evening, during a special tree-lighting ceremony.

4 – Mickey’s Tree-Lighting Magic

On the first night of your cruise, you don’t want to miss “Mickey’s Tree-Light Magic,” a short show in the atrium lobby. During the show, Disney characters lead holiday carols and the lighting of the three-deck-tall tree. It was an entertaining show that set the stage for a great holiday cruise.

Click here to see a short video of the tree lighting ceremony!

5 – Santa’s Winter Wonderland Ball

Also on the first night of the cruise, is “Santa’s Winter Wonderland Ball” in the atrium lobby. In this short show, cruisers welcome the guests of honor, Santa and Mrs. Claus. The show is a grand celebration featuring Broadway-style entertainment, favorite Disney characters, and classic holiday tunes. This evening is made complete when a particular pair of royal sisters joins the party and causes a flurry of “frozen” fun as a magical snowfall overtakes the atrium.

6 – Dickens-Inspired Carolers

Throughout the cruise, be on the lookout for Dickens-inspired carolers. They carry the spirit of the holidays throughout the ship while singing holiday classics, sometimes with the help of favorite Disney friends. At the end of the cruise, children will have the opportunity to join the carolers onstage for a special farewell show.

7 – Family Holiday Activities

During the cruise, there are plenty of holiday activities for the whole family to enjoy. Chad and our daughter had a lot of fun decorating Christmas cookies. Santa Claus is also available in the atrium for holiday photos with guests. Finally, children and teens have holiday-themed activities in the youth clubs such as decorating stockings and gingerbread men cookies, making holiday cards and creating holiday animation cells.

8 – Holiday Fun on Castaway Cay

9 – Holiday Greetings with Disney Characters

A highlight for many during a Disney cruise is the opportunity to meet your favorite Disney characters. Throughout the cruise, the characters will appear in different outfits. On embarkation day, you’ll usually find Mickey and the gang in their cruising outfits. On Castaway Cay, you’ll find them wearing holiday island attire. During a Very Merrytime Cruise, you’ll be able to meet them in holiday outfits as well! It was so much fun going around the ship to meet them and get pictures. Their outfits are really unique, so a photo with them an extra special keepsake to take home.

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10 – Holiday Merchandise

No Disney vacation is complete without shopping for some merchandise, right? Disney Cruise Line offers a wide variety of items with different themes to guests. During our holiday cruise, I was most looking forward to seeing the Very Merrytime Cruise merchandise items, and I wasn’t disappointed. For the holiday season, they created a small holiday shop. Disney Dream’s Merchandise Manager told us that this was the first year they had dedicated store for the holiday items. You’ll find some items from the parks, but many items are exclusive to the Disney Cruise Line. One difference between shopping on your cruise and shopping at Walt Disney World is that on the ship, they are limited in how much inventory they can store. When something sells out, it will not be restocked during your cruise. So, if you see something you like early in your cruise, best get it then. Disney Cruise Line takes Disney Gift Cards. Disney Vacation Club members receive a 10% discount.

Click here to get a look at the exclusive holiday merchandise on the Very Merrytime Cruises.

11 – Storytime with Mrs. Claus

On the last day of our cruise, we were able to enjoy Storytime with Mrs. Claus. There was a great turnout. Many children were eager to hear from Mrs. Claus, who was sitting in her rocking chair in front of the Christmas tree in the lobby atrium. She read-aloud two stories, “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” and “The Night Before Christmas.” At the end of the storytime, Mrs. Claus was joined by some surprise guests: Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy, and Goofy! There was a brief time of mixing and mingling with the characters for photos, including Mrs. Claus herself. It’s a lovely holiday offering, especially for young children.

12 – See Ya Real Soon

On the final night of every Disney cruise, you can enjoy a short farewell show, ‘See Ya Real Soon,’ in the lobby atrium. We enjoyed a special holiday edition of the cheerful farewell celebration with beloved Disney characters and the ship’s crew in a musical finale led by Mickey Mouse. The end of a Disney cruise is always so sad, but the final show makes it a bit easier to say goodbye!

13 – Thanksgiving Day Extras

If your cruise includes Thanksgiving Day, you will enjoy a bountiful Thanksgiving Day feast and visits from Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse dressed in traditional Thanksgiving attire. Also, during the special Thanksgiving voyages, NFL football games will be broadcast live on the ships’ outdoor, jumbo LED screens – Funnel Vision – located near the family pool.

14 – Christmas Day Extras

On Christmas morning at the atrium lobby tree, Santa Claus and his helpers will have a surprise for all the kids, and you’ll enjoy an exceptional musical performance from the children. A traditional Christmas dinner is served that night in the dining rooms. Christmas services will be held on Christmas Day with a midnight mass on Christmas Eve. Hanukkah services will be held for eight days, beginning on the 25th day of Kislev.

15 – Overall Thoughts

We really enjoyed our Very Merrytime Cruise. The ship was beautiful, and the holiday-themed extras were fun and added extra magic to our cruise. We always love greeting the characters in unique outfits, and so we were thrilled to get photos with them in unique outfits. We would love to sail over Thanksgiving Day or Christmas Day one year. I can only imagine how magical waking up on the ship on Christmas morning would be. If you’re looking for some extra holiday magic on an already fantastic vacation, then a Very Merrytime Cruise is for you!

If you’re thinking about booking a holiday Disney Cruise, now is the perfect time to do so! We highly recommend booking with an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner to ensure you are well taken care of and get all the discounts available to you. For more details and help booking your vacation, call (407) 442-0227. You can also get a no-obligation, FREE vacation quote by  clicking here . Their services are free to you, and they can answer any questions you may have.

Editor’s Note: Walt Disney Parks & Resorts provided us a complimentary Very Merrytime Cruise and special media-specific events during the cruise. However, as always, the thoughts and opinions contained in this article are entirely our own.

For a no obligation, FREE Quote on a Disney vacation package, please contact our travel partner Magical Vacation Planner at 407-442-0227 (407-442-0215 for Spanish). You can also request a FREE quote online by Clicking HERE.

Chad & Cindy Nykamp

12 best Christmas cruises for 2024 and 2025

It's the most wonderful time of the year ... to go on a cruise.

Trade the glow of a Christmas tree in your living room with the warmth of the sand and the sun on a holiday cruise. Skip the mulled wine on your stovetop for some of the world's best at a European Christmas market.

Christmas cruises can level up your holiday celebrations — and are an ideal opportunity to escape the conventional holiday celebrations in place of an adventure.

On a holiday cruise, you can leave the cooking, cleaning and decorating to the pros and simply enjoy time with your family. Christmas and New Year's cruises can also be good options for people trying to avoid the crush of relatives or who don't have family but still want to spend the holiday surrounded by other people and festive cheer.

Winter cruises feature holiday-themed activities for all ages, special feasts that capture the magic of the holiday season and port calls at destinations that let you enjoy the holiday spirit without shivering from frigid temperatures.

For more cruise news, reviews and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter .

It's never too early to plan your holiday getaway, especially as these cruises are among the quickest to sell out. Here are the best Christmas and New Year's cruises still available in 2024 and holiday sailings in 2025 to book now, as well as some useful tips about holiday cruise travel.

Holiday cruise tips

Before you book, keep in mind a few key facts about Christmas cruises.

Rates will be high

Expect cruise fares to be among the highest of the year during the holiday weeks as demand increases.

The best prices will be for early bookings; you likely won't find any last-minute discounts. If you do, they might be on windowless inside cabins or guarantee cabins , where the cruise line picks your room location.

Sailings will sell out

Holiday sailings sell out earlier than other itineraries, as people plan their holiday vacations months in advance. Suites and special cabins (family, spa and solo rooms and so forth) book up the fastest.

Consider booking your holiday cruise as early as possible, as the December sailings often fill up a year in advance .

Consider your own decorations

The crew will decorate public areas on board, but passengers often go all-out decorating their doors and cabins for the holidays.

Magnetic doors on cabins are blank canvases for the imagination. You'll find stateroom doors on Christmas cruises covered in wrapping paper, adorned with garlands or dotted with holiday-themed images.

It's best to double-check with your cruise line before attaching anything to your door or in your cabin, as rules and regulations differ per line. If you're not creative, check if your cruise line offers cabin decoration packages for preorder prior to your sailing.

Specialty dining is not advised on the actual holiday

Most of the specialty dining restaurants on major cruise lines have set menus that do not change for the holidays.

Your best bet for traditional holiday dinner options (think roast turkey, smoked ham, mashed potatoes and gravy) will come from the main, included dining options on board. It can't hurt to ask if any extra-fee restaurants are doing a Christmas or New Year's menu if you're looking for a more intimate holiday meal.

Expect holiday hours in port

Most cruise ships will plan for Christmas to be a sea day, but if you're in port on Dec. 25 (or on Boxing Day, as many islands celebrate the day after), expect shops, restaurants and attractions to have modified hours or be closed.

Onboard services won't stop, so if all your top lunch spots in port are closed, you're always guaranteed a hot meal on the ship.

Consider a holiday bonus for the crew

Cruise ship crew members go beyond the standard service on all lines for the holidays, whether it's a kind note wishing you well, a Champagne toast for New Year's or a fanciful towel creation.

They can't be at home celebrating with their families because they're working hard to make your holiday special. While gratuities are often included in your fare or added automatically to your final bill, consider tipping extra on a Christmas cruise. The hardworking staff will appreciate your extra generosity during the holiday season.

Best Christmas cruises for 2024

If you're on the hunt for the ideal holiday getaway, consider these Christmas cruises for this year's holiday vacation. (Note: These sailings had availability at the time of writing, but prices may change or ships sell out at any time.)

4-night Very Merrytime Bahamian cruise on Disney Cruise Line

Sail dates: Dec. 22-26, 2024

Ship: Disney Fantasy

Access Disney Cruise Line's newest private island when you sail Disney Fantasy this Christmas. This four-night Very Merrytime Bahamian cruise sails from Port Canaveral, Florida (near Orlando) to Disney's Castaway Cay, followed by a day at the new Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point. The new island destination will highlight island culture with work by local artists and Bahamian music throughout the colorful beachside resort.

This sailing is one of Disney Cruise Line 's Very Merrytime Cruises, so expect plenty of holiday-themed surprises and special moments. Disney's December sailings feature snow flurries in the ship's atrium, pop-up meet-and-greets with Disney characters dressed in their holiday best and a Christmas wonderland on the beach at Castaway Cay and Lookout Cay.

Rates start at $4,862 for two adults sharing an inside cabin, including all taxes and fees.

16-night Circle Hawaii Holiday cruise on Holland America

Sail dates: Dec. 18, 2024-Jan. 3, 2025

Ship: Zaandam

The 16-night Circle Hawaii Holiday on Holland America's Zaandam is a great way to retreat from the cold this December. The extended itinerary will whisk you away for both Christmas and the New Year.

The ship sails round-trip from San Diego with stops in Honolulu; Kahului, Maui; and Hilo and Kona, Hawaii. You'll spend five days traversing the Pacific Ocean on your way to Hawaii and five days at sea returning to the west coast for one more stop in Ensenada, Mexico, before returning to San Diego. You can also enjoy scenic cruising by the Kilauea Volcano.

Don't forget your holiday best, as Zaandam will host a Christmas Eve formal ball with dinner and dancing, as well as a midnight Mass. Other seasonal events include a holiday-themed high tea service, holiday choir performances and Santa meet-and-greets.

Rates for inside cabins start from $1,739 per person, not including an estimated $282 per person in taxes, fees and port expenses.

13-night New Zealand holiday cruise on Celebrity Cruises

Sail dates: Dec. 20, 2024-Jan. 2, 2025

Ship: Celebrity Edge

The most appealing holiday itinerary on Celebrity Cruises takes you Down Under for a two-week celebration, sailing round-trip from Sydney.

You'll cruise during the region's summer season with an itinerary that traverses the picturesque Milford Sound, Doubtful Sound and Dusky Sound before making port stops in Dunedin, Napier, Auckland, Tauranga and Bay of Islands, New Zealand.

The cruise doesn't call on Australian ports, but you can easily tack on a land-based pre- or post-cruise stay since the ship sails from Sydney.

If you're feeling the holiday spirit, sign up to join a group of crew and passengers to go caroling around the ship. Cookie decorating, visits with Santa and Christmas games are part of the holiday fun. On New Year's Eve, gather for a special party with a complimentary midnight Champagne toast, party favors and live music.

The lowest cabin fares start at $1,664 per person, plus $444.55 in taxes, fees and port expenses.

15-night South Africa Intensive Voyage on Azamara

Sail dates: Dec. 20, 2024-Jan. 4, 2025

Ship: Azamara Pursuit

Azamara is known for its travels to less-frequented ports, often with longer stays providing more time for immersion. Go somewhere new with Azamara's 15-night Christmas and New Year's cruise around South Africa. Azamara Quest sails round-trip from Cape Town with stops along the east coast of South Africa, including Port Elizabeth, Richards Bay, Durban and Mossel Bay.

Holiday events include caroling concerts, pop-ups with Christmas cookies and hot chocolate, and a special tree-trimming party on Dec. 24. Azamara Quest will time its popular White Night pool deck party to coincide with New Year's Eve. The line has a tradition of seeking out the oldest person on board to ring the ship's bell two minutes prior to midnight to literally "ring out the old." Then the youngest passenger on board will "ring in the new" as the clock strikes 12 o'clock.

Rates start from $2,784 per person, not including $196 in taxes, fees and port expenses.

7-night Christmas Markets on the Danube cruise on AmaWaterways

Sail dates: Dec. 9-15, 2024

Ship: AmaBella

A river cruise through Europe is the most convenient way to visit many of the continent's famous Christmas markets.

Your ship will dock in the heart of each city, usually just a few steps from the markets. Sailing with AmaWaterways during the holiday season, guests return from a day exploring the markets to events on board that include tree-trimming, caroling and a fun European tradition called "Shoes for St. Nick," where passengers who leave their slippers outside their stateroom awake to find them filled with sweets.

Unlike most Christmas-related retail stores in the U.S. that stay open through the holiday season, many of Europe's Christmas markets close up shop by Dec. 22, so you'll need to take your vacation before Christmas itself. AmaWaterways' seven-night Christmas Markets on the Danube cruise takes place aboard AmaBella. You'll be immersed in the holiday spirit with port stops in Passau, Germany; Linz, Vienna and Weissenkirchen, Austria; and Budapest.

Rates for the weeklong cruise start at $3,699 per person, not including $224 in port charges and taxes.

7-night Western Caribbean cruise on Princess Cruises

Sail dates: Dec. 21-28, 2024

Ship: Sun Princess

Debuting in February 2024, Sun Princess is the first of Princess Cruises ' brand-new Sphere-class series of ships.

Take the line's newest flagship for a Christmastime spin on a round-trip Fort Lauderdale itinerary that features port calls at Cozumel, Mexico; Belize City, Belize; and Roatan, Honduras. Three sea days give guests plenty of time to explore all the attractions on board, from a dome-covered pool area to a top-deck family activity zone.

The 4,300-passenger vessel will be about 21% bigger than the current biggest ships in the Princess fleet. It will be the line's first ship that features suites with exclusive access to a private restaurant, lounge and sun deck. Sun Princess will also boast an innovative new "cabana cabin" along the ship's extra-wide 10th deck with access to a private deck area.

It will be easy to get into the holiday spirit while on board Sun Princess, with festive decor throughout the ship and an occasional "snowfall" in the Atrium. If you're traveling with kids, you can leave cookies for Santa and carrots for his reindeer. Christmas caroling, storytime and other holiday events will help you create special holiday memories.

Rates for the Western Caribbean cruise start at $957 per person for an inside cabin, not including $153 in taxes, fees and port expenses.

12-night Antarctic Explorer cruise on Viking

Sail dates: Dec. 22, 2024-Jan. 3, 2025

Ship: Viking Polaris

While instinct might say to stop by the North Pole to check in on Santa's operations, it's just too cold, dark and icy for cruising. Instead, head toward the South Pole and Antarctica for a Christmas expedition.

Spend close to two weeks exploring the farthest reaches of the earth on the Antarctic Explorer itinerary aboard Viking 's Polaris. The route sails round-trip from Ushuaia, Argentina, before traversing the Drake Passage and cruising Antarctica for seven days. You'll have a cruise line-provided pre-cruise stay in Buenos Aires the night before you fly down to Ushuaia to meet your ship.

You'll explore the icebergs and cliffs of Antarctica on Christmas, presumably followed by a hot cocoa or a warm cocktail on deck. Afterward, treat yourself to Nordic-inspired dishes like smoked salmon and caviar, along with holiday treats like krumkake (a Nordic take on the cannoli) and sandkaker (Norwegian sugar cookies).

As with all Antarctica itineraries, ports and destinations on the continent change by the day, depending on weather and climate conditions. Rates for available staterooms on the cruise start from $15,495, including airfare, port taxes and fees.

Best Christmas cruises for 2025

If you want to score the best prices on a holiday cruise, book far in advance. Here are a few cruises to consider for your 2025 Christmas vacation.

Royal Caribbean: 7-night Eastern Caribbean & Perfect Day cruise

Sail dates: Dec. 20-27, 2025

Ship: Icon of the Seas

Catch a ride on the world's largest cruise ship during the 2025 holiday season. Highlights of Royal Caribbean 's new Icon of the Seas include a reconfigured Aqua Theater, now set at the bow of the ship inside a giant glass dome and featuring a dazzling 50-foot waterfall and dancing robotic arms, and Category 6, the largest waterpark at sea with six waterslides, including the tallest drop slide at sea.

This holiday-week sailing departs round-trip from Miami with stops in Philipsburg, St. Maarten; Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas; and Perfect Day at CocoCay (Royal Caribbean's private island in the Bahamas). Three days at sea might not be enough time to try everything on board!

Holiday highlights often include Christmas Eve caroling, an ugly Christmas sweater crafting competition, Christmas ornament and gingerbread cookie decorating classes, and holiday games and trivia.

The lowest available cabin category for this sailing is an ocean-view cabin, starting at $3,266 per person, not including $182.51 in taxes, fees and port expenses per person.

7-night Eastern Caribbean cruise on Carnival Cruise Line

Sail dates: Dec. 21-Dec. 28, 2025

Ship: Carnival Celebration

Carnival's seven-night Eastern Caribbean sailing is an excellent way to experience Carnival's Celebration Key, the line's new private destination on the south side of Grand Bahama Island. Carnival Celebration sails round-trip from Miami with stops in Celebration Key; Nassau, Bahamas; Amber Cove, Dominican Republic and Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos, so you can get some much-needed beach time and warm weather.

The line understands its family-forward "fun" ships are built for cheery escapes, and its Christmas celebrations fit perfectly into that world. Seasonal holiday events include Christmas caroling, an ugly sweater competition and a live holiday show with appearances by Santa and the Grinch.

Rates for inside cabins start at $1,049 per person, not including an estimated $215.65 per person in fees.

14-night Galapagos cruise on Silversea

Sail dates: Dec. 13-27, 2025

Ship: Silver Origin

Escape to the exotic Galapagos Islands for the holidays with a Silversea cruise. On the 14-night sailing round-trip from San Cristóbal, Silver Origin will alight at a remarkable 27 ports throughout the archipelago.

The Silver Origin's Christmas sailing will include many festive enhancements, beginning with an extensive overlay of greenery and ornaments throughout the interiors of the ship. The ship's culinary team will prepare a special Christmas Eve and Christmas Day dinner menu, along with mulled wine, eggnog and hot chocolate.

Adding to the cheer, guests and the ship's crew can participate in caroling, and despite no chimney in sight, a special visitor from the North Pole is scheduled to make an appearance.

The "door-to-door" rate for this sailing starts from $24,400 per person, including port fees and taxes. It includes a transfer service to the airport, airfare, shore excursions, premium alcoholic beverages, all gratuities, butler service and a return transfer back home at the end of your trip.

11-night Monteverde Cloud Forest & Arenal Volcano cruise tour on Windstar Cruises

Sail dates: Dec. 16-27, 2025

Ship: Wind Spirit

Give yourself a bucket list gift for Christmas and book a Panama Canal cruise for your winter vacation.

Windstar Cruises ' Wind Spirit — a cruise ship that's part yacht, part four-masted sailing ship — is sailing down Costa Rica's Pacific coast and through the Panama Canal during the 2025 holiday season.

The journey begins with a five-day land tour of Costa Rica, taking guests to the Arenal volcano and Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve. You'll then head to Puerto Caldera to board Wind Spirit. The ship will sail south to Quepos and Puerto Jimenez, Costa Rica. Then it's on to ports in Isla Parida and Balboa (for Panama City) in Panama before sailing through the Panama Canal.

To sweeten the holiday, Windstar gifts each cabin with a basket of Christmas cookies, candy canes, mandarin oranges, roasted nuts and chocolate candies.

Rates for the 11-night Central American getaway start from $5,599 per person, not including $474 in port fees and taxes.

7-night Roundtrip New Orleans Christmas cruise on American Queen Voyages

Sail dates: Dec. 22-29, 2025

Ship: American Countess

Glide up the Lower Mississippi River and soak in the charms of historic towns decked out in their holiday finest. This American Queen Voyages itinerary will also visit the special European-style Christmas market in Natchez, Mississippi, created especially for the line.

The itinerary begins with a pre-cruise hotel stay in New Orleans, where the bustling Bourbon Street awaits exploration. The Mississippi river sailing includes stops along the river at Nottoway, Louisiana; Natchez, Mississippi; St. Francisville, Louisiana and an overnight in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Guests can opt for a premium holiday shore excursion in Natchez. The Jeweled Christmas in Natchez tour features a visit to The Towers, one of the state's most opulent privately owned antebellum homes. Guests will ooh and ahh over the festive decorations and displays that include over 100 Christmas trees.

While on board, passengers will enjoy festive holiday decorations, special holiday performances, seasonal cuisine and Christmas cocktails.

Rates for the seven-night Roundtrip New Orleans Christmas cruise start from $3,819 per person, including taxes, port fees and gratuities.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

• The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A beginners guide to picking a cruise line
• The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
• The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise
• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
• Top ways cruisers waste money
• The ultimate guide to choosing a cruise ship cabin

New Year’s Eve 2024 at Disney World: Info & Tips

Our guide to celebrating New Year’s Eve at Walt Disney World covers our tips & tricks for ringing in 2024 in the parks, seeing the huge fireworks at Magic Kingdom and EPCOT, enjoying dance parties, and more. There’s a reason WDW is one of the best places celebrate NYE and on many bucket lists, but that also means colossal crowds. ( Updated December 27, 2023 .)

Since Walt Disney World is also one of the busiest places in the world for New Year’s Eve, we also provide ideas for keeping sane in the crowds and avoiding them to the greatest extent possible. Year after year, this is one of the busiest days at Walt Disney World, with many attractions have 2-hour plus wait times. You might even wait in line 30+ minutes for a restroom or restaurant if you don’t plan properly.

If you’re visiting Walt Disney World to celebrate the start of 2024 and are looking for ways to avoid the crowds, and for the best experience on New Year’s Eve, this post is here to help you out. We’ve done NYE at WDW multiple times, including last year. For the most part, we’ve had a blast at Walt Disney World on NYE–you just need appropriate expectations and to do Magic Kingdom and EPCOT in the “right” order…

Let’s start with the latest update, which is that park hours have been extended since they were originally published. Here are the current opening and closing times for December 31, 2023:

• Magic Kingdom: 8 am to 1 am
• EPCOT: 9 am to 1 am
• Hollywood Studios: 8:30 am to 12 am
• Animal Kingdom: 8 am to 8 pm
• Blizzard Beach: Closed (Weather)
• Disney Springs: 10 am to 11:30 pm

This is great news, as both Magic Kingdom and EPCOT being open until after midnight means a more staggered exit rather than a mass exodus of everyone in the park leaving all at once.

Three of the parks–the ones expected to celebrate New Year’s Eve 2024–are open until or past midnight. Meanwhile, it’s a regular ole day at Animal Kingdom, which closes at 8pm. Expect normal operating hours on January 1, 2024. New Year’s Day is typically busy, but not bonkers–and crowds typically arrive late ( for obvious reasons ).

As for New Year’s Eve, we highly recommend taking advantage of these later closing times, even if you need to sleep in and arrive late to do so. Instead of heading for the exit like 90% of other guests, do more rides. Not just because they’ll have shorter wait times–although they will.

The bigger reason is to wait out the crowds. Whether you drive to the parks or take Disney transportation, leaving will be much more efficient after 1 a.m. Seriously, linger for as long as possible. It’s better to ‘kill time’ while doing rides than standing in long lines for buses or stuck in traffic.

The bad news is that every park except Animal Kingdom has run out of reservations for regular guests on December 31, 2023. This means that Disney Park Pass reservations are no longer available for regular ticket holders or resort hotel guests on New Year’s Eve, and ticket purchases are now unavailable.

With that said, even though reservations are unavailable, guests with Park Hopper tickets are still able to make a reservation at Animal Kingdom, and then Park Hop to the three parks actually celebrating New Year’s Eve after 2 pm. That’s subject to capacity, but we haven’t seen capacity closures on New Year’s Eve for the last several years.

It is likely that EPCOT will be busier than normal this New Year’s Eve due to Luminous: The Symphony, which will be shown for its first NYE. That plus the EPCOT transformation wrapping up plus the Disney100 festivities mean that it’s likely to be a very busy New Year’s Eve at EPCOT.

Otherwise, the only new thing for this New Year’s Eve is an event at California Grill for New Year’s Eve called “Alice’s Whimsical World of Wonderland.” This is advertised as offering shimmering champagne, delightful wines, marvelous food, and one-of-a-kind entertainment. As you dine, feast your eyes on a fanciful ice sculpture created to celebrate 2024 and California Grill. Ring in 2024 as the fireworks spectacular from Magic Kingdom fills the sky above.

Immerse yourself in the whimsical surroundings of California Grill—transformed into an immersive romp through Wonderland. You may see Characters from  Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland throughout the evening, you’ll come face-to-face with The Doorknob in the entryway, you may also get a chance to wave hello to Dinah the Hat Lady—but beware of the Queen of Hearts! Oh, and the White Rabbit will be DJ.

This might sound super weird, and like Disney’s attempt at a family-friendly rave scene. But don’t worry, it’s  also  upscale and inexplicably expensive! The cost for Alice’s Whimsical World of Wonderland is $799– yes, you read that correctly . That includes tax and gratuity, though, so maybe it’s a bargain after all.

Look, there’s no sense in trying to make sense of Alice’s Whimsical World of Wonderland or its price. This is super limited capacity and niche, so there really doesn’t need to be that much demand in order for it to sell out. With past NYE events like this, we’ve learned that there are enough people for whom money is no object–they sell out regardless of the value proposition. In this case, Walt Disney World is making the calculation that those people are also big fans of Alice in Wonderland. I’m not so sure that’s a safe bet, but what do I know!

Other than that, what follows is based on last NYE at WDW. While it should remain 95% accurate, we’ll provide additional updates if Walt Disney World releases new info for New Year’s Eve 2024!

The good news is that New Year’s Eve is back in (almost) full force at Walt Disney World. This year continues that trend, with Disney’s Hollywood Studios once again doing more to ring in 2024 with a bang. And as noted above, both Magic Kingdom and EPCOT are once again open until after  midnight. This added hour is great as a release valve for crowds and to reduce the burden on transportation infrastructure. (Next year, we’d love to see EPCOT stay open until 2 am!)

At EPCOT, celebrate the night away on December 31 with DJ dance parties around World Showcase in the Italy, Japan, China, and United Kingdom pavilions. Enjoy Luminous: The Symphony of Us at 6:30 pm before “Cheers to the New Year: A Sparkling Celebration” kicks off its global countdown at 11:54 pm.

( Note: the second fireworks show currently is not on EPCOT’s schedule for December 31, 2023. This is almost certainly an error.)

Over at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, there will be a high-energy DJ dance party in front of Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway on December 31. You’ll also be able to dance into the new year with a sizzling countdown moment.

There’s no official word on fireworks or pyro, but if there is any at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, it’ll likely be limited. On a positive note, Fantasmic is now back and that’ll be presented at 8 pm and 9:30 pm on New Year’s Eve. We suggest seeing the second show for lower crowds.

At Magic Kingdom, get a headstart on celebrations beginning December 30 when fireworks will be presented twice nightly.

The schedule currently indicates that Fantasy in the Sky will be presented at 6:30 pm and 11:50 pm on both December 30 and December 31. These showtimes are almost certainly correct, as they’re the normal fireworks times.

However, Fantasy in the Sky is normally only presented at 11:50 pm, with the normal Christmas-time fireworks at 6:30 pm. It’s unclear whether Walt Disney World is actually showing Fantasy in the Sky four times (it would certainly help address crowding and congestion) or if that’s a goof-up.

In addition to fireworks at Magic Kingdom, there will also be dance parties around the park.

Locations have not yet been announced, but typically there are dance parties on the Cinderella Castle stage, above Country Bear Jamboree in Frontierland, and near Space Mountain in Tomorrowland. Last year, these were relatively subdued and uncrowded. As covered in our New Year’s Eve Eve Photo Report , Magic Kingdom was not busy on December 30 last year.

If you have booked a reservation, you’re probably already aware of the Genie+ system. You’ll definitely want to use that on NYE, and someone in your party will need to get up around 6:50 am for optimal use. We know that’s going to be tough on a night when you’re likely staying up until 1 am, but it’ll significantly improve your visit to the parks. See our Guide to Genie+ and Lightning Lanes at Walt Disney World for more info, strategy, etc.

Here’s everything you need to know to navigate New Year’s Eve at Walt Disney World…

Avoiding Crowds

We won’t bury the lede: crowds between Christmas and New Year’s Eve at Walt Disney World are awful. It’s mass hysteria… and everyone has noisemakers! We’ve visited Walt Disney World for New Year’s Eve several times, and while it’s always incredibly busy, it’s also incredibly fun. The crowds are a downside, but additional entertainment to help with crowds (parades, characters, fireworks, shows, etc.) is a big plus.

You will encounter congestion, incredibly long lines (even for restrooms), and other guests suffering meltdowns as they didn’t expect the lines or crowds. In fact, the parks get so busy that sometimes they are closed to new guests at various points in the day via phased closings. On the plus side, Walt Disney World currently is limiting attendance with the Disney Park Pass reservation system, so crowds definitely won’t be as bad as they’ve been in the past.

The point is that no matter what tricks there might be to avoid crowds, it is impossible to avoid them completely unless you lock yourself in your hotel room. Beyond that, no tip, regardless of how good, is as good of a tip as “visit in early September or late January instead.” If avoiding crowds is your paramount concern, you should be avoiding the weeks around the holidays, not reading this guide.

This guide offers best case scenario tips for making the most out of the situation. It’s not written from the perspective of having the most amazing time ever with no crowds–it’s about making lemonade out of lemons.

We cannot reiterate that enough. You may think that all of the tips below are not practical for you to follow, but when it’s ‘eat or be eaten’, you’ll find yourself changing the definition of what’s “practical” for you. (And yes, we did just compare a day during New Year’s week at Walt Disney World to cannibalism.)

With all of that said, there are some things you can do to avoid some of the chaos.

1. Arrive Early, Stay Late – Park operating hours are tied directly to anticipated crowd levels, which Disney is pretty adept at predicting based upon bookings and other factors. If daily operating hours are long, expect heavy crowds.

Despite this, crowds are always lightest in the morning, getting progressively worse until about 1 pm, then tapering down the rest of the day, with crowds again being light the last couple hours each park is open. The earlier a park opens, the less busy it is at opening, and the later a park closes, the less busy it is at closing.

In other words, if the Magic Kingdom is open until 1 a.m. and Disney’s Hollywood Studios is open until 11 p.m., Magic Kingdom will be less busy between midnight and 1 a.m. than Disney’s Hollywood Studios will be between 10 and 11 p.m. This makes it the best time of year for getting the Park Hopper option when you purchase Disney tickets, as this way you can start at the park open the earliest, and hop to the park open latest.

2. Nap Midday – If the Magic Kingdom is open until 1 a.m., you probably aren’t going to stay the entire day. However, you shouldn’t choose between arriving early and staying late. You should cut out midday portion, going back to your hotel to take a nap during the busiest and hottest hours of the day.

This is one reason why we recommend a monorail loop hotel for New Year’s Eve if your budget allows. Disney’s Contemporary Resort and the Grand Floridian are both easy walks, roughly 10-15 minutes from Magic Kingdom. You can read what other hotels might be good options in our Walt Disney World Hotel Guide . Regardless of where you stay, keep in mind that phased closings of the Walt Disney World theme parks can impact your ability to reenter–especially if you’re not staying on-site–so be careful.

3. Eat Midday – Like attractions and restrooms, there are long lines at restaurants. This is particularly true during the prime lunch hours. Don’t eat lunch at noon. Eat when restaurants first open or later in the afternoon. The best time of day is going to be around 3 or 4 p.m.

4. Use Genie+ Midday – Since lines are longest midday, it follows that you’ll get the most utility out of Genie+ or Lightning Lanes when the parks are busiest. Make reservations accordingly, and use standby lines to the greatest extent possible earlier in the day.

5. Find “Hidden Gem” Restrooms – You know it says something about your life when you find yourself writing about restrooms at Walt Disney World, but such is my lot. We even have a blog post titled the Top 10 Toilets at Walt Disney World because we are just that thorough. 😉

The point here is that you should avoid the “obvious” ones in hotspots during the most crowded times of the day, when there literally are ~30 minute waits for restrooms. Don’t head to the restroom in plain view in Fantasyland. You’re just asking for trouble. Look at a park map, and locate the restrooms that are off the beaten path, and head to those. On our last visit for New Year’s Eve, we were able to find “options” with minimal waits this way.

I am well aware that this seems like a funny or silly tip, but we’ll see who’s laughing when you encounter that first huge line and your bladder can’t last 25 more minutes.

6. Do Unpopular Attractions – One of the big reasons that going to Walt Disney World during busy times of the year doesn’t bother us is probably that some of our favorite attractions aren’t all that popular, so our waits are about the same year-round. If you have awesome taste, you might find the same is true for you.

We have Walt Disney World Itineraries & Touring Plans for every single park that cover the highlights for a perfect day, including a lot of these less popular attractions. These plans balance efficiency with having a great day in the park, so you might need to tweak it a tad for New Year’s Eve.

In the Magic Kingdom, these overlooked gems are: Carousel of Progress, Country Bear Jamboree, Hall of Presidents, and Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room for shows. For leisurely rides, try the Walt Disney World Railroad and the Tomorrowland Transit Authority Peoplemover.

In Epcot, Living with the Land, American Adventure, Impressions de France, and Reflections of China are all great, although the last three probably won’t hold a ton of interest for kids.

In Disney’s Hollywood Studios, all of the outdoor stadium-style stage shows (Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage and Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular) will avoid crowds, but timing them will be tricky. Same goes for shows at Animal Kingdom, although aside from its headliner attractions, the lines aren’t too unbearable there.

We think that the best park for overlooked gems is the Magic Kingdom, but the best park in general for avoiding New Year’s Eve crowds is Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Epcot is also surprisingly good at absorbing crowds, but its headliners do get obscenely long lines on New Year’s Eve. Disney’s Hollywood Studios doesn’t get as large of New Year’s Eve crowds, but it’s also not particularly good at handling crowds.

Whatever you do, we highly recommend developing a plan of attack (some tips for this can be found in our “ When to Visit Walt Disney World ” post), having realistic expectations about what you’ll get done, and keeping a positive attitude.

New Year’s Eve Entertainment

For New Year’s Eve, Magic Kingdom and Epcot each have special fireworks shows. The Magic Kingdom also does its New Year’s Eve fireworks show, Fantasy in the Sky, on December 30.

At Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the normal nighttime entertainment will run, with no special fireworks. Disney’s Hollywood Studios will also celebrate New Year’s Eve with a special dance party beginning on the Center Stage in the middle of the park. This will run until park close, ringing in the new year!

Animal Kingdom will also only run its normal nighttime entertainment, which is essentially just the Tree of Life Winter Awakenings. This is the one park that closes before midnight, so don’t go here if you want to celebrate NYE.

The fireworks shows at Magic Kingdom and Epcot are so intense that some guests might consider wearing sunglasses and earplugs while watching. They’re seriously good–so good that they just might help you overlook those crazy crowds (okay, probably not!). Other New Year’s Eve entertainment is really just offered to draw some people away from Magic Kingdom & Epcot, and provide an alternative.

We aren’t even going to bother covering these various offerings. If you’re braving the crowds for a visit during the holiday week, you shouldn’t even consider wasting your time with anything besides the fireworks on New Year’s Eve…unless you really just hate awesome fireworks shows.

If you’ll be visiting for both December 30 and New Year’s Eve, watch the Magic Kingdom’s Fantasy in the Sky fireworks on December 30. This is a no brainer. The Magic Kingdom will still be busy, but not as busy as it will be on New Year’s Eve.

Plus, seeing the fireworks on December 30 frees you up to watch at Epcot on New Year’s Eve. If you’re only visiting for New Year’s Eve, our pick is still with Fantasy in the Sky, as we think it’s the best show, and worth dealing with the Magic Kingdom crowds.

Between Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the choice for New Year’s Eve is easy. We love Epcot on New Year’s Eve.

In addition to the fireworks, there will be special shows and DJs in Epcot (both Future World and World Showcase–the Silent DJ Dance Party has become really popular, so be ready to lineup for headphones), and additional bar-booths throughout the park to help celebrate the New Year prior to the fireworks shows.

The reason that this is now a no-brainer (it didn’t used to be) is because Disney’s Hollywood Studios is running its normal projections shows for New Year’s Eve and isn’t doing anything special–aside from the dance party. ( Sunset Season’s Greetings will also still be running for New Year’s Eve .) It should be slightly less crowded than Epcot (but still crowded), though.

Epcot’s World Showcase can hold a lot of people, but it still manages to fill up, and becomes difficult to navigate. In theory, Epcot is great…in reality, it’s crowded and that many drunk guests with noisemakers becomes grating after about hour 4 of standing elbow to elbow with them.

Ultimately, we still like Epcot, particularly if you just plan on arriving in the late afternoon, watching the New Year’s fireworks, and bouncing. Read our Best Epcot Fireworks Viewing Locations post for more insight into picking a spot for the Epcot fireworks.

Plan to get to wherever you’re going to watch these fireworks shows at least two hours in advance. Possibly more. In Magic Kingdom, we saw people saving prime locations for the shows in the early afternoon. This is just a bit excessive, but it should give you an idea of how popular the shows are. You definitely will not be able to stroll up to a good location 15 minutes (or even an hour) before the fireworks start.

This is especially true in the Magic Kingdom, which is more crowded than Epcot, which is more crowded than Disney’s Hollywood Studios. We have a blog post detailing our favorite viewing spots for Magic Kingdom fireworks , and this holds true for the Fantasy in the Sky New Year’s Eve fireworks.

For many people, leaving is the worst part of the New Year’s Eve experience. We don’t mean the thought of heading home from the Florida sunshine to dreary, cold weather.

In this case, we’re referring to leaving the park. After the fireworks, there is a mass exodus, as everyone heads for the exit, all at once. Don’t be part of this herd. Because so many people are leaving all at once, you are going to wait for a while for a bus, monorail, or boat–would you rather wait outside the park in a sea of humanity, or inside while doing rides?

All of the parks are open for an hour or two after the fireworks. Take that time to let the crowds die down outside, and enjoy lower crowds inside the park.

Speaking of going outside the parks, there are also great alternatives for fireworks viewing. Again, Bay Lake Tower warrants mentioning here, as the Top of the World Lounge is a fantastic, relatively uncrowded spot for fireworks. I captured the photo above on New Year’s Eve from there. This doesn’t do you much good if you’re already at Walt Disney World and aren’t staying at Bay Lake Tower on Disney Vacation Club points (it’s only open to guests staying there on December 30 and New Year’s Eve).

However, if you are booking a trip for next year, it’s a great reason to give Bay Lake Tower serious thought. The other locations, like the Ticket & Transportation Center and beach of the Polynesian Resort are good alternatives if you’re not staying at Bay Lake Tower and want a less crowded vantage.

All of our warnings aside, you can have a lot of fun spending the week between Christmas and New Year’s at Walt Disney World, and it definitely is one of the best places to be for New Year’s Eve. It’s all about developing a game plan and rolling with the punches. Not everything will go according to plan, and it can be a frustrating experience if you let the crowds get to you.

However, if you go into the trip with the right attitude and just want to have fun (remember: you’re likely having more fun than folks back at home, no matter what happens!), you probably will. The fireworks and the other supplementary entertainment make a New Year’s visit to Walt Disney World a lot of fun, even if you do have to deal with the crowds!

It’s also worth remembering that almost all Christmas entertainment still runs between Christmas and New Year’s Eve (some runs even further into January), so check out our Ultimate Guide to Christmas at Walt Disney World for more planning tips with regard to which holiday entertainment you might want to see on New Year’s Eve. For Walt Disney World trip planning tips and comprehensive advice, make sure to read our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide .

Your Thoughts

Have you ever visited Walt Disney World for New Year’s Eve? Would you ever do it? Planning on ringing in 2024 at Walt Disney World?  Do you agree with our approach to do Magic Kingdom on December 30 and EPCOT on December 31? Have any additional tips for making the most out of the experience, or regarding which fireworks shows to see? Hearing from you is half the fun, so please share your thoughts and questions in the comments!

Written by Tom Bricker

Hi Tom, Love your blog – so thorough and always spot on! For example, we took your advice and did a trip on Labor Day and as you predicted, it was dead, and we did standby re-rides all over the place! So, now I have a question based on your blog above. On the Disney World site, it only shows fireworks at 6:30pm on 12/31 at Epcot, despite the park being open until 1am. Do you think this is a typo? Doesn’t seem to make sense to me but also don’t want to do our plan of MK on 12/30 and Epcot on 12/31 only to not have any NYE fireworks! Thanks!

For whatever reason, the schedule just hasn’t been fully updated yet. There will be fireworks at 6:30 pm (just the regular Luminous) and then again at ~11:30 pm with the full countdown.

So not necessarily a typo–the current time isn’t wrong…it’s incomplete.

I have always enjoyed your blog. I appreciate your insights and depth of park knowledge. However, the ads are growing in numbers and in questionable content images. I have often chosen to click links in your blog posts to purchase items you link to say Amazon, because I know that supports your blog ventures in my small way. I know that you need to support your blog, and it is your decision to do it in the way you see fit. I respect that, but will be getting my WDW news on another site where I am more able to choose the content that I put in front of my face. Congratulations on your new baby girl… I have four children who are the biggest blessings in my life. Enjoy every moment.

Hi Tom! I was trying to book Biergarten for 12/31 6:00 am the day my window opened and there were only lunch reservation options. Do you think there will be a special NYE dinner posted later? If so, how do I find out about it? Or maybe I was just out of luck booking dinner?

You can use mousewatcher.com or mousedining.com or another dining reservation alert service. You select the restaurant and time and they alert when the time opens from a cancelation. Many people reserve and dont show so you can always walk in to reserve.

You may have just been out of luck, as we’ve managed to bag a reservation for 7.15pm on the 31st (sorry…). Keep checking in case one comes available. I was lucky enough to get a reservation for the Snow White character dining at Artist Point the other day for the exact date I wanted just by randomly checking if it was available.

I realise that I have totally used up all our luck for the whole of 2024 though…. 😉

Hey Tom— I’ve seen mixed comments around the internet as to whether or not, as a group holding 12/31 park reservations *for Epcot* we can get back in the afternoon after returning to Beach Club to rest mid-day. I think your article suggested that it’s safer as a Disney resort guest. We would really like to escape the crowds a for a few hours in the afternoon but don’t want to risk getting locked out of NYE celebrations.

The likelihood of getting shut out of EPCOT, especially being resort guests in the era of park reservations, is incredibly low. It has never happened. Even pre-reservations, I don’t recall it ever happening (for resort guests, at least). Magic Kingdom is more likely to have phased closures, but even then, they’re rare for resort guests and have only lasted a grand total of a few hours over the course of several years.

So it’s possible, but highly unlikely.

How early do you recommend getting a spot for the fireworks? I don’t have much patience, so I’d prefer not to wait around longer than I have to. Thank you!

What’s the deal with NYE dining? We’ll be in EPCoT and many restaurants seem to be closing early – like 6:45p early!

I celebrated the millennium with my Prince Charming with dinner in the castle. I wore a ball gown and he wore a tux. We watched fireworks behind the castle where it was much less crowded. It was amazing. Due to Y2K scare there were massive generators all over property and flashlights left in each room. Resort guests had to select one park and could leave mid-day and be guaranteed admission later that day. Transportation at park closing was very efficient. As one bus filled, another pulled up immediately. The following morning, the parks were empty. Crowds were low the following week. Great memories.

Is it worth it to see the fireworks New Years Eve? Will be my families 1st time at Disney for New Years Eve. With COVID surging again and us not being sure exactly what happens on NYE in magic Kingdom. Is it worth it?

We went to Disney Studios on New Years Eve and had a great time. We went in Dec 2020, so there was no NYE celebration.

Wondering about leaving and reentering mk on NYE under the new reservation system. If I have a MK tix for dec 31 can I enter at rope drop, leave midday for a nap, and return at 6pm? Am I guaranteed my park entrance all day and night?

I called Disney last year about when booking my tix for next week. I was told if you have a reservation you are guaranteed to be able to reenter later in day.

I too was told by a cast member that we could reenter on our park reservation.

For all the Disney Die hands, which park do you recommend to go to on New Years Eve?

Do the crowds tend to clear out after New Year’s Day, in your experience?

Hey everyone!

I moved to Orlando a few months ago and became an AP like, 2 weeks later. It was just the pass that excludes Christmas and Easter weeks (silver or gold, can’t remember). Then my mom said she wanted to visit MK the day after Xmas, so I “had to” upgrade to platinum.

Now, I’m trying to get the most out of my platinum pass and think I want to do something NYE. I work during the day, so it would be later hours (after 6 pm).

I was reading another comment that said someone was staying/eating at Grand FL, and that it was better to watch the fireworks from GF, rather than MK. I. hate having to take a monorail or ferry to/from MK/TTC. So I was thinking maybe park at TTC and walk to Poly or GF and watch from the one of the lagoon areas.

I’m not super familiar with the locations, but do you think that is a good idea? Then I can avoid the crowds leaving MK and walk back to my car at TTC? Will it be worth my while to go down to WDW and only see the fireworks show? It takes me between 30 and 50 min to get to TTC–depends on time of day, probably closer to 50 min on NYE.

I just want to start off 2020 with a bang. It’s just myself (which I’m fine with–not a big NYE fan anyways), and I’m active/fine for walking. But I wasn’t sure if I should really try to make it into a park because if I do that, from the end of the show, it might take me 2 hours to get home from MK. Sorry for the long post–hope the paragraphs helped break it up!

Also, I have some “backup” FP for DHS (toy story mania, star tours, and fantastic from 9:50-10:05). Not sure if that helps; DHS is easy to leave, but doesn’t sound quite as exciting as MK.

enjoy, but you couldn’t pay me to be in those crowds. i’m one less person you have to worry about in the sea of humanity.

Yes. The crowds are horrible. I went to Disneyland Paris yesterday and it was pretty bad there as well. Stay safe everyone.

Hi Tom, I will be attending the early dinner and fireworks viewing at Narcoosee’s and am considering entering Magic Kingdom for the late fireworks. Is it worth it for the up close Magic Kingdom view or do you recommend only watching the fireworks from the Grand Floridian?

Grand Floridian. It’s so many people at MK.

We were ringing in 2019 last year at the Magic Kingdom, we were resort guest but we had a very long day, I think what helped was our Dinner Reservation that night. We had a good hour to hour and a half rest at the Crystal Palace enjoying the food and Pooh Bear and friends. It seemed to help even though we left with very full tummies. So if you can find a place for a nice sit down dinner to recharge yourselves i highly recommend it. Happy New Year To Everyone, by the way we are at home this year and it is driving us crazy reminiscing one year ago we were at this park, Etc,Etc.

Hi there, I drive often to the parks and that week parking is a lil heavy, but if your arriving early at opening or before noon you wont have much trouble. There is lots of parking to accommodate you. I believe parking starts an hour before a lark opens, and if you book breakfast in the park you can get in earlier than others. However, Disney buses are a great and better options at times. You can also park for free at Disney Springs and get bused to any resort/park. You may have to get bused to a resort then hop on another bus at the resort to go to a park. The staff is awesome at watching the cameras to see whom has been waiting for a bus and will increase bus trips to get you to a destination. Or you can book a meal reservation on property, you wont get charged for parking at a resort as your eatting and not staying on property. You can do this through the app. You can park then hop on a bus. If you do go to MK/epcot try to bus from a location as your taken to the front door of the park. The monorail line is incredibly long on NYE. Have fun.

Hello- Lot’s of great info! My family will be doing Hollywood/Animal Kingdom on 12/28 and MK/Epcot on New Years Eve 12/31. In that order. We are staying at a Universal property.

During this busy time at Disney. Is it better to drive from park to park and pay both parking fees? Or would it be better to park at one park and take the Disney transportation? Disney Bus on the 28th and probably monorail on the 31st?

Disney Tranportation is the way to go. The monorail will be packed today so go early.

Your Parking receipt will work for all the parks you hop to in one day.

Yes you can enter earlier if your staying on Disney property. Taking the bus is the best option. There normally is an hour wait of traffic to park and take a monorail from the ticket center. Buses begin running around 6 am. You will be able to enter the park a little before 7 am and staff will be holding rope to section off near the castle., but you can walk around through Main street. You can also gain earlier access by booking fast passes during 7 to 9 am or booking breakfast reservations. You can check the bus schedule through the Disney app for your Resort. Plan to leave 1 hour ahead of the time you plan to be at the park. This day is the most busiest day but it’s best to get there as early as possible. Last year they shut Magic Kingdom down at 11:30 am due to high occupancy. I’ll never go back that day, but if you frequent the parks start super early. I’m going Dec 21 to Dec 24th. I can’t handle Disney after Christmas even with fast passes, the volume of people really complicates things. Most properties are booked the week of Christmas, so take advantage of the extra hours which holds off the non disney property folks for you.Have fun.

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• Disney Cruise Line
• Disney Cruise Line Forum

New Years Cruise

• Thread starter EmilyS92003
• Start date Sep 30, 2022

EmilyS92003

Mouseketeer.

• Sep 30, 2022

Hey! I’m looking at a cruise that leaves between Christmas and New Years. I’m curious as to what separates this from a normal cruise as it’s not Merrytime. Do the characters still have holiday costumes? Is the tree up? Any Christmas/ Holiday Activities? Any inside you can provide would be much appreciated!  

DIS Veteran

The presence of decorations will vary each time. We did two NYE cruises. One still had the decorations for the entire cruise - they started removing them on the last night - and the other had nothing when we boarded. You will not have any Christmas activities if it’s not a Merrytime cruise, but there will be a special party and in stateroom gift if you are sailing on NYE. I don’t remember if characters still had their Christmas costume.  

Question anything the facts don't support.

We did a New Year's cruise on the Magic, December 27 to January 3rd. All the decorations were still up. I don't recall seeing the characters in costumes though. One of the highlights of disembarkation day was standing in line to leave the ship and watching two burly guys smash the huge gingerbread house . But as @Marc D noted, it does seem to vary from year to year and ship to ship.  

• Oct 1, 2022

Our Disney cruise was probably my favorite New Years Eve ever! The Merrytime decorations were still all up when we boarded on Dec 28. They were taking them down when we were disembarking the last day. NYE was our formal night and there were (extra!) fireworks that night, along with champagne at midnight for all the adults. There were also special gifts in our stateroom -- party hats, chocolates, and a special print we have framed. Even though it wasn't technically a Merrytime cruise I thought it was really special and would recommend it to anyone who can swing it. Came back to add: The characters were in their formal wear and Goofy was posing for photos in a Father Time costume.  

Attachments

• Oct 2, 2022

We did a NYE cruise on the Wonder a few years ago (12/30 departure) and there was almost nothing Christmas-related left on board. It was a 7-day, after another 7-day that had to have included Christmas Day itself, so they took the decorations down speedily! There were leftover Christmas-themed paper beverage cups for the first day or two, and that was about it for Christmas. We had all of the same NYE things as the PP above and really loved that experience. The fireworks were part of a celebratory deck party, and the wait staff walked around with both drinks on trays AND hors d'oeuvre (just in case anyone was hungry again lol). There were noisemakers being handed out shortly before the fireworks, but you had to happen upon them as you came out of elevators or stairwells; I am guessing they did not want to put them in rooms and have people blowing them at dinner. It was a great kid-friendly way to celebrate NYE!  

We’re going on the NYE cruise this year. What do gentlemen wear? (We just got off the Pride of America Hawaii cruise and somehow I missed that there was a dress up night. We were not prepared - and I don’t think anyone cared, but we were a tad self conscious.)  

aboveH20 said: We’re going on the NYE cruise this year. What do gentlemen wear? (We just got off the Pride of America Hawaii cruise and somehow I missed that there was a dress up night. We were not prepared - and I don’t think anyone cared, but we were a tad self conscious.) Click to expand...

• Oct 3, 2022

We sailed a B2B on the Fantasy last year for Christmas and New Year. They took ALL the holiday decorations down between cruises. (We found 2 small trees on the bar at Bon Voyage that has survived and had new year decorations on them.) It was sad to see it go from festive to blah in a matter of hours.  

Cheburashka

EmilyS92003 said: Hey! I’m looking at a cruise that leaves between Christmas and New Years. I’m curious as to what separates this from a normal cruise as it’s not Merrytime. Do the characters still have holiday costumes? Is the tree up? Any Christmas/ Holiday Activities? Any inside you can provide would be much appreciated! Click to expand...

kathi said: We sailed a B2B on the Fantasy last year for Christmas and New Year. They took ALL the holiday decorations down between cruises. (We found 2 small trees on the bar at Bon Voyage that has survived and had new year decorations on them.) It was sad to see it go from festive to blah in a matter of hours. Click to expand...

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Christmas and New Year Cruises

Christmas cruises 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026 new year's eve.

At CruiseMapper's "Christmas New Year Cruise" hub you can compares all major cruise companies' December Holiday offers as itineraries and prices. Our Xmas cruise finder allows searching by departure ports, countries and company, also allowing you to choose vessel type (ocean ship or riverboat) and a preferable call port along the itinerary.

Christmas & New Year Cruise Finder

All our Christmas and New Year cruise schedules show only itineraries and prices per person. These are indicative fares on the ships' lowest category staterooms. All rates are based on double occupancy (twin share) and don't include cruise lines or travel agencies promotions, group booking rates or any other special offers and discounts.

Cruise lines

AIDA Cruises

AmaWaterways

Ambassador Cruise Line

American Cruise Lines

American Queen Voyages

Arosa Cruises

Avalon Waterways

Azamara Cruises

Carnival Cruise Line

Celebrity Cruises

Celestyal Cruises

Costa Cruises

CroisiEurope

Crystal Cruises

Disney Cruise Line

Emerald Cruises

Fred Olsen Cruise Lines

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises

Holland America

Hurtigruten

Lindblad Expeditions

Marella Cruises

MSC Cruises

Norwegian Cruise Line

Oceania Cruises

P&O Cruises

Phoenix Reisen

Ponant Cruises

Princess Cruises

Regent Seven Seas Cruises

River Cruises

Royal Caribbean

Saga Cruises

Scenic Cruises

Seabourn Cruises

Silversea Cruises

Small Cruise Lines

TUI Cruises

Viking Cruises

Windstar Cruises

Christmas and New Year cruises offer the perfect combination of the three best buys - holiday, travel, vacation. Combined Christmas (Xmas) and New Year's Eve (NYE) voyages are operated with longer and usually roundtrip itineraries. Depending on shipping company and destination, Xmas-NYE itineraries vary from 4-5 days (short breaks) to 7-10 days and even up to a month, extending from early or mid-December through early January.

All CruiseMapper's Xmas pages have themed photos similar to the one above. These are called "Christmas tree worms" (Spirobranchus giganteus / translated "giant spiral gills"). Aka "bristle worms", these are tube-building marine species living on coral reefs in tropical ocean waters. Each of these worms produces two multicolored spirals, which are apparatus for feeding and respiration. These beautiful creatures are CruiseMapper's choice of "Christmas Cruise" photos because of their most obvious "Xmas-themed" look.

Christmas Holidays cruise travel destinations

The list of most popular Xmas-NYE ship travel destinations starts always with the sunny Caribbean, followed by the Mexican Riviera and Hawaii (from California), Australia and New Zealand. Another interesting and relatively inexpensive destination is Europe's Mediterranean, where during winter you can enjoy guided tours in large port cities with much fewer tourists compared to the summer season.

Christmas Markets are the best-selling European river voyages. Europe's unique Christmas Markets experiences feature shopping (for handcrafted gifts and locally made souvenirs) and traditional food and beverages. Spain's Canaries and Portugal's Madeira are also immensely popular in December and among the best-priced/cheap choices for cruising during Christmas and New Year, with various roundtrips from UK ports and inside the Canaries. A signature experience is Madeira's/Port Funchal's fireworks show on New Year's Eve.

South American voyages during Xmas-NYE can be booked mainly through the Italian companies MSC and Costa . In South Africa are offered departures from Durban and Cape Town. In Arabia you can book seasonally Dubai -homeported ships, mainly by AIDA and MSC.

There are many "international" ships deployed in Southeast Asia (homeported in Hong Kong and Singapore), but for foreigners that market is with fly-cruise deals (inclusive of flights from the USA, Australia, Europe). The list of larger company ships leaving roundtrip from Caribbean ports (Puerto Rico, Barbados, Dominicana, Guadeloupe) includes AIDA, TUI, Marella UK, Carnival, RCI, MSC, P&O UK.

Australia and New Zealand itineraries are mainly roundtrips from Sydney NSW and Auckland NZ. Ships deployed in the South Pacific visit ports in New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Fiji, Tasmania. The list of major companies in this market includes P&O Australia, Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Princess.

Major companies for Christmas cruises in Europe are the UK-based Cunard, Saga, P&O and Marella, departing mainly from Southampton (roundtrip). Other options are TUI and AIDA (departures from Canary Islands), and MSC and Costa (leaving roundtrip from Italian ports). Best brands for Christmas river cruises in Europe are Viking, Avalon, AmaWaterways, Uniworld.

Christmas Holiday cruise travel deals

Xmas-NYE mini cruises are Holiday travel specials that are pretty hard to find. Offered mainly in Europe, the roundtrips are mainly from large ports in England ( Dover , Southampton , Hull ). The best chance to book Xmas short breaks is via P&O Ferries UK . The company owns numerous large-sized Ro-Pax ships/cruiseferries with regularly scheduled crossings from UK ports (to France, Holland, Belgium) visited almost exclusively as shopping and Christmas Market destinations. In the Caribbean, mini-cruises are operated from Florida ports and visit The Bahamas and Mexico.

Fly-cruise deals provide discounted airfare (one-way or roundtrip) mostly to Caribbean homeports with airports (Barbados, Puerto Rico, Dominicana, Guadeloupe), the USA ( Miami Florida ), as well as Mediterranean's largest port cities ( Barcelona , Rome-Civitavecchia , Venice , Marseille ).

Florida to Caribbean itineraries visit The Bahamas ( Nassau , the private islands CocoCay/Royal Caribbean , Half Moon Cay/Carnival , Castaway Cay/Disney , Ocean Cay/MSC , Great Stirrup Cay/NCL ), also Jamaica, Puerto Rico, BVI. Caribbean fly-cruises from the UK to Barbados (Southampton-Bridgetown-Southampton) are P&O UK's top-seller during the December Holidays.

Each year, the Cunard 's RMS Queen Mary 2 offers Christmas and New Year roundtrip voyages from NYC New York to Canada and Caribbean.

The main disadvantages of cruising over Xmas-NYE are the limited availability and higher cost. This is simply the most profitable time for all companies, and they want to get the most out of it. Booking early is essential to secure your Holiday vacation - both as itinerary/stateroom type and pricing. Early Fall (October) is a good time to book. Early booking savings are generous, plus this is the time when the brands start promoting their holiday discounts. However, to be 100% sure, booking a year in advance is highly recommended.

European Christmas Market River Cruises

"Christmas Market" themed cruises are Europe's best Holiday travel deals. They offer ship travel on the largest European rivers and major inland waterways (Rhine, Danube, Main, Moselle), as well as France's rivers (Seine, Seone, Rhone, Garonne, Dordogne, Loire) and navigational canals (via hotel barges).

All larger-sized European riverboats dock in big cities and visit some of the most popular ports in France, Germany, Holland, Belgium, Austria, Hungary, Czechia. Deals are generally all-inclusive - pre- and post-cruise hotel stays, ship transfers, coach travel (tours), gratuities, staterooms with luxury amenities, gourmet meals (European wines and beers during lunch and dinner), 24-hour specialty tea-coffee bar with snacks, complimentary city tours (guided by English-speaking experts), themed onboard enrichment and live entertainment (by resident pianist and local performers), complimentary use of walking sticks and bicycles. Some deals are also inclusive of international flights.

Another reason to choose Christmas Market travel is the opportunity to see some of Europe's largest cities in their glorious snow-cover. Unlike the full-body contact USA Christmas shopping frenzy, Europeans prefer shopping at open-air markets, opposed to shopping malls. Christmas Market cruising in Europe perfectly combines luxury travel with traditional Xmas shopping. Dining options ashore feature the seasonal specialties apple cider, mulled wine (warm spiced wine), sweet gingerbread, all kinds of handmade sweets, chocolate and cookies, perfectly cold beer and steaming hot sausages.

Next are listed itineraries that visit some of the best European Christmas Market cities.

Rhine River

• from Basel to Kehl, Mannheim, Mainz, Cologne
• from Cologne to Koblenz, Rudesheim am Rhein, Germersheim, Kehl, Basel

From Kehl (Germany) is visited Strasbourg (France) - located just across the river.

Danube River

• from Budapest to Vienna, Krems, Linz, Passau
• from Munich to Passau, Linz, Wachau Valley, Vienna, Bratislava, Budapest
• from Munich to Passau, Linz, Grein, Melk, Vienna, Bratislava, Budapest

From Linz can be visited Salzburg and Oberndorf.

• from Nurnberg to Bamberg, Kitzingen, Wurzburg, Wertheim, Frankfurt
• from Frankfurt to Wurzburg, Kitzingen, Bamberg, Nurnberg

From Wurzburg can be visited Rothenburg (Germany's best-preserved walled city).

Rhine-Main-Danube Canal

• from Vienna to Durnstein, Linz, Passau, Regensburg, Roth, Nurnberg
• from Nurnberg to Regensburg, Deggendorf, Wachau Valley, Vienna
• from Nurnberg to Regensburg, Linz, Wachau Valley, Vienna, Budapest

From Deggendorf can be visited Theresienthal (famous for its Glass Museum)

The following table shows exemplary Christmas Market cruisetours as itineraries (departure / arrival ports), companies/brands, voyage themes, land tours/activities.

Note: At our Finder (top-page), when searching for river cruises, be sure to select "River" in the "Ship Type" box.

Best Christmas Markets in Europe

CruiseMapper's review of the best Christmas Markets in Europe is about the best European "stall shopping" destinations during the holidays. Our list includes the Xmas markets in Barcelona , Brussels , Budapest , Copenhagen , Dublin , Edinburgh , Krakow , Lille , London , Prague , Stockholm , Tallinn , Valkenburg , Verona , and Vienna , plus the German Christmas markets (Nuremberg, Dresden, Berlin, Munich).

• Traditionally, Christmas Markets originate in Europe but now pop up all over the world and provide a celebratory atmosphere to enjoy promo shopping. Many holiday shoppers prefer to order gifts online to avoid crowds, but shopping in Europe during the winter holidays is a unique experience.
• Europe's Christmas markets are also a social experience as people gather after work to enjoy a nice meal, mulled wine, hot chocolate, cold beer with sausages, enjoy the company of others. Traveling during Christmas Holidays is an innovative way to celebrate and spend quality time with family and friends.
• "Christmas Market" travel features romantic city tours that for enjoying themed decorations, happy people, winter walks, traditional treats and beverages, cold beer, hot sausages, spiced/mulled wine.

Europe's winter is as energizing as it is cold. Town squares are lit up and decorated. Not so many European companies operate river voyages during winter. In Europe, boats navigate on the largest tributaries of Danube, Rhine and Rhone during spring, summer and fall. However, only several boats of major companies (like Avalon, AMA, Viking) offer Xmas-themed voyages - and until January 1st.

The largest European Christmas Markets are open typically between November 25th and December 24th.

SPAIN - Barcelona Christmas Market "Fira de Santa Llucia" (Plaza de la Seu)

Dating from 1786, Barcelona's traditional Christmas fair now has expanded to 300 and more stalls in front of the Cathedral, selling a variety of handcrafted Christmas gifts and decorations, along with poinsettias, mistletoe and Christmas trees. Always on sale is the most popular figure for Nativity scenes - curious Catalan figure of caganer (crapper) - small figure bending over steaming turd with trousers around ankles. Children line up on the giant caga tio - huge smiley-faced log pooping out pressies when beaten viciously by stick. There is also Nativity scene contest, exhibitions and musical parades, including the Placa Sant Jaume life-size Nativity scene. Fira de Santa Llucia is an authentic Spanish Christmas market, so you'll have difficulties to find bratwurst and gluhwein here but the many restaurants around and festive atmosphere will make up for that.

• Best for: Originally. You won't find mulled wine and bratwurst here - over 300 stalls sell nativity scenes, craft and instruments.
• Eat this: No food here! You'll have to head over to La Boqueria for a simple of Barcelona's traditional festive cuisine. Try Sopa de galets-a soup cantaining pasta shells stuffed with meat.
• Buy this: A Caganer. These small nativity scene figurines, squatting with trousers dropped, are cheeky in more ways than one.
• Skip this: Ice skating at Plaza Cataluna. Check out the spectaculap Christmas light show at Torre Agbar instead.
• When is open: 30th Nov-23 Dec.

BELGIUM - Brussels Christmas Market "Winter Wonders" (Place Ste Catherine)

Brussels Christmas market Winter Wonders with its spectacular ice rink and light show is well known and quite popular. Through the 2-km course around the historic town centre, Brussels' Winter Wonders offers unique ambiance, fairy-tale lighting, delicious dishes, quality activities, and discovery of other cultures during the event. Each year, a different guest is invited to set up market-within-the-market and share some its own traditions. Some of the past invitees are Lapland, Quebec, Provence and Tallinn. Brussels' Christmas market was founded in 2002. The theatrics include sound-and-light nightly show on Grand Place as well as a market surrounding Bourse (Stock Exchange) along Place Sainte Catherine. The big wheel illuminates with 18,000 lights, and 200-ft-long skating rink is great. Try the traditional caricoles (peppery winkles or whelks), Belgian fluffy waffles and fries, seasonal croustillons (doughnuts), and two most welcome Belgium's additions to world cuisine: powerful beer and fine chocolates.

• Best for: Food. A wide range of European foods are found at Winter Wonderland's 240 stalls, providing nourishment for those determined to waik the full 2 kms the market stretches along.
• Eat this: Moules and Frites. Mussels and chips is great with a glass of one of Belgium's famous Trappist beers.
• Buy this: Beer. Head to Delirium Cafe-it holds the Guinnes World Record for most beers in a bar-sample their offerings and take home one or two bottles of your favorites.
• Skip this: Manneken Pis (the city's famous small statue of a boy peeing). Check out the 360-degree sound and light show around the Christmas tree in Grand Place instead.
• When is open: 29 Nov-5th Jan.

Other great Christmas markets in Belgium are Grote Markt in Antwerp and Bruges Christmas Market. The city of Bruges features spectacular medieval architecture, and its Christmas Market is famous for the erected in the Markt ice rink. Kids love the Snow and Ice Sculpture Festival, a 5-minute walk from Christmas Market.

HUNGARY - Budapest Christmas Market "Vorosmarty Square"

Located on Vorosmarty Square in Pest district of Budapest, city's Christmas fair is great to experience traditional food of Hungary, live music and folk dances. The variety of hot drinks include hot chocolate punch and spicy hot apple juice, as well as the chance to try baked goods, like strudels, toki pompos (dough, oven-baked) and langos (fried bread with different toppings). This market has around 150 stalls, plenty of local culture and art, including puppet theatres. All products sold on Vorosmarty Square are traditionally handmade, with a guarantee by professional jury.

• Best for: Culture. Puppet shows,traditional music and folk dancing,all within the surrounds of Budapest's gorgeous baroque and neoclassical architecture.
• Eat this: Chimney cake, or Kurtoskalacs. Pastry Wrapped around a spit, baked over an open charcoal fire, and then sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar.
• Buy this: Matyo-patterned accessories. The ornate and colourful embroidery makes a great festive gift.
• Skip this: Gerbeaud House.Touristy, overcrowded and overpriced during the Christmas period.
• When is open: 15th Nov-31 Dec.

DENMARK - Copenhagen Christmas Market "Tivoli Gardens"

Tivoli Gardens Christmas market in Copenhagen features over 120,000 sparkling lights which illuminate the lake and flower gardens. Kids love this special Christmas market, set up in the amusement park. Enjoy the traditional wooden stalls full of gifts, Danish foods and crafts, theme park rides, firework festival, a roller-coaster, an ice rink, Santa Claus, Danish Christmas pixies... they really know the best way to celebrate Christmas in Denmark. Unlike most European cities, the atmosphere here is more authentically "Christmassy" and less commercial (maybe sub-zero temperatures are one of the reasons). The Russian theme is still going strong, although Nordic touches also have returned. The St. Basil's Cathedral replica remains, and the traditional Father Christmas is residing in 19th-century pantomime theatre. The gardens offer rollercoaster, ice rink, and theme park rides. Expect crowds as the market is based in the centre of capital and attracts a million visitors.

• Best for: Festive spirit. This centuries-old amusement park puts up a 1,000 Christmas trees, and rings its central lake-turned-ice-skating-rink with nine miles of bright lights to create a fantastic Christmas atmosphere.
• Eat this: Klejner. This fried pastry is ubiquitous in Denmark at Christmas. Wash it down with juleol, a dark, malted beer that's only available during the holiday season.
• Buy this: Knitwear. Get the classic Nordic look right from the source-not only will it make you super stylish, but it'll also keep you warm throughout the remainder of winter.
• Skip this: Tours. Instead, hop on a free bike and see Copenhagen's sights on two wheels.

IRELAND - Dublin Christmas Market "12 Days of Christmas" (Dockland)

Despite the fact it's one of the younger European Christmas markets, in 2010 the '12 Days of Christmas' in Dublin attracted the record number of 145,000 visitors. Stained glass, wooden toys, craft jewellery and artwork can be found at the regenerated Dublin Docklands. German themed and carol-singing bar, as well as the carousel, mean the relative newcomer is family crowd pleaser.

• Best for: Variety. from French crepes to African artisans and Brazilian rock bands, visitors to Dublin are really spoiled for choice.
• Eat this: Check out the Fire and Food stall for juicy flame-grilled irish steak burgers and spiced apple punch.
• Buy this: Stained glass. Ireland has some of the world's most spectacular stained glass pieces.
• Skip this: Shopping in the CHQ building. Instead, walk along the River Liffey and check out the shops on Henry Street - it's more interesting and less crowded than Grafton Street.
• When is open: 12th-23rd Dec.

SCOTLAND - Edinburgh Christmas Market "Princes Street Gardens"

If you fancy an original and Scottish Christmas this year, don't miss the opportunity to visit Edinburgh Christmas market. It features the largest ice rink in Europe, stunning views from Ferris Wheel over Edinburgh Castle, Santa's train and Grotto, several choirs and shows. Every year, in Princes Street Gardens, Christmas comes to live with interesting rides and German Christmas Markets. You can find all customary Christmas goodies in the wooden chalets, along with handmade decorations and gifts. There's a good selection of craft items and food.

• Best for: The best thing about Edinburgh Christmas market is that it's open until the 5th of January and while markets in Germany tend to close by the 23rd of December, you can keep on Christmas fun in Edinburgh. Stay for Hogmanay, which is the absolute best New Year celebration in the world.
• Eat this: hot mulled wine and Christmas cookies.
• Buy this: a ride!
• When is open: 22nd Nov-5th Jan.

POLAND - Krakow Christmas Market "Rynek Glowny"

The Christmas market in Krakow takes place every year amid Old Town historic district, on city's Rynek Glowny central square. It starts in the last November days and lasts through the 26th of December or even longer, to the 6th of January sometimes. The wooden stands sell Christmas decorations and goodies, as well as delicious sweets. The open-air eateries feature mulled wine and hearty meals. There are additional attractions as folk dances, shows and concerts of carols.

• Best for: Tradition. Polish Christmas carols are centuries-old and the city's main square has hosted markets since the 13th century
• Eat this: Fried oscypek cheese. This salty sheep's milk cheese is breaded, friend and served with lingonberry compote.
• Buy this: Amber. Amber's a local specialty; you'll find a number of stalls run by locals selling beautiful jewelry crafted from golden, fossilised resin.
• Skip this: Wawel Castle. Instead, check out the entrance to the city's annual szopki competition.These elaborately decorated nativity scenes were introduced to Poland in the 13th century, representing one of Krakow's oldest and most distinct customs.
• When is open: 25th Nov-5th Jan.

FRANCE - Lille Christmas Market "Place Rihour"

Lille has great activities during holiday season - it's situated along the northern border of France and is capital of French Flanders. The whole town around Christmas market is covered with huge garlands' crown. Lille's primary market is on Place Rihour, in 80 wooden chalets with extraordinary gift ideas, Christmas decorations, nativity figurines and festive food. The nearby Grand Place features 50-m high Big Wheel which lights up the square and provides a great view of the whole city.

• Best for: Lights. Lille is illuminated with thousands of fairy lights and le Grand Roue, the market's Ferris wheel, is the dramatic centerpiece of the elaborate light display.
• Eat this: Gaufre fouree/Originating in Lille. This is a delectable oval-shaped waffle stuffed with chocolate or brown sugar.
• Buy this: Chuque du nord. A coffee-flavored candy filled with soft caramel typical of the region, presented in a red and white striped wrapper.
• Skip this: Ferris wheel ride.Instead, navigate 17th-century cobblestone streets on foot and explore the beautiful architecture, statues and the palace in Vieux-Lille.
• When is open: 20th Nov-30 Dec.

ENGLAND - London Christmas Market "Winter Wonderland"

London features several yearly Christmas markets and ice rinks. There are great activities and markets on either side of Thames during holiday season in addition to London's Christmas decorations. Southbank Centre Christmas Market offers 80 wooden cabins that sell gifts, bratwurst and gluhwein to enjoy while strolling along the waterfront. Hyde Park's Winter Wonderland is probably the best-known Christmas market in London with more than 200 chalets featuring handmade decorations and gifts. Food and drink selections at Winter Wonderland are the most extensive, with options that include a Bavarian village, outdoor fire pit, even a bar modeled after alpine ski lodge. The carnival rides are in addition to food and shopping. Another option is the Skate rink at Somerset House Ice Rink, with DJs spinning tunes after dark.

• Best for: 60-m (197-feet) high Observation Wheel and the largest ice rink in Britain
• Eat this: mince pies, roasted chestnuts (with mulled wine, of course)
• When is open: 20th Nov-24th Dec

Other Christmas markets in England we could recommend are: in Birmingham - the "Second City" of UK - Frankfurt Christmas market, running for twelve years already. You can sip on hot mulled wine and German lager amongst the crowds, buy fresh pretzels, delicious hot chocolate and handmade gifts. No matter what time, you can join the crowds of festive people - folk music and laughter fill the air.

CZECH REPUBLIC - Prague Christmas Market "Wenceslas Square"

Prague's Christmas markets take place in Wenceslas Square and Old Town Square. The markets feature the expected holiday decor and wooden toys, but they also offer Czech specialties, like blacksmith's wares, ceramics and glasswork. Food is slightly different from German standards, although blood sausages, grog and gingerbread are offered, but there are vendors with corn on cob and trdelnik (dough cooked with sugar and cinnamon). If you're in town around 20th December, you'll see carp frequently offered - dining on it is Prague's Christmas Eve tradition. Visitors seek for unusual drinks and food rather than decoration and gifts - in the week leading to Vanoce (Christmas) holiday, streets sport enormous water tubs filled with carp (Czech Christmas dish). Don't forget to try the traditional Czech beverage grog and honey liquor. Around 5 p.m. every night the Christmas tree lights are switched on and provide a stunning sight. Dressed in traditional costumes carol singers all around from Czech Republic complete the enchanting market.

• Best for: After-parties. Prague is already popular for its beer and ambiance. Throw in mulled wine and the Christmas spirit, and a merry time is had by all.
• Eat this: Fish soup, or rybi polevka. This typical Christmas dish will definitely keep you warm while you explore.
• Buy this: Handmade puppets dressed in traditional Czech garb. The craft of puppet-making has been passed down countless generations.
• Skip this: Nativity scene exhibitions. Instead, climb up Prasna Brana, the Powder Tower, for a beautiful view of Prague all dressed up for Christmas.
• When is open: 30th Nov-12th Jan.

SWEDEN - Stockholm Christmas Market "Skansen's"

Skansen's Christmas market is ultra-traditional - it has been held since 1903 annually. Skansen is like outdoor cultural museum, it's historic, so you'll see how a Christmas market during the 1800's looked in Sweden. Homemade jams, mustards, sausages, bread, cakes and marzipan, as well as traditional handicrafts (embroidery, leather, holiday decorations). Join with kids the variety of family-friendly activities. Skansen is on Djurgarden Island. Regular ferries link from Slussen.

• Eat this: Christmas fare such as eel, salmon, smoked sausage, pepparkakor (gingersnaps), saffron buns and glogg (mulled wine).
• Buy this: Look out for craft products, hand-dipped candles and traditional Christmas ornaments that are made of straw
• When is open: 24th Nov-16th Dec (only during weekends).

ESTONIA - Tallinn Christmas Market "Rotermann Square"

Tallinn Christmas market originated in 2001 and is not the biggest market, but has lots of charm featuring the most important Estonian Christmas tree surrounded by traditional Christmas stalls. Tallinn Christmas market is set among cobbled streets and medieval squares. With a handful of stalls around Old Town Hall Square - Raekoja plats, selling hats, sweaters, gloves, Estonian arts and crafts, the market is very charming. Tallinn's Raekoja plats is the spot where the first public Christmas tree was put on display in Europe. Fun holiday activities include outdoor skating rink, jazz and classical concerts, illuminated snow sculptures, and Santa's house where kids post Christmas list and feed baby reindeer.

• Best for: Setting. With blankets of snow on market stall roots, medieval architecture, and a tall, lavishly decorated Christmas tree at the center of it all, Tallinn looks like something straight out of a fairy tale.
• Eat this: Blood sausage. A lot more appetizing than they look, these traditional Estonian Christmas treats makes for a tasty snack. Try the Glogi - Estonian mulled wine.
• Buy this: Candles. Estonia is known for its spas. Hand-poured, all-natural scented candles are a cheap and easy way of recreating the relaxing atmosphere of an Estonoan spa at home.
• When: 22nd Nov-8th Jan

HOLLAND - Valkenburg Christmas Market

The Netherlands also have long traditions of Christmas markets, but Valkenburg Christmas market is the most unique. Each year during Christmas holidays, Valkenburg transforms in real Christmas town and features Christmas markets in caves. Enjoy the usual Christmas activities, but also see the Christmas parade which is twice a week with Santa Clause himself. As visitors wander around the cave, they meet tables full of displays from local artisans. Every year they show a unique theme - the scenes are set up throughout market and tell stories related to the theme. The cave is worth a visit with mural paintings throughout. It looks more spectacular with holiday lights and festive decorations. Velvet, Wilhelmina and Municipal caves sound intriguing even on their own.

• Best for: Unique themes.
• Buy this: The typical stalls offer all you would find at other Christmas markets: beautiful crafts, delicious food, and plenty of holiday decorations.
• When is open: 24 Nov-23 Dec.

ITALY - Verona Christmas Market "Piazza Dante"

The German-style Piazza dei Signori Christmas market in Verona sells german specialty foodstuffs and handmade items. Sip vin brule on a cold night, or eat specialty bread and wurst while the kids visit babbo natale and whisper christmas wishes. Around 60 exhibitors usually offer their crafts and products, glass Christmas decorations, ceramic and wood creations, as well as original gift ideas. Piazza dei Signori (known also as Piazza Dante), is accompanied by typical flavours and smells of Christmas specialties as mulled wine, delicious sandwiches and sweets with typical Nuremberg sauerkraut and sausages.

• Best for: Charm. The Veronese market is small and intimate, but still has plenty of choice. Look out for the giant Christmas star falling from the adjacent Roman Arena.
• Eat this: Pandoro. Originating from Verona, the loaf is a delicious sweet bread shaped like an 8-point star, dusted with icing sugar so it looks like the Italian Alps during Christmas.
• Buy this: Antique style, handmade ornaments for your Christmas tree.
• Skip this: Juliet's balcony. Explore the Roman Arena instead - every Christmas the spectacular historic venue plays host to an international axhibition of nativity scenes.
• When is open: 23rd Nov-21st Dec.

AUSTRIA - Vienna Christmas Market "Christkindlmarkts"

Germany has long Christmas markets tradition for centuries like the ones in Frankfurt, Dresden, Munich and Bautzen. However, Vienna is a forerunner with the traditional yearly "December market", dating back to 1294. Today Vienna features about 20 Christmas markets yearly and Christkindlmarkt in front of City Hall is the most famous. Besides the wooden cabins, traditional for Christmas, it features Christmas stories, special post office, and International Advent Caroling. More than 150 stalls sell Christmas decorations, gifts, hot chestnuts and gluhwein (mulled wine). Two other Christmas venues that are uite popular are the Freyung Viennese Christmas Market, which is traditional, selling handicrafts, and in front of Schonbrunn Palace - the Christmas Market, which offers an imperial backdrop and also hosts New Year's market - open until January 1.

• Best for: Short attention spans. In Vienna, there are at least four major markets with different themes.
• Eat this: Maroni (roasted chestnuts) and Weinachtspunsch. Enjoy a packet of the open drum-roasted snacks with a warm punch made with tea, red wine, rum, spices and fruit juices.
• Buy this: Mozartkugel. Originating in Vienna, these traditional chocolates are unique for their pistachio marzipan and nougat centres, individually wrapped in a portrait of Mozart.
• Skip this: The market in Rathausplatz. Instead, explore the Museum Quartier where the Winter Village is. It's six ice pavilions, light projections, stalls and museums, are hugely popular with Vienna's hip crowd. Don't miss Mumok-Vienna's modern art museum.
• When is open: 15th Nov-24 Dec (dates differ at every market).

Christmas is a social affair for the Viennese. People meet up for spicy Christmas cookies, chestnuts and Punsch or Gluhwein (mulled wine). The principal hotspots are:

• Altwiener Christkindlmarkt (23 Nov-23 Dec) - in front of Salzburg cathedral; bringing cosier arty feel with stalls that sell handmade wares. The looming Hohensalzburg Fortress and baroque architecture give a fairy tale feeling. As Salzburg is the birthplace of Mozart, it has an outstanding musical tradition - there are choral performances and you may to hear some of the best students in Europe perform. Another musical claim to fame was also born in Salzburg: Joseph Mohr, the lyricist behind the most famous Christmas carol "Silent Night".
• Rathausplatz market (17 Nov-24 Dec) - with tacky stalls, but Rathausplatz is worth a visit for the glimpse of Advent windows on decorated by local artists Town Hall, and the tree illuminations in park.
• Schonbrunn Palace market (24 Nov-26 Dec) - spectacular backdrop with more upmarket stalls.
• Spittelberg market (15 Nov-23 Dec) - set in cobbled streets between Siebensterngasse and Burggasse in the 7th district, one of the loveliest. You can find goods not offered elsewhere.

Best Christmas Markets in Germany

Germany is well known for the variety of beautiful Christmas markets - from the popular Cologne market to the small one in Monschau. However, the most famous one, without any doubt is Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt.

Nuremberg Christmas Market "Christkindlesmarkt"

Dating from 1600s, the Nuremberg Christmas market occupies Main Square under Frauenkirche (Church of Our Lady). Christkind opens Christmas market the Friday before Advent every year with an impressive ceremony. This market has long tradition and you'll find all original things here - gluhwein, bavarian bratwurst and hand-made gifts. The stalls, with candy-striped awnings, sell all traditional handcrafts, including carved wooden toys and "smoker" man (carved figure holding smoking incense inside). The horse-drawn stagecoach will take you on a ride over the medieval old city's cobblestone streets. On weekends, the Nuremberg market is a mass of people who huddle together to stay warm. But during the week, explore the Christkindlesmarkt in tranquility, eat the local sausages (three in a roll) and drink gluhwein (hot mulled wine).

• Best for: Atmosphere. Nurembergers know how to put on a Christmas market - they've been doing it for nearly 400 years!
• Eat this: Nuremberg bratwurst. Try it with mustard and kraut and wash down with a boot-shaped mug of Gluhwein.
• Buy this: Prune men. These dried plum figures were first created as children's toys during the Thirty Years'War. Found in a multitude of sizes and characters, they're now one of the most popular gifts to bring home from the Nuremberg Christmas market.
• Skip this: Gingerbread from the market stalls. Instead, head to one of the local bakeries where you'll find a delicious selection of fresh lebkuchen (cookies made from gingerbread).
• When is open: 29th Nov-24th Dec

Dresden Christmas Market "Striezelmarkt"

The popular Christmas market in Dresden transforms the city into winter wonderland on River Elbe. The city of Dresden is filled with festivities and sparkling lights. Traditionally known as 'Striezelmarkt', Dresden Christmas market is the oldest in Germany, as it dates back to 1434. It's named after city's famous culinary creation - Christmas Stollen, sweet fruitcake in the shape of loaf, dusted with icing sugar. The highlight of Dresden Christmas annual market is the Stollen Festival, which is held in December, on the second Sunday - a giant Stollen weighing 3,000 kg is carried to the market where it's ceremonially sliced and then distributed to the visitors. The parade is presided by "Miss Cake" (Stollenmadchen). Dresden Christmas market is old-fashioned and pretty, with more than 250 stalls that sell traditional wares and festive arts and crafts. Regional vendors display pottery and indigo-printed textiles from Lusatia; wooden ornaments from Erzgebirge mountain villages; paper advent stars, wickerwork and Plauen lace from Herrnhut.

Many other markets can be found around Dresden, and each of them has its own attractions and intimate flair. The popular Frauenkirche, Loschwitz, and especially the charming Residenzschloss Christmas markets are worth mentioning.

• Best for: Tradition and original displays - the Christmas market in Dresden is the place to see the tallest Christmas pyramid in the world - the stunning 14 meters high.
• Eat this: Christmas Stollen, of course!
• Buy this: hand-blown delicate glass baubles from Lauscha; hand-made Saxony ceramics in bright blue and white.
• When is open: 27th Nov-24 Dec.

Berlin Christmas Market "Kaiser Wilhelm"

Berlin's most popular Christmas Market is Kaiser Wilhelm Gedachtniskirche (receiving ~2 million visitors annually). Tourists visit for the jewelry, artworks and decorations on sale as well as to indulge in the cliched seasonal treats - mulled wine and chestnuts.

When is open: 24 Nov-1 Jan.

Munich Christmas Market "Marienplatz"

Besides being Bavaria's Oktoberfest destination, Munich also has a huge downtown Christmas Market (Marienplatz) surrounded by an enormous tree with 2500+ lights. Tourists can find traditional Bavarian gifts - wood carvings or gingerbread (called lebkuchen), while sipping on beer or gluhwein (mulled warmed wine).

Throughout the city there are smaller markets - one unique is Manger Market, selling the components for those who try to build authentic manger.

Tips for Experiencing Walt Disney World Between Christmas and New Year’s

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Christmastime brings many traditions: Christmas trees, Santa Claus, classic songs, good food, and, less happily, gridlock at Walt Disney World.  Indeed, the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day is Disney’s most crowded week of the year.  The parks will often close for capacity reasons during this week, and wait times will likely be astronomical.  Still, with realistic expectations, a great time can be had.  I have visited Walt Disney World twice during this week and experienced much more than I had anticipated.

Your best bet to thoroughly experience the parks during this period is to plan.  Take advantage of your FastPass+ reservations to mitigate wait times at the most popular attractions. In addition, if you can, attempt to make these reservations as early in the day as possible.  Once a Guest uses all of his or her initial FastPass+ reservations , additional FastPass+ reservations can be made, space permitting, at in-park kiosks or on a mobile device.  Alternatively, if your party does not mind splitting up, consider taking advantage of single-rider queues, which are available at three of Walt Disney World’s thrill rides: Disney’s Hollywood Studios’ Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith, Epcot’s Test Track, and the Animal Kingdom’s Expedition Everest.

Booking Advance Dining Reservations (ADRs) is critical during this week if your party wants to enjoy meals at the more popular sit-down restaurants.  Even if you are unsure that you will keep a certain ADR, consider booking it to be on the safe side.  Advance Dining Reservations can be cancelled up to 24-hours in advance. Should you cancel after that time, a $10 fee will be charged for each person in the reservation.  If worst comes to worst and you forget to book Advance Dining Reservations, no ADRs are required to dine at Disney’s many counter service eateries, and guests can bring snacks and drinks into the parks.  Additionally, you can always contact a restaurant to see if walk-ups are being accepted or if any ADR spots have opened up because of cancellations.  During my family’s Christmas trip to Walt Disney World, for example, we ate lunch at the Boardwalk Inn’s ESPN Club restaurant twice without ADRs, and my parents were able to do the same at the Boardwalk’s Big River Grille and Brewing Works .

Spontaneous touring during this week is difficult but not impossible, especially if one arrives at a theme park early in the morning; Extra Magic Hours for Disney resort guests typically begins daily at 7:00 a.m. at the Magic Kingdom and one of the other three theme parks during Christmas week.  From my experiences, the parks are noticeably uncrowded during the early morning, and popular attractions can be experienced multiple times with almost no waits. I was able to ride Expedition Everest three consecutive times with no waits early one morning on one of my Christmas trips. Furthermore, on one early morning bus ride—I believe it was from the Grand Floridian to the Animal Kingdom—I was the only person on the bus! Of course, the crowds greatly increase as the day progresses.

The week between Christmas and New Year’s Day is the busiest week of the year at Walt Disney World, but with some planning, you can nonetheless have a magical trip.

What are your tips for touring Walt Disney World between Christmas and New Year’s? Let me know in the comments!

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When is the Best Time to Go on a Disney Cruise?

Disney cruises are popular options for families. There are a plethora of activities onboard ships and ports of call. However, the timing of your cruise can be an essential factor in deciding whether it’s the right choice. Here are some things to consider when planning your trip and choosing the best time to go on a Disney cruise.

Family Schedules

A Disney cruise is a great choice any time of year, but some months and weeks are better than others.

First and foremost, the month you choose to go on a Disney cruise will depend on your preferences and when you and your family can travel —establishing a family schedule before planning will allow you to determine when everyone in your family can travel.

Be aware of your family’s school schedule, work schedule, and upcoming events. Once you know when everyone will be available, you can search for specific dates and itineraries.

There are more options if you are retired, have a flexible schedule, or are not traveling with children . But for most of us, you’ll have to pick what works best for everyone in your family or group.

If you’ve ever taken a Disney cruise, you know it’s a fantastic experience regardless of when you go. However, crowds may influence when you decide when you should go.

Disney cruises are most crowded during school breaks, summer, and significant holiday weeks like Spring Break, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. 

You get a lot of families during these periods since these are usually the only times when everyone in the family can take a vacation together. Most staterooms can accommodate 4 or 5 passengers, so the ship will seem (and be) more full (with families) during a peak time than during an off-peak period when there’s a higher percentage of couples.

Likewise, sailings on dates near a school break – or that fall near a long weekend – are usually busier as many families pull their children out of school for the weekend.

Off-peak times, like the fall, are less crowded for Disney cruises. In addition to offering better rates, off-peak times also tend to provide more stateroom availability and choices. Reserving far in advance will get you the best rates and a guaranteed stateroom.

Disney cruise ships are big and spacious, so even when the vessel is full, there is still room to escape the crowds, and you can always book a spacious cabin to retreat to. Some people find that the dining rooms and swimming pools are really the only crowded spots. However, each cruise is different.  You’ll never experience Disney World-type crowds, though!

Recommendation: Off-peak times are less crowded. 

Crowd levels can impact your decision on when is the best time to go on a Disney Cruise

If you need help navigating your Disney Cruise Line vacation plans, we highly recommend contacting The Vacationeer .

Their team of experienced Disney travel agents will help you find the lowest price and the best itineraries, and there’s never an additional charge for their services! Click HERE for a free, no-obligation price quote .

There is some overlap between crowds and prices. It is best to depart at off-peak times if possible.

Disney increases its prices during the summer and during major holidays, such as Spring Break, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. When cruising during the summer, avoid the peak season by going at the beginning – or end – of summer break if you have children.

The cost of Disney cruises tends to be lower when schools are in session since families are less likely to book cruises. There are also seasons when tickets are cheaper due to the calendar or weather.

Disney cruises are typically less expensive during:

• January (except for New Year’s week)
• Early February
• September and October
• Early November
• Early December

You can save a lot of money when you book a Disney cruise during one of these off-peak times. Additionally, Disney offers special themed cruises during these slower times to attract more tourists.

Another option for sailing during peak season is to book a last-minute cruise . This can be a great way to score a deal on a cruise with Disney , but it’s important to remember that you won’t have much choice when it comes to selecting your stateroom .

Other Ways to Get Discounts

Disney typically offers discounts for Florida residents , US military members, and Disney Vacation Club and Castaway Club members. Our Ways to Save Money on Disney Cruises article examines these cost-saving strategies in greater depth.

Additionally, some Disney travel agencies offer generous onboard credit , essentially free money to pay for tipping , alcohol, excursions, etc., on a cruise ship. This perk is offered to incentivize clients to book a cruise with them (instead of through Disney or another agency).

Are you interested in receiving free onboard credit? We recommend the commission-free travel agents at The Vacationeer, who offer among the highest onboard credit in the industry. Click HERE for a free, no-obligation price quote and find out how much you can save on your Disney cruise.

Recommendation: Prices are usually lower during off-peak weeks and months. Use a Disney travel agent that offers onboard credits.

When it comes to the weather, the best time to go on a Disney cruise depends on where you are heading. Here’s a breakdown of what to expect at each port of call.

The Bahamas and the Caribbean

The weather is generally very pleasant in the Bahamas no matter when you visit. For this reason, Disney offers at least one cruise to the Bahamas at any given time throughout the year.

Generally, December through May are ideal months to sail to the Bahamas and the Caribbean .

Avoid the Bahamas and Caribbean in July and August if you do not like hot and humid weather . Sure, it’s not oppressively hot, you can easily find air-conditioning aboard the ship, and the pool is always a great option. However, you may not be able to enjoy your port adventures as much if it’s in the 80s or 90s during the day.

For reference, Castaway Cay (in the Bahamas) has an average temperate of around 69 in January, 74 in April, 84 in July, and 74 in November, so it’s pretty nice all year long.

There is also hurricane season , which officially runs from June 1 through November 30. It is historically most active between August and September , so it may be a good idea to consider travel insurance if you plan on cruising to the Bahamas or the Caribbean during this time .

Recommendation: Winter or Spring is the best time to sail to the Bahamas or the Caribbean. 

Disney Cruise Line offers Alaska cruises from May to September. As this timeframe emphasizes, Alaska’s cruise season is relatively short, and cruises to Alaska are not available in the winter.

Alaskan temperatures usually range from mid-thirties to low forties Fahrenheit in May and September, but highs can reach the upper fifties. The weather has an average temperature in the low-60s during June, July, and August.

Alaska’s native wildlife is most visible during the summer months of June, July, and August. September is the best time to try to see the Northern Lights, though Disney cruises stay far enough south that such sightings are quite rare.

Recommendation: Summer is the best time to go on a Disney Alaskan cruise .

Most Disney cruises in Europe take place between May and September. For most areas in this region, this is the warmest and driest time of year and, indeed, the most pleasant time to cruise.

Recommendation: Summer is the best time to go on a Disney European cruise.

Disney cruises to Mexico every Spring and Fall each year. These are reliably warm months in the Mexican Riviera and Baja, Mexico. That said, the weather is typically more comfortable in March and April than in September and October.

Recommendation: Spring is the best time to sail to Mexico.

Itineraries

Several Disney Cruise Line itineraries are only available during specific times of the year.

Alaskan cruises, for instance, are only available during the late spring and summer months due to the cold weather for the remainder of the year. If you wish to take one of those cruises, your options will be limited.

There are also limited sailings in Northern Europe and San Diego .

Or, it might come down to what’s convenient to where you live. For those who live in or near Texas, taking a Disney Cruise out of Galveston makes for easier travel logistics, but limits you to the winter months when the ship is in the area.

Recommendation: It comes down to when and where you wish to sail. See our Best Disney Cruise Line Itineraries page for suggestions.

Disney’s Themed Cruises

Several themed cruises are also available during certain times of the year. If you are interested in one of these themed cruises, the time of year you choose to sail will affect whether you qualify for one of those special cruises.

Disney’s specially-themed cruises include Halloween on the High Seas (Autumn) and Very Merrytime Cruises (December), Marvel Day at Sea (various dates), and Pixar Day at Sea (multiple dates). These specialty cruises are sure to be popular options. Each one offers a unique experience that will surely be memorable for all who attend.

Book your cruise as early as possible if you have your heart set on sailing during one of these special event sailings. Disney cruises sell out fast, and the closer you get to your desired travel date, the less likely you are to find availability.

Recommendation: It depends on which themed cruise appeals to you.

Ages at Time of Travel

As opposed to asking what the best time of the year is, you might be asking what the right age your children should be for a Disney Cruise. They won’t be able to participate in all the activities if they are too young.

Disney is undoubtedly the best cruise line for families with younger kids , but the kids’ clubs are still best enjoyed by children who are old enough. You kids will probably want to spend the majority of their time at those youth clubs while at sea. Children as young as three are welcome, but we find that children five and older will find them to be very enjoyable.

Recommendation: Disney cruises are best for adults and children ages 5+.

Kids love Disney Cruise Line's Oceaneer Club | Image © Disney-Pixar

The Verdict: When is the Best Time to Go on a Disney Cruise?

Regarding saving money, the best time to go on a Disney cruise is during an off-peak time . For Disney Cruise Line, this means avoiding school holidays and peak summer months. Sailing during an off-peak time can save you money on your cruise fare, and you’ll also find more stateroom options available.

Similarly, Disney cruises are most crowded during school breaks, summer, and significant holiday weeks like Spring Break, Thanksgiving, and Christmas . If your priority is avoiding crowds, plan your trip during a time when kids won’t be on break.

If the weather is more important to you, the best time to book a Disney cruise depends on your destination. If you plan on sailing to the Bahamas or Caribbean, we recommend between December and May. A cruise to Mexico will be best in the spring. Summer is the best time for cooler weather destinations like Alaska and northern Europe.

When it comes to taking a themed cruise, you have fewer options because they are only available for a limited time. You’ll have to pick a departure that works best for you.

Last but most importantly, you’ll need to determine when everyone in your family will be available to travel and their preferences . You will need to figure out your family’s work schedule, school schedule, and upcoming events. When you know when everyone will be available, you can search for specific dates and itineraries.

You’ll have more options if you aren’t traveling with children, have a flexible schedule, or are retired. In most cases, however, you’ll have to decide what’s best for everyone in your group or family.

Frequently Asked Questions on When It’s Best to Sail with Disney

Here are some additional questions people ask when determining the best times to go on a Disney cruise.

When is the most popular time to go on a Disney Cruise?

Disney Cruises during the summer and winter holidays and those during spring break tend to be the most popular. For the best rates and stateroom availability during peak season, it is recommended that you book one year in advance. The earlier the better!

What is the cheapest month to go on Disney cruise ships?

A Disney cruise is most affordable during the months of mid-to-late January, early February, or early May. Some weeks in March and April are also cheaper, while September, early November, and early December are also good options.

What months should you not go on a cruise?

Hurricanes are more likely to develop in August and October, while September has the highest probability of developing into hurricanes. For this reason, September is the worst month of the year to take a cruise to the Bahamas or Caribbean.

It’s relatively rare for a cruise to be completely canceled due to a hurricane, but they may drastically alter their itineraries due to storms. We’ve seen ships change the order they visit ports, completely miss some ports, and even shorten/lengthen the entire cruise to miss the worst of the storm at a home port.

But if you don’t mind risking it (or have suitable travel insurance), then September can be a beautiful month to cruise.

Do cruise prices go down closer to the date?

As a general rule, cruise prices are lower when they are first put up for sale, which occurs 18 to 24 months before departure. Only if the cruise doesn’t sell out will there be a price drop on the cruise.

Is it cold on Disney Cruise?

Packing layers is recommended for ANY Disney cruise, but it is especially important for cold-weather cruises since there will be a lot of temperature changes. Depending on your itinerary, it probably makes sense to pack a few jackets, sweaters, and lightweight tops, along with your t-shirts, shorts, swimsuit, and footwear.

Even on warm-weather cruises, the ship’s travel speed on open water will often create a stiff breeze on the ship’s decks and your private verandah (if your stateroom is so equipped) — strong enough to make a windbreaker desirable for some travelers.

Ready to Book your Disney Cruise?

Working with an experienced travel agent is the best way to ensure smooth sailing, and The Vacationeer is ready and willing to help you determine the best time to go on a Disney cruise in 2024 or 2025.

Their team of Disney travel agents can arrange every part of your cruise and provide a generous onboard credit you can use towards purchases and activities while you’re on the ship. Whether you just want to visit Castaway Cay or have your sights set on Alaska, Europe, or even Australia, they can help make it happen!

There’s never any obligation to book, and there’s no additional charge to use their planning services!

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Is it too hot to go on a Caribbean cruise in the summer? I want to take my kids on a Disney Cruise, but we would struggle to fit it in during the school year unless it’s during a school vacation.

While Caribbean cruises in the summer months can be quite hot and humid, Disney’s cruise ships are well-equipped with plenty of air-conditioned spaces and pools to help you cool off. That said, if you or the kids really don’t do well with the heat, you might have a better time cruising over winter or spring break when temperatures are milder. At the end of the day, it’s all about figuring out what works best for your family’s needs and schedule.

If you need any more help planning things out, definitely reach out to The Vacationeer – their Disney travel agents are pros at finding the perfect cruise for each family.

Wishing you an amazing trip whenever you decide to set sail!

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PHOTOS & VIDEOS: How Crowded is Disney World on New Year’s Eve?

It has been a busy holiday week, as Disney World tends to be in the days between Christmas and New Year’s Day!

Today is the final day of 2021 , and to close out the year, we’re heading into the parks to see just how busy things are as other guests prepare to ring in the New Year!

Since New Year’s Eve is a holiday celebrated at night, we weren’t sure how early the parks would start to get busy. With fireworks set to return to both Magic Kingdom and EPCOT , we knew there as a possibility that those two parks could get crowded first thing in the morning with guests scoping out a spot to watch the show!

When we arrived, there was designated queue space outside of the entrance, in case of crowds. There weren’t too many guests walking around in front — everyone was inside.

Once we made our way to Main Street, U.S.A., it was almost time for Disney Enchantment. Because of New Year’s Eve, Magic Kingdom was having its typical fireworks show early at 6:30PM.

Guests were already gathered down the street, and it was pretty packed! At this point, you’d need to stick to the sidewalk to move at all.

We expect similar crowds later in the evening for the New Year’s Eve Fantasy in the Sky fireworks show.

NYE crowds at the beginning of Main Street, U.S.A. 🥳 pic.twitter.com/D8TBC1x493 — AllEars.Net (@AllEarsNet) January 1, 2022

After the show, it got a lot busier in Fantasyland. There’s typically a bottleneck for crowds over here by Peter Pan’s Flight and “it’s a small world.”

You’ll definitely want to be careful when walking around in these heavy crowds, there are a LOT of people!

This is DEFINITELY one of the most crowded days of the year. Good luck to all those visiting!

View from the Pinocchio balcony – Lots of people here to celebrate the new year!🚶‍♀️🚶🚶‍♂️ pic.twitter.com/7LtV61AA25 — AllEars.Net (@AllEarsNet) January 1, 2022

Be sure to follow along as we continue to cover the holiday crowds at Disney World! We’ll be back tomorrow on New Year’s Day to see how busy the parks are, so definitely check back then! And keep an eye on AllEars for the latest news and updates ahead of your next Disney World vacation.

Click here to read about 10 ways Disney World will CHANGE in 2022!

Have you celebrated New Year’s Eve in Disney World before? Share your experience in the comments!

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Disney Experience Reveals All-New Holiday Update

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Disney is continuing its “Halfway to the Holidays” event with more announcements following yesterday’s 12Ks of Christmas run Disney announcement.

The company has announced the return of several holiday celebrations at its international Parks, including Disneyland Paris, Tokyo Disney Resort, and Hong Kong Disneyland, as well as new Christmas outfits for Mickey and Minnie at Disneyland. The official Disney Parks Twitter account has also been Tweeting out dozens of coordinates as “reindeer tracking,” although it’s still unclear what it’s leading up to.

Today, the Disney Cruise Line (DCL) received its holiday announcement , ensuring that even Guests on the water will be able to enjoy holiday magic. The Very Merrytime cruises will include an all-new tree-lighting ceremony for a three-deck-tall tree . Mickey, Minnie, and Goofy will be present for the ceremony and will lead the Guests on a holiday sing-along before introducing Santa as the Guest of honor!

Mickey and Minnie’s Holiday Party is another new offering for the holiday cruises. Located on the ship’s upper decks, the party will be hosted by Mickey and Minnie along with some of their other friends and will feature a selection of beloved holiday songs and a dance party. The Disney Cruise Line ships will also be completely decked out in holiday decor, as will the characters, dressed in all-new festive outfits fit for the holidays! Guests can also experience a variety of holiday-themed merchandise, food, and beverage options .

The Merrytime Cruises are also expected to return for 2024 as the DCL unveils the travel dates and itineraries for late next year. Halloween on the High Seas will also return next year, so if you miss out on any holiday bookings for this year, you can rest assured knowing that you can catch them next year instead.

Will you be taking a Very Merrytime Cruise with the Disney Cruise Line this holiday season? Let Inside the Magic know in the comments below!

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More From Forbes

Why disney's new cruise liner may be charting the wrong course.

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Concept art of the new Disney Adventure, which will have its home port in Singapore

More details about Disney's plans to expand its cruise line into Asia have emerged with an announcement about the entertainment onboard its new ship which will have its home in Singapore when it comes on stream next year.

Named the Disney Adventure, the 208,000-ton ship will carry around 6,700 passengers making it the world's third-biggest cruise liner by capacity. Disney reportedly bought it for just $44 million in 2022 after its previous owner, Hong Kong-based Genting Cruise Lines, fell into administration. Instead of sailing it to the United States to join the six other ships in its fleet, Disney decided to make the Adventure its first cruise liner with a home port in Asia.

As part of a collaboration between Disney Cruise Line and Singapore Tourism Board, the mega-ship will sail for at least five years from the Marina Bay Cruise Center just a 12 minute drive from Universal Studios Singapore. The location seems like a no-brainer as it brings the fight to the doorstep of Disney's biggest rival but actually Mickey may be charting the wrong course.

Singapore is the surprising location of Disney's Asian cruise port (Photo by Suhaimi Abdullah/Getty ... [+] Images)

Disney's ships are designed in an Art Deco style to reflect the golden age of cruising but inside they are awash with the kind of fairytale trappings that guests find in its theme parks. Photo opps with cuddly characters are de rigueur, as are Broadway-style extravaganzas based on classic Disney cartoons.

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Its latest ship, the Disney Wish, is also home to an interactive dinner show featuring scenes specially-shot by the actors of the wildly-popular Avengers super hero movies. On its top deck there is even an innovative water slide with screens set into the side of the tubes which tell a story about Mickey Mouse whilst riders rocket past on rafts propelled by powerful jets of water.

The Disney Adventure is set to make an even bigger splash as it will have an entire street themed to 2014's animated Oscar-winner Big Hero 6 which was a huge hit in Asia. A poolside retreat will be inspired by another animated favorite – Moana – while shops and restaurants will be based on classic Disney cartoons like The Little Mermaid and Lilo & Stitch. The Avengers will have their own hub.

"We're bringing the magic of Disney Cruise Line to Asia for the first time ever, and we want to give our guests the cruise relaxation and Disney fun they can only experience aboard one of our ships," said Sharon Siskie, senior vice president and general manager of Disney Cruise Line. "When they set sail on the Disney Adventure, guests will find incredible, immersive areas that bring the worlds of Disney, Pixar and Marvel to life in ways like never before – and these uniquely Disney experiences will inspire families to reconnect, recharge and make unforgettable memories that they'll cherish forever."

Disney Parks, Experiences and Products Chairman Josh D’Amaro and Singapore Tourism Board Chief ... [+] Executive Keith Tan announce the Disney Adventure (Daryl Goh, photographer)

They are the same kind of sentiments that Disney says guests will get from a visit to its theme parks and it's no coincidence. Disney's ships are almost the equivalent of mini theme parks which makes them ideal for locations where the media giant doesn't have an entertainment complex. Unlike Universal, Disney has repeatedly rejected the opportunity to build inner city Family Entertainment Centers, instead choosing to focus on fewer, much larger, resorts scattered around the world.

There are only six Disney theme park resorts and although this is one more than Universal, its rival is expected to overtake it in the coming years with new outposts in Texas and the United Kingdom. Disney's theme park strategy leaves it under-exposed in a number of major markets including India, Australia, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates which is one of the wealthiest untapped areas as we have reported .

In fall last year Disney launched its first cruises in Australia where its closest park is a nine and a half hour flight away from the country's biggest city, Sydney. It may seem like the Adventure ship is plugging a similar gap as Disney doesn't have a park in Singapore. However, Asia is dripping with them. With parks in Hong Kong, Shanghai and Tokyo, Disney has more resorts in Asia than in the Americas. All three are within a seven-hour flight from Singapore with Hong Kong less than four hours away which is no bad thing at all.

As we recently reported , when Disney launched its cruise line in 1998, it opened its Castaway Cay private island in the Bahamas at the same time. This enabled it to sell twin-center breaks where stays at Walt Disney World in Orlando are combined with a cruise to Castaway Cay. It sets off from Port Canaveral, just 50 minutes by car from Orlando, with transportation laid on by Disney to make the two destinations seem like they are part of the same vacation.

Thanks to their immersive theming, Disney's cruises are popular with mega-fans as well as families. Many of the former have the biggest budgets and therefore give Disney the greatest gains. So much so indeed that in 2022 its Adventures By Disney tour operator launched a 24-day package visiting every Disney park by private jet for the princely price of $110,000 per person. Despite being in the midst of the pandemic, it sold out so fast that the tour returned the following year at the increased price of $115,000. Yet again it sold out so it is taking place for a third time in 2024.

With three Disney resorts within striking distance of Singapore it seems like a no-brainer to schedule a cruise that takes them all in but, remarkably, this doesn't seem to be on the cards. Disney's announcement makes it clear that the Adventure will sail on cruises for three and four nights from Singapore which is just about enough time to get to Hong Kong but not back. It certainly isn't enough time to take in all three of Disney's Asian resorts which are widely seen to be the jewels in its crown as we have reported .

Disney's cruises do not visit Tokyo DisneySea (Photo by Tomohiro Ohsumi/Getty Images)

It isn't currently even possible to book any Disney cruises to or from Hong Kong, Shanghai or Tokyo despite all three being port cities with the theme parks in the latter located just a 22 minute drive from the terminal. A tour to these parks by ship would take several weeks though people would be prepared to pay a premium as Adventures By Disney has shown.

Disney could claim that this would defeat the object of the Adventure as it wouldn't be visiting untapped areas. However, if that is the driving force behind its location then Singapore isn't the ideal place for its home port as so many Disney parks are within a such a small catchment area.

Just last month, Disney's chief financial officer Hugh Johnston said that "the cruise business, frankly, is one that has an enormous number of opportunities for us" and it seems it hasn't plumbed the depths of all of them yet. The lack of a cruise which takes in all of the Asian resorts is another example of Disney leaving money on the table and it hasn't escaped the attention of other operators.

Testimony to this, cruising giant Holland America Line operates a voyage which visits the cities where all three resorts are located and it has been travelled with this benefit in mind by Disney mega-fans.

As we recently reported , the media giant has also been left in the wake of luxury operator Princess which was the first operator to introduce an on-board wireless guest recognition system even though Disney developed its own technology years earlier for its theme parks.

Likewise, as we also reported , earlier this year Princess swung open the doors to by far the most immersive entertainment experience at sea. Its spooky Spellbound nightspot is the first permanent outpost of Hollywood's exclusive Magic Castle club and it is packed with high-tech trickery. The venue has emerged ahead of a lounge based on Disney's Haunted Mansion theme park attraction which is due to debut on its new Treasure ship in December.

Industry giant Royal Caribbean has also cruised into Disney's waters with ships which are laden with attractions. In January it launched Icon of the Seas, the world's largest cruise liner which is also home to the Thrill Island water park, the largest at sea. Of course, other operators don't have Disney's characters and theme parks to keep them afloat and that's all the more reason why the Mouse should make the most of them.

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