What happens on a holiday or Christmas time cruise

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The major cruise lines love to celebrate too.  They want to make sure that cruisers have a great time and get not only the holiday experience but the family together experience as well.  After all there are generally higher prices during the major holidays such as Christmas, New Years, Thanksgiving, Indepence Day and all the others.

The cruise lines will be making sure that the ship is appropriatedly decorated, that the music and entertainment carry the theme, but especially that the foods you generally expect from Turkey, Hams, Lamb and all the trimmings are especially seasonal.

On many the crew will also be in the festive attire, and there will be additional staffing expecially on those lines where there are many children expected.

Which brings up an important point.  If you plan to have a 3rd or 4th person in the stateroom, regardless of what category or size, booking early is critical during peak cruising due to limitations the coast guard imposes on the cruise lines for total capacity.

Generally most cruise lines charge a reduced rate for a 3rd or 4th in a cabin.  But if the cruise line will want to try to have all cabins sold as well.  If they have 4 in one cabin, those 4 count agains the total coast guard capacity limits.  Generally those limits are higher than the total cabins times 2 passengers, but there is a limit for each ship.  At such a time when the total passengers booked so far would prevent the cruise line from being able to sell currently available cabins, they impose restrictions on any more 3rd and 4th passengers.

At that point if a family of 3 would want to cruise on the ship they would need to book two cabins, and its not certain at all that those cabins could be close together, especially near a full ship sailing over the holidays.

So cruising for a holiday is great, a stress reducer for all, but plan and book early.