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How to Celebrate Holidays Aboard a Cruise

How to Celebrate Holidays Aboard a Cruise
(Photo: Thinkstock/iStock Editorial)

Celebrating a major holiday aboard a cruise ship might seem a little strange, until you start thinking through the benefits: no intense home preparation, no cooking deep into the night, no elaborate coordinating of schedules with relatives. In short, a holiday away takes the pressure off and lets you just enjoy the celebration while staffers do most of the work.

Add to that the standard pleasures of cruising—ocean views, all you can eat and drink, impressive entertainment, and stops at some of the world’s most interesting places—et voila, you’ve got yourself a recipe to replace holiday stress with relaxation and joy.

The catch is, you have to book way in advance—at least nine months out to get ahead of the crowd, secure lower rates, and nab adjacent cabins if you need them. Keep in mind, too, that the winter holidays are a very busy (and expensive) time for cruising, so if you prefer to be on an emptier ship, choose a holiday that doesn’t coincide with a school break.

Once you book a spot, the mental and physical energy that you would have put toward holiday planning, shopping, cooking, and cleaning will magically be available to you again. Come winter, let the snow pile up at home while you toast to Caribbean or Mediterranean waters. During other seasons, make the holiday you’re celebrating that much more meaningful by being in a place that’s relevant to the occasion.

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