Onboard holiday festivities

Disney Cruise Line

Seasonal style: Traditional family celebrations with Disney's magical twists.

Thanksgiving: The ships will be filled with seasonal decorations, and each dining room will provide a Thanksgiving feast. Kids will have the opportunity to make holiday crafts, and characters will wear seasonal costumes. (We wonder if Disney's Pocahontas will make an appearance this year.)

Hanukkah: Interfaith services will be held for both Christmas and Hanukkah.

Christmas: The actual dates are almost lost amidst all of the holiday cheer that precedes them. A three-deck-tall Christmas tree will be located in the atrium, replete with "snow" flurries and decorations. There will be an afternoon tropical pool party to celebrate the island way. Families can also get together to do holiday-themed craft projects.

All three themed restaurants will feature traditional Christmas feasts on Christmas Day. On Christmas Eve, storytellers will share tales of diverse holiday traditions; Santa Goofy will visit with gifts for all the children.

The most fun is to be had on Disney's private island, Castaway Cay, which will be transformed into a tropical winter wonderland -- complete with "snow," glowing Christmas lights and carolers. The island's tram will be magically transformed into a sleigh. Kids and adults can partake in craft-making activities along the beach, including snowflake mobiles and candy-cane reindeer.

New Year's Eve: There will be a shipwide party on New Year's Eve with a countdown to 2009 and a special "tailgate party" — a BBQ on deck — on New Year's Day.

Holland America Line

Seasonal style: Generally traditional with exceptions on Mexican Riviera cruises; ships in this area celebrate Las Posadas (the nine days before Christmas) and Ano Nuevo (New Year's).

Thanksgiving: Traditional Thanksgiving supper will be served, and the ships will be decorated with fall and Thanksgiving icons, such as squash, pumpkins and colorful foliage.

Hanukkah: A rabbi will lead Hanukkah services.

Christmas: A full range of family activities — including holiday decoration-making and special movie screenings — is planned. There will be carolers, a tree-lighting ceremony, eggnog served in the atrium, special activities in Club HAL, a special crew show on Christmas Eve, a Christmas brunch and, of course, a visit from Santa for the kids. There's also a Santa's late-night milk and cookie snack and a turndown gift on Christmas Eve. Clergy will be onboard to hold services.

New Year's Eve: A special gala celebration will be followed by New Year's Day college football; Holland America will arrange to broadcast some of the bowl games.

MSC Cruises

Seasonal style: Celebrations are a blend of European (Italian) and traditional festivities.

Thanksgiving: MSC will not celebrate Thanksgiving on any of its cruise ships this year.

Hanukkah: MSC does not observe Hanukkah onboard.

Christmas: The ships will be decorated with traditional ornaments and lights. Mass will be held on Christmas Eve; a choir will perform, and there will be visits from Santa.

New Year's Eve: At 11 p.m., after the special evening show, there will be a disco deck party by the pool, complete with live music. The Captain will offer good wishes, and there will be a countdown to the New Year, followed by dancing and a magnificent midnight buffet.

Norwegian Cruise Line

Seasonal style: Traditional.

Thanksgiving: The main dining rooms will serve seasonal favorites, such as roast turkey with chestnut sage dressing, smoked duck breast, pumpkin soup, mashed potatoes and pumpkin cheesecake. The ship will be dressed in Thanksgiving decorations.

Hanukkah: A rabbi will be onboard to perform services for Hanukkah, and a menorah, lit each evening, will be in a central location on each ship.

Christmas: The ships will be decorated throughout with poinsettias, twinkling lights and other holiday decorations. On Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, crewmembers are slated to perform in the theater and lead carols throughout the ship. A priest and minister will be onboard each ship to lead services on Christmas Eve; Santa will visit and hand out gifts on Christmas day. Holiday menus are to include honey-glazed Black Forest ham with sweet potato mash, pumpkin souffle, and a pear and chestnut torte.

New Year's Eve: Party time! Meals in the main restaurants will be festive and include Blue Point oysters, foie gras and oxtail. Guests will be given hats, noisemakers and streamers for the party, and a captain's countdown from the bridge is planned.

Oceania Cruises

Seasonal style: Traditional.

Thanksgiving: A traditional Thanksgiving dinner is slated in all of the ships' restaurants. When possible, football games will be broadcast onboard. (This depends on location and satellite reception.)

Hanukkah: Hanukkah services are held, and the ships are decorated with menorahs in their lobbies.

Christmas: The ships are to be decorated with traditional festive holiday appointments for Christmas. There will be caroling on Christmas Eve and a reading of "The Night Before Christmas." On Christmas Day, Christmas services are followed by a visit from Santa with gifts for children onboard.

New Year's Eve: Weather permitting, there will be a New Year's Eve gala held out on deck to ring in 2009.

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