Holiday cruising guide

By Erica Silverstein

Associate editor

updated 4:10 p.m. ET Nov. 13, 2008

Instead of shoveling snow on Christmas, entertaining the in-laws at Hanukkah or unsuccessfully looking for a party on New Year's, you could be drinking eggnog poolside; singing carols on deck, while overlooking the sea; eating multi-course holiday meals, prepared by professional chefs and enjoying New Year's Eve with enthusiasm (and with no worries about driving home). That's right. You could be celebrating on a relaxing, warm-weather cruise.

Cruising during the holidays is anything but the typical week-at-sea experience you might find during less festive times of the year. Many cruise lines — and officers, staff and crew — embrace the holiday season with a cheery vigor that goes beyond the symbolic Christmas tree, occasional Santa appearances, elaborate turkey dinners and New Year's Eve midnight countdowns.

But while celebrating a holiday at sea means you can avoid the associated cooking and cleaning — not to mention escaping from crazy relatives or bonding with the family members you actually do like — you'll have the best experience if you put a little effort into planning the best cruise for your brood and setting the right expectations. From choosing the right cruise to packing advice and tips on what to expect onboard and off, here's everything you need to know about spending a holiday at sea.

Booking a holiday cruise
In general, Christmas and New Year's holiday cruises are often the most expensive of the year. Cabins at this time are usually in high demand by passengers because schools are on break, and many families want to take vacations during these weeks. However, with many families cutting back on travel, the holiday seasons for 2008 and 2009 will be a little different. As of this writing in November 2008, there are deals on 2008 cruises to be found, even at this late date. You might be surprised at how affordable a warm-weather holiday can be, and these last-minute bargains are worth a look, even if you'd previously decided not to go away this winter.

It's also unlikely that 2009 holiday cruises will book out a year in advance, as many Christmas sailings have done in the past. So, if you're optimistic about next year's winter getaway, keep an eye out for early-booking deals and last-minute bargains, and don't worry so much about ships selling out.

On the flip side, air travel at this time of year continues to be extra-expensive. Before you book that last-minute, rock-bottom rate, make sure you can afford the airfare to your departure port.

Here are a few more tips for booking holiday cruises:

When to book: In general, if you want to lock in your preferred itinerary, ship, cabin and dining group and have as much time as possible to look for affordable airfare, book early (nine to 12 months in advance). The downside? You might end up paying a premium for this level of security. However, the prediction for 2009 is that travelers will not be booking so far in advance, so you can safely wait a little longer to book next year and get the cabin you want without overpaying. If price is your foremost concern, you can wait for deals to come out, often within three months of sailing. But you might get stuck in an inside cabin or with your family spread throughout the ship, rather than in adjoining cabins.

Flights: When booking airfare, remember that flights at this time of the year can be outrageously pricey and often are oversold. Try to reserve your flights early (but not too early, as flight times can change after you book), and you may want to consider all your options, such as using frequent flyer miles or buying the cruise line's air package. You might even want to choose a cruise departing from a city close to home so you can avoid flying altogether. Another tip: At this time of year, it's a very good idea to fly into your departure city a day early. With flights so crowded, a delay or cancellation due to weather or overbooking might cause you to miss your cruise. There's no guarantee you'll get on the next flight out if there's a problem with yours.

Cabins: The holidays are a perfect time to splurge on a balcony, so you can make the most of your warm-weather escape and have more room in your cabin for presents and decorations. Families should consider family suites that sleep multiple people comfortably or book adjoining cabins. Large groups might want to book the head of the clan in a large suite that can be a central gathering point and location for private holiday parties. But book early: The best cabins — particularly family suites and anything with a balcony — may be booked way in advance by true holiday cruise aficionados who celebrate this way every year.

Itineraries: Think about whether you'd like to spend holidays in port or at sea. Ships on a regular weekly schedule are likely to maintain their normal itineraries, so you may end up in a port on Christmas Day where everything's closed but the cathedral and the beach. On the other hand, cruise lines with vessels that sail varying itineraries will often try to arrange for ships to spend big religious holidays at sea. If you want to be at sea on Christmas and/or New Year's, take that into consideration when choosing a trip. Also, think about your preferred balance of sea days and ports days. Cruises that last longer than seven days incorporate a lot of at-sea time into their itineraries, while certain lines (Windstar and Oceania, to name two) focus on port-intensive itineraries.

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