Tis almost the season, and whether you’re going solo or celebrating with family this year, it’s not too late to plan a getaway for the holidays. Below are your best bets for spending the holidays at sea with Royal Caribbean, complete with your choice of warm-weather destinations and some holiday-themed festivities. Don’t forget: the decorating, cooking and cleanup—we’ve got that all covered.
Thanksgiving Cruises
Want to flip the script on the pilgrim story and sail away for Thanksgiving? There are plenty of options this year, so pick your ship: Brilliance of the Seas or Navigator of the Seas both offer four nights in the Western Caribbean departing from Tampa and Miami, respectively, while Allure of the Seas and Oasis of the Seas sail seven-night cruises, departing from Fort Lauderdale and Orlando. Anthem of the Seas departs Cape Liberty on Nov. 20 for a seven-night getaway to the Bahamas, which is currently offering balcony staterooms at the price of an outside stateroom.
December Holiday Cruises
Leave tree trimming and caroling to the experts: you can experience Royal Caribbean’s Deck the Holidays program on all Caribbean cruises that sail throughout December, and there are several itineraries that begin on the holidays. Harmony of the Seas, the newest ship to sail from Fort Lauderdale, will depart Dec. 24 for seven nights in the Caribbean and call at Philipsburg, St. Maarten; San Juan, Puerto Rico; and Labadee, Haiti, the cruise line’s private island resort. There are three days at sea, which allow plenty of time to try out the Ultimate Abyss, a 10-story slide—and the largest at sea—as well as the Splashaway Bay waterpark, designed for young vacationers.
Harmony of the Seas isn’t the only Oasis-class ship to join the festivities; her sister-ships have holiday itineraries, too. New to Port Canaveral in Orlando, Oasis of the Seas departs Dec. 23 for eight nights, stopping at Labadee; Falmouth, Jamaica; as well as Costa Maya and Cozumel in Mexico. Allure of the Seas sets sail from Fort Lauderdale Dec. 23 for a 10-night sailing through the Eastern Caribbean, stopping at Nassau, Bahamas; Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas; Philipsburg; Basseterre, St. Kitts; San Juan; and Labadee.
Ringing In The New Year
There’s no better way to ring in a new calendar year than at sea. Anthem of the Seas leaves Cape Liberty, New Jersey, on Dec. 23 for a 10-night Eastern Caribbean cruise, a complete holiday escape capped by an unforgettable New Year’s Eve celebration at sea. The ship calls at Labadee, San Juan, Charlotte Amalie and Philipsburg. The ship offers plenty of all-weather adventures onboard with the Ripcord by iFly skydiving simulator, and the distinctive North Star observation capsule towering 300 feet above the ocean.
Harmony of the Seas and Oasis of the Seas also depart Dec. 31 to begin their seven-night and eight-night Caribbean itineraries, hosting New Year’s Eve celebrations for all. There are three-night Bahamas and four-night Western Caribbean cruises for short holiday getaways, too.
Last-Minute Deals
If your dates and destinations are flexible this December, you can also find three- to five-night Caribbean cruises from $169, five-night Western Caribbean cruises for about $400, and for a limited time, you can book seven nights on Anthem of the Seas from $499. Note: prices are per person, based on double occpancy, and subject to change. For more details on dates and departures, visit our website.
