Discover the best places to cruise in December, from Caribbean sunshine and the Canary Islands to festive European cities. Explore December cruises from the UK, find inspiration for a Christmas getaway, and discover how cruise lines celebrate the season on board with decorations, festive dining, entertainment and special events.
What if Christmas morning started with someone else making breakfast, no kitchen to clean and a new destination waiting outside?
For families wondering where to go on a family holiday at Christmas, a cruise offers a very different alternative to staying at home. Your accommodation, much of your dining, entertainment, and many family activities are all in one holiday, while festive celebrations continue onboard.
And Christmas cruises are not just about escaping to somewhere hot. From the Canary Islands and Caribbean to Mediterranean ports and Northern European cities, families can choose sunshine, sightseeing, or a more recognisably wintry Christmas.
| Your family | Where to consider | Why it works |
| Younger children | Canary Islands | Warmer weather, family-friendly ships and no need to fly on selected UK departures |
| Active families and teens | Caribbean | Sunshine, beaches and activity-packed ships |
| Families who like exploring | Mediterranean | Cities, culture and milder winter weather |
| Families wanting Christmas atmosphere | Northern Europe | Festive cities and seasonal experiences |
| Multi-generational families | Canary Islands or Caribbean | Plenty of onboard choices for different ages |
The biggest difference? Someone else is doing the cooking, clearing up and entertaining.
Christmas at home can be great, but it can also involve weeks of preparation.
There is food to buy, relatives to organise, presents to transport and several days of cooking and clearing up. If family members live in different parts of the country, simply getting everyone together can become another job. A Christmas cruise changes the format.
You unpack once, your meals are taken care of, and entertainment is happening around the ship. Depending on the cruise line, children can have dedicated clubs and activities while adults get time to themselves.
Cruise lines lean into Christmas rather than ignoring it. Royal Caribbean advertises seasonal experiences, including special meals, carols, and tree-lighting events, while Celebrity Cruises features decorations, Christmas dining, festive shows, carol singing, and visits from Santa.
P&O Cruises also decorates its ships for Christmas and runs festive activities and entertainment. Its Christmas itineraries for 2026 and 2027 include options sailing directly from Southampton.
The aim is not necessarily to get away from Christmas. It is to enjoy Christmas without one person spending most of it in the kitchen.
A cruise can simplify the Christmas workload, but that does not mean everything onboard is included in the fare.
Your cabin, main dining, buffet dining, entertainment and many activities will generally be included, although exact inclusions vary by cruise line and fare. You may pay extra for alcoholic and selected soft drinks, speciality restaurants, spa treatments, shore excursions, Wi-Fi and certain onboard activities. Gratuity policies also vary.
If you are comparing the best Christmas cruises for families, look at the overall experience and what your family will actually use rather than focusing on the cruise fare alone.
One advantage of spending Christmas at sea is choice. You can seek winter sunshine, explore European cities, or keep some of the colder-weather Christmas atmosphere while someone else takes care of dinner.
Best for: Families with children of most ages, particularly those who want winter sun without necessarily flying.
The Canary Islands are one of the most practical answers to where to go abroad for Christmas from the UK.
December temperatures are generally much milder than at home, and islands such as Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura give families a mixture of beaches, scenery and days out.
They are also accessible on cruises sailing directly from Southampton.
For Christmas 2026, for example, P&O Cruises has published festive Canary Islands itineraries from Southampton, including Iona departing on 19 December 2026. Its 16-night itinerary combines Madeira and several Canary Islands with calls in Spain and Portugal.
P&O Cruises has also published Canary Islands Christmas sailings for 2027, so families planning further ahead can already see the festive itineraries available.
Why it works for families: Warmer weather, varied ports, and the option to start your holiday in the UK rather than at an airport.
Best for: School-age children, teenagers and families who prioritise beaches and warmer weather.
If your idea of Christmas involves swapping coats for swimwear, the Caribbean is an obvious choice.
Christmas cruises can combine several islands in one holiday, giving families beach days alongside plenty of time to enjoy the ship.
The trade-off is travel. Caribbean cruises are more likely to involve a flight from the UK, although the warmer climate may make that worthwhile for families looking for a complete change of scene.
Royal Caribbean promotes Christmas family cruises with festive activities alongside warm-weather destinations, while Celebrity Cruises offers Christmas programmes that include activities for children and teenagers alongside family dining and entertainment.
Why it works for families: Reliable winter warmth, beaches and larger resort-style ships with plenty to occupy children and teenagers.
Best for: Families who want to explore rather than spend every day beside the pool.
A Mediterranean cruise offers a different type of Christmas break.
December is quieter than the peak summer months, and itineraries can combine historic cities, food and sightseeing with the comfort of returning to the ship each evening.
Do not expect midsummer temperatures. The Mediterranean in December is better described as milder than hot.
MSC Cruises specifically includes Mediterranean itineraries within its December cruise programme alongside the Caribbean, Canary Islands, Madeira and Northern European Christmas destinations.
Why it works for families: Plenty to explore ashore and a good option for older children who enjoy cities, history and food.
Best for: Older children and families who want Christmas atmosphere rather than winter sun.
Not every Christmas holiday needs to involve a beach.
A Northern Europe cruise can take you towards cities decorated for the season, with Amsterdam and other European ports offering a completely different atmosphere from a Canary Islands or Caribbean sailing.
MSC Cruises promotes Northern European Christmas-market itineraries as part of its December programme.
Just remember that Christmas itself can affect opening hours. If your ship is in port on or around 25 December, shops, attractions and public transport may operate reduced hours or close completely.
Why it works for families: It retains the colder-weather feel of Christmas while adding the excitement of travelling somewhere new.
The best Christmas cruise for a family depends on your children’s ages and what everyone wants from their time onboard.
| Cruise line | Best for | Festive experience | UK departures available |
| Royal Caribbean | Active families and teenagers | Seasonal dining, decorations and festive activities | Yes, seasonally |
| MSC Cruises | Families wanting lots of choice onboard | December and festive cruises across several regions | Yes, on selected sailings |
| P&O Cruises | Families wanting to avoid flying | Decorations, festive dining and entertainment | Yes |
| Celebrity Cruises | Families with older children and multi-generational groups | Christmas shows, carols, Santa and festive dining | Itinerary dependent |
| Princess Cruises | Older children and multi-generational families | Decorations, seasonal entertainment and festive dining | Itinerary dependent |
If you have children who want to do rather than simply watch, start by looking at the ship itself.
Royal Caribbean ships combine pools and entertainment with activities that can include climbing walls, surf simulators, waterslides, sports, and extensive programmes for children and teenagers, depending on the ship.
Its Christmas programme adds seasonal meals, carols and festive events to that existing activity line-up.
MSC Cruises is another option for families wanting a busy ship. Its December programme covers everything from short cruises to longer holidays and includes Mediterranean, Northern European, Canary Islands and Caribbean options.
For families who would rather skip the airport, cruises from Southampton can make Christmas travel simpler.
P&O Cruises offers Christmas itineraries sailing directly from Southampton, including Canary Islands options. Its family-friendly ships also provide children’s facilities and entertainment.
On family-friendly Azura, for example, P&O Cruises highlights The Reef for guests aged 2 to 17, alongside swimming pools, activities and its open-air SeaScreen cinema.
Being able to put presents and Christmas clothes in the car rather than worrying about airline luggage allowances can be another useful advantage.
Families travelling with teenagers, adult children or grandparents might prefer a ship where dining, relaxation and entertainment take more of the focus.
Celebrity Cruises combines its Christmas celebrations with Camp at Sea for younger guests and a dedicated Teens Club. Its published Christmas programme includes festive decorations, carols, shows, family movies and a visit from Santa.
Princess Cruises also runs festive celebrations across its ships. For the 2026 holiday season, it has announced decorations, tree-lighting events, seasonal music and other Christmas programming, with 2027 festive cruises also available to plan ahead.
Exactly what happens on Christmas Day varies by cruise line and ship, but you can expect the day to feel noticeably different from an ordinary day at sea.
Wake up, open presents in your cabin and head for breakfast.
No one has to prepare turkey before anyone else wakes up, and no pile of dishes waits in the kitchen.
If you are travelling with younger children, check the ship’s daily programme for festive family activities.
Ships are usually decorated well before Christmas Day, with trees, lights and other seasonal touches throughout public spaces.
Depending on your cruise line, Christmas morning might bring children’s activities, music or a visit from Santa. Celebrity Cruises specifically advertises Santa visits for children as part of its Christmas programme.
Christmas Day does not have to look like Christmas Day at home.
Depending on your itinerary, you might spend the afternoon by the pool, explore the ship, or head ashore.
If your ship is in port, check what will actually be open before making plans.
This is where kids’ clubs can become particularly useful.
Children and teenagers can spend time with people their own age while parents or grandparents find a quieter corner of the ship.
Nobody has to agree on one activity for the entire day.
Sit down together for Christmas dinner without anyone having to cook.
Cruise lines may offer festive menus and seasonal dishes, although the exact food and dining arrangements vary by ship and sailing. Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises and Princess Cruises all advertise special seasonal food or dining as part of their festive programmes.
Finish with live entertainment, festive music or a show.
Then head back to your cabin knowing there is no washing-up waiting for you.
Choosing the right cabin matters when cruising as a family.
Many ships have cabins that can accommodate three or four guests using additional beds, sofa beds, or pull-down berths. Some also offer connecting cabins and larger suites.
A cabin for four can work well with younger children, but think realistically about how your family uses space. Four people getting ready for dinner in one cabin can feel very different from two.
For families with teenagers, connecting cabins can offer more privacy and, where available, another bathroom.
Christmas cruises also work particularly well for multi-generational holidays because grandparents, parents and children do not have to spend every minute together.
One group can head to the pool while another goes for coffee. Children can visit their club, grandparents can find a quiet lounge and everybody can meet again for dinner.
That flexibility can make a big family Christmas much easier to manage.
Christmas cruising has plenty of advantages, but it also comes with some important compromises.
For some families, these points will be outweighed by having the accommodation, food and entertainment organised. Others may decide they would miss Christmas at home. Both are perfectly reasonable.
It can be. Family-friendly cruise ships combine accommodation, dining, entertainment and children’s activities in one holiday, while cruise lines add festive decorations and seasonal programming over Christmas.
The Canary Islands and Caribbean are the main options to consider. The Canary Islands are particularly convenient because selected cruises depart directly from the UK, while the Caribbean offers warmer tropical weather but is more likely to involve flying.
This depends on the cruise line, but festive decorations, seasonal dining and entertainment are common. Some cruise lines also advertise carols, Christmas shows, children’s activities and visits from Santa.
They can be. Christmas coincides with school holidays and is a popular time to travel. Remember to compare the overall cost, including drinks, excursions, Wi-Fi and other extras your family might want.
Family ships can be busier during school holidays, and more cabins may be occupied by three or four guests. Large ships also have multiple restaurants, pools and entertainment areas to distribute guests around the ship.
Christmas cruises are planned well in advance, and several cruise lines have already published both 2026 and 2027 festive sailings. Booking ahead also gives families more choice when specific cabin arrangements, such as rooms for four or connecting cabins, are important.
Yes. Look for festive cruises departing from UK ports such as Southampton. P&O Cruises, for example, has published Christmas 2026 and 2027 itineraries sailing from Southampton.
For families tired of spending December planning one enormous day, a Christmas cruise offers a different approach.
You can still have the decorations, Christmas dinner and time together. The difference is that someone else takes care of much of the work, while the ship gives children, parents and grandparents the freedom to spend parts of the day differently.
Start by exploring Odysia Cruise’s Family Cruise Deals, then compare the Canary Islands, Caribbean and Mediterranean depending on the type of Christmas you want.
If avoiding the airport matters, look at cruises from Southampton and other UK departures. And if this will be your family’s first time at sea, the Odysia Cruise first-cruise FAQ can help answer the practical questions before you choose your sailing.
Christmas at sea isn’t right for every family. But if your ideal Christmas Day means less hosting, more time together, and waking up somewhere different, it might be worth changing your Christmas routine.
