Princess Cruises is preparing to turn its ships into floating holiday celebrations for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s, with seasonal entertainment, decorations, family activities, special menus and religious observances planned across the fleet.
The cruise line is also highlighting several remaining 2026 holiday sailings to warmer destinations, including Hawaii, the Caribbean, Mexico and the Panama Canal. Princess says space is already limited on voyages between Thanksgiving and New Year’s, while its 2027 holiday cruises are also available for booking.
For travelers considering spending the holidays away from home, the experience will extend well beyond seasonal decorations. Depending on the ship, guests can expect tree-lighting celebrations, snow in the Piazza, holiday movies, sweater parties, gingerbread house making, family activities and festive food and drinks.
Four 2026 Holiday Cruises Highlight the Season
Princess identified four sailings still offering opportunities to spend part of the 2026 holiday season at sea.
Discovery Princess will sail a seven-day Mexican Riviera cruise roundtrip from Los Angeles from November 21 through November 28, covering the Thanksgiving period.
Caribbean Princess will offer a 12-day Panama Canal with Costa Rica and Caribbean Holiday itinerary from December 17 through December 29. The voyage sails roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale.
Regal Princess will depart Fort Lauderdale on December 20 for a six-day Eastern Caribbean with Celebration Key Holiday cruise, returning December 26.
For travelers interested in celebrating the transition into 2027 at sea, Ruby Princess will sail a 16-day Hawaiian Islands Holiday voyage roundtrip from San Francisco. The cruise departs December 26, 2026, and returns January 11, 2027.
Princess Ships Will Be Decorated for the Holidays
The holiday atmosphere will extend throughout the Princess fleet with seasonal decorations designed to transform ships into what the cruise line describes as winter wonderlands.
Decorations will include sparkling Christmas trees, garlands, twinkling lights and festive floral arrangements.
Programming will vary by ship and ship class, so guests should not expect every activity to appear on every sailing.
Sphere Class and Royal Class ships will feature a Tree Lighting Celebration accompanied by a full cast performance. Other ships will host a more intimate Festive Tree Lighting led by vocalists.
Some Ships Will Bring Snow to the Piazza
Guests traveling to sunny destinations may still encounter a little winter weather onboard.
Princess says select ships will offer Merry Moments and Let it Snow experiences that include snow falling in the Piazza along with other seasonal surprises.
Star Princess and Sun Princess will add their own Piazza Magical Moments. Those experiences combine falling snow with whimsical scenes displayed on the ships’ LED screens.
The activities give guests a taste of a traditional winter holiday atmosphere even when the ship itself is sailing through warmer destinations.
Holiday Parties Include Sweaters, Music and Silent Disco
Princess is also planning seasonal gatherings built around music and guest participation.
Holly Jolly Sweater Parties will encourage passengers to wear creative holiday attire and dance to seasonal music.
Holiday entertainment can also include a silent disco, candlelight concert and festive singalongs.
The exact lineup varies by ship, allowing individual vessels to offer different combinations of seasonal entertainment throughout the holiday period.
Families Get Gingerbread Houses, Crafts and Pajama Nights
Families traveling during school breaks will have several activities designed for guests of different ages.
The Festive Family Faire will feature arts and crafts, while a holiday family flair night gives guests an opportunity to wear festive pajamas and sweaters.
Gingerbread House Making provides frosting, candy decorations and the familiar holiday tradition without families needing to bring supplies from home.
Princess mascot Stanley will also take part in the festivities with Storytime with Stanley, featuring imaginative seasonal tales.
Holiday Movies and Seasonal Food Join the Celebration
Princess will incorporate the holidays into both entertainment and dining.
Favorite seasonal movies will be shown through Movies Under the Stars and made available in guest staterooms.
Special holiday menus will also be served, while culinary demonstrations and activities can include turkey carving, holiday cookies and seasonal cocktails.
Hot chocolate stations are another part of the planned food and beverage program.
These offerings allow travelers to retain familiar holiday traditions even while spending Christmas or another seasonal celebration aboard a cruise ship.
Princess Will Offer Religious Observances
The holiday program also includes religious observances across the fleet.
Princess specifically identifies inclusive religious observances as part of its seasonal programming, alongside the entertainment, dining and family activities planned aboard its ships.
The source does not provide specific schedules or identify which individual services or observances will be offered aboard each ship.
2027 Holiday Cruises Are Already on Sale
Travelers who cannot make one of the remaining 2026 voyages can already plan for the following holiday season.
Princess says its 2027 holiday cruises are currently available for booking.
For 2026, the highlighted choices range considerably in both length and destination. Travelers can choose a seven-day Mexican Riviera cruise over Thanksgiving, a six-day Eastern Caribbean Christmas sailing, a 12-day Panama Canal and Caribbean itinerary or a 16-day Hawaii voyage spanning New Year’s.
Regardless of destination, Princess is building the onboard experience around familiar seasonal traditions. The combination gives travelers the option to trade holiday preparations at home for decorated ships, organized celebrations and time together at sea while still keeping many of the rituals associated with the season.
Source: Princess Cruises
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