Princess Ships Deck the Halls, and their Masts, for a Festive Holiday Season at Sea

From the Christmas tree adorning the ship’s mast to a visit from Santa, the holiday season brings a special kind of cheer to Princess ships.   This year, Christmas, Hanukkah and New Year celebrations will be in full swing fleetwide, with several new seasonal activities for passengers to enjoy.

Trimmed from stem to stern in festive holiday décor, Princess ships will reflect the season in a variety of ways.  Special menus and culinary displays will offer traditional goodies.  Strolling carolers and live musicians will fill the air with the sounds of the season.  And the ship’s movie screens will feature the holiday classics loved by young and old alike.
 
Some special activities debut this season, adding to the festivities.  Children of all ages will enjoy a special reading of “The Night Before Christmas” by a member of the ship’s company.   A holiday production show debuts in the Princess Theater on select ships, with the opportunity for photos with the cast members in their holiday finery.
 
On Christmas Eve, passengers will sit down to a dinner of traditional holiday fare, and on Christmas Day passengers can enjoy a cup of eggnog, plus a sumptuous brunch including roast turkey and all the trimmings.  Freshly prepared stolen and Christmas cookies round out the seasonal treats.
 
A full day of activities on Christmas Day centers around the atrium, with events for young and old.  A spectacular display from the ship’s culinary team, including a variety of gingerbread houses, will delight the senses.  Santa is sure to drop in with gifts, and stay for a special photo session to capture the moment with passengers.  Elsewhere, a holiday variety show adds a seasonal element to the ship’s entertainment offerings.  Religious services are held as well, and passengers can attend midnight mass or an inter-denominational church service performed by onboard clergy.

Christmas For Kids > Christmas Day will be especially festive for the ship’s younger cruisers.  Santa Claus is sure to make an appearance with his sack full of toys, along with his Princess helper, Pelican Pete.   A fun-filled holiday fair in the atrium offers youngsters the opportunity to try their hand at cookie decorating, balloon making, face painting, games and other competitions.  The Youth centers will host holiday parties for each age group, and kids can make decorations to display on the center’s Christmas tree.  Youngsters can get creative with other holiday-themed arts and crafts projects throughout the cruise, and they will have an opportunity to sing Christmas carols for passengers.  Classic family holiday movies will be screened in the kids centers and the ship’s theaters.  For parents who want to stay up later to celebrate the holidays, free late-night group kid sitting sessions will be available on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.

Hanukkah > Passengers celebrating the festival of lights on board can participate in religious services, including special prayer and song services conducted by a rabbi who sails during the holiday period.  A special area of the ship is reserved for those participating in these events and ships display menorahs and fresh flower arrangements decorated in the Hanukkah colors of blue, silver and white.  Children will enjoy themed arts and crafts pertinent to the holiday, which runs from December 15 to 22.

Ringing in the New Year > Princess ships will welcome 2007 in style with a fun-filled New Year’s Eve party where revelers can count down to the new year with music, confetti, noise-makers and a balloon drop.   Earlier in the evening, passengers will enjoy a special New Year’s Eve menu.  And once the new year arrives, football fans will be pleased to know they won’t miss the day’s traditional college bowl games, as the telecasts will be shown (if available) in a shipboard lounge or on some vessels’ giant Movies Under the Stars screen, complete with a full buffet of “munchies” such as popcorn, chips, mini hot dogs or burgers, and other assorted goodies.

This season, Princess’ 15-ship fleet offers a wide range of sailings over the holiday period, offering the opportunity to celebrate in the Caribbean, Mexico, the Panama Canal, Australia/New Zealand, South America, Hawaii and the South Pacific.

Additional information about Princess Cruises is available through a professional travel agent, by calling 1-800-PRINCESS, or by visiting the company’s website at www.princess.com

For fans of cruise holidays and a hassle free Christmas where you are the one getting waited on, then there the festive season also features some serious price cuts.

Italian cruise operator Costa Cruises is offering a traditional continental Christmas Eve feast and celebration with midnight mass, a turkey lunch on Christmas Day, carol singing around the piano, Christmas tree decorating and a visit from Santa, all aboard its ships.

The company has £440 off the price of its Christmas Mediterranean eight-night cruise, which is £749 per person, including all meals and flights, departing December 18th 2006.

The trip departs from Savona, and stops at Messina in Sicily, the Maltese city of La Valletta, the Libyan capital Tripoli, Gabes and Tunis in Tunisia.

Other trips include a ten-night cruise to Greece, Cyprus and Egypt that is discounted £350 to £1,029 departing 18 December 2006.

For more information see www.costacruises.co.uk

Princess Ships Deck the Halls and their Masts > For a Festive Holiday Season at Sea Special Celebrations Ring in Christmas, Hanukkah and the New Year

From the Christmas tree adorning the ship’s mast to a visit from Santa, the holiday season brings a special kind of cheer to Princess ships. This year, Christmas, Hanukkah and New Year celebrations will be in full swing fleetwide, with several new seasonal activities for passengers to enjoy.

Trimmed from stem to stern in festive holiday décor, Princess ships will reflect the season in a variety of ways. Special menus and culinary displays will offer traditional goodies.  Strolling carolers and live musicians will fill the air with the sounds of the season. And the ship’s movie screens will feature the holiday classics loved by young and old alike.
 
Some special activities debut this season, adding to the festivities. Children of all ages will enjoy a special reading of “The Night Before Christmas” by a member of the ship’s company. A holiday production show debuts in the Princess Theater on select ships, with the opportunity for photos with the cast members in their holiday finery.
 
On Christmas Eve, passengers will sit down to a dinner of traditional holiday fare, and on Christmas Day passengers can enjoy a cup of eggnog, plus a sumptuous brunch including roast turkey and all the trimmings. Freshly prepared stolen and Christmas cookies round out the seasonal treats.
 
A full day of activities on Christmas Day centers around the atrium, with events for young and old. A spectacular display from the ship’s culinary team, including a variety of gingerbread houses, will delight the senses.  Santa is sure to drop in with gifts, and stay for a special photo session to capture the moment with passengers. Elsewhere, a holiday variety show adds a seasonal element to the ship’s entertainment offerings. Religious services are held as well, and passengers can attend midnight mass or an inter-denominational church service performed by onboard clergy.

Christmas For Kids > Christmas Day will be especially festive for the ship’s younger cruisers. Santa Claus is sure to make an appearance with his sack full of toys, along with his Princess helper, Pelican Pete. A fun-filled holiday fair in the atrium offers youngsters the opportunity to try their hand at cookie decorating, balloon making, face painting, games and other competitions. The Youth centers will host holiday parties for each age group, and kids can make decorations to display on the center’s Christmas tree.  Youngsters can get creative with other holiday-themed arts and crafts projects throughout the cruise, and they will have an opportunity to sing Christmas carols for passengers. Classic family holiday movies will be screened in the kids centers and the ship’s theaters. For parents who want to stay up later to celebrate the holidays, free late-night group kid sitting sessions will be available on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.
Hanukkah Passengers celebrating the festival of lights on board can participate in religious services, including special prayer and song services conducted by a rabbi who sails during the holiday period. A special area of the ship is reserved for those participating in these events and ships display menorahs and fresh flower arrangements decorated in the Hanukkah colors of blue, silver and white. Children will enjoy themed arts and crafts pertinent to the holiday, which runs from December 15 to 22.

Ringing in the New Year Princess ships will welcome 2007 in style with a fun-filled New Year’s Eve party where revelers can count down to the new year with music, confetti, noise-makers and a balloon drop. Earlier in the evening, passengers will enjoy a special New Year’s Eve menu. And once the new year arrives, football fans will be pleased to know they won’t miss the day’s traditional college bowl games, as the telecasts will be shown (if available) in a shipboard lounge or on some vessels’ giant Movies Under the Stars screen, complete with a full buffet of “munchies” such as popcorn, chips, mini hot dogs or burgers, and other assorted goodies.
 
This season, Princess’ 15-ship fleet offers a wide range of sailings over the holiday period, offering the opportunity to celebrate in the Caribbean, Mexico, the Panama Canal, Australia/New Zealand, South America, Hawaii and the South Pacific.

Additional information about Princess Cruises is available through a professional travel agent, by calling 1-800-PRINCESS, or by visiting the company’s website at www.princess.com

Almost everyone wants to go somewhere over Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New Year’s Day and that’s the problem. We’ve got some answers:

1. Book early. Like, now for Christmas and New Year’s.

2. It’s standard travel advice: Be flexible. The lowest prices will be on flights very early or late in the day, and morning routes are best for avoiding delays. Flying on Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New Year’s Day usually costs far less than on busy days before or after the holidays themselves.

3. Unless a connecting flight costs a lot less, go nonstop. If a connection is necessary, try to fly through a southern hub, such as Dallas, Charlotte, or Phoenix, where you can at least eliminate weather as a problem. A layover in Chicago, Detroit, or Minneapolis raises the probability of getting held up because of a storm.

4. Thinking about a resort getaway? The year’s highest rates kick in over the Christmas or New Year’s holidays at ski and beach resorts. Shifting your trip to before or after this period, even by a day or two, can reduce costs significantly.

5. Airport parking lots get filled up around the holidays, so use public transportation. If you must drive, consider a private parking lot near the airport: They’ll shuttle you to and from the terminal, and they let you book in advance so you won’t have to worry about finding a space. (Try carparknet.com, airportparkingreservations.com, airportdiscountparking.com, or parkingaccess.com.) People who live far from an airport and have an early flight might want to stay at an airport hotel the night before; some allow you to park your car at the hotel until you return (check parksleepfly.com).

6. Bringing presents on your flight? Don’t wrap them. All luggage gifts included might be examined by security. Keep expensive or fragile items in your carry-on to cut down on the chances that they’ll be damaged or stolen. There has been a serious rash of thefts recently.

7. Check out new check-in procedures. Many airlines’ Web sites now make it possible for passengers to print out bar-coded boarding passes at home. There are also options at the airport. If you have luggage to check, use a curbside skycap; some airlines let them issue boarding passes as well. Inside the terminal, look for a self-service check-in kiosk, where you can quickly get your boarding pass and sometimes check your luggage.

8. Worried about long security lines? The Transportation Security Administration’s website, tsa.gov, allows travelers to scope out how long waits are at about 450 U.S. airports. You search by airport, day of the week, and time of day. The problem is that the waits listed are averages and don’t really reflect how long screening will take on, say, the day before Thanksgiving. To get around this glitch, look up an airport’s wait times on what’s usually the busiest travel period, Friday evenings, and assume that it’ll take at least that long during the holidays.

9. Confirm your car reservation. Car-rental outfits figure on a no-show rate of 20 percent, allowing them to overbook. The result is that sometimes there are too many people and too few cars. To avoid being the one without wheels, try to arrive at the rental counter in late morning or early afternoon, when the lot is most likely to be full. Calling to confirm your reservation before you arrive lets them know that you won’t be a no-show. Also, inquire ahead of time about express check-in programs so you can skip the lines. The fee to join might just beat the time you’d spend waiting.

10. Look into business hotels. Over the holidays, you’ll find low rates at classy city and suburban hotels that normally depend on business travelers. Families should consider all-suite hotels or long-stay hotels, which have more room and good holiday prices.