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Our Christmas night on Oriana was formal

Christmas and New year on board especially in the Caribbean with the warm sunshine and steel band is excellent; recently had to cancel the Arcadia for this period coming up. Not looking forward to Christmas here with the cold damp weather!

Grumpy 2. (Life long member of the SCROOGE appreciation Society)!
BAH HUMBUG.

So sorry you had to cancel the Xmas Cruise, & agree lots of cold & damp weather - not to look forward to!
But look on the 'bright side' you can wear your lovely hat, decorate the tree, light a fire, if not indoors - outdoors & sing lots of carols. Now is that better?
Probably not, I could introduce you to Grumpy 4!! Who should belong to your Society! Hope you get back to cruising very soon. Best Wishes Lizzie.

Thanks Lizzie, Grumpy 4 wouldn't happen to be your husband would it? I'm sure he is a happy soul like just me !!! By the description you give you make staying at home for Christmas sound wonderful. just look at what those people going to the nice warm sunshine of the Caribbean with the steel bands playing carols, children singing carols, swimming in the nice clear blue water etc etc will be missing; I bet they wish they were staying at home now !!!! Dream on!

Can you still travel in UK? Have a look at a Warner Break could get you out of the house for a few days very cheap

Er yes, married to Grumpy 4 for the last 32 years!!But like you, he is a happy soul-at heart!!

Too add to my previous post - hot chestnuts would taste awful in the Caribbean. Christmas carols are best reserved for cold evenings in Town Squares - with the 'local band' playing and preferably, snow falling!

Mulled wine, when you get home, can't imagine that tasting as good in Barbados etc.. Putting up the decorations..fresh greenery, the smell of fir, holly and ivy, now THAT'S Christmas!

Still not impressed ah well.... I tried! Regards, Lizzie

When dad was alive I took him on 6 Christmas cruises and he loved them. We found Costa very reasonable and we took the plane to Italy to join the ship normally down to the Canaries. It was good fun and cheaper than a UK hotel over the same oeriod.
Food and entertainment was lovely although rather odd being in Tenerife in the sunshine Christmas day.
I also did a Caribbean cruise one Christmas and didn't like it as on an American ship and they seemed to discount Christmas day for some reason. Think many prefer Thanksgiving, I may be wrong of course.

I found Costa cruises cheaper than Warners and that included the flight but a good alternative as like a ship without the sea. Warners have some great entertainment and hotels now.

Thats how I would prefer Christmas as more formal than the more casual on the USA ships. I think Christmas is special and to have a formal night is appropriate as well as Carols and fun. I wouldnt even mind children being on board that time of year ( NOT in the summer though specially out of school term).

We all have different tastes but I found the steel bands irritating all day long.
Some of the USA ships even have them on the Hawai cruises which mystified me as I love Hawain music or Mexican music if on a Mexican cruise.