Christmas
There’s a particular feeling that comes with Christmas: the glow of lights in the streets, presents waiting beneath the tree and the chance to slow down and enjoy time with family and friends. A Christmas cruise allows the festive season to unfold somewhere different, where new destinations, time together and life on board become part of the celebration.
Where that "somewhere" is depends on the kind of festive holiday you are looking for. Wander through Northern Europe’s traditional Christmas markets, escape to the Caribbean for a more relaxed pace, or explore historic Mediterranean cities during the holiday season. No matter where you choose to explore, on board MSC Cruises’ ships, seasonal entertainment, dining and celebrations create a welcoming Christmas atmosphere throughout your journey.
A Xmas cruise allows you to focus on the occasion itself rather than the organisation behind it. Whether you're travelling with children or as a couple, with the practical details taken care of, you'll have more time to relax, reconnect, and make the most of the festivities.
MSC Cruises also offers a range of Christmas cruise deals, allowing to enjoy a seasonal escape while benefiting from excellent value. For those seeking a genuinely distinct way to see out the old year and welcome the new, a selection of tailored New Year itineraries are also available.
Explore our 2026 Christmas cruises and start planning a truly unforgettable festive season.
christmas cruises entertainment
With MSC Cruises every day will be filled with Christmas activities and entertainment for both adults and kids! From Christmas shows to Christmas karaoke, there will be plenty of specials. Kids as well will spend the most magical Christmas holidays ever: meeting Santa Claus with their wish list and many other themed activities just designed for them. The true magic of Christmas awaits you on board MSC Cruises.CHRISTMAS ENTERTAINMENT ACTIVITIES FOR ADULTS
MasterChef Christmas Edition: The most famous cooking talent shows in the world steps aboard MSC Christmas cruises! The power of the activity is the fact that the experience goes over the cruise; the lucky winner of the final prize will have the opportunity to take part in the casting of the TV Show and become the new Star of MasterChef!
Carol-oke Christmas! Make spirits bright singing out one Christmas song at a time!
Holiday Trivia: Tinsel, Tidings, and Trivia! Be ready to sleigh all the questions!
Christmas Mingle and Jingle Party: Don’t miss out on the opportunity to celebrate the holiday with friends and some spirited cheers! Leave your mischief makers at home and dance the night away!
CHRISTMAS ENTERTAINMENT ACTIVITIES FOR ADULTS
CHRISTMAS ENTERTAINMENT ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS AND FAMILY
MSC Kids Christmas: be sure not to miss our Christmas parade starring Doremi, our Lego Characters and all our younger guests!
The Winter Grotto: Doremi & our Lego Characters along with Santa and his Elves in the grotto for a Holiday spectacular of Christmas activities, dancing and art and crafting!
Santa’s Extravaganza: Don't miss MSC Cruises’ event of the season, designed for all our young guests and their families onboard!
Guinness World Record Family Christmas Edition: Get ready for the ultimate holiday showdown with Guinness World Record: Christmas Family Edition. Play with loved ones of all ages and try to beat a world record.
Holiday Tree Lighting Celebration: Don’t miss the magical Tree Lighting Celebration with Santa and his team of holiday merry makers along with our Officers, Doremi and our Lego Characters. Experience the joy of the season as we light up the night together!
Santa’s Shop of Arts and Crafts: Your handmade holiday starts here! Our Creative Coaches and Elves will be ready to create, craft and celebrate the season with all our Happy Holiday Makers!
DECK-orate the Halls! Participate in the biggest challenge of the holiday cruise with our door decoration competition! Set sail into the holiday spirit and transform your cabin door into a festive work of art! Compete for prizes!
Caroling with The Officers: Join us for a festive Christmas Chorus featuring our officers and fun for the whole family! Sing along and celebrate the joy of the season together.
Battle of the Bad Knits! Make sure you pack your ugliest Christmas jumper for this holiday season and join the battle to see who has the baddest knit! The uglier, the merrier!
CHRISTMAS ENTERTAINMENT ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS AND FAMILY
DISCOVER ALL CHRISTMAS CRUISES
CHRISTMAS CRUISES FAQS
Are Christmas cruises worth it?
MSC Cruises ensures a wonderful festive atmosphere too, with a variety of engaging Christmas activities for everyone. And for something rather special, a Christmas or New Year's cruise can also be a delightful gift for those closest to you – a unique way to create lasting memories.
What to expect on a Christmas cruise?
Second, there's the destinations themselves, each one worth seeing, and more so at Christmas. A sailing through Northern Europe brings to the Christmas markets the region is known for, a Caribbean route trades winter temperatures for warm weather and open water, and a Mediterranean itinerary takes in some of the region's better-known cities in the quieter winter months. Which suits you really comes down to whether you'd rather have a coat on deck or leave it in the cabin.
On board, the MSC Cruises’ ships make its own case for the season, with decorations throughout the public areas and a run of Christmas-themed entertainment, shows, karaoke, and much more. A fair amount of this is aimed at children specifically, which matters if you're travelling as a family giving younger passengers a chance to make friends their own age in an organized setting while parents get a bit of proper time to themselves.
What you'll likely remember most, though, is simpler than any of that, just having the time with family or friends, away from the usual routine, to really enjoy each other's company.
What is the best Christmas cruise?
Northern Europe leans into the festive atmosphere properly, with routes that stop off at the Christmas markets in Hamburg and Bruges among others.
If you'd rather trade the cold for some warmth, the Caribbean is a popular for a Xmas cruise, with routes reaching the Bahamas (including Ocean Cay), the Dominican Republic, along the Mexican coast and further down into the southern Caribbean. The Canary Islands and Madeira are a great Christmas destination too, with warm and some genuinely striking scenery and horizons to take in along the way.
The festive period also happens to be a good time to take in some of the Mediterranean's better-known cities, each with its own history and character. You might find yourself standing by the Colosseum in Rome, looking out over the Bay of Naples with Vesuvius in the distance, sitting down to paella in Valencia, or wandering the Medina in Tunis.
How much is a Christmas cruise?
MSC Cruises may also feature Christmas cruise deals on selected departures. These can be a good opportunity to secure added value when planning a festive cruise.
What to wear on a Christmas cruise?
For a Northern Europe itinerary, touching countries such as Belgium, the Netherlands, northern France and Germany, think proper winter kit: a warm coat, layers, gloves, and something waterproof, since rain is likely at this time of year.
The Mediterranean region tends to be milder in December than Northern Europe, though it can still vary from one day to the next and evening temperatures can drop compared to daytime ones, so packing in layers is the safest way to be ready for whatever the weather does.
Head towards the Caribbean instead, and the case looks rather different. Light clothing, swimwear and something to cover up in the sun are the essentials, though a light layer for the evenings doesn't go amiss.
The Canary Islands and Madeira sit somewhere in between, generally mild, so summer clothing works for most of the day, with a jumper or jacket kept handy for cooler evenings.
