cruise from new york christmas 2023

New York Cruise Guide > Cruises > December 2023

Cruises from NYC December 2023

The complete calendar of cruises from New York ports (Manhattan, Brooklyn and Cape Liberty cruise terminals) in December of 2023. Enjoy an early winter cruise out of NYC.

15 cruises are scheduled in December. 2 are holiday cruises to the Caribbean, 12 to the Bahamas, and 1 to England.

December 2: 7-night cruise to the Bahamas & Florida on MSC December 3: 7-night cruise to the Bahamas & Florida on Royal Caribbean December 8: 7-night cruise to England on Queen Mary 2 . December 9: 7-night cruise to the Bahamas & Florida on MSC December 10: 8-night cruise to the Bahamas on Carnival Cruise Line December 10: 7-night cruise to the Bahamas & Florida on Royal Caribbean December 16: 7-night cruise to the Bahamas & Florida on MSC December 17: 7-night cruise to the Bahamas & Florida on Royal Caribbean December 21: 12-night cruise to the Caribbean on Norwegian Cruise Line December 22: 12-night cruise to the Caribbean on Queen Mary 2 . December 23: 7-night cruise to the Bahamas & Florida on MSC December 24: 7-night cruise to the Bahamas & Florida on Royal Caribbean December 28: 9-night cruise to Bahamas & Florida on Carnival Cruise Line . December 30: 7-night cruise to the Bahamas & Florida on MSC December 31: 7-night cruise to the Bahamas & Florida on Royal Caribbean

Christmas cruises from NYC .

New Year cruises from NYC .

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Cruises from New York in January 2024 > >

• CruiseMapper

Christmas and New Year Cruises

Christmas cruises 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026 new year's eve.

At CruiseMapper's "Christmas New Year Cruise" hub you can compares all major cruise companies' December Holiday offers as itineraries and prices. Our Xmas cruise finder allows searching by departure ports, countries and company, also allowing you to choose vessel type (ocean ship or riverboat) and a preferable call port along the itinerary.

Christmas & New Year Cruise Finder

All our Christmas and New Year cruise schedules show only itineraries and prices per person. These are indicative fares on the ships' lowest category staterooms. All rates are based on double occupancy (twin share) and don't include cruise lines or travel agencies promotions, group booking rates or any other special offers and discounts.

Cruise lines

AIDA Cruises

AmaWaterways

Ambassador Cruise Line

American Cruise Lines

American Queen Voyages

Arosa Cruises

Avalon Waterways

Azamara Cruises

Carnival Cruise Line

Celebrity Cruises

Celestyal Cruises

Costa Cruises

CroisiEurope

Crystal Cruises

Disney Cruise Line

Emerald Cruises

Fred Olsen Cruise Lines

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises

Holland America

Hurtigruten

Lindblad Expeditions

Marella Cruises

MSC Cruises

Norwegian Cruise Line

Oceania Cruises

P&O Cruises

Phoenix Reisen

Ponant Cruises

Princess Cruises

Regent Seven Seas Cruises

River Cruises

Royal Caribbean

Saga Cruises

Scenic Cruises

Seabourn Cruises

Silversea Cruises

Small Cruise Lines

TUI Cruises

Viking Cruises

Windstar Cruises

Christmas and New Year cruises offer the perfect combination of the three best buys - holiday, travel, vacation. Combined Christmas (Xmas) and New Year's Eve (NYE) voyages are operated with longer and usually roundtrip itineraries. Depending on shipping company and destination, Xmas-NYE itineraries vary from 4-5 days (short breaks) to 7-10 days and even up to a month, extending from early or mid-December through early January.

All CruiseMapper's Xmas pages have themed photos similar to the one above. These are called "Christmas tree worms" (Spirobranchus giganteus / translated "giant spiral gills"). Aka "bristle worms", these are tube-building marine species living on coral reefs in tropical ocean waters. Each of these worms produces two multicolored spirals, which are apparatus for feeding and respiration. These beautiful creatures are CruiseMapper's choice of "Christmas Cruise" photos because of their most obvious "Xmas-themed" look.

Christmas Holidays cruise travel destinations

The list of most popular Xmas-NYE ship travel destinations starts always with the sunny Caribbean, followed by the Mexican Riviera and Hawaii (from California), Australia and New Zealand. Another interesting and relatively inexpensive destination is Europe's Mediterranean, where during winter you can enjoy guided tours in large port cities with much fewer tourists compared to the summer season.

Christmas Markets are the best-selling European river voyages. Europe's unique Christmas Markets experiences feature shopping (for handcrafted gifts and locally made souvenirs) and traditional food and beverages. Spain's Canaries and Portugal's Madeira are also immensely popular in December and among the best-priced/cheap choices for cruising during Christmas and New Year, with various roundtrips from UK ports and inside the Canaries. A signature experience is Madeira's/Port Funchal's fireworks show on New Year's Eve.

South American voyages during Xmas-NYE can be booked mainly through the Italian companies MSC and Costa . In South Africa are offered departures from Durban and Cape Town. In Arabia you can book seasonally Dubai -homeported ships, mainly by AIDA and MSC.

There are many "international" ships deployed in Southeast Asia (homeported in Hong Kong and Singapore), but for foreigners that market is with fly-cruise deals (inclusive of flights from the USA, Australia, Europe). The list of larger company ships leaving roundtrip from Caribbean ports (Puerto Rico, Barbados, Dominicana, Guadeloupe) includes AIDA, TUI, Marella UK, Carnival, RCI, MSC, P&O UK.

Australia and New Zealand itineraries are mainly roundtrips from Sydney NSW and Auckland NZ. Ships deployed in the South Pacific visit ports in New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Fiji, Tasmania. The list of major companies in this market includes P&O Australia, Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Princess.

Major companies for Christmas cruises in Europe are the UK-based Cunard, Saga, P&O and Marella, departing mainly from Southampton (roundtrip). Other options are TUI and AIDA (departures from Canary Islands), and MSC and Costa (leaving roundtrip from Italian ports). Best brands for Christmas river cruises in Europe are Viking, Avalon, AmaWaterways, Uniworld.

Christmas Holiday cruise travel deals

Xmas-NYE mini cruises are Holiday travel specials that are pretty hard to find. Offered mainly in Europe, the roundtrips are mainly from large ports in England ( Dover , Southampton , Hull ). The best chance to book Xmas short breaks is via P&O Ferries UK . The company owns numerous large-sized Ro-Pax ships/cruiseferries with regularly scheduled crossings from UK ports (to France, Holland, Belgium) visited almost exclusively as shopping and Christmas Market destinations. In the Caribbean, mini-cruises are operated from Florida ports and visit The Bahamas and Mexico.

Fly-cruise deals provide discounted airfare (one-way or roundtrip) mostly to Caribbean homeports with airports (Barbados, Puerto Rico, Dominicana, Guadeloupe), the USA ( Miami Florida ), as well as Mediterranean's largest port cities ( Barcelona , Rome-Civitavecchia , Venice , Marseille ).

Florida to Caribbean itineraries visit The Bahamas ( Nassau , the private islands CocoCay/Royal Caribbean , Half Moon Cay/Carnival , Castaway Cay/Disney , Ocean Cay/MSC , Great Stirrup Cay/NCL ), also Jamaica, Puerto Rico, BVI. Caribbean fly-cruises from the UK to Barbados (Southampton-Bridgetown-Southampton) are P&O UK's top-seller during the December Holidays.

Each year, the Cunard 's RMS Queen Mary 2 offers Christmas and New Year roundtrip voyages from NYC New York to Canada and Caribbean.

The main disadvantages of cruising over Xmas-NYE are the limited availability and higher cost. This is simply the most profitable time for all companies, and they want to get the most out of it. Booking early is essential to secure your Holiday vacation - both as itinerary/stateroom type and pricing. Early Fall (October) is a good time to book. Early booking savings are generous, plus this is the time when the brands start promoting their holiday discounts. However, to be 100% sure, booking a year in advance is highly recommended.

European Christmas Market River Cruises

"Christmas Market" themed cruises are Europe's best Holiday travel deals. They offer ship travel on the largest European rivers and major inland waterways (Rhine, Danube, Main, Moselle), as well as France's rivers (Seine, Seone, Rhone, Garonne, Dordogne, Loire) and navigational canals (via hotel barges).

All larger-sized European riverboats dock in big cities and visit some of the most popular ports in France, Germany, Holland, Belgium, Austria, Hungary, Czechia. Deals are generally all-inclusive - pre- and post-cruise hotel stays, ship transfers, coach travel (tours), gratuities, staterooms with luxury amenities, gourmet meals (European wines and beers during lunch and dinner), 24-hour specialty tea-coffee bar with snacks, complimentary city tours (guided by English-speaking experts), themed onboard enrichment and live entertainment (by resident pianist and local performers), complimentary use of walking sticks and bicycles. Some deals are also inclusive of international flights.

Another reason to choose Christmas Market travel is the opportunity to see some of Europe's largest cities in their glorious snow-cover. Unlike the full-body contact USA Christmas shopping frenzy, Europeans prefer shopping at open-air markets, opposed to shopping malls. Christmas Market cruising in Europe perfectly combines luxury travel with traditional Xmas shopping. Dining options ashore feature the seasonal specialties apple cider, mulled wine (warm spiced wine), sweet gingerbread, all kinds of handmade sweets, chocolate and cookies, perfectly cold beer and steaming hot sausages.

Next are listed itineraries that visit some of the best European Christmas Market cities.

Rhine River

• from Basel to Kehl, Mannheim, Mainz, Cologne
• from Cologne to Koblenz, Rudesheim am Rhein, Germersheim, Kehl, Basel

From Kehl (Germany) is visited Strasbourg (France) - located just across the river.

Danube River

• from Budapest to Vienna, Krems, Linz, Passau
• from Munich to Passau, Linz, Wachau Valley, Vienna, Bratislava, Budapest
• from Munich to Passau, Linz, Grein, Melk, Vienna, Bratislava, Budapest

From Linz can be visited Salzburg and Oberndorf.

• from Nurnberg to Bamberg, Kitzingen, Wurzburg, Wertheim, Frankfurt
• from Frankfurt to Wurzburg, Kitzingen, Bamberg, Nurnberg

From Wurzburg can be visited Rothenburg (Germany's best-preserved walled city).

Rhine-Main-Danube Canal

• from Vienna to Durnstein, Linz, Passau, Regensburg, Roth, Nurnberg
• from Nurnberg to Regensburg, Deggendorf, Wachau Valley, Vienna
• from Nurnberg to Regensburg, Linz, Wachau Valley, Vienna, Budapest

From Deggendorf can be visited Theresienthal (famous for its Glass Museum)

The following table shows exemplary Christmas Market cruisetours as itineraries (departure / arrival ports), companies/brands, voyage themes, land tours/activities.

Note: At our Finder (top-page), when searching for river cruises, be sure to select "River" in the "Ship Type" box.

Best Christmas Markets in Europe

CruiseMapper's review of the best Christmas Markets in Europe is about the best European "stall shopping" destinations during the holidays. Our list includes the Xmas markets in Barcelona , Brussels , Budapest , Copenhagen , Dublin , Edinburgh , Krakow , Lille , London , Prague , Stockholm , Tallinn , Valkenburg , Verona , and Vienna , plus the German Christmas markets (Nuremberg, Dresden, Berlin, Munich).

• Traditionally, Christmas Markets originate in Europe but now pop up all over the world and provide a celebratory atmosphere to enjoy promo shopping. Many holiday shoppers prefer to order gifts online to avoid crowds, but shopping in Europe during the winter holidays is a unique experience.
• Europe's Christmas markets are also a social experience as people gather after work to enjoy a nice meal, mulled wine, hot chocolate, cold beer with sausages, enjoy the company of others. Traveling during Christmas Holidays is an innovative way to celebrate and spend quality time with family and friends.
• "Christmas Market" travel features romantic city tours that for enjoying themed decorations, happy people, winter walks, traditional treats and beverages, cold beer, hot sausages, spiced/mulled wine.

Europe's winter is as energizing as it is cold. Town squares are lit up and decorated. Not so many European companies operate river voyages during winter. In Europe, boats navigate on the largest tributaries of Danube, Rhine and Rhone during spring, summer and fall. However, only several boats of major companies (like Avalon, AMA, Viking) offer Xmas-themed voyages - and until January 1st.

The largest European Christmas Markets are open typically between November 25th and December 24th.

SPAIN - Barcelona Christmas Market "Fira de Santa Llucia" (Plaza de la Seu)

Dating from 1786, Barcelona's traditional Christmas fair now has expanded to 300 and more stalls in front of the Cathedral, selling a variety of handcrafted Christmas gifts and decorations, along with poinsettias, mistletoe and Christmas trees. Always on sale is the most popular figure for Nativity scenes - curious Catalan figure of caganer (crapper) - small figure bending over steaming turd with trousers around ankles. Children line up on the giant caga tio - huge smiley-faced log pooping out pressies when beaten viciously by stick. There is also Nativity scene contest, exhibitions and musical parades, including the Placa Sant Jaume life-size Nativity scene. Fira de Santa Llucia is an authentic Spanish Christmas market, so you'll have difficulties to find bratwurst and gluhwein here but the many restaurants around and festive atmosphere will make up for that.

• Best for: Originally. You won't find mulled wine and bratwurst here - over 300 stalls sell nativity scenes, craft and instruments.
• Eat this: No food here! You'll have to head over to La Boqueria for a simple of Barcelona's traditional festive cuisine. Try Sopa de galets-a soup cantaining pasta shells stuffed with meat.
• Buy this: A Caganer. These small nativity scene figurines, squatting with trousers dropped, are cheeky in more ways than one.
• Skip this: Ice skating at Plaza Cataluna. Check out the spectaculap Christmas light show at Torre Agbar instead.
• When is open: 30th Nov-23 Dec.

BELGIUM - Brussels Christmas Market "Winter Wonders" (Place Ste Catherine)

Brussels Christmas market Winter Wonders with its spectacular ice rink and light show is well known and quite popular. Through the 2-km course around the historic town centre, Brussels' Winter Wonders offers unique ambiance, fairy-tale lighting, delicious dishes, quality activities, and discovery of other cultures during the event. Each year, a different guest is invited to set up market-within-the-market and share some its own traditions. Some of the past invitees are Lapland, Quebec, Provence and Tallinn. Brussels' Christmas market was founded in 2002. The theatrics include sound-and-light nightly show on Grand Place as well as a market surrounding Bourse (Stock Exchange) along Place Sainte Catherine. The big wheel illuminates with 18,000 lights, and 200-ft-long skating rink is great. Try the traditional caricoles (peppery winkles or whelks), Belgian fluffy waffles and fries, seasonal croustillons (doughnuts), and two most welcome Belgium's additions to world cuisine: powerful beer and fine chocolates.

• Best for: Food. A wide range of European foods are found at Winter Wonderland's 240 stalls, providing nourishment for those determined to waik the full 2 kms the market stretches along.
• Eat this: Moules and Frites. Mussels and chips is great with a glass of one of Belgium's famous Trappist beers.
• Buy this: Beer. Head to Delirium Cafe-it holds the Guinnes World Record for most beers in a bar-sample their offerings and take home one or two bottles of your favorites.
• Skip this: Manneken Pis (the city's famous small statue of a boy peeing). Check out the 360-degree sound and light show around the Christmas tree in Grand Place instead.
• When is open: 29 Nov-5th Jan.

Other great Christmas markets in Belgium are Grote Markt in Antwerp and Bruges Christmas Market. The city of Bruges features spectacular medieval architecture, and its Christmas Market is famous for the erected in the Markt ice rink. Kids love the Snow and Ice Sculpture Festival, a 5-minute walk from Christmas Market.

HUNGARY - Budapest Christmas Market "Vorosmarty Square"

Located on Vorosmarty Square in Pest district of Budapest, city's Christmas fair is great to experience traditional food of Hungary, live music and folk dances. The variety of hot drinks include hot chocolate punch and spicy hot apple juice, as well as the chance to try baked goods, like strudels, toki pompos (dough, oven-baked) and langos (fried bread with different toppings). This market has around 150 stalls, plenty of local culture and art, including puppet theatres. All products sold on Vorosmarty Square are traditionally handmade, with a guarantee by professional jury.

• Best for: Culture. Puppet shows,traditional music and folk dancing,all within the surrounds of Budapest's gorgeous baroque and neoclassical architecture.
• Eat this: Chimney cake, or Kurtoskalacs. Pastry Wrapped around a spit, baked over an open charcoal fire, and then sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar.
• Buy this: Matyo-patterned accessories. The ornate and colourful embroidery makes a great festive gift.
• Skip this: Gerbeaud House.Touristy, overcrowded and overpriced during the Christmas period.
• When is open: 15th Nov-31 Dec.

DENMARK - Copenhagen Christmas Market "Tivoli Gardens"

Tivoli Gardens Christmas market in Copenhagen features over 120,000 sparkling lights which illuminate the lake and flower gardens. Kids love this special Christmas market, set up in the amusement park. Enjoy the traditional wooden stalls full of gifts, Danish foods and crafts, theme park rides, firework festival, a roller-coaster, an ice rink, Santa Claus, Danish Christmas pixies... they really know the best way to celebrate Christmas in Denmark. Unlike most European cities, the atmosphere here is more authentically "Christmassy" and less commercial (maybe sub-zero temperatures are one of the reasons). The Russian theme is still going strong, although Nordic touches also have returned. The St. Basil's Cathedral replica remains, and the traditional Father Christmas is residing in 19th-century pantomime theatre. The gardens offer rollercoaster, ice rink, and theme park rides. Expect crowds as the market is based in the centre of capital and attracts a million visitors.

• Best for: Festive spirit. This centuries-old amusement park puts up a 1,000 Christmas trees, and rings its central lake-turned-ice-skating-rink with nine miles of bright lights to create a fantastic Christmas atmosphere.
• Eat this: Klejner. This fried pastry is ubiquitous in Denmark at Christmas. Wash it down with juleol, a dark, malted beer that's only available during the holiday season.
• Buy this: Knitwear. Get the classic Nordic look right from the source-not only will it make you super stylish, but it'll also keep you warm throughout the remainder of winter.
• Skip this: Tours. Instead, hop on a free bike and see Copenhagen's sights on two wheels.

IRELAND - Dublin Christmas Market "12 Days of Christmas" (Dockland)

Despite the fact it's one of the younger European Christmas markets, in 2010 the '12 Days of Christmas' in Dublin attracted the record number of 145,000 visitors. Stained glass, wooden toys, craft jewellery and artwork can be found at the regenerated Dublin Docklands. German themed and carol-singing bar, as well as the carousel, mean the relative newcomer is family crowd pleaser.

• Best for: Variety. from French crepes to African artisans and Brazilian rock bands, visitors to Dublin are really spoiled for choice.
• Eat this: Check out the Fire and Food stall for juicy flame-grilled irish steak burgers and spiced apple punch.
• Buy this: Stained glass. Ireland has some of the world's most spectacular stained glass pieces.
• Skip this: Shopping in the CHQ building. Instead, walk along the River Liffey and check out the shops on Henry Street - it's more interesting and less crowded than Grafton Street.
• When is open: 12th-23rd Dec.

SCOTLAND - Edinburgh Christmas Market "Princes Street Gardens"

If you fancy an original and Scottish Christmas this year, don't miss the opportunity to visit Edinburgh Christmas market. It features the largest ice rink in Europe, stunning views from Ferris Wheel over Edinburgh Castle, Santa's train and Grotto, several choirs and shows. Every year, in Princes Street Gardens, Christmas comes to live with interesting rides and German Christmas Markets. You can find all customary Christmas goodies in the wooden chalets, along with handmade decorations and gifts. There's a good selection of craft items and food.

• Best for: The best thing about Edinburgh Christmas market is that it's open until the 5th of January and while markets in Germany tend to close by the 23rd of December, you can keep on Christmas fun in Edinburgh. Stay for Hogmanay, which is the absolute best New Year celebration in the world.
• Eat this: hot mulled wine and Christmas cookies.
• Buy this: a ride!
• When is open: 22nd Nov-5th Jan.

POLAND - Krakow Christmas Market "Rynek Glowny"

The Christmas market in Krakow takes place every year amid Old Town historic district, on city's Rynek Glowny central square. It starts in the last November days and lasts through the 26th of December or even longer, to the 6th of January sometimes. The wooden stands sell Christmas decorations and goodies, as well as delicious sweets. The open-air eateries feature mulled wine and hearty meals. There are additional attractions as folk dances, shows and concerts of carols.

• Best for: Tradition. Polish Christmas carols are centuries-old and the city's main square has hosted markets since the 13th century
• Eat this: Fried oscypek cheese. This salty sheep's milk cheese is breaded, friend and served with lingonberry compote.
• Buy this: Amber. Amber's a local specialty; you'll find a number of stalls run by locals selling beautiful jewelry crafted from golden, fossilised resin.
• Skip this: Wawel Castle. Instead, check out the entrance to the city's annual szopki competition.These elaborately decorated nativity scenes were introduced to Poland in the 13th century, representing one of Krakow's oldest and most distinct customs.
• When is open: 25th Nov-5th Jan.

FRANCE - Lille Christmas Market "Place Rihour"

Lille has great activities during holiday season - it's situated along the northern border of France and is capital of French Flanders. The whole town around Christmas market is covered with huge garlands' crown. Lille's primary market is on Place Rihour, in 80 wooden chalets with extraordinary gift ideas, Christmas decorations, nativity figurines and festive food. The nearby Grand Place features 50-m high Big Wheel which lights up the square and provides a great view of the whole city.

• Best for: Lights. Lille is illuminated with thousands of fairy lights and le Grand Roue, the market's Ferris wheel, is the dramatic centerpiece of the elaborate light display.
• Eat this: Gaufre fouree/Originating in Lille. This is a delectable oval-shaped waffle stuffed with chocolate or brown sugar.
• Buy this: Chuque du nord. A coffee-flavored candy filled with soft caramel typical of the region, presented in a red and white striped wrapper.
• Skip this: Ferris wheel ride.Instead, navigate 17th-century cobblestone streets on foot and explore the beautiful architecture, statues and the palace in Vieux-Lille.
• When is open: 20th Nov-30 Dec.

ENGLAND - London Christmas Market "Winter Wonderland"

London features several yearly Christmas markets and ice rinks. There are great activities and markets on either side of Thames during holiday season in addition to London's Christmas decorations. Southbank Centre Christmas Market offers 80 wooden cabins that sell gifts, bratwurst and gluhwein to enjoy while strolling along the waterfront. Hyde Park's Winter Wonderland is probably the best-known Christmas market in London with more than 200 chalets featuring handmade decorations and gifts. Food and drink selections at Winter Wonderland are the most extensive, with options that include a Bavarian village, outdoor fire pit, even a bar modeled after alpine ski lodge. The carnival rides are in addition to food and shopping. Another option is the Skate rink at Somerset House Ice Rink, with DJs spinning tunes after dark.

• Best for: 60-m (197-feet) high Observation Wheel and the largest ice rink in Britain
• Eat this: mince pies, roasted chestnuts (with mulled wine, of course)
• When is open: 20th Nov-24th Dec

Other Christmas markets in England we could recommend are: in Birmingham - the "Second City" of UK - Frankfurt Christmas market, running for twelve years already. You can sip on hot mulled wine and German lager amongst the crowds, buy fresh pretzels, delicious hot chocolate and handmade gifts. No matter what time, you can join the crowds of festive people - folk music and laughter fill the air.

CZECH REPUBLIC - Prague Christmas Market "Wenceslas Square"

Prague's Christmas markets take place in Wenceslas Square and Old Town Square. The markets feature the expected holiday decor and wooden toys, but they also offer Czech specialties, like blacksmith's wares, ceramics and glasswork. Food is slightly different from German standards, although blood sausages, grog and gingerbread are offered, but there are vendors with corn on cob and trdelnik (dough cooked with sugar and cinnamon). If you're in town around 20th December, you'll see carp frequently offered - dining on it is Prague's Christmas Eve tradition. Visitors seek for unusual drinks and food rather than decoration and gifts - in the week leading to Vanoce (Christmas) holiday, streets sport enormous water tubs filled with carp (Czech Christmas dish). Don't forget to try the traditional Czech beverage grog and honey liquor. Around 5 p.m. every night the Christmas tree lights are switched on and provide a stunning sight. Dressed in traditional costumes carol singers all around from Czech Republic complete the enchanting market.

• Best for: After-parties. Prague is already popular for its beer and ambiance. Throw in mulled wine and the Christmas spirit, and a merry time is had by all.
• Eat this: Fish soup, or rybi polevka. This typical Christmas dish will definitely keep you warm while you explore.
• Buy this: Handmade puppets dressed in traditional Czech garb. The craft of puppet-making has been passed down countless generations.
• Skip this: Nativity scene exhibitions. Instead, climb up Prasna Brana, the Powder Tower, for a beautiful view of Prague all dressed up for Christmas.
• When is open: 30th Nov-12th Jan.

SWEDEN - Stockholm Christmas Market "Skansen's"

Skansen's Christmas market is ultra-traditional - it has been held since 1903 annually. Skansen is like outdoor cultural museum, it's historic, so you'll see how a Christmas market during the 1800's looked in Sweden. Homemade jams, mustards, sausages, bread, cakes and marzipan, as well as traditional handicrafts (embroidery, leather, holiday decorations). Join with kids the variety of family-friendly activities. Skansen is on Djurgarden Island. Regular ferries link from Slussen.

• Eat this: Christmas fare such as eel, salmon, smoked sausage, pepparkakor (gingersnaps), saffron buns and glogg (mulled wine).
• Buy this: Look out for craft products, hand-dipped candles and traditional Christmas ornaments that are made of straw
• When is open: 24th Nov-16th Dec (only during weekends).

ESTONIA - Tallinn Christmas Market "Rotermann Square"

Tallinn Christmas market originated in 2001 and is not the biggest market, but has lots of charm featuring the most important Estonian Christmas tree surrounded by traditional Christmas stalls. Tallinn Christmas market is set among cobbled streets and medieval squares. With a handful of stalls around Old Town Hall Square - Raekoja plats, selling hats, sweaters, gloves, Estonian arts and crafts, the market is very charming. Tallinn's Raekoja plats is the spot where the first public Christmas tree was put on display in Europe. Fun holiday activities include outdoor skating rink, jazz and classical concerts, illuminated snow sculptures, and Santa's house where kids post Christmas list and feed baby reindeer.

• Best for: Setting. With blankets of snow on market stall roots, medieval architecture, and a tall, lavishly decorated Christmas tree at the center of it all, Tallinn looks like something straight out of a fairy tale.
• Eat this: Blood sausage. A lot more appetizing than they look, these traditional Estonian Christmas treats makes for a tasty snack. Try the Glogi - Estonian mulled wine.
• Buy this: Candles. Estonia is known for its spas. Hand-poured, all-natural scented candles are a cheap and easy way of recreating the relaxing atmosphere of an Estonoan spa at home.
• When: 22nd Nov-8th Jan

HOLLAND - Valkenburg Christmas Market

The Netherlands also have long traditions of Christmas markets, but Valkenburg Christmas market is the most unique. Each year during Christmas holidays, Valkenburg transforms in real Christmas town and features Christmas markets in caves. Enjoy the usual Christmas activities, but also see the Christmas parade which is twice a week with Santa Clause himself. As visitors wander around the cave, they meet tables full of displays from local artisans. Every year they show a unique theme - the scenes are set up throughout market and tell stories related to the theme. The cave is worth a visit with mural paintings throughout. It looks more spectacular with holiday lights and festive decorations. Velvet, Wilhelmina and Municipal caves sound intriguing even on their own.

• Best for: Unique themes.
• Buy this: The typical stalls offer all you would find at other Christmas markets: beautiful crafts, delicious food, and plenty of holiday decorations.
• When is open: 24 Nov-23 Dec.

ITALY - Verona Christmas Market "Piazza Dante"

The German-style Piazza dei Signori Christmas market in Verona sells german specialty foodstuffs and handmade items. Sip vin brule on a cold night, or eat specialty bread and wurst while the kids visit babbo natale and whisper christmas wishes. Around 60 exhibitors usually offer their crafts and products, glass Christmas decorations, ceramic and wood creations, as well as original gift ideas. Piazza dei Signori (known also as Piazza Dante), is accompanied by typical flavours and smells of Christmas specialties as mulled wine, delicious sandwiches and sweets with typical Nuremberg sauerkraut and sausages.

• Best for: Charm. The Veronese market is small and intimate, but still has plenty of choice. Look out for the giant Christmas star falling from the adjacent Roman Arena.
• Eat this: Pandoro. Originating from Verona, the loaf is a delicious sweet bread shaped like an 8-point star, dusted with icing sugar so it looks like the Italian Alps during Christmas.
• Buy this: Antique style, handmade ornaments for your Christmas tree.
• Skip this: Juliet's balcony. Explore the Roman Arena instead - every Christmas the spectacular historic venue plays host to an international axhibition of nativity scenes.
• When is open: 23rd Nov-21st Dec.

AUSTRIA - Vienna Christmas Market "Christkindlmarkts"

Germany has long Christmas markets tradition for centuries like the ones in Frankfurt, Dresden, Munich and Bautzen. However, Vienna is a forerunner with the traditional yearly "December market", dating back to 1294. Today Vienna features about 20 Christmas markets yearly and Christkindlmarkt in front of City Hall is the most famous. Besides the wooden cabins, traditional for Christmas, it features Christmas stories, special post office, and International Advent Caroling. More than 150 stalls sell Christmas decorations, gifts, hot chestnuts and gluhwein (mulled wine). Two other Christmas venues that are uite popular are the Freyung Viennese Christmas Market, which is traditional, selling handicrafts, and in front of Schonbrunn Palace - the Christmas Market, which offers an imperial backdrop and also hosts New Year's market - open until January 1.

• Best for: Short attention spans. In Vienna, there are at least four major markets with different themes.
• Eat this: Maroni (roasted chestnuts) and Weinachtspunsch. Enjoy a packet of the open drum-roasted snacks with a warm punch made with tea, red wine, rum, spices and fruit juices.
• Buy this: Mozartkugel. Originating in Vienna, these traditional chocolates are unique for their pistachio marzipan and nougat centres, individually wrapped in a portrait of Mozart.
• Skip this: The market in Rathausplatz. Instead, explore the Museum Quartier where the Winter Village is. It's six ice pavilions, light projections, stalls and museums, are hugely popular with Vienna's hip crowd. Don't miss Mumok-Vienna's modern art museum.
• When is open: 15th Nov-24 Dec (dates differ at every market).

Christmas is a social affair for the Viennese. People meet up for spicy Christmas cookies, chestnuts and Punsch or Gluhwein (mulled wine). The principal hotspots are:

• Altwiener Christkindlmarkt (23 Nov-23 Dec) - in front of Salzburg cathedral; bringing cosier arty feel with stalls that sell handmade wares. The looming Hohensalzburg Fortress and baroque architecture give a fairy tale feeling. As Salzburg is the birthplace of Mozart, it has an outstanding musical tradition - there are choral performances and you may to hear some of the best students in Europe perform. Another musical claim to fame was also born in Salzburg: Joseph Mohr, the lyricist behind the most famous Christmas carol "Silent Night".
• Rathausplatz market (17 Nov-24 Dec) - with tacky stalls, but Rathausplatz is worth a visit for the glimpse of Advent windows on decorated by local artists Town Hall, and the tree illuminations in park.
• Schonbrunn Palace market (24 Nov-26 Dec) - spectacular backdrop with more upmarket stalls.
• Spittelberg market (15 Nov-23 Dec) - set in cobbled streets between Siebensterngasse and Burggasse in the 7th district, one of the loveliest. You can find goods not offered elsewhere.

Best Christmas Markets in Germany

Germany is well known for the variety of beautiful Christmas markets - from the popular Cologne market to the small one in Monschau. However, the most famous one, without any doubt is Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt.

Nuremberg Christmas Market "Christkindlesmarkt"

Dating from 1600s, the Nuremberg Christmas market occupies Main Square under Frauenkirche (Church of Our Lady). Christkind opens Christmas market the Friday before Advent every year with an impressive ceremony. This market has long tradition and you'll find all original things here - gluhwein, bavarian bratwurst and hand-made gifts. The stalls, with candy-striped awnings, sell all traditional handcrafts, including carved wooden toys and "smoker" man (carved figure holding smoking incense inside). The horse-drawn stagecoach will take you on a ride over the medieval old city's cobblestone streets. On weekends, the Nuremberg market is a mass of people who huddle together to stay warm. But during the week, explore the Christkindlesmarkt in tranquility, eat the local sausages (three in a roll) and drink gluhwein (hot mulled wine).

• Best for: Atmosphere. Nurembergers know how to put on a Christmas market - they've been doing it for nearly 400 years!
• Eat this: Nuremberg bratwurst. Try it with mustard and kraut and wash down with a boot-shaped mug of Gluhwein.
• Buy this: Prune men. These dried plum figures were first created as children's toys during the Thirty Years'War. Found in a multitude of sizes and characters, they're now one of the most popular gifts to bring home from the Nuremberg Christmas market.
• Skip this: Gingerbread from the market stalls. Instead, head to one of the local bakeries where you'll find a delicious selection of fresh lebkuchen (cookies made from gingerbread).
• When is open: 29th Nov-24th Dec

Dresden Christmas Market "Striezelmarkt"

The popular Christmas market in Dresden transforms the city into winter wonderland on River Elbe. The city of Dresden is filled with festivities and sparkling lights. Traditionally known as 'Striezelmarkt', Dresden Christmas market is the oldest in Germany, as it dates back to 1434. It's named after city's famous culinary creation - Christmas Stollen, sweet fruitcake in the shape of loaf, dusted with icing sugar. The highlight of Dresden Christmas annual market is the Stollen Festival, which is held in December, on the second Sunday - a giant Stollen weighing 3,000 kg is carried to the market where it's ceremonially sliced and then distributed to the visitors. The parade is presided by "Miss Cake" (Stollenmadchen). Dresden Christmas market is old-fashioned and pretty, with more than 250 stalls that sell traditional wares and festive arts and crafts. Regional vendors display pottery and indigo-printed textiles from Lusatia; wooden ornaments from Erzgebirge mountain villages; paper advent stars, wickerwork and Plauen lace from Herrnhut.

Many other markets can be found around Dresden, and each of them has its own attractions and intimate flair. The popular Frauenkirche, Loschwitz, and especially the charming Residenzschloss Christmas markets are worth mentioning.

• Best for: Tradition and original displays - the Christmas market in Dresden is the place to see the tallest Christmas pyramid in the world - the stunning 14 meters high.
• Eat this: Christmas Stollen, of course!
• Buy this: hand-blown delicate glass baubles from Lauscha; hand-made Saxony ceramics in bright blue and white.
• When is open: 27th Nov-24 Dec.

Berlin Christmas Market "Kaiser Wilhelm"

Berlin's most popular Christmas Market is Kaiser Wilhelm Gedachtniskirche (receiving ~2 million visitors annually). Tourists visit for the jewelry, artworks and decorations on sale as well as to indulge in the cliched seasonal treats - mulled wine and chestnuts.

When is open: 24 Nov-1 Jan.

Munich Christmas Market "Marienplatz"

Besides being Bavaria's Oktoberfest destination, Munich also has a huge downtown Christmas Market (Marienplatz) surrounded by an enormous tree with 2500+ lights. Tourists can find traditional Bavarian gifts - wood carvings or gingerbread (called lebkuchen), while sipping on beer or gluhwein (mulled warmed wine).

Throughout the city there are smaller markets - one unique is Manger Market, selling the components for those who try to build authentic manger.

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The Best Holiday Cruises Are With Princess!

Holiday celebrations at sea.

A variety of holiday activities on board offer fun for the whole family. Don’t forget to pack your festive outfits and take part in the holiday cheer! Enjoy games & activities including:

• Stanley breakfast event – wear your family pajamas
• Holiday Wishes Variety Show
• Menorah Lighting
• Ugly Holiday Sweater Competition 
• Lighting of the Lights Ceremony
• Family Gingerbread House Making Competition, judged by the Executive Chef, Pastry Chef, Captain and Entertainment Director*
• Holiday Family Movie Nights, featuring favorites like “Elf,” “A Christmas Story” and “The Grinch” 
• Holiday Caroling in the Piazza
• Santa’s Arrival and Gift Giving
• ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas reading, where kids are encouraged to wear their PJs and enjoy hot chocolate
• Interdenominational Church Services, led by guest volunteers or onboard teammates

*Subject to availability

Christmas Cruises

Take a Christmas cruise with Princess

• White Christmas
• Baby It's Cold Outside...
• The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Regardless of where you're sailing, it actually snows in the Atrium of your decked‐out Princess ship. And of course, Santa visits each of our ships for gift giving — we offer cookies for him, and carrots for his reindeer. Experience the Christmas tree lighting and mingle with Kris Kringle as Yuletide Carolers sing joyful classics onboard your ship. And our very own Stanley the bear joins in on the fun for holiday storytime and breakfast event. Don't forget to pack and wear your family holiday matching pajamas!

But it’s warm and toasty onboard a Princess ship! Enjoy Christmas on a cruise ship as you sip eggnog, compete in a magical gingerbread house‐making contest, snowman building competition or design a special keepsake ornament. Revel in the Ugly Sweater party (don't forget to pack it!), Holiday Family Fun Fair, and countless joyful activities await you on your holiday cruise.

The most wonderful time of the year should be wonderful for everyone. That’s why Princess, voted the best cruise line for multigenerational families (Portholes) offers the best Christmas cruises for families and guests of all ages. Kids can go play in our youth and teen centers, where they’ll enjoy fun holiday parties (and you’ll enjoy evening kid-sitting for a nominal fee so parents can celebrate a festive night out too!). Then the whole family can reunite for a stress-free Christmas dinner, feasting on a delicious banquet while cherishing each other’s company.

Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, and New Year's Cruises

• The Best Thanksgiving Cruises
• Thanksgiving Dinner
• Thanksgiving under the Stars
• Hanukkah Cruises
• Hanukkah Traditions
• New Year's Cruises

Enjoy lovely autumn décor, take part in a Turkey Calling Contest, and add a special message to our annual Tree of Thanks in the ship's Atrium.

Leave the cooking to Princess, and join us for an elaborate traditional holiday feast in the dining room, complete with all the trimmings.

What would Thanksgiving be without football? Watch the games on our Movies Under the Stars® outdoor big screen.

The Festival of Lights burns brightly with a menorah‐lighting ceremony, themed crafts, festive décor and special events, like a reading of Sammy Spider's First Hanukkah on the first night of Hanukkah.

Enjoy traditional Hanukkah delicacies specially prepared by our professional chefs, such as potato latkes and gefilte fish. You can even pre-order kosher meals!

Take a New Year's cruise. Count down and count your blessings on the biggest night of the year with a special New Year’s Eve dinner followed by a midnight celebratory Champagne toast.

The Best Holiday Cruises — All Year Round

• Chinese New Year
• Valentine's Day
• Easter & Passover
• Mother's Day
• Father's Day

Mark the beginning of the Lunar New Year, with time–honored traditions for an immersive experience. Our Chinese New Year celebrations include symbolic red decorations that adorn the Piazza, mythological Lion Dancers thrill spectators, and much more.

Love, life’s sweetest reward, is celebrated with hearts and flowers and special touches throughout the ship. Onboard, you can make a card for your sweetheart, send a singing telegram, renew your vows, watch themed Movies Under the Stars, and so much more.

Celebrations of hope and springtime abound during this holy period. Onboard, you can participate in a Seder service, sit down with family for a traditional Easter dinner, and enjoy special visits from the Easter Bunny, and a candy egg hunt.

What’s the #1 travel gift moms want? A Mother's day cruise. Celebrate and pamper mom onboard with a relaxing spa treatment, a specially-themed balcony breakfast, complimentary sparkling wine and a rose at dinner, and much more.

Watch the big game on our giant Movies Under the Stars screen, complete with grilled burgers and craft beers on deck. Treat your special dad to a hand–cut steak cooked to order at the Crown Grill. Celebrate the day with a whiskey tasting at the Wheelhouse Bar. It will be a Father’s Day he never forgets!

Halloween on a Princess cruise ship promises more treats than tricks. Delight in spooky décor while carving pumpkins in the Princess Piazza. Ghostly grown-ups can attend our Halloween Fright Night Party, while little pumpkins can enjoy a costume parade, scavenger hunt, and, of course, lots of candy!

Gifting for someone special?   It's easier than ever! Buy gifts online for anyone sailing with Princess.

Already booked with Princess?   Login to Cruise Personalizer to buy a gift for yourself or others on your booking .

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Cruises from Brooklyn > Cruise Calendar > Christmas Cruises

Christmas Cruises from Brooklyn NY

Two cruise lines offer Christmas cruises out of Brooklyn, New York. The luxurious Queen Mary 2 ocean liner makes a holidays cruise that spans both Christmas and New Year's. And MSC has a Christmas cruise to the Bahamas and Florida.

Christmas on Cunard Line ships is a time for lavish celebration. Toast Christmas Eve with a bottle of Champagne. Relax and enjoy breakfast in bed on Christmas morning. There are shows, dancing and parties for children. The ships are decorated with Christmas trees and a gingerbread village.

The 2023 Christmas & New Year cruise on the Queen Mary 2 departs from Brooklyn on December 22nd. The 12-night round-trip cruise returns to New York on January 3rd. The ship will be at sea on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. On December 26th it will be at St Kitts, December 27th Barbados, December 28th St Lucia, December 29th Martinique, and December 30th St Maarten. It will be at sea on New Year's Eve and New Year Day.

The 2023 Christmas cruise on MSC departs from Brooklyn on December 23rd. The 7-night round-trip returns to Brooklyn on December 30th. The ship will be at sea on Christmas Eve. On Christmas Day it will be at Port Canaveral in Florida. On the 26th it is at Ocean Cay private island in the Bahamas. And on the 27th it is at Nassau, Bahamas.

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CRUISES FROM NEW YORK CITY

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New York City (Cape Liberty, NJ) Port Guide

On cruises from New York, sail off to the picturesque coast of Rhode Island, the pink sand beaches of Bermuda, and the charming city of Charleston. You can also board an unforgettable transatlantic cruise from New York to Europe and discover the natural and historic wonders that await in Greenland, Iceland, and Scotland.

Before your cruise from New York, spend a couple of days exploring the Big Apple. Head to the top of the Empire State Building for an unbeatable photo op, or take a walk across the Brooklyn Bridge. As you set sail, New York’s most iconic landmark, the Statue of Liberty, will bid you farewell.

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Top Destinations on Cruises from the New York Area

Stroll on pink sand beaches and enjoy the cool sea breeze on the idyllic island of Bermuda. Scuba dive or snorkel in crystal-clear waters and discover coral reefs systems and more than 300 shipwrecks found near its shores. Journey into the Crystal Caves, where you’ll be amazed at the limestone formations and pristine pools of waters inside. Or explore the city of Hamilton, where there are plenty of opportunities for sightseeing and shopping.

Charleston, South Carolina

Embrace the charm of Charleston, South Carolina, one of the most picturesque cities in the United States. Learn all about Civil War history at Fort Sumter, the location of the first major battle of the war. Walk hand in hand down the French Quarter, where colorful buildings and palm trees make a picture-perfect background. Try freshly shucked oysters at one of the city’s award-winning restaurants by the water.

Newport, Rhode Island

Gilded Age mansions, historic lighthouses, and seaside walks await in Newport, a quaint city in Rhode Island full of craggy cliffs and lovely coastal landscapes. Step inside the former summer manses of America’s wealthiest dynasties. Board a sailing yacht and go on a tour of Narragansett Bay. Discover the bucolic views from Cliff Walk, a scenic trail that will take you through the highlights of Newport.

Visit Iceland, a magical destination with stunning natural landscapes and unforgettable outdoor adventures. In Reykjavik, immerse yourself in the healing waters of the Blue Lagoon, feel the powerful mist from the Gullfoss Falls, or explore the ice caves at Vatnajokull. While in Akureyri, you can see lava fields at Dimmuborgir and witness the majesty of the 40-foot-high waterfall of Godafoss.

Explore the unique beauty of Greenland while enjoying the utmost comfort aboard one of our ships. This far-off destination is teeming with outdoor adventure and breathtaking landscapes to discover, including the majestic beauty of Lake Tasersuaq, the healing hot springs of Uunartoq, and the stunning hills of Qaqortoq, where you’ll experience unparalleled fjord views and picturesque colonial homes in a rainbow of colors.

Our Ship Sailing Out of the NYC Area

On Celebrity Summit, stay in newly redesigned staterooms and make yourself at home while surrounded by modern design and innovative technology. This recently revolutionized ship has also added The Retreat, our luxury vacation experience, which includes a private restaurant, sundeck, lounge, and a stay in one of our sophisticated suites. Enjoy reimagined restaurants and lounges and unwind in the elevated Spa, where you’ll find it easy to leave all of your worries behind.

Why Sail from New York with Celebrity Cruises

Cruises from NYC make it easy to combine an exciting trip to New York City with a relaxing vacation to the shores of Bermuda, Charleston, and Rhode Island. Spend your days in Bermuda exploring the island’s famous pink sand, swimming in crystal clear water, and experiencing its unique culture. Stroll through the quaint streets of Charleston and admire the Gilded Age mansions of Rhode Island. Onboard, unwind in Celebrity Summit’s reimagined spa or dine in any of its renovated restaurants with dishes crafted by our Michelin-starred chef.

On a transatlantic cruise that sails to Iceland and Greenland, you’ll also discover cities in Nova Scotia, towns in Scotland, and the port of Southampton, which is only an hour away from London. During your transatlantic journey, you’ll spend luxurious days at sea, exploring all of the revolutionized venues available onboard, including the entertaining theater, the lively lounges and bars, and the serene, indoor solarium.

View All Cruises from New York

Cape liberty, nj cruise port facilities and location.

Cruises from New York City with Celebrity Cruises depart from the recently-renovated Cape Liberty Cruise Port in New Jersey, a sleek and modern new cruise terminal that makes check-in and embarkation as smooth and enjoyable as possible. The Cape Liberty Cruise Port is conveniently located in close proximity to Newark Airport and is less than an hour’s drive from New York City.

Top Sights & Attractions to See Before Cruises From NYC

Empire state building.

The Empire State Building has been memorialized in movies and TV for decades, and a trip to the top is something you should experience for yourself at least once. Made up of 102 floors and coming in at over 1,200 feet tall, the observation deck offers an unbeatable view of the Manhattan skyline.

Ellis Island

Take a day trip to Ellis Island to discover the history of immigration in America during pivotal points in U.S. history. Spend the afternoon looking at historic immigration materials in the museum and learning about how the United States opened its doors to the world.

Brooklyn Bridge

Built in the late 1800s to connect Brooklyn and Manhattan, the Brooklyn Bridge is a marvel of human achievement and an architectural delight. A walk or ride over the Brooklyn Bridge, whether you’re in a taxi or on your own two feet, is pretty spectacular.

Times Square

It wouldn’t be a trip to NYC without a stop at the overwhelming, world-famous Times Square, a stretch of several blocks of bright, flashing billboards and crowds clamoring for neon photos.

Top Things to Do in New York

Walk in central park.

Central Park is one of the largest parks in a metropolitan area. Comprised of over a mile of green space and walking trails, it offers a killer view of lower Manhattan from certain vistas. When you’re craving some time in nature in the middle of this loud, humming city, head to Central Park for a walk, a picnic, or just to people-watch.

Go to a Broadway Show

Theater lovers will plan an entire trip to New York around a single Broadway musical or play. If you can snag tickets, you’ll be front and center to some of the biggest performers and talents in the world, whether you’re seeing an established, multi-run show or something artsy off-Broadway.

Pay Respects at the 9/11 Memorial

Built to honor the lives lost as a result of the tragic attacks on September 11, 2001, the 9/11 Memorial is a harrowing must-see experience during a trip to New York. It relays the significance of the terrorist attacks not only on the New York community, but the United States as a whole.

Where should I eat in New York?

New York offers nearly every type of cuisine in the world, whether you’re craving an authentic New York slice of pizza or prefer to stop at one of the halal food trucks scattered throughout Manhattan. There are dozens of restaurants along every block. Famous spots include Peter Luger Steakhouse in Williamsburg, Katz Delicatessen, Gramercy Tavern, and Grand Central Oyster Bar.

What’s the culture and history of New York?

Native American groups have lived in the area now known as New York for thousands of years, and European settlement of the area didn’t begin until the 15th century. In the 1600s, the Dutch West India Company began a colony called “New Amsterdam” and expanded their living quarters into what we know now as Manhattan. The local population boomed, and the New Amsterdam area became known as a trade hub between the Dutch, Europeans, and the New World. By the mid-1600s, the British took control and kept it until after the Revolutionary War. During the 19th century, the melting pot of New York that the city is now famous for began to take shape as Ellis Island welcomed millions of immigrants from Ireland, Italy, and Germany. People from around the world settled throughout the five boroughs. Today, New York symbolizes the promise of an America with open arms for all types of people, and New York’s food, attractions, and cultural institutions celebrate that diversity. 

Where can I go shopping near the cruise port?

For a glimpse of New York’s famous shopping scene, find a nearby subway station and head to Fifth Avenue or Madison Avenue, where you’ll find every luxury brand under the sun. SoHo boasts many of the biggest names and rising brands in fashion and design, while the windows of famous department stores like Macy’s and Bloomingdales attract thousands of eyes during the an. Of course, souvenir shacks with memorabilia of the Statue of Liberty, Times Square, and the Chrysler Building aren’t hard to find either.

How can I get around New York City?

Getting to New York City from the cruise terminal is easy. There are several options including hailing a taxi, taking a train on the PATH Rapid Transit System train to Manhattan, or boarding a bus that will drop you off in the Port Authority Bus Terminal. Once you are there, the options for getting around the five boroughs are plentiful, as New York has one of the most comprehensive public transit systems in the U.S. The subway operates 24/7. If you’ve decided to stick to landmarks in a particular neighborhood, you’ll be able to get around on foot. If you’re tired, you can hail one of the city’s famous yellow cabs. Rideshares also operate here. 

What are the local currency & tipping customs?

The U.S. Dollar (USD) is the official currency of NYC, and you’ll find ATMs are widespread. Most major credit cards are accepted as well, but it’s helpful to carry cash with you when you shop at bodegas. Many bars have a minimum purchase amount for credit or debit card use.

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The 10 most festive christmas cruises for 2023-2024.

Set sail for the holidays on your next cruise vacation.

The Most Festive Christmas Cruises

Courtesy of American Queen Voyages

These festive cruises are full of activities, food and destinations to make your holiday special.

If you're ready for a break from holiday traditions and family gatherings at home, consider booking a Christmas cruise. What makes a better present than the chance to leave all the planning, cooking, cleaning and decorating behind – and celebrate the holidays in beautiful destinations in the U.S., the Caribbean or other countries around the globe?

If you're dreaming of a white Christmas, you can book a festivity-filled river cruise along Europe's iconic waterways and bundle up in your winter gear to explore the Christmas markets in the snow. If you prefer sunshine and warm temperatures, celebrate the holidays in an exotic locale, sailing crystal-clear turquoise waters and relaxing on white sand beaches surrounded by palm trees.

Whether you prefer to stay close to home or jet off for a bucket list adventure, one of these cruises may just be the perfect gift to celebrate your holidays in style.

Book a Christmas cruise on  GoToSea , a service of U.S. News.

Hallmark Channel Christmas Cruise

Put your name on the waiting list for November 2024 if you want to set sail on what Hallmark is touting as the "jolliest vacation ever." The Hallmark Channel – known for its year-round holiday-themed programming with Christmas in July, Countdown to Christmas and Christmas Fridays – will host the first-ever Hallmark Channel Christmas Cruise sailings in November 2024 from Miami to the Bahamas . Lucky fans of the television channel will travel with their favorite Hallmark stars on one of two four-night cruises on Norwegian Cruise Line 's Norwegian Gem during the 2024 holiday season.

Highlights of the Hallmark Channel Christmas Cruise include photo opportunities and panels to meet the stars. Attend Christmas craft workshops or tastings with Hallmark's winemaker – the wines have names like Jingle (cabernet sauvignon) and Joy (sauvignon blanc). Guests can also look forward to "carol-oke" singalongs, cookie decorating, an ugly sweater contest and a world premiere viewing of a new Hallmark Channel Christmas movie.

Read: The Top Party Cruises

AmaWaterways

Courtesy of AmaWaterways

AmaWaterways offers seven itineraries to visit the Christmas markets along the Rhine and Danube rivers – and to see the holiday splendor of Europe's grand cities, such as Vienna and Prague . Travelers can stroll through snow-dusted beautiful medieval squares and fairytale markets with chalet-inspired stalls, thousands of colorful lights, festive decorations, ice skating rinks, whimsical handmade gifts, Christmas carolers, carousels and more.

The eight-day Iconic Christmas Markets itinerary from Nuremberg, Germany, to Budapest, Hungary , features a visit to Christkindlesmarkt in Nuremberg, one of the world's oldest and most famous Christmas markets. Sip glühwein (hot mulled wine) and sample savory specialties like currywurst (curried sausages) and kartoffelpuffer (fried potato pancakes). Be sure to save room for sweet delights like schaumkuss, a chocolate-covered marshmallow, or lebkuchen, a traditional spiced cookie.

While on board the ship, guests can participate in festivities like tree-trimming, caroling and "Shoes for St. Nick." This European tradition encourages passengers to leave their slippers outside their stateroom door before bed. In the morning, they wake up to slippers filled with tasty treats like the children find in Europe on Saint Nicholas Day.

Celebrity Cruises

Courtesy of Celebrity Cruises

Celebrate Christmas Day in the Canary Islands and ring in the new year on the Mediterranean Sea during Celebrity Cruises ' Canaries, Morocco, Spain Holiday itinerary. The 13-day round-trip voyage from Barcelona embarks a few days before Christmas 2023 on Celebrity Infinity. It features eight ports of call, including the Moroccan cities of Casablanca and Tangier as well as Seville and Valencia in Spain.

On the ship, guests can revel in the joyous spirit of the season with festive Christmas trees, traditional holiday meals, themed shows and pop-ups, carolers, gingerbread winter villages, and even a visit from Santa. The onboard bars serve up holiday-inspired cocktails like candy cane and gingerbread martinis as well as other seasonal favorites, including spiked apple cider and classic mulled wine. On New Year's Eve, plan to join in the merriment with fellow cruisers during the big countdown bash.

If you want to cross South Africa off your list of must-visit destinations , consider spending Christmas and New Year's Eve sailing round-trip from Cape Town on Azamara 's 14-day South Africa Intensive Voyage. The 2023 voyage departs Dec. 21 on Azamara Pursuit and includes stops in Port Elizabeth, home to one of the densest elephant populations in the world, and Richards Bay, which is teeming with exotic wildlife and stunning landscapes.

Guests on board the holiday cruise will be treated to Christmas performances, including singalongs and carols performed by the crew. There will be special menus in the restaurants, holiday-themed buffets, religious services and a tree-trimming party. Festive treats like hot chocolate, cookies and snacks are provided throughout the cruise. The New Year's Eve White Night party, where all the guests don their best white attire, will take place throughout the ship and on the pool deck with entertainment, music and light bites.

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Courtesy of Viking

Viking's 12-day Christmas on the Main & Moselle cruise sails between Paris and Prague in 2023 and 2024. The adults-only sailing affords passengers 18 or older the opportunity to visit four European countries: France, Germany, Luxembourg and the Czech Republic. In addition to browsing the boutiques in Paris and a variety of Christmas markets in Germany, you'll want to explore iconic landmarks like Reims Cathedral in France and the Luxembourg American Cemetery. Don't miss the famed wines produced in the region, including Moselle, riesling, Müller-Thurgau and gewürztraminer.

The holiday spirit continues on board the ship with Christmas-themed cooking demonstrations in addition to festive decorations with garland, lights and gingerbread houses. Guests will also taste regional cuisine, enjoy cultural performances on board the ship and ashore, and learn about the history of the Christmas markets and local holiday traditions.

Read: Bucket List Cruises for Seniors and Retirees

Disney Cruise Line

Kent Phillips | Courtesy of Disney Cruise Line

Disney Cruise Line offers dozens of Christmas-themed cruises in November and December of 2023 and 2024. Cruisers looking to celebrate the holidays with Disney's cast of characters in 2023 can book a Very Merrytime cruise as short as a four-day sailing from Port Canaveral, Florida, to the Bahamas. For an extended getaway, consider Disney Cruise Line 's eastbound eastbound 15-day voyage that embarks in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico , and transits the Panama Canal, disembarking in Galveston, Texas .

On the first evening of every sailing, guests can gather around the three-deck-tall Christmas tree for the tree lighting ceremony, a holiday singalong and the introduction of Santa Claus. Other festivities include the fun-filled Mickey and Minnie's Holiday Party, themed Very Merrytime activities for children of all ages, carolers singing songs, and Christmas-inspired food and beverages. Disney characters like Mickey and Minnie Mouse will be sporting jolly new holiday attire during the special voyages.

Read: The Top Themed Cruises

Windstar Cruises

Courtesy of Windstar Cruises

Celebrate the holidays with a once-in-a-lifetime getaway to the sun-drenched islands of Tahiti . You'll set sail a few days before Christmas aboard the four-masted sailing yacht Wind Spirit. Windstar's 10-day Overwater Bungalow & Tahitian Paradise Cruise Tour also includes a three-night stay in overwater bungalows on the island of Moorea. Resort perks include a half-day private car tour and a romantic beach dinner where you can watch a spectacular French Polynesian sunset over the South Pacific Ocean.

Guests can join in on the holiday spirit around the ship with festive Christmas trees and decorations and holiday-inspired cocktails and treats. Special programming for the voyage includes a Christmas movie, a gala tea, an interdenominational Christmas service and a Christmas Eve dinner. Christmas morning brings more celebrations throughout the day, with holiday meals, a Yuletide afternoon tea and a Christmas dinner followed by a variety show in the evening.

Norwegian Cruise Line

Courtesy of Norwegian Cruise Line

Grab the swimsuit, flip-flops and sunglasses for a tropical holiday on Norwegian Cruise Line 's newest ship, Norwegian Viva. The line's nine-day Caribbean voyage departs round-trip from San Juan, Puerto Rico , several days after Christmas. There are eight ports of call, including stops in the beautiful islands of Curaçao , Bonaire , St. Lucia and Aruba . For a special celebration, splurge on luxurious suite accommodations in The Haven. The ship-within-a-ship retreat features a private restaurant, a lounge, a sundeck, a concierge desk and 24-hour butler service.

Holiday-themed activities on Norwegian's ships vary by itinerary and ship. Still, guests will find plenty of festive fun on board, including traditional holiday fare and holiday-inspired musical sets, trivia, and family and youth programming. Guests are invited to offer interdenominational services for fellow passengers during the sailing. You'll also find Hanukkah services listed in the Freestyle Daily Program. Plan to sleep in on New Year's Day and spend a blissful day relaxing at sea after a late night celebrating New Year's Eve on board the ship.

American Queen Voyages

The holiday-themed, eight-day Roundtrip New Orleans voyage on American Queen begins with an overnight in the city and disembarks just in time to spend Christmas Eve in the Big Easy . The ship – a 417-passenger paddlewheeler that is the largest steamboat ever built – will call on four ports during the sailing on the Lower Mississippi River. In Natchez, Mississippi, guests will find holiday markets exclusively created for the voyage, where you can shop for gifts and sweet treats. You'll also be greeted with bonfires along the riverbanks at the historic Nottoway Resort in White Parish, Louisiana. Join in the real spirit of Christmas with donations to Giving Trees in the port towns that help local charities.

There are plenty of cheery activities on board the ship with Christmas shows, singalongs, caroling and cooking demonstrations. Guests can also put their creative talents to work decorating gingerbread houses, ornaments and cards while sampling holiday-themed cocktails or sipping hot chocolate. Specially prepared dishes will celebrate the traditions of Hanukkah, including traditional foods like homemade latkes (fried potato pancakes).

Read: The Top Mississippi River Cruises

Courtesy of Silversea

For a life-changing experience and the merriest Christmas of all, spend the holiday with several species of waddling penguins, giant seals and majestic whales while visiting the ice-covered shores of The White Continent. The 10-day Punta Arenas to Puerto Williams expedition on Silversea 's Silver Endeavour sets sail from Chile a week before Christmas in 2023 for the Antarctica Peninsula. Five days of excursions allow travelers to explore this surreal and magical part of the world. Weather permitting, guests will even take a Zodiac cruise with the expedition team in the South Shetland Islands on Christmas Day.

Festive touches on board the ship include Christmas trees and lights, gingerbread houses, holiday arts and crafts, caroling, religious services, and musical performances by the crew and professional entertainers. Guests will also enjoy a traditional holiday dinner on Christmas Day.

Why Trust U.S. News Travel

Gwen Pratesi has been an avid cruiser since her early 20s. She has sailed to destinations around the globe on nearly every type of cruise ship built, including the newest megaships, luxury yachts, expedition vessels, and river ships in Europe and on the Mekong River. She used her extensive knowledge and experience with the cruise industry to write this article. Pratesi covers the travel and culinary industries for major publications, including U.S. News & World Report.

You might also be interested in:

• The Top River Cruise Lines
• The Top Cruises on Small Ships
• Cruise Packing List: Essentials for Your Cruise
• The Top Christmas Lights Displays in the U.S.
• The Best Christmas Vacations

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Limited-Time Cruises from New York

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Indulge your senses with a cruise to Bermuda, a mecca for water sports enthusiasts, golfers and adventurers eager to explore. Or just bask on the island’s renowned pink-sand beaches.

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Revel in the unspoiled beauty of nature on scenic sailings that may include unforgettable stops in New Brunswick or Nova Scotia in the Great White North.

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Cast off on a spirited sailing commemorating Halloween that’s brimming with spook-tacular tricks and haunted treats—available in October.

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From dazzling live shows to fireworks at sea, each moment is more memorable than the last. Discover restaurants, pools, recreation and more—all ready to transport you to wondrous locales waiting to be explored.

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From the moment you step on board to your last wave goodbye, your cruise vacation includes almost everything you and your family could ever hope for—and so much more.

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• Extravagant, Broadway-style live shows and entertainment
• Unique deck parties starring some of your favorite Characters—including an unforgettable spectacular with fireworks at sea on most itineraries
• First-run movies and Disney classics in state-of-the-art theater venues or family favorites under the stars
• Themed pool areas that include a kids pool, family pool, splash zone and water coaster
• Staterooms tailored especially for families that include private verandahs that look out onto the sea, deluxe rooms with expanded space, and convenient split bathrooms
• Kids can learn and play in children’s activity spaces fueled by Disney storytelling—including Star Wars : Millennium Falcon
• Tweens ages 11 through 14 are invited to spend time in a youth club all their own—featuring videogames, music, movies, arts and crafts, karaoke and scavenger hunts
• Teens can relax in a fun, parents-free venue until 2:00 AM with activities like karaoke, video game challenges, trivia showdowns, dance parties and tons more—under the supervision of helpful counselors
• Elegant, adult-exclusive dining at Palo , serving classic Northern Italian cooking, and Remy , offering fine French fare
• A tranquil pool and whirlpool spa overflowing with sweeping views and ocean breezes
• Themed nightclubs and lounges, home to exciting live music and dance parties
• A luxurious spa, featuring rejuvenating and beautifying treatments with sweeping sea views
• A fitness center sporting exercise classes, weight machines and cardiovascular equipment

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Celebrate the Magic of Christmas 2024 in New York City

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New York, New York

Bateaux Christmas Day Premier Brunch Cruise

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There is nothing quite like Christmas in New York. The Big Apple is one of the hottest destinations throughout the year for people from all over the world. This great city is comprised of five boroughs each filled with its own history, attractions, various sights to see, restaurants, nightclubs, bars, parks, dog parks, skyscrapers, iconic tourist attractions, street vendors, Broadway plays, museums galore, and there’s not even enough room to write about it all in one place.

New York “is home to 8.4 million people who speak more than 200 languages, hail from every corner of the globe, and, together, are the heart and soul of the most dynamic city in the world,” according to City of New York . During the Christmas season, New York’s energy is even more magical. Add in some snow and it’s like Mother Nature sprinkling fairy dust that envelopes the city.

Imagine Christmas Eve on the Water in New York with City Cruises

Start your holiday just right with the New York Christmas Eve Signature Dinner Cruise where you and your party will spend an evening on the water with New York City as your backdrop. There is nothing quite like the New York skyline to take your breath away. Onboard you will enjoy a perfect chef-prepared delectable buffet dinner while taking in the famous city landmark views as you cruise along the Hudson and East Rivers. From the Empire State Building to the Statue of Liberty, New York doesn’t run out of sights to see, making for a grand Christmas Eve.

This exciting 2.5-hour Christmas Eve cruise buffet includes some of your holiday favorites from Hand Carved Oven Roasted Turkey and Oven Roasted Atlantic Salmon to Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Mashed Sweet Potato, and Traditional Stuffing as complements to your main course. There’s always time for dessert, which is always a treat and includes Apple Crisp or a Seasonal Dessert Display of cakes, brownies, pastries, and fruit. Dress in casual attire and enjoy Christmas Eve from the yacht’s climate-controlled interior and open-air roof decks. A fully stocked bar has alcoholic beverages for purchase, including creative cocktails, wine, and beer. There are also games and live DJ entertainment.

If you’re looking for something earlier in the day, you can’t go wrong with the Bateaux New York Christmas Eve Premier Brunch Cruise . Celebrate the joy and merriment of Christmas Eve on this one-of-a-kind experience. Gather together aboard a European-style, glass-enclosed vessel and be treated to a delectable three-course meal and jaw-dropping panoramic views of New York City’s skyline. You’ll create treasured Christmas memories as you marvel at Manhattan from the Hudson and East Rivers, enjoy tasty cocktails, and the sweet sounds of an onboard pianist. It’s even considered one of “The Best Holiday Events in NYC” by Thrillist !

Have Yourself a Merry Christmas Day Brunch in New York City on the Water

This brunch on the water will be an exciting new way to celebrate the holidays. You will enjoy unparalleled service with hospitable and welcoming staff members who want to ensure you have an amazing time onboard. This one-of-a-kind adventurous Christmas Day experience will be filled with good cheer, delicious food, and entertainment.

Come casually dressed for this 2.5-hour brunch cruise that includes a three-course, chef-prepared plated holiday menu with fresh entrees, salads, and desserts along with free-flowing champagne, mimosas, and sparkling cider as well as unlimited coffee, hot tea, iced tea, and water. You will enjoy it all as you sail by the spectacular panoramic views of New York City’s iconic skyline from climate-controlled interior decks. See iconic landmarks from the Brooklyn Bridge to One World Trade Center as you cruise along the Hudson and East Rivers.

Christmas Day Dinner in New York is Better on the Water with City Cruises

Be sure to dress up in your semi-formal attire for this very special three-hour Christmas Day dinner. It features a three-course, chef-prepared plated holiday menu, guaranteed table for your party size, and climate-controlled interior decks on this exhilarating cruise along the Hudson and East Rivers. The views of the New York City skyline are at your fingertips as you enjoy delicious cocktails, available for purchase.

Everything on board is taken care of by the caring and helpful staff. You can kick back and relax and enjoy Christmas dinner like never before. And there’s music, too! Enjoy a dance with your partner as you listen to the sounds of an acoustic band and vocalist. This Christmas dinner cruise will surely make memories you will never forget.

More of New York City During the 2024 Christmas Holiday

Head over to Winter Village at Bryant Park for a “European inspired open-air market” featuring wares from New York City artisans as well as others from around the world. You will find crafts and beautiful gifts in individual “jewel box” kiosks. The Village also has a 17,000-square-foot ice skating rink, cozy igloos for rent, and a curling cafe. There’s also a skate school for anyone who wants to learn how to ice skate.

Don’t miss Lightscape at Brooklyn Botanic Garden . “The after-dark, illuminated trail returns to Brooklyn with brand new works of art and promises an even more immersive and magical experience for visitors of all ages,” according to the website. You will enjoy it all while indulging in treats of the season and listening to festive music.

Book Your 2024 Christmas Holiday with City Cruises New York

While New York is a spectacular city, it comes even more alive with magic during the Christmas season. There are so many things to do and see during the holidays, and you don’t want to miss anything. Make sure you bring your family and your friends to celebrate the holidays aboard one of City Cruises’ Christmas celebration cruises in New York. We will take care of all the details while you sit back and enjoy the holidays.

FAQs – NYC Christmas Fun in 2024

What are some must-do activities for Christmas in New York City? Experiencing Christmas in NYC is magical, with activities like ice skating at Rockefeller Center or Bryant Park, admiring the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center, exploring the holiday markets at Union Square or Bryant Park, and watching the Radio City Christmas Spectacular. Don’t miss the holiday window displays along Fifth Avenue for a true NYC Christmas tradition.

Why is NYC so special during Christmas? NYC transforms into a winter wonderland during Christmas, with twinkling lights, festive decorations, and a palpable energy that’s unique to the city. The blend of iconic holiday traditions, world-class shopping, and festive shows makes NYC a special place to celebrate the holiday season.

Can I visit Santa in New York City in 2024? Yes, visiting Santa is a beloved NYC Christmas tradition. Macy’s Santaland in Herald Square is one of the most famous places to meet Santa, offering a festive and interactive holiday experience. Advance reservations are often required.

Are there Christmas markets in NYC? NYC is known for its vibrant Christmas markets, offering everything from handcrafted gifts to gourmet treats. Notable markets include the Winter Village at Bryant Park, the Union Square Holiday Market, and the Columbus Circle Holiday Market.

What are the best neighborhoods for Christmas lights in NYC? Dyker Heights in Brooklyn is renowned for its extravagant Christmas lights and decorations. Other neighborhoods like the Upper East Side and Astoria also offer impressive holiday displays.

What types of Christmas cruises are available in New York City? City Cruises in NYC offer a range of Christmas-themed cruises, including holiday lights cruises, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day dinner cruises, and New Year’s Eve cruises. These cruises provide stunning views of the Manhattan skyline and iconic landmarks adorned in festive lights.

Why take a Christmas cruise in NYC in 2024? A Christmas cruise in NYC offers a unique perspective of the city’s holiday splendor from the water. It combines the beauty of NYC’s skyline with festive dining, entertainment, and the chance to see famous landmarks like the Statue of Liberty, all illuminated for the holiday season.

How can I book a Christmas cruise in NYC? You can book a Christmas cruise in NYC directly through the City Cruises website or through third-party ticketing platforms. Early booking is recommended as these cruises are popular and tend to sell out, especially on key dates.

What should I wear on a Christmas cruise in NYC? The weather can be quite cold in December, so dress warmly in layers. For evening dinner cruises, smart casual or festive attire is appropriate. Don’t forget to wear comfortable shoes as you may want to be on deck to view the city lights.

Can dietary restrictions be accommodated on an NYC Christmas cruise? Yes, most NYC Christmas cruises can accommodate dietary restrictions with advance notice. When making your reservation, be sure to communicate any specific dietary needs.

What makes an NYC Christmas cruise special? An NYC Christmas cruise is special due to its combination of spectacular city views, gourmet holiday meals, and festive entertainment. It’s a memorable way to experience the holiday season with friends, family, or a loved one, offering a unique blend of sightseeing and seasonal celebration.

Are there family-friendly Christmas cruise options in NYC? Yes, there are family-friendly Christmas cruise options that cater to guests of all ages, including brunch cruises and sightseeing tours with holiday themes. These cruises often feature holiday music, decorations, and sometimes even a visit from Santa Claus.

Do NYC Christmas cruises include live entertainment? Many NYC Christmas cruises feature live entertainment, ranging from DJ music to holiday-themed performances. Check the specific details of your cruise to see what entertainment will be provided.

Is there a fireworks display on NYC Christmas cruises? While Christmas cruises may not always include fireworks, the New Year’s Eve cruises typically feature a fireworks display over the water, offering a stunning way to ring in the new year against the backdrop of the NYC skyline.

Original post date: October 19, 2023

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Insider Tips on Christmas in NYC

Christmas in nyc events & things to do, special christmas holiday nyc tours.

• Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting
• Rockettes Radio City Christmas Spectacular
• New York City Holiday Lights Tours
• Cocoa & Carols Holiday Cruise
• Holiday Cruise with Santa Claus
• Cirque du Soleil ‘Twas the Night Before
• NY Botanical Garden Holiday Train Show
• Central Park Holiday Tree Lighting
• Bryant Park Holiday Tree Lighting
• NY Knicks @ Madison Square Garden

Special Holiday Tours Open on Christmas Eve and/or Day

• See More: NYC Holiday Tours (Open Dec 24 & 25)
• Holiday Cruise with Santa Claus and More – enjoy this 1 hour cruise that leaves from Pier 36. Hot chocolate, cookies and photo ops with Santa are available for an additional charge. (Daily Nov 25 – Dec 26, 2022)
• Cruise and Dine: Christmas Day & Eve Dinner Cruises

Best of NYC Holiday Tours

Dyker heights christmas lights, holiday and christmas cruise specials, new york city christmas eve & day dinner cruises.

• 2023 Bateaux New York Christmas Eve Premier Dinner Cruise (7-10pm) – Celebrate the holidays in style on this 3-hour European-inspired Bateaux cruise on the Hudson River. See the New York City skyline sparkle at night from panoramic views aboard your all-glass ship while enjoying a gourmet 3-course dinner and live music.
• 2023 New York Christmas Eve Signature Dinner Cruise (7-10 pm) – Celebrate Christmas Eve in New York City aboard a three-hour dinner cruise across New York Harbor. You’ll have spectacular views of Manhattan, the Statue of Liberty, and the Brooklyn Bridge as you dine and dance on the water, enjoying a special Christmas buffet and a luscious spread of desserts. Drinks purchased separately.
• 2023 New York Christmas Day Buffet Cruise – (7-9:30) Bring the magic of the season to life with a dinner cruise departing from New York. With cruises featuring festive décor and a delicious meal, celebrating Christmas Day on the East and Hudson Rivers with your friends and family will keep your holiday merry and bright!
• 2022 Bateaux New York Christmas Eve Premier Lunch Cruise – (12-2pm) With cruises featuring festive décor and a delicious meal, celebrating Christmas on the East and Hudson Rivers with your friends and family will keep your holiday merry and bright!
• Circle Line Christmas Eve Dinner Cruise (7-9:30pm) – This family-friendly cruises offers a buffet dinner, standard open bar, beer and wine, while an onboard DJ plays favorite holiday hits all night. There’s no better place to enjoy Christmas Eve than a spectacular view of the most beautiful city in the world, painted in holiday colors. Get your tickets today! Seats are limited.

Christmas in New York City Open Attractions

• Empire State Building (365 days)
• Top of the Rock and most of Rockefeller Center (365 days)
• 9-11 Memorial (7:30am – 9pm) and 9-11 Memorial Museum (9am – 9pm)
• Madame Tussauds Wax Museum (365 days)
• New York City Bus Tours
• Times Square – Hershey’s Store, M&M Store, Hard Rock Cafe, most stores and most restaurants.
• Central Park – Zoo, Carousel, Wollman Ice Skating Rink
• Summit One Vanderbilt

Download our NYC Holiday Hours Cheat Sheet

Which is the best new york city discount pass, save with a new york city attractions pass, rockefeller center christmas tree lighting 2023.

• 4 Hour Private Rockefeller Center Tree Lighting Gala - A gala reception at a stunning, private townhouse rooftop with grand views of St. Patrick’s Cathedral and Fifth Avenue. We’ll keep you warm and entertained for hours, with large screens broadcasting the Tree Lighting festivities, incredible food, flowing cocktails, music and dancing, plenty of extraordinary entertainers and our favorite professional photographer will be stationed right in front of the Christmas Tree for formal photos of you and your friends or family.
• Sold Out | 2023 Tree Lighting Ceremony Indoor Viewing from 45 Rockefeller Center - Be whisked past security with your NYPD-approved credential letter and up to our private, third-floor retreat to watch the whole ceremony from the eight-foot glass windows in our gala hall. Gourmet food, free-flowing drinks and live entertainment.
• Sold Out | VIP Exclusive New York City Holiday Tree Lighting Gala at Rockefeller Center & Rockettes - same gala as above with a slightly different menu & the next day, enjoy orchestra seats to the Radio City Christmas Spectacular & afterwards a licensed NYC guide will greet you for a fun and memorable walking tour of the Fifth Avenue holiday window displays. The grand finale will be afternoon tea with the Rockettes.

Christmas Shows in New York City

• Rockettes – 12/24 @ 11am, 2pm, 5pm, 8pm & 12/25 @ 2pm, 5pm, 8pm, 10pm
• Nutcracker Ballet – 12/24 @ 1pm & 5pm

Christmas Shows in New York City Schedule

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• Great Seats: Christmas Spectacular Starring the Radio City Rockettes
• Insider Guide: Rockettes and Radio City Music Hall Guide

Rockettes Tour Packages

Christmas basketball, knicks msg schedule.

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Where to Stay in New York City in December

Best hotels near rockefeller center.

• The Jewel facing Rockefeller Center - great value and location. My NY high school classmates stayed here for our reunion
• 3 West Club - consistently receives excellent reviews, especially the location and value for the price.
• Radio City Apartments - a NYC Insider Guide Favorite
• New Hotels : Motto by Hilton NYC Times Square (Opens Oct 6, 2023) + Hampton Inn by Hilton New York Times Square + Home2 Suites by Hilton New York Times Square (Open Nov 1, 2023) - New 1000 room Hilton Hotel with 3 brands in the same building right next to Rockefeller Center

Best New Years Eve NYC Hotels

• New York Marriott Marquis - rooms with Ball Drop views, multiple parties in hotel
• M Social New York - new in 2021 with bar and lounge right above Times Square with perfect vantage point for the Ball Drop
• The Knickerbocker (photo) - St. Cloud rooftop bar "New York, New Year's Eve, Times Square, private party on roof top where you can watch the ball drop 180 feet away - what else could you ask for?"

Central Park NY Hotels

• 1 Hotel Central Park
• Mandarin Oriental (photo)
• La Quinta Inn Central Park

NYC Hotels Best Holiday Decorations

• Lotte New York Palace - “Beautifully decorated for the holiday season” (photo)
• The Peninsula Hotel - Nights Before Christmas Package & Holly Jolly New York Holiday Package + their amazing rooftop
• Club Wyndham Midtown 45 - The "Elf" Suite inspired by the classic holiday film is like “Sleeping inside a Christmas card”

NYC Store Holiday Window Displays

• Holiday Markets in NYC
• Holiday Shops at Bryant Park - October 24, 2023 - January 2, 2024
• Grand Central Holiday Fair - November 16 - December 31, 2023
• Union Square Holiday Market - November 16 - December 24, 2023
• Columbus Circle Holiday Market - November 28 - December 31, 2023

Macy’s Santaland NYC

Bryant park christmas tree lighting.

• Broadway stars and co-hosts Jessica Vosk and Jelani Remy
• Performances by world-class skaters Mirai Nagasu, Polina Edmunds, Ryan Bradley, Ice Theatre of New York young apprentices Oona and Gage Brown, the Haydenettes, and Figure Skating in Harlem
• Plus, fireworks, Santa, and special guests!
• Entry will begin at 4pm on a first-come, first-served basis.

Central Park Holiday Lighting

Christmas holiday tours dyker heights brooklyn, christmas dinner in new york city, christmas in new york city – ice skating.

• Fun Things to do in New York in Winter
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Christmas in New York City Photos

More christmas in new york city events coming soon.

• Statue of Liberty (Open Thanksgiving)
• New York Botanical Garden Train Show (closed Thanksgiving and Christmas)
• Guggenheim Museum (closed Thanksgiving and Christmas )
• Metropolitan Museum of Art (Closed Thanksgiving, December 25, January 1, and the first Monday in May)
• Museum of Modern Art (Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas)
• Whitney Museum (Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day)
• American Museum of Natural History (Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas)
• Ground Zero Museum Workshop (closed Thanksgiving and Christmas)
• Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum (Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas)
• NYC Events December

CLOSED – Annual Winter’s Eve at Lincoln Square

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I am looking for places to listen to Christmas Carols on Monday December 23.

Hi Audrey: I’m unfamiliar with the Christmas Carol scene outside of the Cocoa and Carols Holiday Cruises listed on this page. https://www.nycinsiderguide.com/christmas-in-new-york-city

If you’d like customized travel planning, where we can research exactly what you want to do on your specific dates, please check our services. https://www.nycinsiderguide.com/new-york-travel-planning

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Adventure in Warm Shores

Holiday cruises.

Heat Up the Holidays

This Holiday Season, say no to the cold and go for bold, taking your family on a sun-kissed Caribbean cruise. Make their spirits shine bright exploring the hottest tropical destinations, including the island paradise of Barbados and Perfect Day at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean’s private resort. Sail on our amazing Oasis Class ships, the world’s largest. These fan favorites have reframed what boatloads of adventure and next-level relaxation look like! Treat your family to a Christmas cruise or New Year’s cruise and create memories to light up a lifetime.

Baby, It’s Bold Outside

Seize sensational, spending the Holidays in balmy destinations where uncharted adventure awaits. Book an all-inclusive cruise in 2023 for a value that frees up your dreams.

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SIZZLING DESTINATIONS

Perfect Day at Cococay

SAINT MAARTEN ISLAND

COZUMEL & CANCUN

MONTEGO BAY

LABADEE HAITI

EAT, DRINK AND BE MERRY

Enjoy holiday cruises that spread waves of joy and festive cheer.

Way to Wander

Go on a holiday cruise in 2023 and start a tradition that will have the whole family ditching their snow boots and slipping on swimsuits! Dive into crystalline waters, tan on sugary sands, wander colourful colonial towns. Cheers to a habit you’ll never want to break!

A Pearl of Rare Worth

Book a Barbados cruise to explore a spectacular treasure of the Caribbean. Home to beautiful cave formations, 17th century plantations and the world’s oldest rum, Barbados is a must-see destination.

EXPLORE CRUISES FROM BARBADOS

Perfect Day at CocoCay

Where can you find the Caribbean’s biggest wave pool and the tallest waterslide in North America? Thrill, chill, and be merry at Perfect Day in CocoCay, the ultimate backdrop for your 2023 cruise.

EXPLORE PERFECT DAY AT COCOCAY

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ABOUT MSC MERAVIGLIA

Msc meraviglia .

Tempt your taste buds in a variety of restaurants and peruse the 315-foot central shopping and dining promenade. During the day, treat yourself to a relaxing spa treatment or get your heart pumping as you race down a waterslide. At night, enjoy world-class entertainment, test your luck in the casino, or dance under the stars at the Horizon Pool, which is transformed for evening activities. No matter how you spend your time on board, enjoy the everchanging views as you discover new destinations. Learn More.

Explore Meraviglia

MSC Meraviglia is designed with extraordinary features for the perfect experience at sea. Enjoy gourmet dining and out-of-this-world entertainment with new panoramic areas, an innovative ocean-view lounge, a two-deck "inside promenade" with an LED dome and a spectacular amusement area connected to an outdoor water park.

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The 13 Absolute Best NYC Christmas Cruises in 2024

Are you looking for the best Christmas Cruises in New York? Then you’ve come to the right place, because I’ll show you the best dinner cruises and jazz cruises for the holiday season!

You'll also love this:

• The 24 Best Things to Do in New York at Christmas
• COMPLETE GUIDE: Christmas in New York

My tip:  Like the New Year’s Eve cruises , you should decide quickly, because the tours are very popular and the tickets sell out quickly!

Table of Contents

Amazing Christmas Cruises in New York 2024

In the table I have listed the TOP 5, below you will find 👉 all boat tours for the Christmas season . Are you in a hurry? These are 👉 my personal recommendations .

Here you can compare each of the holiday cruises:

My recommendations

What is the best holiday cruise?

There are actually three cruises that I can highly recommend. I did all of them and I loved it! It is the amazing Bateaux Dinner Cruise  and the amazing Cocoa Holiday Cruise . You are aboard a beautiful yacht, the atmosphere is amazing and you can enjoy stunning views of the skyline of New York!

Our Video: The New York City Cocoa and Carols Holiday Cruise

This Cruise during Christmas Time in NYC is just awesome. Check out our video and you can see why we love this cruise!

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All 13 Christmas Cruises NYC in detail

Want to know a little bit more about the Christmas Cruises in New York? I got you covered:

Christmas Eve Gourmet Lunch or Dinner Harbor Cruise

If you want to celebrate a truly beautiful New Year’s Eve in New York on a boat cruise with dinner, there’s no way around our beloved NYC New Year’s Eve Luxury Bateaux Dinner Cruise. 

There are two things at once that make this New Year’s Eve boat cruise special: first and foremost, of course, the ship itself. Its large windows give you a sensational view of the New York skyline. And in addition to that, the atmosphere on board is very nice: elegant, classy and yet relaxed. 

You can expect a first-class dinner menu, the bar is very well equipped and the bartenders are very attentive and helpful. On time for the countdown, best with a glass of champagne in hand, you start into the New Year 2024 in New York. It doesn’t get any better than this!

We have done many of the Bateaux boat tours ourselves and have never been disappointed. Therefore, the NYC New Year’s Eve Luxury Bateaux Dinner Cruise is my absolute recommendation for you!

Classic Harbor Line: Manhattan Holiday Yacht Cruise with Jazz, Cocoa & Carols

Why not spending time on a Christmas Holiday Cruise during Christmas in New York? Both locals and NYC visitors love the amazing Christmas Cruises New York City has to offer.

My favorite holiday cruise is the New York City Cocoa and Carols Holiday Cruise. The Jazz Band on board is fun and so talented which makes the New York City Cocoa and Carols Holiday Cruise even more entertaining. Relax in the heated main observation cabin, join in the caroling, and admire the city through the glassed-in observatory on the 1920s style yacht.

Bateaux Christmas Day Gourmet Brunch or Dinner Harbor Cruise

On Christmas Day ( December 25 ) there are several cruises with the Bateaux available: you can choose between the Christmas Eve Gourmet Lunch Cruise and the Christmas Eve Dinner Harbor Cruise. 

The Lunch Cruise lasts 2 hours, the Dinner Cruise 3 hours. You can expect a 3-course Christmas menu, impressive views of the New York skyline and a festive ambience.

City Cruises: Christmas Day Buffet Brunch or Dinner Harbor Cruise

Come aboard the Spirit of New York for a Christmas Day Buffet Brunch or Dinner Cruise in the harbor of New York. Depending on the option you choose, you’ll cruise past landmarks for 2 or 2.5 hours. Soft drinks, coffee and tea are included, and with the brunch option you’ll also get unlimited mimosas. The food is served buffet style.

Christmas Eve Buffet Lunch or Dinner Harbor Cruise

On board the Spirit of New York you can enjoy a wonderful Christmas boat tour with live DJ. You can choose between a Brunch Cruise (2 hours) or a Dinner Cruise (2.5 hours).  The tour takes you from Pier 61 to the Statue of Liberty, through the port of Hamburg to the Brooklyn Bridge – just great!

My tip: if you’re looking for a Christmas dinner cruise, check out this one and the Bateaux Christmas Cruise (my #1) – both are really worth it!

Classic Harbor Line: Manhattan Holiday Yacht Cruise with Jazz, Cocoa & Carols (Statue & Skyline Holiday Cocoa Cruise)

Make yourself comfortable on the old yacht from the 1920s and get into the Christmas mood during the Cocoa & Carols Holiday Cruise. This boat tour at Christmas time is one of my absolute favourites. It starts from Pier 62 (Chelsea Piers) on a beautifully decorated yacht. On the way through New York Harbor and the Hudson River, breathtaking views of the New York skyline, the One World Trade Center, Governors Island, the Brooklyn Bridge and of course the Statue of Liberty are guaranteed.

Classic Harbor Line: Holiday Brunch Cruise aboard Yacht Northern Lights

Experience a delightful NYC Holiday Brunch Cruise aboard the Northern Lights yacht, adorned with festive decorations, for a 2-hour scenic voyage. While enjoying a generous brunch buffet featuring local NYC delicacies, you’ll have sweeping views of Lower Manhattan’s iconic landmarks, including the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Comfortable seating, large windows, and indoor or outdoor options enhance your experience. Each adult ticket includes a complimentary beverage, and you can upgrade with the Mimosa Bucket for added merriment. Revel in the holiday spirit with family and friends as you savor the sights and flavors of NYC during this special cruise.

Classic Harbor Line: New York City Lights Holiday Cocoa Cruise

Get into the holiday spirit on a daytime sightseeing cruise aboard a festively decorated 1920s-style yacht. Enjoy light narration by your captain as you cruise past New York’s iconic landmarks. For me, the tours from Classic Harbor Line are some of the best in NYC!

Classic Harbor Line: Sunset & Holiday Cocoa Cruise

If you’re on a very special boat tour this holiday season, you’ll want to take a closer look at the Sunset & Holiday Cocoa Cruise. You will experience the sunset in a relaxed and festive atmosphere. For me, it is one of the absolute most beautiful tours you can do!

Santa Fun Cruise with Kids Activities

Celebrate the wonderful holiday season with the Santa Fun Cruise in New York City! Soak up the festive atmosphere as kids meet Santa and his hardworking elves and participate in fun activities and creative craft projects. From singing Christmas carols together to assembling your own gingerbread house, there’s plenty of fun for the little ones as the whole family enjoys a cruise through New York Harbor. Have spectacular views along the way and treat yourself and your loved ones to delicious treats as you celebrate the festive season together. Get your tickets for the Santa Fun Cruise with great kids’ activities in NYC!

Weekend Holiday Brunch Cruise

This tour is my tip for a lovely brunch cruise in NYC during the holiday season. You will be on board one of the most beautiful yachts in the style of the 1920s in NYC. The boat tour takes you around the island of Manhattan, so you can see all the major attractions. The atmosphere is wonderfully relaxed and definitely worth the price!

Skyline Brunch Cruise Around Manhattan

This brunch cruise is one of the most beautiful boat tours in New York. You sit aboard a 1920s-style ship with lots of wood and even more glass. The provider has several wonderful boat tours in the program, of which we have already tried four (and all were great!).

Start at Pier 62 at Chelsea Piers – this is where you board. First you start towards the George Washington Bridge, then turn south to the Statue of Liberty, New York Harbor and the Brooklyn Bridge . You can enjoy the view of the New York skyline and have a delicious brunch with New York specialties. The first drink (even champagne!) is even included in the price.

Classic Harbor Line: Holiday Jazz Cruise Aboard Classic Motor Yacht

This Holiday Jazz Cruise aboard a 1920’s style luxury yacht is one of my absolute favorite tours in New York. The ship has a wonderful charm and cannot be compared to the big sightseeing ships. Holiday Jazz Cruise starts at the Chelsea Piers and takes you along the Hudson River to the Statue of Liberty and the harbor of New York. On the way you can enjoy a wonderful view of the New York skyline and smooth jazz at the same time.

The 31 Best Things To Do In New York At Christmas 2024 + 3 To Avoid

Christmas in New York 2024: My Guide For The Magical Christmas Season

I'm a true New York fan! Not only have I visited the city over 25 times but also have I spent several months here at a time. On my blog I show you the best and most beautiful spots of the city, so that you have a really good time! You can also find lots of insider tips in our New York travel guide . Also check out my hotel finder for New York !

Get exclusive content, real insider tips, and the best deals in NYC for FREE!

Start of your trip: We will remind you with current events when you are in NYC!

A New Pacific Arsenal to Counter China

With missiles, submarines and alliances, the Biden administration has built a presence in the region to rein in Beijing’s expansionist goals.

By John Ismay ,  Edward Wong and Pablo Robles April 26, 2024

U.S. officials have long seen their country as a Pacific power, with troops and arsenals at a handful of bases in the region since just after World War II.

U.S. military or partner bases

But the Biden administration says that is no longer good enough to foil what it sees as the greatest threat to the democratic island of Taiwan — a Chinese invasion that could succeed within days.

The United States is sending the most advanced Tomahawk cruise missiles to Japan and has established a new kind of Marine Corps regiment on Okinawa that is designed to fight from small islands and destroy ships at sea.

The Pentagon has gained access to multiple airfields and naval bases in the Philippines , lessening the need for aircraft carriers that could be targeted by China’s long-range missiles and submarines in a time of war.

The Australian government hosts U.S. Marines in the north of the country, and one of three sites in the east will soon be the new home for advanced American-made attack submarines. The United States also has a new security agreement with Papua New Guinea.

Potential submarine bases

Xi Jinping, China’s leader, and other officials in Beijing have watched the U.S. moves with alarm. They call it an encirclement of their nation and say the United States is trying to constrain its main economic and military rival.

Since the start of his administration, President Biden has undertaken a strategy to expand American military access to bases in allied nations across the Asia-Pacific region and to deploy a range of new weapons systems there. He has also said the U.S. military would defend Taiwan against a Chinese invasion.

On Wednesday, Mr. Biden signed a $95 billion supplemental military aid and spending bill that Congress had just passed and that includes $8.1 billion to counter China in the region. And Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken traveled to Shanghai and Beijing this week for meetings with Mr. Xi and other officials in which he raised China’s military activity in the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea, calling it “destabilizing.”

Mr. Xi told Mr. Blinken on Friday that the United States should not play a “zero-sum game” or “create small blocs.” He said that “while each side can have its friends and partners, it should not target, oppose or harm the other,” according to an official Chinese summary of the meeting.

Earlier in April, the leaders of the Philippines and Japan met with Mr. Biden at the White House for the first such summit among the three countries. They announced enhanced defense cooperation, including naval training and exercises, planned jointly and with other partners. Last year, the Biden administration forged a new three-way defense pact with Japan and South Korea.

President Biden held a trilateral meeting earlier this month with the leaders of Japan and the Philippines at the White House.

Yuri Gripas for The New York Times

“In 2023, we drove the most transformative year for U.S. force posture in the Indo-Pacific region in a generation,” Ely S. Ratner, the assistant secretary of defense for Indo-Pacific security affairs, said in a statement following an interview.

The main change, he said, is having American forces distributed in smaller, more mobile units across a wide arc of the region rather than being concentrated at large bases in northeast Asia. That is largely intended to counter China’s efforts to build up forces that can target aircraft carriers or U.S. military outposts on Okinawa or Guam.

These land forces, including a retrained and refitted U.S. Marine littoral regiment in Okinawa, will now have the ability to attack warships at sea.

For the first time, Japan’s military will receive up to 400 of their own Tomahawk cruise missiles — the newest versions of which can attack ships at sea as well as targets on land from over 1,150 miles away.

The Pentagon has also gained access rights for its troops at four additional bases in the Philippines that could eventually host U.S. warplanes and advanced mobile missile launchers, if Washington and Manila agree that offensive weaponry can be placed there.

The United States has bilateral mutual defense agreements with several allied nations in the region so that an attack on the assets of one nation could trigger a response from the other. Bolstering the U.S. troop presence on the soil of allied countries strengthens that notion of mutual defense.

In addition, the United States continues to send weapons and Green Beret trainers to Taiwan, a de facto independent island and the biggest flashpoint between the United States and China. Mr. Xi has said his nation must eventually take control of Taiwan, by force if necessary.

“We’ve deepened our alliances and partnerships abroad in ways that would have been unthinkable just a few years ago,” Kurt Campbell, the new deputy secretary of state, told reporters last year, when he was the top Asia policy official in the White House.

What Deters China?

Taiwan’s foreign minister, Joseph Wu, said in an interview in Taipei that the strengthened alliances and evolving military force postures were critical to deterring China.

“We are very happy to see that many countries in this region are coming to the realization that they also have to be prepared for further expansions of the P.R.C.,” he said, referring to the People’s Republic of China.

To some Chinese military strategists, the U.S. efforts are aimed at keeping China’s naval forces behind the “first island chain” — islands close to mainland Asia that run from Okinawa in Japan to Taiwan to the Philippines.

U.S. military assets along these islands could prevent Chinese warships from getting into the open Pacific waters farther east if conflict were to break out.

Leaders in China’s People’s Liberation Army also talk of establishing military dominance of the “second island chain” — which is farther out in the Pacific and includes Guam, Palau and West Papua.

First Island Chain

Second Island Chain

philippines

But several conservative critics of the administration’s policies argue that the United States should be keeping major arms for its own use and that it is not producing new ships and weapons systems quickly enough to deter China, which is rapidly growing its military .

Some American commanders acknowledge the United States needs to speed up ship production but say the Pentagon’s warfighting abilities in the region still outmatch China’s — and can improve quickly with the right political and budget commitments in Washington.

“We have actually grown our combat capability here in the Pacific over the last years,” Adm. Samuel J. Paparo Jr. said in an interview before becoming the head of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command on May 3. “But our trajectory is still not a trajectory that matches our adversary. Our adversaries are building more capability and they’re building more warships — per year — than we are.”

Mr. Paparo said new American warships were still more capable than the ones China is building, and the U.S. military’s “total weight of fires” continued to outmatch that of the People’s Liberation Army, for now.

Warplanes on the flight deck of U.S.S. Carl Vinson, an aircraft carrier, during a joint U.S. and Japanese military exercise in the Philippine Sea in January.

Richard A. Brooks/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty , a Cold War-era arms control agreement between Washington and Moscow, prohibited land-based cruise or ballistic missiles with ranges between 311 miles and 3,420 miles. But after the Trump administration withdrew from the pact, the United States was able to develop and field a large number of small, mobile launchers for previously banned missiles around Asia.

Even with the deployment of new systems, the United States would still rely on its legacy assets in the region in the event of war: its bases in Guam, Japan and South Korea, and the troops and arms there.

All of the senior U.S. officials interviewed for this story say war with China is neither desirable nor inevitable — a view expressed publicly by Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III. But they also insist that a military buildup and bolstering alliances, along with diplomatic talks with China, are important elements of deterring potential future aggression by Beijing.

Wang Yi, China’s foreign minister, told Mr. Blinken on Friday in Beijing that “the negative factors in the relationship are still increasing and building, and the relationship is facing all kinds of disruptions.” He warned the United States “not to interfere in China’s internal affairs, not to hold China’s development back, and not to step on China’s red lines and on China’s sovereignty, security and development interests.”

U.S. military or

partner bases

The new deterrent effort is twofold for American forces: increasing patrolling activities at sea and the capabilities of its troop levels ashore.

To the former, the Pentagon has announced that U.S. Navy warships will participate in more drills with their Japanese counterparts in the western Ryukyu Islands near Taiwan and with Filipino ships in the South China Sea, where the Chinese coast guard has harassed ships and installations controlled by the Philippines .

A swarm of Chinese militia and Coast Guard vessels chased a Philippine Coast Guard ship in the South China Sea last year.

Jes Aznar for The New York Times

To the latter, Marine Corps and Army units already in the Pacific have recently fielded medium- and long-range missiles mated to small, mobile trucks that would have been prohibited under the former treaty.

These trucks can be quickly lifted by Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft or larger cargo planes to new locations, or they can simply drive away to evade a Chinese counterattack. A new flotilla of U.S. Army watercraft being sent to the region could also be used to reposition troops and launchers from island to island.

In an interview last year with The New York Times, Gen. David H. Berger, then the Marine Corps’ top general, said the service had begun analyzing strategic choke points between islands where Chinese forces were likely to transit throughout the Pacific. He said the service had identified sites where Marine assault forces like the new Okinawa-based littoral regiment could launch attacks on Beijing’s warships using these new weapons.

Philippines

Partner bases

The Pentagon announced in February last year a new military base-sharing agreement with Manila, giving U.S. forces access to four sites in the Philippines for use in humanitarian missions, adding to the five sites previously opened to the Pentagon in 2014. Most of them are air bases with runways long enough to host heavy cargo planes.

Plotting their locations on a map shows the sites’ strategic value should the United States be called upon to defend their oldest treaty ally in the region , if the Philippines eventually agrees to allow the U.S. military to put combat troops and mobile missile systems there.

One, on the northern tip of Luzon Island, would give missile-launching trucks the ability to attack Chinese ships across the strait separating Philippines from Taiwan, while another site about 700 miles to the southwest would allow the U.S. to strike bases that China has built in the Spratly Islands nearby.

In 2023, the United States committed $100 million for “infrastructure investments” at the nine bases, with more funds expected this year.

The Pentagon has forged closer military ties with Australia and Papua New Guinea , extending America’s bulwark against potential attempts by the Chinese military at establishing dominance along the “second island chain.”

The Obama administration moved a number of littoral combat ships to Singapore and deployed a rotating force of Marines to Darwin, on Australia’s north coast, giving the Pentagon more assets that could respond as needed in the region.

Last year, the Biden administration greatly elevated its commitment to Australia, which is one of America’s most important non-NATO allies.

The U.S.S. North Carolina, a Virginia-class submarine, docking in Perth, Australia, last year.

Tony Mcdonough/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

A new multibillion dollar agreement called AUKUS — for Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States — will permanently transfer some of the U.S. Navy’s newest Virginia-class attack subs to Canberra . The location of the new bases for those subs has not been announced, but the first group of Australian sailors who will crew them graduated from nuclear power training in America in January.

These stealthy submarines, which can fire torpedoes and Tomahawk missiles, will potentially add to the number of threats Beijing faces in case of a regional war.

Just north of Australia, an agreement in August gave U.S. forces more access to Papua New Guinea for humanitarian missions and committed American tax dollars to update military facilities there.

To Admiral Paparo, this growing network of partnerships and security agreements across thousands of miles of the Pacific is a direct result of what he calls China’s “revanchist, revisionist and expansionist agenda” in the region that has directly threatened its neighbors.

“I do believe that the U.S. and our allies and partners are playing a stronger hand and that we would prevail in any fight that arose in the Western Pacific,” the admiral said.

“It’s a hand that I would not trade with our would-be adversaries, and yet we’re also never satisfied with the strength of that hand and always looking to improve it.”

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Royal Caribbean recruiting up to 10K workers in 2024 to meet record cruise demand

R oyal Caribbean is looking to recruit as many as 10,000 workers worldwide this year to staff its ships and private destinations as demand for ocean cruises hits fresh records.

The number of people taking cruises hit an all-time high in 2023, and with the surge in demand and larger vessels, labor needs are growing.

Tourism boards and port operators from around the world said Royal Caribbean — which already has a workforce of close to 100,000 — is looking to hire worldwide.

The company confirmed to Reuters that it’s anticipating hiring around 10,000 workers this year.

According to the company’s annual filing, its sea-based workforce last year — which comprises of staffers on its cruise ships — totaled about 88,700 employees, 6% lower than the year prior.

The giant’s land-based workforce, meanwhile — which is comprised primarily of port operations and corporate office roles — including at its private destinations consisted of approximately 9,500 full-time employees in 2023, up 17% from the year prior.

“The recruiting strategy follows the business strategy of moderate capacity growth,” a company spokesperson told Reuters.

The British Virgin Islands (BVI) in April was reportedly approached by Royal Caribbean in regards to recruitment and hiring, a request it hadn’t received in the past, said Natasha Chalwell, BVI Port Authority marketing director.

But the cruise giant isn’t only focused on the Caribbean: The company also approached West Africa’s Gambia Tourism Board in April with an interest in hiring more workers, a spokesperson said.

For reference, Royal Caribbean currently employs about 700 workers from the nation, which is the smallest on mainland Africa.

Royal Caribbean’s influx in hiring comes at a time when it’s adding three new ships to its fleet, the company rep added.

Earlier this year, the company debuted the world’s largest cruise ship, dubbed Icon of the Seas .

The $2 billion behemoth reportedly  lived up to the over-the-top  hype surrounding its launch, which included buzz that it spans 20 stories and boasts eight distinct neighborhoods.

Icon of the Seas can accommodate nearly 10,000 passengers and crew at full capacity, who are invited to enjoy a 17,000-square-foot on-board water park or book an upscale reservation at the 38-seat Empire Supper Club, an eight-course dinner complete with cocktail pairings and live jazz. 

All the while, the gargantuan ship is sailing on week-long itinteraries from Miami to Caribbean destinations like Puerto Rico, St. Kitts and Nevis and Cozumel, Mexico, among others.

Come July, Utopia of the Seas is scheduled to sail every Friday and Monday from Port Canaveral, Fla., to Perfect Day at CocoCay in The Bahamas. 

The forthcoming ship can accommodate 5,668 guests at capacity and offers 21 dining options, five pools, a zip line, ice-skating rink, basketball court and two rock-climbing walls.

Royal Caribbean’s Star of the Seas, meanwhile, is anticipated to set sail in the summer of 2025.

The company’s website touts the ship as having “over 40 ways to dine and drink,” plus “six record-breaking waterslides” and “seven splashy pools.”

Royal Caribbean said its bookings hit a record in the first quarter of 2024, boosting quarterly revenue to $3.73 billion, up 29%.

At the same time, the Miami-based company’s stock price has doubled over the past year to hit a new record.

• MARKETPLACE

Cruise ships return to New London

New London ― Cruise ships will make multiple stops in New London this spring through October, giving passengers time to explore the city and other local destinations.

The city announced Monday that American Cruise Lines ships, accommodating 90 to 100 passengers, will visit New London eight times, starting Wednesday.

The ships will dock at City Pier as part of the American Cruise Lines’ Yankee Seaports Cruise, an eight-day cruise from Boston to New York. Passengers will have opportunities to see New London and visit the Lyman Allyn Art Museum, Thames River Water Taxi, Submarine Force/USS Nautilus Museum, and Mystic Seaport Museum.

Dockmaster Barbara Neff will arrange logistics for the trips and give passengers gift bags.

Cruise ships visited New London in April 2022 when two cruise ships, from the American Queen Voyages line, made stops.

“I’m happy with any opportunity to bring new visitors to New London, but especially now with our downtown streetscape improvements evolving, new restaurants opening and renovations continuing on a number of buildings,” Mayor Michael Passero said in a statement. “With State Pier filling up again with offshore wind turbine components for Revolution Wind and EB across the way, they will see New London’s role as a center of the maritime, or ‘blue,’ economy in New England.”

Cruise ship visits

The following visits are scheduled: May 8-10; May 29-31; June 27-29; Oct. 3; Oct. 7; Oct. 10–11; Oct. 16-18; Oct. 24.

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Met Gala 2024: Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban, more couples step out for date night

See which couples hit the carpet together at the 2024 Met Gala.

Love meets fashion!

As celebs flocked to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City for the 2024 Met Gala Monday night, some chose to turn one of the biggest fashion events into a date night with their partners or significant others.

MORE: Met Gala 2024: See celebrity looks from fashion's biggest night

Couples attended in high style in alignment with this year's theme, "The Garden of Time," which celebrates the Costume Institute's new exhibition, "Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion."

Among the couples to hit the red carpet together on Monday evening were Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban, Chris Hemsworth and Elsa Pataky, Matt Damon and Luciana Barroso, and more.

Met Gala announces its 2024 theme: 'Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion'

Scroll down to see some of the stylish duos who walked and posed alongside each other at the iconic grand staircase during the glamorous evening.

Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union

Chris Hemsworth and Elsa Pataky

Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban

Matt Damon and Luciana Barroso

Eddie Redmayne and Hannah Bagshawe

Kelsea Ballerini and Chase Stokes

Kris Jenner and Corey Gamble

Rita Ora and Taika Waititi

James Corden and Julia Corden

Baz Luhrmann and Catherine Martin

Dove Cameron and Damiano David

Jeremy Strong and Emma Wall

Allison Williams and Alexander Dreymon

Tommy Hilfiger and Dee Ocleppo Hilfiger

Matthew Macfadyen and Keeley Hawes

Seth Meyers and Alexi Ashe

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2024 NFL QB Power Rankings: Brock Purdy, Jordan Love crack top 10, Daniel Jones lands at bottom

Assessing every team's starting qb ahead of camp.

Nothing moves the needle in the NFL quite like quarterbacks. Why? They're the most important ingredient in a championship recipe! Is it impossible to win a championship without an "elite" signal-caller? No. But history tells us that it's much easier otherwise. So we're keeping tabs on all 32 starters throughout the 2024 season.

Which ones are the best of the best, as we stand here today, approaching the new year? And which ones could be in for trouble? All quarterbacks are partly a product of their situations, but this is how we'd sort today's signal-callers right now . These power rankings are obviously subject to drastic change once games actually get underway, as they're built to be based  more on current standing than the bigger picture , in an effort to tell the story of each quarterback's respective rise and fall.

Now, without further ado, here's our first pecking order of the 2024 season:

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