The 4 Thanksgiving cruise excuses you need

Holland America Line

You love your family, but you probably love palm trees, sunshine and sandy beaches, too. If you’re looking to break from tradition this year, or just want to spend this holiday season in warmer weather, we’ve got just the excuses you need to spend Thanksgiving at sea.

1. The weather’s better on a boat  November is an exciting—but busy—time of the year, with the weather rapidly changing in many parts of the country and Thanksgiving just around the corner. Cruises take you to friendlier climes, where sunshine and warm weather are usually sure things.

2. Holiday cooking’s a hassle.  For many families, the holidays are all about tradition—visiting your relative’s house, cooking your patented appetizer, watching football with dinner and anything else in between. But if you’re thinking about shaking up those traditions or simply want an escape from juggling four burners, battling a slew of picky eaters or taking on two day’s worth of dishwashing, spending the holidays at sea offers a great alternative. On a cruise, all your meals are included—no prep, no messy clean up.

3. Holidays are stressful—you need to relax. On a cruise ship, you’ll have easy access to pools, hot tubs, spas and several other ways to relax. Plus, you get the chance to explore paradise and a whole lot more.

4. These ships have spirit, yes they do. Think you might be missing out on all the festive holiday spirit if you spend your Thanksgiving basking in the tropical sun? Nope. Your cruise ship won’t be lacking in holiday spirit. They’ve got everything from Thanksgiving décor to traditional holiday meals to live football broadcasts to make you feel more at home … even as you’re making port in paradise.

Royal Caribbean International

Thanksgiving spirit aboard every ship

Now that you have every reason you need to spend Thanksgiving on a cruise, here’s a look at how the different cruise lines will put their own holiday spin on Thanksgiving this year.

A Thanksgiving cruise with Holland America features a Midnight Pumpkin cocktail, whereas Disney cruisers will get to hang out with Mickey and Minnie decked out in their Thanksgiving attire. On the other hand, you can find family-friendly fun when you sail with Princess, including contests like the Turkey Trot.

Luxury cruisers, meanwhile, have grown accustomed to eating well aboard their ships – and considering the holidays are renowned for some of the best food of the year, you can expect fine holiday dining when you sail with the likes of Oceania or Seabourn. Traditional Thanksgiving turkey and apps will be complemented by specialties like pumpkinsoup, so be sure to bring your appetite.

And not to worry, NFL fans: You won’t have to break your tradition of eating turkey and watching football at the same time. Just about every fleet will broadcast the entire slate of Thanksgiving Day games live, while Princess will even broadcast games on its outdoor Movies Under the Stars screens.

We’re all for honoring traditions, but spending Thanksgiving in paradise—and eating some incredible meals in the process—doesn’t sound too bad either. So maybe it’s time for a new holiday tradition, one that takes place at sea.

For more holiday cruise options, check out Orbitz.com.

Tagged: Caribbean, Cruise, Uncategorized