Christmas and New Year Cruises: What to Check Before You Book
Check the holiday departure, the ship and the fare before you assume a celebration repeats. From December 18, 2026 through January 2, 2027 there are 632 open sailings: 380 in Christmas week and 252 in New Year's week.
It’s All Cruises · October 25, 2026
A holiday cruise is a specific departure. From December 18, 2026 through January 2, 2027 there are 632 open sailings: 380 from December 18 to 26, and 252 from December 27 through January 2. The ship, port and fare table is in Christmas and New Year's cruises 2026. The late-October Disney weeks below are a different seasonal name, not those holiday dates.
Quick facts
| Metric | Details |
|---|---|
| Holiday window, Dec 18, 2026 to Jan 2, 2027 | 632 open sailings |
| Christmas week, Dec 18 to 26, 2026 | 380 sailings |
| New Year's week, Dec 27, 2026 to Jan 2, 2027 | 252 sailings |
| Named seasonal samples | Disney Halloween on the High Seas, late October 2026 |
| Disney inclusion table | Not listed |
| What you can still compare | Ship specs, the sample fare, and kids' club rules on other lines |
| Port Canaveral parking | US$20 per day plus tax, port guide checked October 6, 2026 |
Soonest named seasonal ocean sailings
| Route | Ship | Nights | First departure | Starting fare | Ports |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4-Night Halloween on the High Seas Bahamian Cruise from Port Canaveral | Disney Fantasy | 4 | October 28, 2026 | $1,219 starting cruise fare, as of October 24, 2026 | Port Canaveral, Castaway Cay, Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point |
| 3-Night Halloween on the High Seas Bahamian Cruise from Port Canaveral | Disney Wish | 3 | October 30, 2026 | $825 starting cruise fare, as of October 25, 2026 | Port Canaveral, Nassau, Castaway Cay |
| 4-Night Halloween on the High Seas Bahamian Cruise from Fort Lauderdale | Disney Destiny | 4 | October 29, 2026 | $989 starting cruise fare, as of October 25, 2026 | Port Everglades, Nassau, Castaway Cay |
| 3-Night Halloween on the High Seas Bahamian Cruise from Fort Lauderdale | Disney Dream | 3 | October 30, 2026 | $843 starting cruise fare, as of October 25, 2026 | Port Everglades, Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point |
| 7-Night Halloween on the High Seas Mexican Riviera Cruise from San Diego | Disney Magic | 7 | October 30, 2026 | $1,264 starting cruise fare, as of October 15, 2026 | San Diego, Puerto Vallarta, Cabo San Lucas, Ensenada |
Ships on those samples
| Ship | Class | Built | Refurbished | Gross tonnage | Guests (double) | Space ratio | Crew ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Disney Fantasy | Not listed | 2011 | 2014 | 130,000 | 5,336 | 24.4 | 3.68 |
| Disney Wish | Not listed | 2022 | Not listed | 144,000 | 3,000 | 48.0 | 2.06 |
| Disney Treasure | Not listed | 2024 | Not listed | 144,004 | 3,466 | 41.5 | 2.23 |
| Disney Destiny | Not listed | 2025 | Not listed | 144,000 | 3,466 | 41.5 | 2.23 |
What to check on a holiday date
- The calendar date of embarkation and of each sea day. A Halloween title among these sailings is not a Christmas title.
- Kids' club rules. Disney's inclusion row is Not listed. Royal Caribbean and Carnival include youth sessions on a standard fare, with Carnival Night Owls extra.
- Gratuities. They are extra on Royal Caribbean, Carnival and MSC standard fares, and included on Princess Plus.
- Whether a specialty dinner or a holiday menu is in the fare. That menu is Not listed.
- The terminal. Disney Fantasy's sample sails from Port Canaveral. Destiny's sample fare is a Fort Lauderdale sailing. Parking and the night before are part of the trip.
- Flights on 23 December or 1 January are outside the cruise fare. They are Not listed.
Fares are marketing prices, confirmed when you book. Disney Adventure's Singapore sample is a different 4-night fare and is not a holiday sailing in this table.
Frequently asked questions
Are the Disney sailings above Christmas cruises?
Their recorded titles say Halloween on the High Seas, with late October 2026 departures. They show how a seasonal name is attached to a ship and a fare. They are not Christmas dates.
Is a kids' club open on Christmas Day?
That schedule is Not listed. On non-seasonal standard fares, Royal Caribbean and Carnival include regular youth sessions.
Does the holiday change gratuities?
Not in these tables. Use the fare column. A holiday date does not rewrite it.
Where are the 2026 holiday departures?
In the 2026 holiday sailing guide: 632 open sailings, with Miami the busiest port at 87. Do not copy an October fare onto December.
Filed under ocean, holiday, supporting guide