Is Thanksgiving a good time to cruise?

Thanksgiving has always been synonymous with turkey dinners, family reunions, and warm and cozy moments around the fireplace — but imagine if you experienced the same things in a different way without a kitchen mess to deal with but with ocean breezes and sunsets at sea? Thanksgiving is one of the holidays, among others, that one can spend on a cruise ship. The question is whether it is the right time to do so. Let’s weigh the benefits and disadvantages along with the right places to go and the kind of experience you will have if you choose to go on a cruise during Thanksgiving week.

Reasons for Cruise During Thanksgiving

For a lot of people, Thanksgiving translates to cooking, cleaning, and entertaining visitors. But with a cruise, one can swap all that for the ultimate relaxation. The staff takes care of everything from cooking to cleaning and even decorating everything. All you must do is come and enjoy.

Travelers’ opinions vary, however, here are some of the major reasons why many people believe Thanksgiving is the best time for a cruise:

1. Relatively trouble-free holiday

No more traffic jams, and shopping, and no more handling the mess of cleaning up—just relaxation and fun.

2. Celebratory mood

Beautiful decorations will be put on the ships and in addition to this, there will be parades, holiday shows, and special dinners as part of the themed events.

3. There will be no cooking or cleaning up afterward

The ship's kitchen staff will be in charge of the turkey and stuffing preparations—most cruise lines will feature both the traditional Thanksgiving and the international cuisine options.

4. Holidays are family-friendly

Cruises are perfect for family reunions since they provide a range of activities that will amuse every member of the family from the youngest to the oldest.

5. Escape to the sun

In case you have had enough of the extremely cold November weather, the Caribbean, Mexico, and Bahamas are the places that offer sun and a tropical vibe among other places.

Best Cruise Destinations for Thanksgiving

If you take a cruise in late November, there will be a lot of places to choose from that will give you the holiday spirit together with sunshine and adventure.

The Caribbean

As we all know, the sunny, sandy beaches with their warm waters make the Caribbean an undoubtedly great choice for a few days of ocean-side Thanksgiving. Royal Caribbean, Carnival, and Norwegian are just a few of the companies that offer short and week-long sailing options.

The Bahamas

This is an excellent choice for kids and first-time cruisers — it's near Florida, not too costly, and quite entertaining when it comes to beaches.

Mexico

The western Caribbean routes with stops at Cozumel or Yucatán are ideal for diving and cultural excursions.

Hawaii

This will take longer but it's the cruise of a lifetime—the very nature of the trip suits the different needs of the visitors. A relaxing atmosphere and exploration.

Panama Canal or Transatlantic Cruises

If you want to try something new, then a repositioning cruise or scenic ocean crossing might be the way to go, and you will get them at unbeatable prices.

What to Expect Onboard During Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving festivities at sea are still very festive, though they are also very relaxed. The cruise entertainment is mixed with a bit of the traditional holiday ambiance and the other way around:

• Holiday Feast: The big dining places generally serve a complete Thanksgiving dinner with turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie, and all the trimmings.
• Themed Events: There will be parades, cooking demos, and the showing of football on the big screen.
• Family Activities: There will also be a lot of fun things to do together ranging from scavenger hunts, trivia, and kids' holiday crafts.
• Decorations and Music: There will be beautiful fall-themed decorations, and autumn colors will be in the background along with lovely soft music creating a warm holiday atmosphere.

Thanksgiving Cruise's Special Benefits

• Minimal to No Preparation: Having Thanksgiving at home always entails months of preparations, grocery shopping, cooking, and cleaning. The great feast aboard the cruise is the only thing that needs your presence.
• No Cleanup Duty: Just leave the dirty dishes and the leftover food alone. During the cruise, the team will attend to everything, and you can just unwind.
• Visit Different Places: The cruises present to you the chance to go to several locations at the same time. Visit beautiful ports, find hidden treasures and appreciate nature's amazing places.
• Continue Your Rituals: The watching of a football game or a holiday parade can still be part of your Thanksgiving customs, along with traveling companions who feel the same way.
• More Time to Bond: There are several ways in which a cruise can provide you with the opportunity of getting closer and creating unforgettable memories with your family.
• Take Fewer Vacation Days: Cruise through several destinations in fewer days, thus providing you with more of your paid time-off.
• Chef-made Meals: Kitchen disasters can be forgotten in the very first breath as Thanksgiving dishes that are delicious, and at the same time stress-free, become available.
• Maintain Your Health: You can keep up with your fitness and health regimes through the gym facilities and interesting shore excursions available on the cruise.
• Be Pampered: You may receive room service or have a soothing spa treatment, but times are when the attentive staff will be pampering you continuously with their excellent service.
• Meet Interesting People: You can always meet interesting individuals on cruise trips and even get to know them better through the friendships formed.
• Have What You Need: All that you may need for a smooth trip, from toiletries to hospitals, is made available for you on board.
• Try Something New: Leave your comfort zone and make unforgettable memories by doing something that is not available for you to do at home.

Cons to Keep in Mind

• Expensive fare: It is the Thanksgiving holiday and hence the week will be on the topmost level of cruise fares and airplane tickets.
• Overloaded vessels: Family cruises on mega fleets such as Royal Caribbean or Carnival will be fully booked in no time.
• Booking in advance is a necessity: If you want the best cabin and the lowest price, you should book your trip for at least half a year to nine months in advance.
• Very few options: The most popular itineraries and the finest cabins are booked up almost a year earlier for New Year’s week.

How to Have a Thanksgiving Cruise

• To get the best deal: Holiday sailings, especially family cabins and suites, are among the first to be sold out.
• Seek out the bargains: Promotions that cruise lines often launch around Black Friday or Cyber Monday — if you are flexible, the timing is great!
• Departure ports are important: Florida, Texas, and California have a lot of convenient and easy-to-reach embarkation options.
• Dining and excursion reservations should be made early: Holiday events and shore tours can be sold out very fast, in fact, before you even get the chance to book.

Is It Worth It?

If your intention is to have a relaxing and sunny Thanksgiving, then cruising during the holiday can be an absolute savior. You will still be served a traditional dinner but without the hassle involved. Moreover, it is an incredible way to bring together different family members and then go on a voyage to see wonderful places.

On the other hand, if you love to stay at home and hang out with family or if you are not very financially strong, it would be better to wait for the low season when the prices are down significantly.

Final Thoughts

A Thanksgiving cruise is the best of the worlds, the warm and comfy holidays mixed with the thrill of the journey — a turkey dinner with a view of the sea and a little dose of sunshine coming from the tropics. It is a very different and at the same time a very relaxing way of expressing gratitude and also making new memories with your loved ones.

The Caribbean, Mexico or Hawaii, wherever you are cruising, the mood of Thanksgiving will be the same — only more waves and much less hassle.

FAQs About Is Thanksgiving a good time to cruise

Are the cruise lines serving traditional Thanksgiving dinner?

Definitively! The popular cruise lines such as Royal Caribbean, Carnival, and Norwegian have a full Thanksgiving feast on the menu. You will see turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie — together with the usual menu options of the ship for extra variety.

Will Thanksgiving cruises be suitable for kids?

Yes, absolutely. Thanksgiving cruises are some of the most family-oriented sailings across the whole year. There are kids’ clubs, teen lounges, family activities, and even Thanksgiving crafts or movie nights on the larger ships. and it is the perfect time for family gatherings of all ages.

Is it an expensive period for a cruise during Thanksgiving?

Since Thanksgiving is a peak holiday, cruise prices and flights can be higher than normal. Still, good deals come up now and then — especially during Black Friday or Cyber Monday sales.

Will the ship be mostly occupied during Thanksgiving week?

Holidays with sailing are normally the busiest times for the cruise lines especially if the ships are large and the lines are family oriented. However, it will still be much easier to get around the major crowds if you plan your trip well by booking early, selecting a longer itinerary, or going for a smaller ship.

What to cruise destinations are the best for Thanksgiving?

The Caribbean, Bahamas, Mexico, and Hawaii are the top places since the weather is nice and warm in late November. Thanksgiving is even more perfect for being lazy on a beach and at the same time taking part in an exciting tropical nature adventure.