There’s something magical about spending Christmas at sea: twinkling lights on deck, festive dinners with an ocean view, and the chance to wake up in a new port every morning. If you’re dreaming of a Christmas or New Year cruise for 2026, here’s a guide to December departures around the world that sail right through the holidays — organized by continent and departure port, so you can find the getaway that fits your celebrations best.
Cruises Departing from Europe
For travelers who’d rather start their holiday cruise close to home, the Western Mediterranean is full of options in December, with several major lines offering week-long loops between Spain, France and Italy that keep you on board right through Christmas or New Year’s Eve.
Barcelona, Spain
MSC Sinfonia (MSC Cruises)
- Departure date: December 20, 2026 (returning December 27)
- Duration & route: 7 nights — Barcelona, Marseille, Genoa, Livorno (for Florence and Pisa), Civitavecchia (for Rome), Valencia, and back to Barcelona
- Description: Departing the Sunday before Christmas, this sailing keeps you on board for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day as the ship makes its way between Italy and Spain. It’s an easy way to combine the Christmas markets of Provence, Italian cuisine in Liguria and Tuscany, and a day trip to Rome, all while celebrating the holiday at sea.
Costa Pacifica (Costa Cruises)
- Departure date: December 25, 2026 (returning January 1, 2027)
- Duration & route: 7 nights — Barcelona, Marseille, Savona, Naples, Palermo, La Goulette (Tunisia), and back to Barcelona
- Description: This one is for the New Year’s crowd: embark on Christmas Day itself and spend New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day at sea between Italy and North Africa, with an extra stop in Tunisia that most Western Mediterranean itineraries skip.
Valencia, Spain
MSC Sinfonia (MSC Cruises)
- Departure date: December 19, 2026 (returning December 26)
- Duration & route: 7 nights — Valencia, Barcelona, Marseille, Genoa, Livorno, Civitavecchia (Rome), and back to Valencia
- Description: The same beloved Western Mediterranean ports in the opposite order, with Christmas Eve and Christmas Day spent on board. A great pick for couples and families who want Christmas markets, Mediterranean cuisine, and iconic cities on one itinerary, without missing the 25th at sea.
MSC Sinfonia (MSC Cruises)
- Departure date: December 26, 2026 (returning January 2, 2027)
- Duration & route: 7 nights — Valencia, Barcelona, Marseille, Genoa, Livorno, Civitavecchia (Rome), and back to Valencia
- Description: The same ship, one week later: departing the day after Christmas, this sailing puts you on board for New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, ringing in 2027 somewhere between the French Riviera and the Italian coast.
Cruises Departing from North America
On the other side of the Atlantic, the Caribbean is in full holiday swing, with Florida’s two biggest cruise ports — Miami and Port Canaveral — sending out ships timed so guests spend Christmas Day or New Year’s Eve surrounded by island scenery instead of snow.
Miami, Florida
Allure of the Seas (Royal Caribbean)
- Departure date: December 20, 2026 (returning December 27)
- Duration & route: 7 nights, Eastern Caribbean — Miami, Puerto Plata (Dominican Republic), San Juan (Puerto Rico), Charlotte Amalie/St. Thomas (US Virgin Islands), two days at sea, returning to Miami on December 27
- Description: A Christmas Eve stop in St. Thomas and two full sea days over Christmas Day and Boxing Day make this an easy-going holiday sailing, combining beach time, island shopping, and the onboard festivities of one of the world’s largest ships.
MSC World America (MSC Cruises)
- Departure date: December 26, 2026 (returning January 2, 2027)
- Duration & route: 7 nights, Eastern Caribbean & Bahamas — Miami round-trip, with three ports of call and three days at sea
- Description: Sailing the day after Christmas on one of MSC’s newest ships, this itinerary puts you on board for both New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, with plenty of sea days to enjoy the ship’s pools, entertainment and countdown party as 2027 begins.
Port Canaveral, Florida
Carnival Venezia (Carnival Cruise Line)
- Departure date: December 20, 2026 (returning December 27)
- Duration & route: 7 nights — Port Canaveral round-trip, with stops at Celebration Key (Bahamas), Cozumel (Mexico) and Mahogany Bay (Honduras)
- Description: With Christmas Day falling squarely within the sailing, this route pairs a full day at Celebration Key, Carnival’s newest private Bahamian destination, with a classic Western Caribbean loop and all of Carnival’s holiday programming on board.
Norwegian Epic (Norwegian Cruise Line)
- Departure date: December 20, 2026 (returning December 27)
- Duration & route: 7 nights — Port Canaveral round-trip, with stops at Great Stirrup Cay (Bahamas), Falmouth (Jamaica) and Cozumel (Mexico)
- Description: A private-island beach day at Great Stirrup Cay opens this Christmas-week sailing, followed by Jamaica and Mexico — a good mix of relaxation and culture for families spending the holiday on board.
As with any cruise, exact itineraries, timings and availability can change between now and departure, so it’s always worth confirming the latest details before booking. But whether you picture yourself watching the sunset over the Mediterranean on Christmas Eve, or counting down to midnight on a pool deck in the Caribbean, there’s a December departure out there for every kind of traveler. Which one would you choose for this Christmas and New Year?
