How to ring in the New Year on a cruise
Tips & AdviceCountdown to the New Year on a cruise with your friends and family. Cruise lines go above and beyond to entertain guests.
Lines like Royal Caribbean, Princess Cruises and Norwegian Cruise line offer food, fun and frivolity including parties, entertainment and plenty of bubbles to ring in the new year.
There are special New Year’s Eve sailings and some itineraries run across both Christmas and the New Year. But there are some which depart after Christmas.
See what the different lines do to welcome the New Year and which sailings to get on for the party.
Princess Cruises
Princess Cruises celebrates with a special menu just for New Year’s Eve as well as a champagne toast and balloon drop at midnight. The line has a 12-day Australia and New Zealand sailing which departs Auckland after Christmas on December 27, 2019. Celebrate the new year on Majestic Princess from $2,019 for an interior stateroom. The sailing concludes in Sydney.
P&O Cruises
P&O Cruises hosts parties across multiple venues and a live band leading the festivities. The line has shorter New Year cruises of eight to nine-nights on Pacific Dawn, Explorer and Aria to the Pacific Islands. The itineraries depart after Christmas on December 28 and 30, 2019, from Sydney as well as Brisbane.
Royal Caribbean
Royal Caribbean has a confetti drop, party gifts for guests and a balloon drop in the Promenade, Esplanade and Centrum. There will be live music by passenger bands, special New Year’s Eve-inspired cocktails, parties in the ship’s bars and nightclub. Special Happy New Year’s headbands and party horns will be distributed to passengers in order to continue the party vibe past the stroke of midnight.
Celebrity Cruises
On Celebrity Cruises, the New Year’s Eve celebration takes place in every bar and lounge throughout the ship so you can party hop your way into the new year. The Solarium is transformed into a night club for its Liquid party, the Lawn Club will be featuring live jazz and more. Enjoy a complimentary glass of champagne and party favours as you do the big countdown on the pool deck.
Norwegian Cruise Line
The line will be offering festive meals in their main restaurants and guests will be treated to the Captain’s Countdown from the bridge. NCL has a 12-day holiday celebration itinerary in Europe for a wintry Christmas and usher in the New Year in Barcelona, Spain. Depart on December 22, 2019 from Rome, to visit ports like Venice, Barcelona, Monte Carlo, and Dubrovnik. Sailings start at $1,975 on the Norwegian Spirit.
Cunard
The line fills multiple venues with music and entertainment in the evening of New Year’s Eve and also serves a midnight buffet. Head down to the main lobby for the countdown, complete with hats, noisemakers, balloon drop and glasses of champagne.
Seabourn Cruises
The luxury line goes for classy with a formal wear New Year’s Eve party. Bring your best dresses and suits!
Holland America Line
Holland America Line hosts a New Year’s Eve ball on the ship’s lido deck, complete with party favours and a champagne toast when the clock strikes midnight.
