Christmas Cruises

[ChrisM]

I am toying with the idea of a 2021 Christmas cruise and am hoping the brain trust here may have some knowledge to share.

Ideally I'd want a cruise that actually sailed during the holiday. I noticed this year has my ideal itinerary on the Fantasy - a 7 night over Christmas with 2 stops at Castaway that runs 12/21 to 12/28. It also appears that there is a similar 2020 cruise (7 night over Christmas, but only one stop at Castaway) that runs 12/19 to 12/26. (Any ideas as why they're offering 2 nights at CC in 2019 but not in 2020?)

It's my understanding that the Fantasy typically runs 7 night Saturday-to-Saturday cruises and that foots with the 12/21/19 and 12/19/20 sail dates currently scheduled. However, Christmas Day 2021 currently falls on a Saturday, which if the same scheduling holds true would mean either a disembarkation or embarkation on Christmas Day itself, which would sort of defeat the purpose of my trip. Does anyone have any foresight on how Disney might handle this (they may shift to accommodate the holiday or they are probably running Saturday-to-Saturday no matter what) or do we just have to wait and see what the itineraries look like when they are released?

Speaking of which, any good idea as to when December 2021 itineraries will be released? May 2020 or so?

 

[Calantha]

Speaking of which, any good idea as to when December 2021 itineraries will be released? May 2020 or so?

This year it was the first week in June (for Dec 2020). Last year it was in late May. I think the delay was related to Star Wars...so I'd start looking in May 2020 but with the thought it could be a little later.

 

[Firstof3]

About May 2020 is the right timeframe to be looking for that set of cruises. Though by most guesses the cruise Itineraries may be a little more up in the air and not following the current patterns. The first of the three new ships will be entering the fray and the ship shuffle will have begun. It is still good to plan as much ahead as you can but be ready to have shift your plans around a bit as they are bound to change things up, at least a little, for the new ship.

 

[ChrisM]

About May 2020 is the right timeframe to be looking for that set of cruises. Though by most guesses the cruise Itineraries may be a little more up in the air and not following the current patterns. The first of the three new ships will be entering the fray and the ship shuffle will have begun. It is still good to plan as much ahead as you can but be ready to have shift your plans around a bit as they are bound to change things up, at least a little, for the new ship.

Ah, of course! I had completely forgotten about the delivery timelines for the new ships.

 

[FSU Girl]

They do have cruises that end and start on NYE, so it is possible they might have a cruise end and start on Christmas Day. With one new ship out the schedules might be different then, you'll have to wait and see what they do. All the ships will be sailing somewhere over Christmas so another ship might have a better itinerary.

 

[deliela999]

Don't get your heart set on a specific cruise until they release the schedule. We were planning to take the 7 night western caribbean in October 2020 over fall break. They have it this year so we assumed they would also have it next year. The week the schedule was released was stressful (major first world problems, I know). The Dream is not scheduled (assumed dry dock), Fantasy is covering the 3-4 nights the Dream normally does, and no 7 night western caribbean. After much debate we're booked for the 4 night on the Dream leaving 12/24/20. They have the 7 night western caribbean over Christmas but I couldn't stomach the price. My husband got super excited about being on the ship for Christmas so that was our compromise.