Leave home for the holidays this year on a cruise to warmer climes

Cruise vacations are riding a pretty good wave right now, thanks to great deals and the ease of an all-inclusive vacation on the high seas.

These 10 holiday-themed sails, most of which embark from the city, will get you in the Christmas spirit – and under the warm Caribbean sun – in no time.

1. Ship to Shore: Norwegian Cruise Line serves up a week-long Christmas cruise on Norwegian Gem, leaving New York on Dec. 19 and visiting Port Canaveral (near Orlando) and the Bahamas. Shop or explore in Nassau and lie on the beach on Great Stirrup Cay, NCL’s private island.

Going overboard: Show your Christmas spirit by joining in on the holiday show production – audience participation is welcome – and caroling throughout the ship. Then dive into yummy treats like honey-glazed Black Forest ham with sweet potato mash. A priest and a minister will be onboard to conduct Christmas Eve services while Santa spreads the joy. And when parents want to stay up late celebrating, the kids will be well-occupied in the ship’s kids program. From $699 per person; ncl.com.

2. Ship to Shore: Head off to sea for Chanukah for a nine-night sail on Royal Caribbean’s Explorer of the Seas from Bayonne on Dec. 11. You’ll visit sunny San Juan, St. Thomas, the Dominican Republic – and the cruise line’s private beach in Haiti, where you can play dreidel in the white sand.

Going overboard: A rabbi will lead the menorah lighting nightly during the Feast of Lights. Kosher meals are available on this and all Royal Caribbean sailings. From $549; royalcaribbean.com.

3. Ship to Shore: The fancy British ocean liner Queen Mary 2 serves up over-the-top holiday delight with two special ­Caribbean cruises from the Big Apple in December (the regular schedule includes transatlantic cruises between New York and the U.K.). Expect a traditional, classy British celebration with a nod to us Yanks, too. Head off to the Eastern Caribbean on Dec. 10, on a 10-night cruise, and spend Chanukah in the sunny climes of St. Maarten, Barbados, Grenada, St. Lucia and St. Thomas.

Going overboard: The voyage comes complete with shipboard menorahs and a rabbi performing nightly services, with kosher meals available. From $1,199; cunard.com.

4. Ship to Shore: Book the QM2’s 15-night Christmas/New Year’s cruise, embarking from New York on Dec. 20, and relax on any number of amazing beaches on Tortola, Curaçao, Grenada, Barbados, St. Lucia, Dominica, St. Kitts and Nevis, and St. Thomas.

Going overboard: See the ship festooned with trees and wreaths, nutcrackers, gingerbread houses and twinkling lights; indulge in a Christmas feast of roast turkey and Christmas pudding, and have a jolly good time at the New Year’s Eve black-tie gala. From $2,295.

5. Ship to Shore: The Explorer of the Seas’ Christmas/New Year’s cruise from Bayonne delivers two full weeks onboard. It embarks Dec. 20 with port calls in San Juan, St. Thomas, Barbados, Dominica, Antigua, St. Maarten and St. Kitts.

Going overboard: Royal Caribbean puts its twist on holiday traditions with activities like facepainting, cookie baking, a parade with Santa and elves, special holiday movie screenings and music performances. For those who get homesick for New York weather, put on skates and hit the ship’s ice rink for a taste of winter. From $1,379.

6. Ship to Shore: To save on airfare, drive or take the train down to Baltimore for a Carnival “Fun Ship” holiday cruise. Sail off on the Carnival Pride to Port Canaveral and the Bahamas with a Christmas cruise embarking Dec. 20.

Going overboard: The ship will be festooned with trees and wreaths and other holiday decor, the crew will lead passengers in caroling — with the option of sipping spiked eggnog as you sing along — and roasted turkey and pecan pie will be on the menu for Christmas dinner. Of course, Santa will make an appearance, too. From $699; carnival.com.

7. Ship to Shore: Head down to Florida for a four-night Western Caribbean Christmas cruise from Miami to Key West to Cozumel on the Carnival Imagination, departing Dec. 24 (from $429). The Imagination’s New Year’s cruise, sailing Dec. 31, also serves up nonstop action, priced from $549.

Going overboard: All the Carnival ships feature holiday music and movie screenings (this year it’s “Polar Express”) and an elaborate holiday production show. The holiday treat for grownups: free Champagne on New Year’s! From $549.

8. Ship to Shore: Sail away on a magical holiday with Mickey & Co. A four-night Bahamas cruise on the Disney Wonder embarks from Port Canaveral on Dec. 23.

Going overboard: If it’s Disney, there’s gotta be plenty of character appearances and activities geared toward kids. Leading up to Christmas, there’s a nightly tree lighting in the atrium lobby, where young guests help light a tree three decks tall. There are loads of holiday crafts such as decorating stockings and building gingerbread houses, and storytellers share tales of Christmas, Chanukah and Kwanzaa. At Castaway Cay, Disney’s private island in the Bahamas, the celebration continues with fake snow flurries, Christmas trees and carolers — all while you’re on the sunny shores of one of the best beaches in the Caribbean. From $699; disneycruise.com.

9. Ship to Shore: Also from Florida, Italian-owned MSC Cruises presents “Happy Holidays Caribbean-Style” on the new MSC Poesia, with a week-long Eastern Caribbean itinerary departing Fort Lauderdale on Dec. 22.

Going overboard: The cruise serves up a midnight Mass and holiday-focused games and entertainment, as you visit San Juan, Antigua, St. Maarten and the Bahamas. From $699; msccruises.com.

10. Ship to Shore: Or, count down to 2010 onboard the Poesia’s seven-night Western Caribbean itinerary from Fort Lauderdale on Dec. 27, visiting Playa del Carmen (Mexico), Grand Cayman, Jamaica and the Bahamas.

Going overboard: Kids 17 and under sail free when sharing a cabin with two full-fare paying adults. Fares from $899.+

Planning a group cruise? Use the group cruise planner at Seasite.com!

source:  http://www.nydailynews.com/travel