Magnificent New Year fireworks in Funchal, Madeira Island, Portugal.

On-Board Activities Entertainment Family

Celebrate special events and occasions in style

Whether you’re celebrating a seasonal holiday such as Christmas or Halloween, or something personal to you, we’ll help you make the special day – and your whole holiday –unforgettable from start to finish.

5 min 25 Oct 2023

Editorial Team

Author

Christmas joy on our festive holidays

Christmas is a huge event on board all our ships. The tree, the turkey, the traditions and time together – you can expect all the best parts of the festive period without any of the hassles of hosting and you can read more about what to expect on board here.

In the weeks approaching the big day, you’ll find beautiful decorations in the atrium and other areas of the ship, as well as lots of specially themed dining and entertainment. On December 25 there’ll be an optional carol service, a full turkey dinner with all the trimmings and a gift from us to you. And if you’re travelling with children, they can even meet Father Christmas!

Click here to find out more about Festive and Christmas cruises.

Britannia's atrium decorated for Christmas

Toast the new year

What better way to ring in the new year than with a glittering party on board one of our stunning ships? Wherever in the world you find yourself, it’ll be an evening to remember as you get dressed up for a night of fun with events planned out for all the family.

How much you want to party is up to you. You might follow a delicious dinner with a theatre show, cocktails in a quiet bar or a flutter in the casino. Or you could hit the dancefloor and show off your best moves to the sounds of a silent disco, live band or DJ, pausing for the classic countdown and group rendition of Auld Lang Syne at midnight.

Depending on the location of your ship, you might even be treated to a New Year’s Eve fireworks display overhead. There’s nothing quite like standing on deck with a drink while kaleidoscopic explosions illuminate the night sky.

Browse new year holidays here.

New Year fireworks in Funchal, Madeira

Halloween magic

Watch out for that ‘ghost’! We love the fun side of Halloween and, while there’s no trick or treating on board, there will be plenty of excitement if you’re keen to join in the fun.

We decorate certain areas of each ship with hand-carved pumpkins, ‘cobwebs’ and more, and you might find traditional seasonal dishes on the menus in some restaurants. This is the only time of year when we allow fancy dress on board (if it's not too scary for the other guests!) and there’ll be screenings of spooky films to give you a giggle or a fright. In the evening, you might sip a special Halloween-themed cocktail or dance to classic songs such as Thriller at the nightclub or children’s disco. And beware, you may even bump into a ghoulish character or two as you stroll around the ship!

Night shot of illuminated pumpkins in front of a house

Birthdays, anniversaries and other special occasions

If you’re celebrating an occasion that’s personal to you during your holiday, there are so many ways you can make the day extra special.

We have a fantastic range of gifts available. Why not start with breakfast in bed? From a hearty full English to lighter continental options, we can bring a delicious meal to your cabin (there’s usually a small fee). And if you fancy a toast, why not add a half-bottle of Champagne to your order?

A visit to the spa is an ideal way to spoil someone special (as well as yourself!) and when you return to your cabin, you can arrange to have a freshly made bouquet of flowers waiting, or maybe one of our gift packages.

In the evening, you might like to dress up and pose for a photo from one of our professional photographers – the perfect way to remember the day forever – before enjoying dinner in one of our speciality restaurants. For a small charge per person (or per dish) you can savour sumptuous food from exclusive menus, some of which are created by our amazing Food Heroes.