Not all carnival guests are satisfied with their holiday plans

Carnival Cruise Line offers multi-week holiday cruises with seasonal decorations, popular Christmas carols, themed activities, holiday menus and more.

Many travelers intentionally book these special cruises to make happy family memories without the associated holiday stress of shopping, cooking, cleaning, decorating and other preparations.

However, not all cruisers seem to appreciate the holiday touches Carnival is adding to its fleet, at least not as the cruise line begins to celebrate the holiday season.

One of the self-proclaimed “Mr. “Scrooge” contacted the Carnival Cruise Line Brand AmbassadorJohn Heald, with their seasonal problems and the timing of each ship’s decoration.

“There should be no holiday decorations on cruises, except for the actual cruise on December 25.” said the guest. “If John Heald had been left in my charge (I have always found Mr. Scrooge to have many admirable qualities), this would be about the right time to excite Carnival passengers celebrating Christmas.”

Christmas decorations usually start to appear carnival ships in late November or early December, depending on each vessel’s individual travel schedule, dry dock plans and other operational needs. The decorations stay there until about the first trip after the new year.

Carnival Cruise Line’s 2024 holiday decorations schedule has not yet been released, although Heald noted that the schedule should be available the first week of October.

Heald actually responded to the guest’s claims, not with the answer they might expect, but with logical thinking about what they might see on land, even if they’re not on a cruise.

“I respect, I understand everyone’s opinion, but hey, it’s a special time of year that I’m sure the stores where you live will start celebrating in the next few weeks.” Heald said.

Christmas decorations are already on sale in many stores, and social media channels are increasingly cluttered with decorating hacks, baking recipes and other holiday tips. However, the cruise guest does not indicate whether he has contacted stores or social media platforms to express his concerns.

Other travelers also pointed out that many ports of call are carefully decorated for Christmas throughout December, which is beyond the cruise line’s control but contributes to the festive atmosphere of such cruises.

The guest further described Carnival Cruise Line’s holiday decorations and celebrations as “religious brainwashing.”

“Last year we were on the Panorama cruise on December 2. The ship was gaudily decorated, and the scariest thing of all was the terrible Christmas music playing on the pipes.” described. “Religious brainwashing should not be extended to the holidays.”

It should be noted that Carnival Cruise Line integrates various faiths into its holiday decorations and activities, including Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa. However, under no circumstances are guests forced to participate in any religious events.

Read also: Christmas on a cruise ship – what to expect

Most of the cruise line’s holiday events are purely secular in nature and include commonly accepted decorative elements such as pine branches, ornaments and ribbons, as well as Santa-related activities such as storytelling.

Support for guests during holiday cruises

Many other carnival guests responded to this traveler’s outrage, noting that their experiences aboard Christmas cruises vary greatly.

“My favorite cruise was when the ship was decorated for Christmas and all the special events. The highlight was the candlelight service and Santa Claus. Absolutely wonderful!”

“I love Christmas and I’m a religious person. I don’t remember seeing any “religious” Christmas decorations on the cruise. They were more “secular”. So I don’t understand why anyone would have a problem with interesting decor.”

“I loved, loved, loved the December Carnival cruises! The Christmas decor was beautiful!”

“December is the best time to go on a cruise because the ships are so beautifully decorated. This is my favorite time to cruise.”

Did you go on a cruise during the holiday season? Share your thoughts, tips and ideas for interesting holiday cruises on the website Cruise Hive boards!