Top 10 Destinations For Celebrating New Year’s Eve On A Cruise
That is because a cruise during this period of the year is mostly all about the cruise ship itself and the onboard experience as the vast majority of cruises on the 31st December will put on an evening to remember and you will be onboard all day and of course all night for the all-important New Year’s Eve.
There is a wide range of cruises available for departures in the post-Christmas / post-New Year time and that can often lead to confusion so what we recommend for those looking to get away at this time of the year is focus on the type of experience you want onboard for the all-important night of festivities.
Some of us want a fancy meal and relaxed celebration come midnight whilst some want an all-action night of fun and frolics- with many wanting something in between.
We cannot therefore know exactly what you want, so cannot recommend the perfect ship or location for you to book but what we can recommend is the top destinations to look out for that offer the most choice and variety and therefore offering you the best chance of finding the perfect cruise.
Our Top 10 Destinations For Celebrating New Year’s Eve On A Cruise
Caribbean
The Caribbean is the place to be in the Northern Hemisphere’s winter months as many ships head across the Atlantic from Europe, to spend a few months in the warm waters of the Caribbean Sea.
Cruisers have lots of choice for getaways from US ports including Miami and Fort Lauderdale in Florida and other ports such as New Orleans and even New York whilst there are also a number of cruise ships that are based in the region that allow you to really make the most of your time in the Caribbean.
The area is home to many of the world’s biggest ships, which have an incredible amount of bars, restaurants, and entertainment options to really make the most of your New Years Eve onboard and of course the arm weather allows you to see in the new year under the stars in comfort.
Central America
Another popular option for similar reasons is to enjoy a coast to coast trip from either Florida to California or from California to Florida that transits the iconic Panama Canal.
This allows for some smooth sailing, great weather, and fantastic destinations to visit including ports in Mexico, Belize, Costa Rica, Honduras, Colombia and of course Panama.
Cruises through the Panama Canal are always something to remember. They are known for been a relaxing holiday but for cruises at the end of the year, you can get some great down time before enjoying partying and celebrating the New Year all night long.
Mediterranean
If you don’t fancy the long haul travel across the pond or if you are looking for an easier and ultimately cheaper getaway whilst still been able to enjoy megaships and great weather- the Mediterranean is the place for you.
The Med offers great embarkation ports to extend your holiday but for many it is the great variety of ships and ports of call that makes it such a popular region all year around including those wanting to get away for a New Year’s Eve celebration.
North America
If you would like to visit the USA, especially Florida and California, but don’t want to head to the Caribbean or through the Panama Canal, there is still a great opportunity to enjoy a great end of year getaway and that is by staying closer to your embarkation port.
There are a number of cruises that head from either Florida or more regularly from California that go to great ports in Mexico to take advantage of the warm weather in the area.
These are often cheaper cruisers that attracts a younger crowd looking for fun so if you really want to see the new year in with a bang, this is a great choice for you.
Canary Islands
Heading south to the Canary Islands is another great option for those looking for some winter sun to celebrate in but the great news for those not wanting to fly or who are on a budget is that there are a number of NoFly options sailing directly from the UK.
You can of course also fly down and enjoy more time exploring the region but no matter how you start and finish your cruise, you will have a decent choice of ships to spend the special night on and a great choice of destinations to really make the most of your getaway.
Norway / Northern Lights
If the idea of a huge party boat under the winter sun is not your idea of how you want to celebrate the new year onboard a cruise, why not do the complete opposite?
There are little to no large cruise ships that head along the Norwegian coast over New Years Eve but the always popular Norwegian cruise ferry services continue.
Lines such as Hurtigruten offer a good quality service that is all about relaxing and taking in the incredible scenery on offer and of course if you travel in late December, you have a great chance of sitting under the stars and watching the stunning Northern Lights for a magical way to end one year and start the next.
Northern Europe
Whilst most cruises during this period are for a week or 10 days, it does allow you to take in the great Christmas Markets, lights and grab a bargain in the sales as you explore some of European best cities before enjoying a night of partying back onboard your chosen ship.
Northern Europe, including destinations such as Bruges, Amsterdam and Hamburg makes for a great destination for those who still want lots of time on shore exploring and who aren’t looking to sunbathe in the winter sun.
Bahamas
For those wanting to sleep in and stay up late enjoying cocktails and dancing all whilst enjoying warm weather, a trip from Florida or New York to the Bahamas could be the choice for you.
These cruises tends to be amongst the cheapest and have a younger crowd thanks to the shorter nature of the trips and the reputation they have as party boats.
These trips often differ from a traditional cruises as you have a number of days at sea and then dock for a couple of days or so in the Bahamas before retuning back to the US mainland.
Southern Africa
If the main thing you dislike about the new year celebrations is the fact it takes place in winter, then why not head down to South Africa where it is of course summer?
With ports such as Cape Town offering a small range of cruise options without the need to travel for days and go through many time zones, a Southern Africa cruise allows you to simply get on with things without jet lag.
Take in the incredible sights of the African coast and soak up the sun whilst enjoying all that this region has to offer before celebrating New Years Eve in the height of summer.
Middle East
The Middle East is of course warm all year around and locations such as Dubai are now much visit tourist getaways so why not mix the great weather, fantastic attractions with a New Year’s Eve getaway where you can celebrate the new year with a difference?
