A Holiday Back-to-Back: Christmas and New Year’s Across Two Legs
Two legs in a row can carry you over a holiday. Here is what Royal Caribbean says happens on holiday cruises, what it says happens between legs, and what to ask.
Royal Caribbean says its holiday cruises run from September through January, and each holiday has its own program on board. A back-to-back that crosses a holiday can give you a different feel on each leg. The line does not publish a list that says which sailings get which events, so ask before you plan around one.
What the line says about holiday sailings
- The season. Holiday cruises run from September through January, and the guide names the Birthday Bash, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas and New Year’s.
- Christmas. The guide lists a tree lighting ceremony, holiday movie nights on the pool deck, ugly sweater events, milk and cookies each evening in the Windjammer Marketplace, holiday open skate sessions on the ice rink, kids’ ornament making and a Santa visit on one day. Not every ship has every item, because not every ship has an ice rink or a Windjammer.
- Thanksgiving. Holiday favorites such as roast turkey and pumpkin pie in the Main Dining Room, with themed games and a run and walk club.
- Hanukkah. Menorah lightings, special menu items and kids’ activities.
- New Year’s. The guide mentions a balloon drop on a New Year’s cruise.
- Food. Each holiday cruise has seasonal menus, with the classics plus some special dishes from around the world.
What happens between the two legs
Royal Caribbean has a page for guests who stay on the same ship for the next voyage. It lists a hot breakfast in the dining room or café on turnaround day (suite guests get a continental breakfast hosted by Guest Services or the concierge), help with Main Dining Room seating requests for the next cruise, continued access to your stateroom, a notice about the day’s immigration steps, fewer ship-wide announcements, and your new Sea Pass card before you get off. Our guide to turnaround day walks through the day.
What we could not find
- Which sailings get which event. The holiday guide describes the season, not a sailing by sailing list. Ask Royal Caribbean or your travel partner about your own dates.
- Whether an event repeats on the second leg. The pages describe each holiday once and say nothing about guests who stay for two legs. Ask on turnaround day.
- Prices. We show no holiday price here. Look up the fare for the exact sailing you want with our tool.
Booking tips from the line
For a holiday cruise the guide suggests booking together, with connecting staterooms or a suite for a larger family, checking passports and visas well ahead, and using the Cruise Planner to choose dining and entertainment. It says to book early for the best choice of sailings, and to watch for last-minute deals if you plan closer to the date. Each leg of a back-to-back is its own booking in our reading, so do these for both. If you plan to bring wine, see wine on a back-to-back cruise.
Plan for it
- Write down the dates of both legs and mark which holiday falls on which.
- Ask the line which events run on each sailing, and whether any repeat on the second leg.
- Check documents for everyone, for both legs.
- On turnaround day, ask about Main Dining Room seating for the second leg.
- Use legtolegcruises.com to find the two legs.
Sources
The legtolegcruises.com Logbook is independent editorial and is not affiliated with Royal Caribbean International or Club Royale. Offers, fares, and program rules vary and change often; confirm every detail with Royal Caribbean before you book.