Kevin and Susan are two of our long time Cruise Specialists voyage hosts, which means not only do they love cruising, but sharing it with you! Last year they embarked on a holiday cruise, which provides some great insight as to why it’s a lovely way to spend the season!

We shipped out for Christmas. That is, we boarded the Silver Whisper on December 20 in Ft Lauderdale and we’re retracing our September cruise back through the Panama Canal to San Francisco then continuing on to the South Pacific ending in New Zealand on January 27.  The day we left our home in Rotonda West it was a balmy 91 degrees — a record breaker for the Sunshine State. Meanwhile the Plains and Midwest were shivering in way below zero weather. Brrrrrrrrrr! At one point, there was a temperature differential of 104 degrees between my birth state of South Dakota and Florida. That polar vortex is a pretty wicked dude.

Cruising on the Silver Whisper is a great way to spend the holidays.

When we boarded in Ft Lauderdale Mark Conroy, the former head of Regent and now leading Silversea, greeted us passengers and wished us all bon voyage and bon noel. After all, the ship was beginning to look a lot like Christmas with trees and garlands throughout. There are some families on board, one with three generations sharing the holiday together.

Our family has had two reunions on board ships and we found it is the perfect setting for these get-togethers. No one has to cook or wash dishes or even make their own beds. It is quality time having fun together with loved ones celebrating holidays or special occasions.

With Christmas and Hanukah coinciding this year, it was a time to revel. It seems that Silversea really knows how to mark these important days without going overboard…so to speak.

• There was a menorah lighting ceremony
• a midnight church service
• Christmas caroling
• a holiday show
• a special yuletide dinner
• Santa showing up on Christmas Day.

To make the day even more special, we transited the Panama Canal on December 25. There were five other cruise ships and numerous cargo vessels in the canal and holiday greetings filled the air between passengers and crew on all the ships in each of the locks.

In addition to all the revelries on board, the port cities are in full holiday mode. We took a walk on the medieval walls of Cartagena and had a nice overview of South American style decorations. The same held true at our ports stops in Guatemala and Mexico.

On New Year’s Eve day, we went on a catamaran sailing and snorkeling excursion in Zihuatanejo, Mexico and later sailed out of the bay just as fireworks were lighting up the night sky. On board the dress code was formal and there was a pre-dinner show featuring some of the most beautiful arias sung by the excellent Voices of Silversea. Afterwards, a gala dinner dance in the dining venues was the perfect way to bring in the New Year.

Ready to ring in your new year with something different?

Let us help you find the perfect tropical getaway or go enjoy the holiday markets of Europe! (888) 993-1318