Princess Cruises Holiday Cruises 2026–2027: Christmas and New Year at Sea

Princess Cruises holiday cruises are bringing the magic of Christmas and New Year to some of the world’s most spectacular destinations, with festive sailings to Hawaii, the Caribbean, Mexico and the Panama Canal. The cruise line has unveiled its holiday program for the 2026–2027 season, combining tropical destinations, special onboard celebrations and family-friendly entertainment.

Announced on September 24, 2026, the program features four highlighted departures aboard Discovery Princess, Caribbean Princess, Regal Princess and Ruby Princess. With voyages ranging from a week in the Mexican Riviera to a 16-day Hawaiian Islands holiday, Princess Cruises is offering travelers different ways to celebrate the festive season at sea.

The company has also confirmed that bookings for its 2027 holiday cruises are open, giving travelers an opportunity to plan their next Christmas vacation well in advance.

Princess Cruises Holiday Cruises: Four Festive Sailings for 2026–2027

Princess Cruises is highlighting four itineraries departing between November and December 2026, with one voyage continuing into January 2027. Each sailing combines a different destination experience with the cruise line’s holiday entertainment program.

According to the company’s announcement, the selected voyages depart from Los Angeles, Fort Lauderdale and San Francisco.

Discovery Princess: 7-Day Mexican Riviera Holiday

November 21–28, 2026 | Roundtrip Los Angeles

Discovery Princess will operate a seven-day Mexican Riviera cruise departing from Los Angeles on November 21.

The voyage runs through Thanksgiving week, offering travelers an opportunity to spend the holiday away from home while enjoying a cruise vacation.

For travelers looking for a relatively short getaway, the seven-day format provides a convenient alternative to a longer international vacation.

Discovery Princess is part of the Royal Class fleet, bringing the company’s contemporary onboard entertainment, dining venues and public spaces to the Mexican Riviera itinerary.

Caribbean Princess: 12-Day Panama Canal Holiday

December 17–29, 2026 | Roundtrip Fort Lauderdale

Caribbean Princess will operate a 12-day Panama Canal, Costa Rica and Caribbean holiday sailing, departing from Fort Lauderdale on December 17.

This itinerary combines the Panama Canal with destinations in Costa Rica and the Caribbean, offering a longer holiday experience for travelers who want to spend more time exploring beyond a traditional Caribbean cruise.

The December 17 departure also means guests will spend Christmas aboard the ship, surrounded by the festive decorations, seasonal entertainment and dining experiences planned across the fleet.

Princess Cruises has long included Panama Canal itineraries in its deployment strategy. Travelers interested in longer international voyages can also explore our coverage of the Princess Cruises 2028 World Cruise , featuring an extensive global itinerary aboard Coral Princess.

Regal Princess: Eastern Caribbean and Celebration Key

December 20–26, 2026 | Roundtrip Fort Lauderdale

Regal Princess will depart Fort Lauderdale on December 20 for a six-day Eastern Caribbean with Celebration Key holiday cruise.

The sailing concludes on December 26, making it an option for travelers wishing to spend Christmas at sea before returning home immediately after the holiday.

One of the itinerary’s highlighted features is Celebration Key, Carnival Corporation’s private destination in Grand Bahama, which adds a resort-style experience to the Eastern Caribbean voyage.

The six-day duration also makes this departure shorter than the Caribbean Princess Panama Canal itinerary, offering an alternative for guests with more limited vacation time.

Ruby Princess: 16-Day Hawaiian Islands Holiday

December 26, 2026 – January 11, 2027 | Roundtrip San Francisco

Ruby Princess will operate the longest of the four highlighted holiday sailings, with a 16-day Hawaiian Islands holiday cruise departing San Francisco on December 26.

The voyage extends through the New Year, giving guests the opportunity to welcome 2027 while sailing toward the Hawaiian Islands.

Hawaii remains one of Princess Cruises’ established destination programs, with departures from West Coast ports offering travelers an alternative to Caribbean winter vacations.

The itinerary is particularly relevant for travelers looking for an extended holiday vacation that combines ocean sailing with island destinations.

Princess Cruises has also outlined additional West Coast deployment plans in its Princess Cruises Alaska 2028 coverage , demonstrating the importance of West Coast departure ports in its broader cruise network.

Christmas Celebrations Across the Princess Cruises Fleet

Beyond the itineraries, Princess Cruises is emphasizing the onboard experience, with holiday decorations, festive entertainment and seasonal activities planned across its ships.

The company says programming varies by vessel, with different celebrations and entertainment formats depending on the ship’s class and facilities.

Christmas Tree Lighting and Let It Snow

The holiday program includes tree-lighting celebrations in the Piazza, the central gathering space found across the Princess fleet.

Sphere Class and Royal Class ships will feature Tree Lighting Celebrations with performances by the full onboard cast. Other ships will host Festive Tree Lighting events accompanied by vocalists.

On selected vessels, guests can also experience Merry Moments and Let It Snow celebrations, featuring artificial snowfall in the Piazza and additional festive surprises.

These events are designed to create a winter-inspired atmosphere at sea, bringing together passengers of different ages for shared seasonal experiences.

The Piazza celebrations also reflect the importance of entertainment and public spaces in Princess Cruises’ ship design.

The line’s Sphere Class, represented by Sun Princess and Star Princess, has introduced new entertainment venues and large-scale visual experiences. Readers can discover more about the latter in our report on the Star Princess Alaska 2026 debut .

Holiday Parties, Music and Entertainment

Princess Cruises is also planning a wide range of seasonal entertainment, including Holly Jolly Sweater Parties, holiday silent discos, candlelight concerts and Christmas singalongs.

These activities provide opportunities for guests to socialize and participate in the celebrations throughout their voyage.

The program is not limited to traditional Christmas entertainment. Princess is incorporating music, themed parties and interactive events designed to appeal to couples, families and groups of friends.

The variety of activities means that guests can choose between more relaxed celebrations and lively onboard parties during the holiday period.

Family Activities and Festive Dining

Families are another central focus of Princess Cruises holiday cruises, with creative activities and seasonal experiences planned for younger guests and their parents.

The Festive Family Faire will include arts and crafts activities, while Holiday Family Flair Night invites guests to participate in a themed evening featuring festive pajamas and holiday sweaters.

One of the featured activities is Gingerbread House Making, where families can decorate gingerbread houses using icing and candy.

Children will also have opportunities to participate in Storytime with Stanley, featuring the cruise line’s character, Stanley the Bear.

Holiday movies will be available through Movies Under the Stars and in guest staterooms, allowing families to enjoy Christmas films throughout their vacation.

Dining will also play an important role in the celebrations. Princess Cruises has announced special festive menus, turkey carving demonstrations, Christmas cookies, holiday cocktails and hot chocolate stations.

The combination of seasonal food and family entertainment is intended to bring familiar holiday traditions into the cruise experience.

Princess also highlights inclusive religious celebrations and traditions, reflecting the diversity of guests traveling during the festive season.

Princess Cruises Opens Bookings for 2027 Holiday Cruises

In addition to the 2026–2027 departures, Princess Cruises has confirmed that bookings for its 2027 holiday cruises are already open.

The company has not provided a complete list of individual 2027 Christmas and New Year departures in the September 24 announcement. Travelers should therefore consult the official Princess Cruises booking platform for itinerary details, departure dates and current availability.

The announcement comes as Princess continues to expand its global deployment plans, including new itineraries in Europe, Alaska and Asia.

Cruising Passion has previously covered the company’s largest-ever Princess Cruises Europe 2028 season  and its Japan cruise program for 2028 .

These announcements demonstrate how the cruise line is offering a broader range of destinations and voyage durations to travelers planning vacations several years ahead.

For guests interested in a holiday cruise, the choice will depend on the desired destination, sailing duration and preferred departure port.

The 2026 program includes short Caribbean and Mexican Riviera vacations, a longer Panama Canal itinerary and an extended Hawaiian Islands voyage spanning Christmas and New Year.

With seasonal celebrations, festive dining and family entertainment, Princess Cruises is positioning its holiday sailings as an opportunity to combine traditional celebrations with an international cruise vacation.

Travelers can find further information and booking details on the official Princess Cruises holiday celebrations website .

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