December Cruise Deals

Whatever you’re looking for in a December cruise, you’ll find it with us as we travel to a range of varied destinations. During this time, we normally visit the Canary Islands, the Caribbean, Northern Europe, Norway, Spain and Portugal, and Western Europe.

We have two dress codes in place to make your time on board that extra bit special. Here’s a useful guide so you know what to expect and you cand dress for any and all occasions.

During the day:  The dress code during the day is just your typical holiday wardrobe. Think t-shirts, shorts and sundresses (unless you’re heading to Northern Europe in winter!). Away from the pool, we ask for shoes to be worn and no pool wear in the ship’s lounges, inside bars, restaurants or reception. It may be chilly on deck and breezy in the evening (even in the tropics), so be sure to pack light layers. We’d also recommend flat shoes for strolling the decks.

Evening dress codes: We have two dress codes that apply in the evenings: Evening Casual and Black Tie. Nights where the dress code is Evening Casual, you can bring out your best shirt, dress and smart, dark denim. For nights where the dress code is Black Tie, make sure to pack your best tux, suit or cocktail dress.

There are some venues on each ship where dress codes don’t apply, so make sure to check your Horizon paper that’s delivered to your cabin each day to check where these are, as they vary ship by ship.

Dress codes for children: For those travelling on family-friendly ships, dress codes also don’t apply to children aged 17 and under. However, they can still dress to impress if they want to! 

There are a wealth of reasons to head off on a December cruise. If you’re inspired by the almost palpable sense of magic that comes with the season, consider a Northern Europe cruise where you’ll be able to visit the most breathtaking of Christmas markets. Or perhaps you’re not a huge fan of winter and you’d prefer to explore sunnier climes? In that case, find just the dose of sunshine you need on a Caribbean cruise. Want to get your year started off right? Consider embarking on a December cruise that carries over to the new year to start as you mean to go on.

Steadily sunny and warm pretty much all year round, a cruise to the Canary Islands calls for stocking up on protective gear and light garment clothing. We’d suggest bringing along:

• Swimming costume/swim shorts
• Sunscreen with high SPF rating
• Sunglasses
• A hat for sun protection
• Casual shirt and trousers/skirt or dress (for some evenings on board)
• Cover-up or similar, e.g., canvas trousers and loose-fitting tops (dark or bright colours are better at absorbing UV rays)
• Shorts
• T-shirts
• Flip-flops or sandals
• A good book
• Walking shoes
• Your dinner jacket, cocktail dress or ballgown (for our Black Tie evening)

In December, Spain is fairly chilly though temperatures don’t tend to drop below 5°C. You’ll also be able to enjoy generous swathes of sunshine beaming down upon festively decorated cities and villages. Here’s what we’d recommend bringing along on your cruise:

• Long-sleeved tops
• Jumpers
• Casual shirt and trousers/skirt or dress (for some evenings on board)
• A coat or thick jacket
• Trousers
• A good book
• A raincoat
• Walking shoes
• Toiletries
• Your dinner jacket, cocktail dress or ballgown (for our Black Tie evening)

If you’re heading off on a cruise to Portugal in December, you’ll be able to relish a milder version of winter where daytime temperatures are temperate and the evenings are refreshingly cool. We’d recommend bringing along:

• Long-sleeved tops
• Jumpers
• Casual shirt and trousers/skirt or dress (for some evenings on board)
• A coat or thick jacket
• Trousers
• A good book
• A raincoat
• Walking shoes
• Toiletries
• Your dinner jacket, cocktail dress or ballgown (for our Black Tie evening)

In December, the unbelievably picturesque region of Norway is more than a little chilly. To make sure you can make the most of the pretty landscapes, you’ll want to pack to keep warm. We’d recommend bringing along:

• Layers
• Jumpers
• Long-sleeved tops
• Casual shirt and trousers/skirt or dress (for some evenings on board)
• Waterproof or water-resistant trousers
• Sunscreen and lip-balm with SPF (if travelling to a snowy region)
• Salopettes, goggles and sunglasses (if travelling to a snowy region)
• Winter jacket
• Thermals
• Boots
• Winter accessories, e.g., scarves, hats and gloves
• Your dinner jacket, cocktail dress or ballgown (for our Black Tie evening)

In December, the weather in Spain is pleasantly mild. Cartagena averages highs of 20°C and lows of 11°C, with twelve days of rain for the month. With just a week’s worth of rain, Cádiz reaches highs of 17°C and lows of 11°C, while Málaga expects only five days of rain for the month, lows of 9°C and highs of 17°C. With thirteen days of rainfall for the month of December, La Coruña clocks in with highs of 14°C and lows of 9°C while Vigo averages highs of 14°C and lows of 8°C.

Portugal in December certainly isn’t as wintry as other regions. With lows of 9°C and ten days of rain for the month, Lisbon averages respectable highs of 15°C. Madeira has rain for thirteen days of December, and clocks in with highs of 13°C and lows of 7°C.

In December, Norway feels very wintry indeed, with temperatures that frequently dip below freezing. Åndalsnes is the warmest of the bunch that we visit, with highs of 5°C, lows of 2°C and a fair bit of rain at a total of eighteen days. Similarly, with just a day fewer of rain, Stavanger reaches highs of 5°C and lows of 1°C. Oslo has rain for eight days of the month, and averages highs and lows of 1°C and a very chilly -4°C. Featuring twelve days of rain during December, Narvik experiences highs and lows of 1°C and -3°C respectively. With 0°C highs, Tromsø can creep down to average lows of -4°C, and expects fifteen days of rain for the month.

In a word – chilly! Hamburg expects twelve days of rain for the month, with average highs and lows of 5°C and 1°C respectively. It rains in Rotterdam for just a day more at thirteen days in total for the month, and clocks in with highs of 7°C and lows just a couple of degrees above freezing. Bruges has rain for ten days in December, and reaches respectable highs of 10°C and lows of 2°C.

In Western Europe, December can feature nearly freezing temperatures with smatterings of rain. Amsterdam expects thirteen days of rain for the month, with highs of 7°C and lows of 2°C, while Hamburg is a little cooler overall with highs of 5°C and lows of 1°C, plus twelve days of rain. With ten days of rain, Bruges averages respectable 10°C highs while lows can dip to 2°C.

Prepare for the merriest of holidays with one of our Christmas cruises; take your pick of the Caribbean, or Spain, Portugal and the Canary Islands for a Christmas you’ll remember.

A good Christmas market can make the season come alive as brightly as fairy lights around a tree. We visit the following Christmas markets, each containing their very own kind of festive magic:

• Bruges (on a Short Break, Northern Europe or Baltic cruise)
• Amsterdam (on a Northern Europe, or via a Baltic cruise)
• Rotterdam (via a Northern Europe, or Baltic cruise)
• Copenhagen (on a Baltic cruise)
• Oslo (on a Baltic cruise)

It’s summertime in the Caribbean during December, and, with its high average temperatures, you’ll be able to feel it. You’ll want to base your luggage around staying cool and protected under the sun, so we’d recommend bringing along:

• Swimming costume/swim shorts
• Sunscreen with high SPF rating
• Casual shirt and trousers/skirt or dress (for some evenings on board)
• Cover-up or similar, e.g., canvas trousers and loose-fitting tops (dark or bright colours are better at absorbing UV rays)
• Sunglasses
• A hat for sun protection
• Shorts
• T-shirts
• Flip-flops or sandals
• A good book
• Walking shoes
• Your dinner jacket, cocktail dress or ballgown (for our Black Tie evening)

If you’re cruising to Northern Europe in December, you’ve frost-tipped cities and storybook pretty villages to look forward to. You’ll want to base your luggage around keeping warm against the chill, so we’d recommend bringing along:

• Layers
• Jumpers
• Long-sleeved tops
• Waterproof or water-resistant trousers
• Casual shirt and trousers/skirt or dress (for some evenings on board)
• Sunscreen and lip-balm with SPF (if travelling to a snowy region)
• Salopettes, goggles and sunglasses (if travelling to a snowy region)
• Winter jacket
• Thermals
• Boots
• Winter accessories, e.g., scarves, hats and gloves
• Your dinner jacket, cocktail dress or ballgown (for our Black Tie evening)

Ranging from the scarf-and-hat-type cold to cool weather with less bite, you’ll want to factor in Western Europe’s variable weather for your December cruise holiday. We’d suggest bringing along:

• Layers
• Jumpers
• Long-sleeved tops
• Casual shirt and trousers/skirt or dress (for some evenings on board)
• Waterproof or water-resistant trousers
• Sunscreen and lip-balm with SPF (if travelling to a snowy region)
• Salopettes, goggles and sunglasses (if travelling to a snowy region)
• Winter jacket
• Thermals
• Boots
• Winter accessories, e.g., scarves, hats and gloves
• Your dinner jacket, cocktail dress or ballgown (for our Black Tie evening)

Forget frost-tipped treetops, pink noses and seeing your breath in white puffs in front of you; in December, summer’s here to stay in the Caribbean for the next few months – even the lows are pretty warm. Curaçao expects twelve days of rain for the month, highs of 31°C and lows a toasty warm 25°C. Similarly, Dominica creeps up to 31°C, experiences lows of 23°C and over two weeks’ worth of rain. Bonaire expects a fair amount of rain at a total of twenty-two days for the month, highs of 30°C and lows of 26°C. Aruba clocks in with similar average temperatures of 30°C and lows of 25°C, though it rains for only eleven days of the month, and the same goes for Saint Vincent but with eighteen days of rain for the month of December. Grenada clocks in with highs of 30°C and lows of 24°C, and expects eighteen days of rain for the month. With four days fewer rainfall, Guadeloupe averages toasty hot highs of 30°C and lows of 20°C. Saint Kitts clocks in with twenty days of rain and Barbados at twelve, and these locations experience highs of 29°C and lows of 23°C. St Lucia and St Maarten average highs of 29°C and lows of 24°C, though St Maarten has rain for one day more in December at a total of thirteen days. Raining for twelve days of the month, Martinique tends not to dip below 21°C and can climb to 29°C. Antigua and Tobago share highs and lows of 28°C and 24°C, though Antigua has two days more rain for December at a total of twelve days. Finally, Tortola expects two weeks’ worth of rain for the month, highs of 27°C and lows of 20°C.