Thanksgiving Cruise Prices and Tips for Cruising on a Holiday

I was fortunate to spend the Thanksgiving holiday on the Carnival Liberty with my immediate and extended family in 2014. While I have been on a ship for Memorial Day and the Fourth of July, this was a first time cruising on a typical "stay at home" holiday for my entire family. A few tips for those of you looking to book a holiday cruise:

*Don't expect the usual- While a turkey dinner was offered in the main dining room, as well as pumpkin pie for dessert, there was no real mention of Thanksgiving. There were passengers from all around the world, many who don't celebrate this traditional American feast day, which led to the day feeling diluted in importance. Thanksgiving is not my favorite holiday, so I was not really disappointed. I could see, however, that folks who are really into keeping the traditional aspects of their holiday experience may want to consider if cruising on a holiday is right for them. Only three of our party of seven ended up eating turkey- my sister enjoyed the Indian vegetarian dinner that Carnival expertly makes! My husband thought eating surf and turf on Thanksgiving was the best! 

 *Be prepared for crowds- We were fortunate that our ship was not completely full, but many cruise ships sail at capacity over the holidays. Pack your patience and plans for a quiet place to hang out if the crowds become overwhelming. This is when a balcony is a great room choice for some privacy and solace to relax.

*Realize that the normal cruise activities may be altered-Check with your personal cruise consultant if you are set on seeing a particular show or participating in a specific activity on your cruise. Sometimes over a holiday the cruise ships will offer special shows, amended activities and holiday themed parties in lieu of the typical cruise ship itinerary. Sometimes these extra events can add to the enjoyment of the holiday or holiday season, though. 

Although I am unable to cruise this Thanksgiving I still found myself researching the options-which I think us cruisers always love to do! :) Here are some cruises with prices for Thanksgiving week to get an idea in case you are looking to nab a last minute deal. For the sake of continuity I used Port Canaveral, FL as the sail away port, as well as financial information for a family of four seeking a standard balcony room, the week of 11/19/2016:

Norwegian Epic- 7 days, visiting Cozumel, Mexico, Grand Cayman, Ocho Rios, Jamaica and their private island of Great Stirrup Cay. The promotion I selected was the Unlimited Beverage Package for the first two adults, as well as free  daily gratuities for the first two travelers. A $100 on board credit is also offered for this Holiday cruise.
Cabin- 12059
Total Cost- $4,708.64

Carnival Sunshine- 7 days, visiting Grand Turk, Amber Cove, San Juan Puerto Rico and St. Thomas. There are no promotions offered with this cruise.
Cabin-8140
Total Cost-$3,941.60 

Royal Caribbean Oasis of the Seas- (11/20-11/27)- 7 days, visiting Labadee Haiti, Cozumel Mexico and Falmouth Jamaica. There are no promotions offered with this cruise.
Cabin- Balcony Guarantee
Total Cost-$4,636.16 

Disney Fantasy- 7 days visiting Tortola, St. Thomas and Castaway Cay. This is a cruise over Thanksgiving but will still be a "Very Merry" Holiday cruise featuring Christmas activities as well. 
Cabin-*at this time all balcony rooms are sold out for a family of four. The best available is a  guarantee port hole room.
Total cost-$6036.44

There are no other cruise lines leaving from this Orlando area port for a seven day voyage, but there are several other options if you are willing to sail away from Miami. If you end up booking a Thanksgiving cruise please let me know how it is! :)