Write an article based on this "Bask in the holiday decorations. Check your ship's daily newsletter for scheduling details. Take advantage of holiday-themed meals. Look for daily activities for children. Take part in onboard religious services if you choose. Do some holiday shopping in the ship's shops. Enjoy special performances and tree lightings. Participate in local festivities when you're docked."
As soon as you get on board, you'll be confronted with a wondrous spectacle of lights, ornaments, and fir. Take a minute to appreciate it! You didn't even have to sort the lights this year. Be sure to snap lots of photos among the decorations with your family members. Each day, an awesome member of your cruise line's staff will leave a newsletter in your room. These leaflets provide tons of information about the upcoming day's activities, including any last-minute scheduling changes. Ask everyone in your family to pick which activities they'd like to participate in. If there are disagreements over activities, resolve the conflict by suggesting taking turns picking each day. Cruise lines will provide a wide variety of food and drinks suited for the season. Expect to enjoy some spiced eggnog and gingerbread houses, along with turkey, ham, and all the trimmings. And, of course, lots of Christmas cookies! Adults can also enjoy holiday-themed drink specials and holiday parties. Especially if you're on a larger ship, Christmas cruises will have tons of activities planned for kids. Take a picture with Santa, build gingerbread houses, or do some holiday-themed arts and crafts. Some ships will even have Santa give out gifts to younger children on Christmas morning. On some ships, you may also be able to join in for some Christmas sing-alongs and storytimes. Depending on which ship you pick, you may have a wide variety of services to choose from or one non-denominational service. Attend the services and enjoy the time with your family. Reflect on the season and its messages. Poke your head into the shops. Even if you aren't doing your Christmas shopping for friends and family on board, you may be able to pick up a little something for yourself! If you like window shopping, you can also just walk around and browse. Your cruise line will offer holiday-themed entertainment several times during the journey. If you're on a large ship, you can even attend Broadway-quality Christmas shows. Be sure to also go to any tree lighting ceremonies to get into the Christmas spirit. Mid-size ships will also offer plenty of entertainment, but the theater (and the performance) may not be as large-scale. Smaller ships pride themselves on their exclusive entertainment, which is usually aimed at adults. Depending on where your ship docks, you may be lucky enough to enjoy holiday carnivals and celebrations. Other spots may have limited openings during December, so be prepared for either situation. Regardless, get off the ship, stretch your legs, and enjoy your beautiful destination! Most islands in the Caribbean, for example, will have lots of festivals you can attend during this time of year. Even if restaurants and shops are closed, you can still walk around and get a feel for the city.