Carnival Cruise Line’s 2018 Holiday Decoration Schedule

Christmas Carnival Vista

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It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas… at least, it is for those folks who are planning to take a cruise this holiday season. And this week, Carnival Cruise Line announced the dates that each of the ships in their fleet will undergo their annual Christmasification. (Sure, that might not be an actual word, but it definitely should be… right?)

When Each Ship Will Be Decorated

Christmas Carnival Vista
The Christmas tree decorated in the Vista atrium.

For many people, there’s no better way to mark the holidays than by gathering their loved ones and heading someplace warm. But just because you want to escape the cold weather which Rudolf and his fellow reindeer flourish doesn’t mean you want to skip the trimmed trees, decked halls and festive lights we’ve come to expect of the season. What better way to enjoy the holiday madness than allowing someone else to do all the decorating… not to mention all the cleaning up.

While stores may begin putting their Christmas displays up before they’ve even sold all their Halloween candy, Carnival will this year begin rolling out the holiday decorations right around Thanksgiving. Want to know exactly when a ship you’re sailing on (or thinking about booking) will undergo the transformation? Here’s the schedule for the fleet, listed alphabetically. (As an aside… you realize just how many ships Carnival has in its fleet when you compile a list such as this one.)

  • Carnival Breeze, November 24th
  • Carnival Conquest, December 2nd
  • Carnival Dream, November 25th
  • Carnival Ecstasy, November 26th
  • Carnival Elation, November 29th
  • Carnival Fascination, December 2nd
  • Carnival Fantasy, November 26th
  • Carnival Freedom, December 3rd
  • Carnival Glory, December 1st
  • Carnival Horizon, November 29th
  • Carnival Imagination, November 25th
  • Carnival Inspiration, November 23rd
  • Carnival Legend, November 30th
  • Carnival Liberty, November 30th
  • Carnival Magic, December 2nd
  • Carnival Miracle, December 2nd
  • Carnival Paradise, December 3rd
  • Carnival Pride, November 25th
  • Carnival Sensation, November 24th
  • Carnival Spirit, November 29th
  • Carnival Splendor, November 24th
  • Carnival Sunshine, November 23rd
  • Carnival Triumph, November 24th
  • Carnival Valor, December 1st
  • Carnival Vista, December 2nd
  • Carnival Victory, November 23rd

In addition to Christmas trees, mistletoe, holly and ivy, the ships in the Carnival fleet will also have menorah lighting ceremonies during the Hanukkah season (which this year runs from December 2-10th). These generally take place in the atrium although, as with all holiday-related festivities, the Fun Times will list the times and locations for all events.

Have you ever cruised during the holiday season? What was your favorite thing about doing so? 

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