Labor Day has always been the symbolic end of the summer, and with college football kicking off, it is hard not to notice that fall is right around the bend.  Last week, I was at Costco,  and one aisle was already dedicated to Christmas merchandise complete with an electric piano playing Auld Lang Syne.  So, I guess it is about time to switch gears and start thinking about the holidays.

Just in time for Thanksgiving, a magical transformation will occur on the Disney ships, as they become decked to the raft-ers with holiday cheer.  Each ship will be transformed into a winter wonderland on the high seas complete with garland, wreaths, and twinkling lights.  Last year, the [Disney_Dream] featured a 20-foot-tall tree in the Atrium Lobby with more than 20,000 LED lights!

Thanksgiving Cruises

Each ship will have a bountiful Thanksgiving Day feast with traditional turkey day fanfare including Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse and friends dressed in Thanksgiving attire. Thanksgiving voyages set sail on:

• November 17, 2012 with a 7-night Western Caribbean cruise on the [Disney_Magic]
• November 18, 2012 with a 7-night Mexican Riviera cruise on the [Disney_Wonder]
• November 21, 2012 with a 4-night Bahamian cruise on the [Disney_Dream]
• November 17, 2012 with a 7-night Eastern Caribbean cruise on the [Disney_Fantasy]

Christmas Cruises

Special stem-to-stern holiday events begin in December during each of the cruises.  On the first night of the cruise, a young guest will have the opportunity to light King Triton’s Tree in the atrium lobby.  Onboard activities include family holiday crafts such as decorating stockings, building gingerbread houses, making holiday cards and creating holiday animation cells.  Holiday storytellers will share tales of Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and a story just for Disney Cruise Line guests about the magical feeling of the holidays on a ship.  The foodies will be treated with traditional holiday feasts in the rotation dining rooms.  The end of the cruise on the Magic & Wonder will feature a special holiday version of their ‘Til We Meet Again farewell show.

The holiday celebration continues on shore at Castaway Cay with Christmas trees, snow flurries, and holiday carolers.

On Christmas morning at the atrium lobby tree, Santa Claus and his elves will have surprises for all the kids, along with cookies and milk.  Hanukkah services will be held each day between December 8th and the 16th. Christmas services will be held on Christmas Day with a midnight mass on Christmas Eve.

The Chrstmas voyages will set sail on:

• December 21, 2012 with an 8-night Western Caribbean Holiday Cruise on the [Disney_Magic] from Galveston, Texas
• December 22, 2012 with a 7-night Western Caribbean Holiday Cruise on the [Disney_Fantasy]
• December 23, 2012 with a 7-night Holiday Cruise on the [Disney_Wonder] from Miami
• December 23, 2012 with a 5-night Holiday Cruise on the [Disney_Dream]

New Year’s Cruises

To help celebrate the New Year, the following voyages will include a special New Year’s Eve gala to ring in 2013 complete with music, sparkling wine in commemorative flutes, and a midnight countdown.

• December 28, 2012 with a 5-night Bahamian Cruise on the [Disney_Dream]
• December 29, 2012 with a 6-night Western Caribbean on the [Disney_Magic] from Galveston, Texas
• December 29, 2012 with a 7-night Eastern Caribbean Cruise on the [Disney_Fantasy]
• December 30, 2012 with a 6-night Caribbean Cruise on [Disney_Wonder] from Miami

Holiday Merchandise

For the first time during these holiday cruises, guest will have an opportunity to purchase items from Disney Cruise Line’s holiday merchandise collection. This collection will only be available in the onboard during November and December sailings. I’m hoping the collection will include the peacock ornaments we saw in the sneak peak of the Fantasy’s Christmas decorations. Kristin Ford, from AllEars.net, provided an exclusive sneak peak at some of the logos which will be used on the holiday merchandise.

I am looking forward to Cruising Through the Holidays on the [Disney_Fantasy] this December.  Do you have a cruise coming up this holiday season?