Thanksgiving Cruises: Things to Consider

Book Early
Perhaps you have some vacation time that you can use around the Turkey Day and you have it in your head that a cruise is exactly the medicine you need before the holiday rush. The problem? Everyone else has the same idea! Holiday cruises fill up quickly, so if you want to have your choice of ships and cabins, book early. You can get better deals if you book about a year in advance, but if you can't plan that far ahead, make sure to book your cruise by early July.

Airline Blackouts
Be advised that because you're cruising during the holidays, your airfare is likely to be outrageously priced. Discount blackouts will be in effect for the weekend before and after Thanksgiving, so this will be one of the rare times when it might be cheaper to buy your airfare through the cruiseline itself. (Another advantage of buying your airfare with your Thanksgiving cruise is that the cruiseline will consider itself responsible for getting you onto the ship if your flight is delayed or there are unforeseen circumstances that prevent you from boarding on time.)

Kids
While some cruise lines are known to cater to families, during Thanksgiving cruises almost every ship will be filled to the brim with screaming toddlers and splashing children. If you're determined to have a more adult-natured cruise, consider a different time to vacation. If that's not a possibility and your heart is set on a Thanksgiving cruise, consider a larger ship or one that is laid out to accommodate guests with smaller, private venues, throughout. Also, ask your cruise director to please enforce the rules at any 'Adult Only' pools or hot tubs.

Hurricane Season
Hurricane Season starts June 1^st and ends November 30^th. This means that your Thanksgiving cruise may be effected by a storm. The good news is that cruising during hurricane season isn't dangerous. The ships know exactly where the storms are, and can navigate away from them without difficulty. If a hurricane does plague your Thanksgiving cruise, the worst case scenario is that you may miss a port of call, or that your ship's captain may choose a different port of call that isn't in danger of stormy weather.

Money Concerns
Booking a cruise during the Thanksgiving holiday can be expensive. Not only are air fares unreasonably priced, but because of the demand for Thanksgiving cruises, the ship fares are more expensive too. If you have the option, choose a cruise the weeks before or after Thanksgiving, and you'll get a steal. However, the trade-off is that you'll end up taking off more days from work.

Missing Home
Thanksgiving is a holiday typically spent with family by the hearth in the home. You may find yourself missing friends and family even though they're slogging through snow while you bathe in warm waters of the Caribbean. Never fear, you needn't be out of touch during your Thanksgiving cruise. Most ships now offer internet cafes onboard, and many of the newer ships are also wired for cell phone use. But if you're too busy being thankful for the fun and sun, your family will surely understand.