Seven reasons to spend New Year on a cruise

After all the merriment and festivities of Christmas, things can feel a little flat when it’s all over, so booking an exotic New Year getaway is the ultimate pick-me-up. Set sail to a far-flung destination and you’ll forget all about cold weather and Christmas dinner leftovers you’ve escaped back at home.

Now, how about spending New Year’s Eve in Dominica and then New Year’s Day in St. Vincent? Two words: yes, please. With our abundance of Caribbean cruises departing from either Galveston, Texas, or Fort Lauderdale in mid- to late December, it’s entirely possible to see in the new year island hopping from one sun-drenched island to another. Grab a rum punch and celebrate!

There’s always plenty going on during any Princess cruise, but on a New Year’s Eve itinerary, we’re officially ready to party! Enjoy a delicious meal at the formal-dress Gala Night Dinner in the main dining rooms, or at the Gala Buffet available in World Fresh Market. Look out for the abundant midnight feast from 12:15am as well! There's live music counting down to midnight in every venue, plus the annual Big Count Down Party (either out on deck or in the Piazza) hosted by the onboard cruise director. You can then dance the night away with our resident DJ in our onboard nightclub. That said, if you’re recovering from a busy Christmas period and would prefer to retire to your stateroom after midnight (or even before) for a peaceful night, you’re more than welcome to.

If you’ve been looking to arrange a big family trip, a New Year’s cruise could be the answer. While you’ll be able to spend plenty of quality time with each other, a varied programme of onboard activities and jaw-dropping destinations will keep everyone entertained. And when it comes to the big event, why not book a big table for a New Year’s Eve feast in the dining room before getting stuck into the festivities together after.

Sunshine, sea and tequila cocktails – say hello to the new year in style! Set sail on one of our winter Mexico itineraries for the ultimate introduction to the vibrant and utterly breathtaking South American country. From December until late March is the dry season in Mexico, so is the ideal time to explore spots like beautiful Cabo San Lucas, which boasts some of the country’s loveliest shoreline; Puerto Vallarta, which is a buzzing resort perfect for beach-dwelling and bar hopping; and Mazatlán, a colourful creative hub home to many artists and photographers. And, of course, wherever you go, there won’t be any shortage of tequila. Cheers to that!

Fear not if you wake up in your stateroom on January 1 feeling a little groggy. For starters, Princess’ award-winning luxury beds will accommodate a very long lie-in, but beyond that, the onboard Lotus Spa offers a variety of therapies to revive you after a night of partying, while the fitness centre is the place to sweat out any excesses from the whole of the festive season. Alternatively, don’t move from your stateroom at all and order your favourite food and drink from OceanNow using the MedallionClass app. We wouldn’t blame you…

Start the new year as you mean to go on – ticking off one bucket-list destination or activity after another. January means summertime in Australia and New Zealand, which also means that the Princess Australasia cruise season is in full swing. Join us for one of the many itineraries departing mainland Australia and you could be soaking up the sights in Melbourne, taking a Lord of The Rings tour in Christchurch or jet boating around Auckland, all before the Twelfth Night.