Thanksgiving and Christmas – two brilliant times to cruise with us…here is why

Hello everyone. Here I am back again — this time to chat with you about two very special holidays which are great times to take your family on a Carnival cruise.

The first is Thanksgiving. Now I should start by mentioning that I am British and we don’t celebrate Thanksgiving in the UK. However, I have so much to be thankful for and appreciate the tradition of Thanksgiving which is a holiday intended for us to give thanks for our family, friends and blessings.  Spending this special time on board a ship is a wonderful way to explore the Caribbean sunshine, relax, have fun and let the staff serve and entertain you while being surrounded by family and loved ones and appreciating all that we have.

On Thanksgiving Day itself there are activities, movies and fun based on this special holiday and, of course, there is food……………loads and loads and loads of food. And with that in mind I thought I would share the Thanksgiving Day Menu with you for our fleet.

APPETIZERS
Duck Pot Stickers
Orange Duck Glaze

Heirloom Tomatoes, Blue Crab and Ahi Tuna
Olive Marmalade

Pumpkin Bisque
Enhanced with Turkey and Walnut Dumpling

Game Consomme
Aged Sherry, Crispy Straws

Chilled Tomato Soup with Wild Berry Salad

Thanksgiving Salad
Romaine Lettuce with Chestnuts, Tomatoes, Blue Cheese and
Sweet Ginger, Shallot Dressing

Oysters Rockefeller
Baked with Spinach and Cheese Sauce

MAIN COURSE

Spinach Fettuccini with Chicken Tetrazzini
Sliced Chicken Breast and Mushrooms in a Cream Sauce, Baked with Cheddar Cheese

Grilled Black Tiger Jumbo Shrimp
Fava Bean Salad, Garlic and Herb Butter

The Turkey Dinner
Sweet Potato Gratin, Giblet Gravy, Cranberry Relish, Walnut Stuffing

Clove and Maple Syrup Marinated, Baked Virginia Ham

Apple and Cinnamon Bread Pudding

Petite Filet Mignon and Braised Boneless Short-Rib
Oven Roasted Potatoes, Red Burgundy Wine Sauce

Zucchini Fritters
Stuffed with Manchego Cheese and Eggplant

DESSERTS
Spiced Pumpkin and Gingerbread Pie
Fig Melt and Wild Berries

Warm Chocolate Melting Cake
Served with Vanilla Ice Cream

Double Roasted Pineapple
Piña Colada Marmalade
Sugar free

Fresh Tropical Fruit Plate

Vanilla • Chocolate • Strawberry • Butter Pecan Ice Cream
Sugar-Free Ice Cream is Available upon Request

And just after you have finally digested the turkey, it will be time…………….for Christmas.

Ask anyone who has been on a Carnival Christmas cruise and they will tell you that it is their favourite time of year to cruise.

In many respects, Christmas on board Carnival is similar to spending it at home. Turkey, pumpkin pie, a Christmas show, Santa bringing gifts for every one of the kids (the kids get concerned about how Santa will arrive but we truthfully reassure them he’ll be coming in during the night via helicopter and sliding down the ship’s funnel), decorations, music, cheer and all the usual traditions.

But if I’m going to be honest here, there are some challenges with cruising at Christmas. Not only do you have to pack all the usual assortment of vacation bollocks . . . . sun cream, elegant wear, non-elegant wear, 819 different battery chargers plus power strips, but also you have to think about all the presents you’ll be handing out on Christmas morning.

How to squeeze in the roses you bought for your wife from the Citgo Station, the kids’ new toys and the 8,500 more battery chargers for the kids’ new toys. It’s a bloody nightmare. You have to go to the airport in an 18 wheeler truck after which you’ll line up for hours so that someone can X-ray your underpants and confiscate your toothpaste. You’ll get deep vein thrombosis from flying economy class and sunburn from spending Christmas Day at the beach. But you won’t have to clean, do the washing up, prepare the turkey and worry if the stuffing is cooked properly or if it will give Grandpa diarrhea.

Yes, traveling at that time of year may require some additional patience. But once on board, spending Christmas on a Carnival ship is something all families should experience. You have the best of Christmas but none of the stress and you are surrounded by decorations, the spirit of the season and your loved ones.

Hope you’ll come join us.