Where Should Canadians Cruise in December: The Smart Picks

Updated 29 October 2026 · 4 min read · Cruise Questions Canada editorial team

December is really three cruise seasons in one month. The first two weeks bring quiet, good-value Caribbean sailings. Europe's rivers switch to Christmas markets. Then the school break arrives and holiday sailings fill at peak prices.

Early December: the quiet Caribbean window

The weeks after American Thanksgiving and before the Christmas school break are traditionally one of the softer periods of the Caribbean winter. Schools are in session, people are saving for the holidays, and the Atlantic hurricane season has officially ended on November 30.

For couples, retirees and anyone not tied to the school calendar, this is the smart December pick. You get winter sun on the same ships for much less than the holiday weeks. A 7-night sailing from Fort Lauderdale or Miami pairs well with a direct flight from Toronto or Montreal, and the Caribbean cost guide for Canadians shows what to budget.

Christmas markets on Europe's rivers

From late November until just before Christmas, river cruises on the Rhine, Danube and Main switch to Christmas-market itineraries. These are shorter sailings stopping in towns such as Cologne, Nuremberg, Vienna and Strasbourg, with markets a short walk from the dock.

What to know before booking

• Most markets close around December 23, so these cruises end before Christmas Day.
• River ships are small, so popular dates sell out a year ahead.
• Expect cold, damp days around freezing. Pack the same layers you would for a Canadian November.
• Flights from Canada to Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Munich or Vienna are usually reasonable before mid-December.

The Danube and Rhine guide for Canadians compares the routes, and river vs ocean cruising helps if you have never tried a river ship.

Christmas and New Year at sea

From around December 20 to early January, Caribbean, Bahamas and Mexican Riviera sailings carry the year's highest fares. In return you get festive menus, decorated ships and a holiday without hosting. What holiday cruises are actually like covers the onboard side, including how busy the ships get with families.

Western Canadians often find the Mexican Riviera easier, since sailings from Los Angeles and San Diego are a short flight from Vancouver or Calgary. Eastern Canadians usually head to Florida.

Further afield in December

December is summer in the southern hemisphere. Antarctica expedition sailings run through the austral summer, and South America, Australia and New Zealand are in season. These are big-budget trips, covered in the Antarctica cost guide. Alaska, Norway's summer fjords and most of the Mediterranean are out of season.

A December booking timeline

1. January to March, a year ahead: book Christmas-market river cruises and holiday-week Caribbean sailings, ideally during wave season promotions.
2. Spring: book flights for holiday sailings once schedules open, and buy travel insurance at deposit.
3. Summer to early autumn: early-December Caribbean sailings are usually still widely available, and this is a good time to compare them.
4. Final payment, around 90 days out: check whether your fare has dropped and ask for a reprice before it locks.

Picking your December

If you are free before the school break, early-December Caribbean sun is the best value of the month. Couples who want something festive and cultural should look at the river markets. Families tied to the school calendar should book holiday sailings early and budget for peak pricing, or consider waiting for the quieter weeks after New Year, covered in the January guide.

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