Fred. Olsen’s Christmas cruises, unwrapped

At a glance

• Do expect all-out Christmas décor, overnight port stays, unique itineraries and festive surprises
• Don’t expect seasonal stress, compulsory long-haul flights and over-the-top fares
• Booking early is highly recommended so you can snag your preferred dates and cabin category

Do expect… Christmas done properly

Grinches beware, if you’re looking to escape carols, gingerbread houses and poinsettias, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines is not the choice for you. You’ll find all those festive favourites and more across its fleet.

Halls are decked in holly, garlands and twinkling lights, while Christmas trees are dressed in baubles and bows. Menus, meanwhile, mark the merriest season with festive fare, from Mistletoe Martinis and mulled wine to traditional roast turkey and all the trimmings.

Best of all, the atmosphere is always cosy and welcoming thanks to the relatively small size of the ships. And because Fred. Olsen has its headquarters in the UK, you can rest assured that you won’t miss out on beloved British traditions, such as pantomimes, buck’s fizz and Christmas pudding.

There’s a programme of seasonal activities, too, designed to help you make the most of sea days. Come prepared for fierce Christmas jumper competitions and craft classes where you can create handmade keepsakes.

Don’t expect… to lift a finger

If you’re usually the one who gets left holding the turkey, it’s hard to wrap your head around the idea that, for once, you’ll be the guest rather than the host.

Once you’re aboard your ship, Christmas no longer means tussling with tinsel or spending hours in the kitchen. You can leave it all to Father Christmas, who, with a little help from Fred. Olsen’s consummate professionals, keeps things running smoother than brandy sauce.

That means, instead of juggling gravy boats and bin bags, you can simply settle in, raise a glass and let someone else make the magic happen.

Do expect… festivities after dark

One of the great advantages of a festive sailing with Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines is that many of its itineraries include overnight stays in port. On a Festive France, Belgium & The Netherlands voyage, for instance, you’ll stay overnight in Zeebrugge, giving you two full days to explore Brussels and Bruges’ storied Christmas markets.

Other voyages feature overnight stops in destinations like Antwerp, Hamburg, Honfleur, Rouen, Tromsø and more. With time on your side, you can lose yourself in fairytale squares dusted with frost and lined with wooden chalets, without feeling rushed.

Best of all, you’ll see these destinations at their most magical – after dark, when Christmas lights spill across medieval streets and turn them into Christmas-card perfect scenes. Sip Belgian hot chocolate in the glow of festive stalls, skate on an open-air ice rink beneath dazzling decorations, or, with a bit of luck, watch moonlight glint off fresh snow.

Don’t expect… long-haul flights

You can leave the flying to Santa’s reindeer this Christmas, thanks to Fred. Olsen’s impressive number of departures directly from UK ports. While airports turn into a less-than-festive jumble of delays, cramped seats and overly strict baggage limits – the bane of enthusiastic gift givers – you can step straight onto a ship brimming with seasonal touches.

And if you don’t happen to live on the south coast, fret not. Alongside plenty of departures from Southampton and Portsmouth, you’ll also find convenient sailings from Liverpool and Newcastle, so you can choose the port that suits you best and start your festive break without the faff of a flight.

Do expect… the unexpected

Don’t be fooled by the familiar favourites aboard Fred. Olsen cruise ships. Traditional does not mean boring, and you might just get a side of mystery with your mince pies.

In fact, there’s one Christmas sailing that’s handcrafted for travellers with a taste for intrigue. On the aptly named Festive European Mystery Cruise, every port is kept under wraps until the last possible moment, so you won’t know where you’re headed until you arrive.

Since mum’s the word, we’ll just say you can expect a carefully chosen line-up of destinations and a calendar stuffed with festive surprises. You might even find a crime writer in your midst, giving the merriest season a spooky twist in true Victorian style.

Don't expect to... pay a fortune

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines offers proof positive that festive cruises needn’t cost an arm and a leg. At the time of writing, there are multiple five- and six-night festive sailings from £599, including full board plus perks such as evening shows, live music, dance and fitness classes, cookery demonstrations and more.

And if you’re travelling solo – a brilliant way to carve out some calm in the lead-up-to-Christmas hubbub – keep an eye out for departures with reduced single supplements.

Do expect… off-the-beaten-track destinations

If you’re looking to sail to classic festive destinations like Bruges and Brussels, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines can certainly take you there.

But if you’ve already ticked the most famous Christmas markets off your list, Fred. Olsen can also whisk you away to winter ports that are less travelled but just as enchanting.

On a voyage to the Baltics, for example, you might discover the cosy art of hygge, warm up in an authentic Finnish sauna as snow falls outside, or explore the ancient pagan traditions that lend the season a more mystical magic.

Or, for a Christmas-comes-but-once-a-year treat, claim your place on Fred. Olsen’s In Search of the Northern Lights at Christmas cruise. This extraordinary itinerary pairs the romance of a white Christmas with the thrill of witnessing the Aurora Borealis, brought vividly to life by onboard Go Stargazing astronomers. And for one final brush with seasonal wonder, you may even encounter real-life reindeer, which have long been intertwined with a traditional Sámi way of life.

Don’t expect… Santa to save your spot

If you’re planning to book, it pays to do so sooner rather than later. While it’s tempting to put logistics on the back burner, this is one time it’s well worth getting ahead of the crowds. Acting early means you can secure your preferred dates and stateroom before they’re booked up.

That way, by the time November rolls around, you’ll already have one thing ticked off your list: a well-earned escape from the bustle that the festive period inevitably brings.

Read next: Want to see the Northern Lights? Try a Fred. Olsen cruise