Celebrate! The new year is almost upon us. If you were lucky enough to plan ahead, you might be spending this New Year’s Eve on board a cruise ship to bring in the new year. Or, if you're like us, you might be spending the night in your pajamas, watching the ball drop in Times Square.
While it's a little late in the game to book a cruise in the next two weeks, now's the perfect time to start making plans for a New Year’s Eve cruise in 2017. Here are our six favorite New Year’s Eve cruises for 2017 — and use Cruiseable's Bliss Filters at the right to fine-tune your search.
Carnival Vista
Welcome the new year in a family-friendly style
Can’t part with your little ones for some New Year’s Eve cruising? Just take them along. Everyone in the family will find something to love about Carnival Cruise Line’s newest ship, Carnival Vista. With Carnival’s largest water park at sea, a sports deck featuring the new SkyRide and Dr. Seuss’s Bookville, the kids will have plenty to keep them occupied, while the adults enjoy the RedFrog Brewery and Pub, the Havana Bar and Pool, and the adults only Serenity retreat. Departing on Dec. 30, 2017, this 8-night cruise visits San Juan, St. Maarten, St. Kitts and Grand Turk, meaning you can spend your time ashore walking historic streets, snorkeling with sting rays, horseback riding along the beach, racing yachts, ziplining through the rainforest or just relaxing in a lounge chair at the nearby beach.
Ruby Princess
Say ‘Feliz Año Nuevo’ on a Mexican Riviera cruise
Bask in the warm sun as you embark on this 7-night Mexican Riviera cruise on Ruby Princess departing on Dec. 30, 2017. Enjoy one of the most refined parties at sea when you count down to midnight on the second day of this cruise, which is sure to be a formal night. Ruby Princess caters to a sophisticated crowd, but don't let that scare you away — this cruise is perfect for couples of all ages. Movies Under the Stars and nightly theater shows, along with a variety of bars and lounges, will keep the celebration going all week. Award-winning dining options, including the new specialty restaurant Share from celebrity chef Curtis Stone, is just another benefit of cruising on Ruby Princess. Don’t worry: You’ll work off all those extra calories as you stroll the Malecon waterfront district in Puerto Vallarta, explore the historic churches of Mazatlán and dive in the deep blue waters of Cabo San Lucas.
Norwegian Sky
A 4-night splash-and-dash to the Bahamas
Don’t worry about the cold weather or the bar tab on this cruise. Party the night away on this 4-day all-inclusive Bahamas cruise on Norwegian Sky. Perfect for those with limited vacation time, you can enjoy the recently updated Norwegian Cruise Line’s private island of Great Stirrup Cay during your New Year’s Eve getaway. Have a relaxing beach day, snorkel along the island’s reefs or get up close and personal with stingrays during your stop at this private oasis. NCL’s Freestyle Dining means you don’t have to worry about set dining times or making dinner reservations — you can dress up or down as almost anything goes. It’s kid-friendly, too. The best part is that Norwegian Sky includes an open bar for the entire length of your cruise! Voted as the best short cruise by Porthole Magazine, you are in for a rocking New Year’s Eve.
Viking Star
Resolve to see more of the globe in 2018
Climb on board the luxurious Viking Star, the first ocean ship from Viking, to coast through the "Iconic Cities of the Western Mediterranean" on a cruise departing on Dec. 28, 2017. You can sip champagne while you spend the daytime of New Year’s Eve in the quaint French port of St. Tropez. With additional stops in Barcelona, Rome, Florence and Monte Carlo, you'll begin your 2018 with a cultural immersion that doubles as a romantic getaway. It doesn’t hurt that the 930-passenger Viking Star is one of the most elegant ships in the region. With all-inclusive offerings such as specialty dining, drinks during meals, all balcony rooms, ship-wide Wi-Fi, onboard cultural presentations and an included excursion in every port, you can start the year off feeling more refined, worldly and enriched.
Celebrity Eclipse
Warm up for the holidays in St. Lucia, St. Kitts & 4 other destinations
Make this a trip to remember and take the extended family on a 12-night exotic holiday cruise aboard Celebrity Eclipse. Leaving from Miami, this 12-night cruise encompasses both Christmas and New Year’s, meaning you can truly get into the holiday spirit while sailing the high seas. This cruise visits six Caribbean islands, including lush St. Lucia, cozy and huggable St. Kitts and other popular spots. Celebrity Cruises’ modern luxury will provide you with the pampering you deserve during the sailing. Celebrity Eclipse recently went through dry dock and added a new Gastrobar and a poolside Slush bar, which serves frozen cocktails. With their signature dining, high-end onboard shopping and CanyonRanch Spa, this trip would make for a stress-free holiday season and the ultimate Christmas gift.
Ovation of the Seas
Get a jump on 2018 with an Australian cruise
Be among the first of your friends to welcome in 2018 aboard the largest ship sailing Down Under. On Royal Caribbean’s Ovation of the Seas, you can get a bird’s eye view of the ports of call in the North Star as well as enjoy indoor skydiving, surfing and bumper cars, all from the comforts of the ship. Offering a variety of lounges and bars including the Bionic Bar — manned by robots — this innovative ship might make you feel like you are light years ahead of your friends back home. This 12-night cruise departing on Dec. 29, 2017, will take you to New Zealand, where you can marvel at the amazing scenery and traverse the landscapes of this photographer’s dream cruise. Make sure to leave some time in the calendar to explore the ship’s home port of Sydney before heading home.
How about you? What looks like a good way to ring in the new year?
