Escape the madness of Times Square on New Year’s Eve and hop on a festive cruise instead. Whether you want to party or enjoy the Northern Lights, a cruise is a memorable way to ring in the new year.
Leaves are falling, apples are being picked, and you probably have all your Thanksgiving travel plans figured out—which means it’s well past time to decide where you’ll be spending New Year’s Eve 2017. Many cruise lines and tour companies start their holiday promotions in the heat of the summer, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find a last-minute getaway that will start your year off on the right foot.
Why not take the party with you—and warm up at the same time—by taking a cruise? Norwegian Cruise Lines’ ship Norwegian Sky sails from Miami on a four-day holiday Bahamas cruise, featuring its unique open bar concept; no more buying beverage packages, because drinks are included (super-premium spirits, however, are extra). Their Pride of America will take you on a seven-day cruise around the Hawaiian Islands from Honolulu. Each of NCL’s cruises offers a “holiday bonus”—onboard credit to spend however you’d like.
Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, Carnival, and Disney Cruise Lines also offer holiday sailings to the Bahamas, as well as other warm-weather destinations like the Eastern and Western Caribbean; with multiple parties in various venues on the ships, you can party-hop to your heart’s content, and never be far from your bed when you’ve hit your limit.
For something more exotic, a bit more planning may be in order. Many of the more unusual holiday cruises have already sold out as of this writing; however, it can’t hurt to check with a travel professional for cancellations or last-minute deals. If they are sold out, they’re certainly worth thinking about for next year—and you’ll have plenty of time to plan.
Royal Caribbean has a four-night cruise from Shanghai, China to Kumamoto, Japan. If you have more time, Oceania can take you on an 18-night South America cruise, or a luxurious 36-day trans-ocean adventure, where you’ll be greeting 2018 in Cozumel, Mexico.
The truly adventurous who still want to keep an eye squarely on luxury can hop aboard Celebrity Cruises’ 100-passenger mega-yacht Xpedition on New Year’s Eve for a seven-night cruise around the mysterious, magnificent Galapagos Islands.
Meanwhile, back on dry land, there’s no shortage of festivities. Whether you’re interested in celebrations steeped in centuries of tradition, non-stop parties, or a little of both, there’s something for everyone, in some of the most beautiful and historic cities in the world.
If it’s a non-stop party you’re looking for, look no further than Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Millions of people flock to the famous beach for the spectacular fireworks that welcome the New Year. Be sure to wear white—a symbol of renewal—and bring something to toss into the surf when you make your New Year’s wish. If it floats away and doesn’t come back, your wish will be granted. You can join the crowd on the beach, book a hotel room that overlooks Copacabana, or attend one of the many parties arranged by the area’s beachfront hotels.
For the avid golfer, is there a better way to start a new year than hitting the links? Pebble Beach Resorts hosts an annual New Year’s Golf Championship, and offers packages that can include free rounds of golf, spa treatments, food and drink, and tickets to the famous New Year’s Eve party at the Inn at Spanish Bay.
The Lodge at Pebble Beach has recently opened the luxurious Fairway One complex to enhance your enjoyment. Located by the first fairway at the Pebble Beach links, Fairway One features guest rooms with fairway and partial ocean views, as well as the exclusive Eastwood and Palmer cottages, two four-bedroom cottages perfect for couples or buddy getaways.
Golfers can also spend the holiday playing in the sport’s birthplace, Scotland, while also enjoying a uniquely Scottish New Year’s. Hogmanay is a three-day-long celebration featuring fire ceremonies dating back to ancient Viking and Celtic traditions, feasts, and fireworks. Many resorts throughout Scotland offer packages including Hogmanay dinners and rounds of golf. Just be prepared for a chilly time on the links!
Non-golfers who want to greet the New Year the Scottish way should head to Edinburgh, where the festivities begin on December 30th with a torchlight procession up the historic Royal Mile. New Year’s Eve features a massive street party culminating in midnight fireworks. On the 1st, clear your head by participating in the “Loony Dook,” a parade along the High Street that ends with a bracing dunk in the River Forth.
Since you’re still feeling a bit chilly, how about New Year’s Eve in Iceland? Tour companies like Nordic Visitor offer multi-day packages to Reykjavik that include walking tours that immerse you in Icelandic myth and legend and give you a chance to participate in traditional New Year’s celebrations. Take an excursion to see the magical Northern Lights, join a bonfire celebration and listen to tales of the Hidden People, then watch spectacular fireworks along Reykjavik’s harbor. A nice soak in one of Iceland’s geothermal hot springs can do wonders after a long night of partying.
Berlin might not seem like the first choice when it comes to New Year’s revelry, but its Silvester celebrations are some of the most festive in Europe. Hotels all over the city feature sumptuous New Year’s Eve dinners, and many of the Christmas markets are still open, serving up mugs of gluhwein to go with their end-of-season sales. Snowsuit-clad children giggle and slide down man-made slopes on open-air toboggans, and the New Year is greeted by thousands gathered to watch the fireworks over the Brandenburg Gate.
With so much variety to choose from, here’s wishing you many Happy New Years ahead of exciting holiday travel.
Fair Winds and Following Seas!
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