Merry Christmas, to all the crew who are at sea this year!

What is it like to be crew on a cruise ship at Christmas? Well for most people at sea across the globe, it is a time to think of family at home and with the internet they can at least video call their real family. However on ships crew all have their own ‘people’ who are their ship family. There is usually a secret Santa running within the departments. It is also an excuse for a party or six. Not that there is ever a time to not have a party on a ship.

Considering the crew are looking after the most demanding passengers of the year, as they have all paid so much to be there on the ship during Christmas, it can be tough for the whole ships company. I have seen the ships log’s, on the ships that I have worked on and it is amazing the little things that people are able to form into a complain big enough to take to the reception to complain about.

Each Christmas day every crew member receives a gift from the cruise line which Santa personally hands over.

I am not sure where his hands are on this photo though!

There are also cabin parties which are quite common at this time of the year. These usually start after the bars close and carry on into the wee small hours. On Christmas day the officers serve lunch in the crew mess which is always fun for the crew to have the Captain or Staff Captain serving the turkey and Christmas pudding to housekeepers, waiters, carpenters, electricians, engineers and deck hands.

In the evening on Christmas Day the officers have set tables in the officers mess with full waiter service and Christmas dinner with all the trimmings. Followed by several celebratory drinks in the ward room. I loved the Christmas’ I had on the ships. I would like to also take this opportunity to wish every seaman and woman working this December a fabulous Christmas and happy New Year. If you are reading this and thinking about Christmas at sea, there are only a few staterooms left on just a few ships. If you always fancied Christmas at sea give me a call on 0333 300 2480 and I can see what I can find for you. Happy cruising!