princess christmas cruise to new zealand

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Best Christmas Cruises

The best Christmas cruises are the ones that give you the gift of adventure and wonder. When you cruise during the holidays, choose from global destinations teeming with Yuletide spirit and wintery conditions. Or say goodbye to snow-filled roads and cruise to warmer winter lands. With Princess, the choice is yours. Here are our top Christmas cruise destinations.

Christmas Cruise Destinations Worth Celebrating

New Zealand

After a few months of cold temperatures and snowstorms, you may not be dreaming of a white Christmas after all. Embark on one of our top Christmas cruises to New Zealand and surround yourself with vibrant landscapes — like emerald hills and turquoise waters — that show no signs of wintertime. With our winter overlapping with the Kiwi summer, the only white you might see this season are the charming sailboats that decorate the coast. If you sail into Akaroa on December 25, experience the holidays with a hint of French flair. The city is home to delicious regional fare — like warm bread, fresh fish and ratatouille — inviting you to feast on a unique Christmas meal. Get a taste of sun, sea and sand on a trip to New Zealand with Princess.

Perforated paper banners, known as papel picado, in bright whites, greens and reds, are strung across buildings from window to window. Vendors line the roads below with artisanal gifts for your loved ones. Welcome to Christmas in Mexico . When you cruise into Puerto Vallarta, attend a morning service at the Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe, where Mexican culture and regal architecture fill the room. Then, head to the shore and savor seasonal favorites — like turkey, gravy and cranberry sauce — with a beachside view. Or opt for a holiday adventure with a catamaran ride to Banderas Bay. With a deep appreciation for family and fun, Mexico is one of the best Christmas cruise destinations to spice up your season.

Upon arriving in Japan , you’d never know that Christmas is not traditionally celebrated in these regions. Streets are adorned with bright white lights while a radiant tree — several stories high — acts as a beacon at the center of the Kyoto. On December 25, streets will be just as lively as every other day of the year, as locals do not spend this holiday with their families at home. Instead, many residents associate Christmas Day with date night. Join in this season of love by dining at Osaka’s best restaurants, savoring festive regional favorites like fried chicken. With a Christmas cruise destination as unique as Japan, you won’t miss the candy canes and stockings back home.

Best Christmas Cruises to Get You in the Holiday Spirit

For those who prefer celebrating the holidays at home, you can still experience the top Christmas cruise destinations to help you get in the spirit of the season. Sail to Spain in December and shop their iconic Christmas markets. When you visit Barcelona, grab a warming cup of hot chocolate and stroll through hundreds of festive stalls featuring wooden toy soldiers and hand-painted ornaments. On a cruise to Southampton in November, make your way to London’s Regent Street to see a spectacle of lights that decorate windows of some of the world’s most famous stores. Or stay close to home and explore Los Angeles, where Universal Studios and Third Street Promenade are embellished with decorations and holiday-themed food. No matter where you choose to travel, spread Yuletide cheer and explore the world before sailing home for the big day.

Why You Should Take a Christmas Cruise

Enjoy the Christmas traditions you love — like family time and delicious food — without the chores you don’t, like cooking and cleaning. When you step aboard, walk into your very own winter wonderland at sea. Find poinsettias blooming around every corner, garland woven around the railings and a decorated Christmas tree in the middle of it all. Enjoy your favorite holiday dishes prepared by our chefs alongside eggnog and cookies. Build gingerbread houses with your loved ones, watch life-like snow flurry throughout the Atrium and meet the man of the hour — Santa Claus.  Book your next cruise with Princess .

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Princess Cruises Christmas and New Year

Christmas cruises 2024, 2025 new year's eve.

All Princess Cruises Christmas and New Year cruise offers listed here are just itineraries and not cruise deals for sale. Vessels are ordered alphabetically. Comparing all the ships in the Princess Cruises fleet is a most convenient way to select the best for you Holiday voyages as departures (homeports, dates), destinations (regions, visited countries), itineraries (ports of call, arrival dates, port times) and also to compare cruise prices.

CruiseMapper shows cruise prices per person. These are only indicative fares on the ship's lowest category staterooms. All rates are based on double occupancy (twin share) and don't include cruise line or travel agency promotions, group booking rates or any other special offers and discounts.

Princess cruise ships offer reasonably priced, stylish and exotic as destinations December Holiday vacation travel options.

On Princess Cruises Xmas voyages passengers will meet more affluent fellow passengers and will be choosing the Princess line for its ambiance of sophistication, stylish traditions, superior service. The extensive wine selections and the gourmet cuisine are yet other reasons to book a Princess Holiday cruise vacation.

Cheapest Princess Christmas deals are on round-trip Caribbean itineraries leaving from Florida (Fort Lauderdale /Port Everglades) and Houston Texas (replacing the Galveston port departures). Feature Princess December holiday destinations are Hawaii and Mexico Riviera (operated with round-trips from California). Another specialty of the Princess cruises in South America, Australia New Zealand, Tahiti, and of course - the traditional (almost classic) Panama Canal itinerary roundtrip from Florida.

Princess Cruises Holiday specials feature popular vacation travel destinations, relaxed and sophisticated atmosphere, award-winning gourmet cuisine, classy staterooms with luxurious amenities, elegantly decorated venues with stylish entertainment, superior service by a friendly staff and a huge pack of activities to guarantee your memorable celebrations at sea.

Next tables show all Princess Christmas New Year cruise itineraries as ships, departure ports, call ports (dates and arrival/departure times) and regions.

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14 Night New Zealand Cruise

Best known for the Pacific Princess on the Love Boat, Princess Cruises has been a leading name in cruising and visits a wide range of destinations.

Satisfy your hunger for the unique and intriguing, whether it’s a rarely seen whale or a quirky new sport, with an Australia and New Zealand cruise.

Soak up the culture and relaxed environment of Melbourne as you take in the live music, sip some perfect coffee and explore all that this unique city has to offer.

• Diamond Princess - Passenger Capacity: 2,670 (double occupancy) Year Built: 2004 Last Refurbished: 2019

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Diamond Princess

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Melbourne, Australia , Auckland, New Zealand , Napier, New Zealand , Wellington, New Zealand , Christchurch, New Zealand , Port Chalmers (Dunedin), New Zealand , Fjordland, New Zealand

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• Itinerary & Pricing

14 Night New Zealand Cruise sailing on the Diamond Princess

Departure dates: oct 2024 - nov 2024, stateroom prices for oct. 5, 2024.

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Based on Inside cabin prices

Based on Oceanview cabin prices

Based on Balcony cabin prices

Based on Suite cabin prices

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*** All itineraries are subject to change without notice. Please confirm your itinerary on the Review page before purchasing your cruise.

Rates & offers are subject to select dates & categories, cruise only, per person, based on double occupancy, in US Dollars, & include NCCF. Government taxes & fees are additional. All rates & offers are capacity controlled, are subject to availability & confirmation, & may change without notice. Additional restrictions may apply. Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed -- please confirm details at time of booking. Stateroom photos are for sample purposes only -- actual design and layout may vary.

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14 Nights New Zealand Cruise on the Majestic Princess Departing on the 22nd December 2023

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Diamond Princess - December 20, 2024

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December 20, 2024

December 20 - 3, 2025

Diamond Princess

Princess Cruises

14 Night New Zealand

from Brisbane, Australia

The December 20, 2024 cruise on the Diamond Princess departs from Brisbane, Australia. On this 14 Night New Zealand sailing, the ship will visit a total of 7 different cruise port destinations, including its departure port. The Diamond Princess sets sail on a Friday (December 20, 2024) and returns on a Friday (January 3, 2025).

Cruise Price by Cabin Type

The price of the December 20, 2024 cruise on the Diamond Princess ranges from $1,558 for an inside cabin to $(call) for a suite.

This is a 14 night cruise and price per night is noted below for each cabin type. An inside cabin will cost $111 per night, an ocean view cabin will cost $173 per night, a balcony cabin will cost $178 per night, and a suite will cost $(call) per night.

$111 / night

$173 / night

$178 / night

$(call) / night

The Diamond Princess was built in 2004 and is amoung Princess's 17 ships in it's fleet. The Diamond Princess is included in the cruise line's Grand Class. In the cruise ship stats below you'll find the Diamond Princess vs all other Princess ships.

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Brisbane, located in Australia's Queensland, enjoys beach-perfect summers and mild winters. Other reasons to stay in this sunny city include its wealth of good food, diverse shopping, and copious arts and entertainment choices. Ride one of the ferries, paddlewheels, or pleasure boats on the Brisbane River. Stroll among the gardens of the city center or relax on the beach.

Brisbane, located in Australia's Queensland, enjoys beach-perfect summers and mild winters. Other reasons to stay in this sunny city include its wealth of good food, diverse shopping, and copious arts...

Take advantage of the many on board activites during your day at sea. You'll have more than enough to fill your day!

New Zealand's largest city is draped over seven volcanoes and wrapped around Waitemata Harbour (meaning "sea of sparkling waters" in Maori). Despite its British feel, it is the world's largest Polynesian city. Shop for Polynesian crafts on Queen Street, the main drag. Or from atop Mt. Eden, overlook the "City of Sails," which will host the America's Cup races in 2000.

New Zealand's largest city is draped over seven volcanoes and wrapped around Waitemata Harbour (meaning "sea of sparkling waters" in Maori). Despite its British feel, it is the world's largest...

In 1931 a disastrous earthquake destroyed the city. The earthquake heaved 40 square kilometres of water covered land above sea level. Rebuilding began, resulting in Napier becoming the art deco capital. With Napier being a coastal town there are a wide variety of water sports, fishing trips, pleasure cruises and also night cruises which are very popular. Other activities include windsurfing, jet skiing, kayaking, canoeing and parasailing - all available on the waterfront.

In 1931 a disastrous earthquake destroyed the city. The earthquake heaved 40 square kilometres of water covered land above sea level. Rebuilding began, resulting in Napier becoming the art deco...

Picton is in one of the sunniest parts of New Zealand, the upper South Island. One of Picton's attractions (besides the port) is the fact that it sports what may be the only remaining miniature golf course in NZ.

Picton is in one of the sunniest parts of New Zealand, the upper South Island. One of Picton's attractions (besides the port) is the fact that it sports what may be the only remaining miniature golf...

Christchurch has a long historic connection with Antarctic exploration. It is from the port of Lyttleton (about 10 miles North of Christchurch) that Captain Scott sailed for Antarctica. Today Lyttleton is a port of call for ships of the United States and New Zealand Antarctic programs A monument to Captain Scott (created by his wite Katherine) stands alongside the banks of the River Avon in Christchurch.

Christchurch has a long historic connection with Antarctic exploration. It is from the port of Lyttleton (about 10 miles North of Christchurch) that Captain Scott sailed for Antarctica. Today...

Port Chalmers

The attractive, historic town and modern container port of Port Chalmers, on a tiny peninsula 12km from Dunedin, is worth a half-day trip for its magnificent harbour views offset by bush-covered hills, its fine nineteenth-century buildings and its thriving artistic community. The site was chosen in 1844 as the port to serve the proposed Scottish settlement of New Edinburgh, later called Dunedin. The first settlers arrived on the John Wickliffe in March 1848 and named the port after the Reverend Dr Thomas Chalmers.

The attractive, historic town and modern container port of Port Chalmers, on a tiny peninsula 12km from Dunedin, is worth a half-day trip for its magnificent harbour views offset by bush-covered hills...

Cruise Fjordland National Park

A vast remote wilderness, with snow capped mountains, glacial lakes and valleys, fiords, islands, waterfalls and dense forest. It contains some of New Zealand's best known tramping tracks, including the Milford, Kepler, Dusky, Routeburn and Hollyford. Fishing, hunting, guided walks, cruises on lakes and fiords, scenic flights, penguins, seals, dolphins and spectacular coastal features await you.

A vast remote wilderness, with snow capped mountains, glacial lakes and valleys, fiords, islands, waterfalls and dense forest. It contains some of New Zealand's best known tramping tracks, including...

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Explore New Zealand onboard Princess, roundtrip from Adelaide

What to expect

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What's included

• 21-night cruise onboard Diamond Princess from Adelaide return
• Visit Port Lincoln, Kangaroo Island, Melbourne, Auckland, Napier, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin, Scenic Cruising, Melbourne and Phillip Island. 
• Up to $385 onboard credit per stateroom  
• All onboard meals (excluding any speciality dining, drinks etc)
• A wide range of onboard entertainment and activities
• Port charges and government fees

Options and details

• Oceanview stateroom from $3,799 per person twin share
• Balcony stateroom from $4,799 per person twin share
• Plus Beverage Package (when aged 18 years or over or 21 on some international voyages)
• Wi-Fi (1 device per person).
• Fitness classes (2 passes per person per cruise).
• Premium Desserts (2 per person daily).
• Casual dining 2 per cruise
• Ocean Now access
• Complimentary room service

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Leisurely pace with increased walking on uneven ground and cobblestone surfaces, climbing and descending stairs, plus standing for a reasonable length of time in museums or at points of interest. You must be able to get on/off transportation unassisted, manage distances at airports and railway stations without assistance, and handle your luggage as required. Please note: Whilst most cruises (apart from active expedition cruises) feature moderate activity, many smaller ships and river cruise ships have extensive stairways and no elevators. Ask your RAA Travel sales consultant for up-to-date information on river or ocean cruise ship accessibility. Please carefully consider your ability to meet the physical demands of the tour.

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‘Significant drop’ in cruise ship visits to Tauranga expected next season

Sonya Bateson

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The Majestic Princess was the last ship to visit Tauranga this season. Photo / Alex Cairns

A “significant drop” in cruise ship visits to Tauranga is predicted next season.

New Zealand Cruise Association chief executive Jacqui Lloyd attended the Seatrade cruise industry conference in Miami last week and said signs were pointing to fewer port visits next season.

Reasons for the drop in bookings included increased operating costs in New Zealand, higher port fees and regulatory fees from central government, difficulties around hull cleaning regulations, global competition, and concerns about access through the Red Sea, Lloyd said from the United States.

“It’s a big concern for the nation. Preliminary numbers we’re looking at are 150 to 200 port calls reduced for the country, that’s about 54,000 passengers. The risk for some of the cruise lines is just too high.”

Lloyd also cited the incident in November when Border Control denied the Pacific Adventure , en route to the Bay of Plenty, entry to the country as bad weather had prevented the ship’s hull from being cleaned.

Despite that, Lloyd said the top executives she had met with at the cruise conference spoke highly about their time in Tauranga, Rotorua, and the rest of the Bay of Plenty.

“They have a wonderful relationship with the port, they enjoy the great welcomes when they arrive, the tourism operators in the area really look after the people. The passengers rate their experience highly.”

Lloyd said next season’s bookings had not yet been finalised. The current season was the “largest season New Zealand has ever had”, she said, and “perhaps we’re coming back to a balance”.

Oscar Nathan, general manager of Tourism Bay of Plenty and board member of the NZ Cruise Association, said the region had experienced two “busy and lucrative” cruise seasons since the country’s international border had reopened.

Eighty-eight cruise ship visits were currently booked at the Port of Tauranga for the 2024-25 season, Nathan said. This was about 23 per cent lower than the 115 ships that booked to visit this season, although seven did not arrive. Nathan expected the number of bookings would increase closer to the start of next season.

“The New Zealand Cruise Association has noted there’s been a significant drop in the number of port calls that are being estimated for the country’s 2024-25 season which, in turn, has impacted the number of cruise ships that we can expect to welcome into Tauranga Harbour.

“Tauranga remains a popular destination for passengers and most are usually highly satisfied with their onshore experiences while they are here. That’s presumably why our region’s share of the cruise ship bookings, compared to other New Zealand ports, is holding steady.”

Nathan said predicting the financial impact of fewer visits was difficult as the most recent data they have available from Stats NZ is from the 2019-20 season. That season, which was cut short by Covid, saw a $74 million contribution to the region’s economy from electronic card spending.

Tourism Bay of Plenty would continue to work closely with the Port of Tauranga, cruise lines, local tourism operators, and the New Zealand Cruise Association to maximise the value and opportunities international visitors brought to the region, Nathan said.

“Tourism is a very agile sector – we’re used to dealing with micro and macro influences which can impact visitor trends.”

Cruise ships were not the only source of international tourists to the region, Nathan said, and the organisation was consistently working to promote the Bay of Plenty to a range of international visitor markets.

Waimarino owner and director Blair Anderson said 20 per cent fewer cruise ships meant they would be 20 per cent down, which would have detrimental effects on staff and turnover. But knowing ahead of time allowed him to plan for that.

Anderson said Waimarino dealt with a lot of cruise ship visitors, especially through their glow worm kayaking excursions. It had been hard to keep the business going in the last four years but the “awesome” and “amazing” staff had helped get them through, he said.

Two other business owners spoken to by the Bay of Plenty Times were mostly unconcerned about the financial ramifications of fewer ship visits.

Bill Campbell, owner of Fancy That gift shop, said it would not be the end of the world and while it would impact their finances it wouldn’t hurt them.

Mount Water Bikes owner Gordy Lockhart said cruise ships did not generate significant revenue for the business as passengers tended to be from an older demographic.

“In addition, the age-old problem of cruise ship passengers being immediately bussed out of Tauranga to Rotorua or Hobbiton very much still exists.”

Andrew Wilson, chief executive of RotoruaNZ, said the cruise ship industry provided significant value to the Rotorua visitor economy and has had a positive impact for our operators overall.

“We anticipate the economic benefits will continue and we’re working closely with Tourism Bay of Plenty to further understand the full value cruise ship visitors provide to the Bay of Plenty region.”

Sonya Bateson is an assistant news director at the Bay of Plenty Times and Rotorua Daily Post with more than a decade of experience reporting in the Bay of Plenty region.

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