Costa Cruises is giving cruisers more options than ever to celebrate a white-sand Christmas or start the new decade surrounded by crystal-clear blue waters with seven Caribbean cruises on three ships during the 2019 winter holiday season.

With seven- and 14-night cruises aboard Costa Luminosa roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and Costa Favolosa and Costa Magica roundtrip from Guadeloupe, guests will be filled with the holiday spirit from the moment they step aboard and see the ships decked out with colorful decorations and a grand Christmas tree.

“Europeans have a charming and traditional way of celebrating the holidays, and our ships will bring ‘Italy’s Finest’ festivities to the Caribbean,” said Scott Knutson, vice president of sales and marketing for Costa Cruises North America. “The holidays are the perfect time to get away from the bustle of everyday life, and with our exceptional fares, why not join us for some tropical fun and experience some of Italy’s most beloved holiday customs.”

Make it an Italian Holiday in the Caribbean

Costa Favolosa embarks on a seven-night roundtrip cruise from Pointe-à-Pitre Dec. 21, celebrating Christmas Day at Tortola, British Virgin Islands. The sailing includes an overnight at La Romana, Dominican Republic, followed by a beach day at Costa’s own Catalina Island in the Dominican Republic. The itinerary also features calls at Philipsburg, Sint Maarten and Fort-de-France, Martinique. Fares start at $709 per person (all rates are based on double occupancy).

The seven-night Christmas voyage on Costa Luminosa departs Florida’s Port Everglades Dec. 22 and calls at Freeport and Nassau, Bahamas; Amber Cove, Dominican Republic; Key West, Florida; and celebrates Christmas Day at Grand Turk, Turks & Caicos. Fares begin at $619 per person for a basic oceanview cabin.

Countdown to 2020 with Costa Cruises

Costa Cruises also offers four cruise options to usher in the new decade. Travelers looking for an extended celebration can embark Costa Magica’s 14-night New Year’s Eve voyage Dec. 27 that is roundtrip from Guadeloupe. Stops include Scarborough, Trinidad & Tobago; St. George’s, Grenada; Bridgetown, Barbados; Castries, St. Lucia; Tortola; Sint Maarten; St. John’s, Antigua; Kingstown, St. Vincent; and two separate calls at both Martinique and Guadeloupe. Cabin rates begin at $1,729 per person.

Costa Favolosa’s seven-night New Year’s cruise embarks from Guadeloupe Dec. 28 with stops at La Romana for an overnight, Catalina Island, Sint Maarten on New Year’s Day, Antigua and Martinique. Guests who wish to embark Costa Favolosa Dec. 30 can take a seven-day cruise roundtrip from La Romana. Rates start at $849 per person.

A seven-night New Year’s cruise on Costa Luminosa departs Fort Lauderdale Dec. 29 and calls at Nassau, Grand Turk, Amber Cove, Key West and spends a festive New Year’s Eve at sea. Rates begin at $649 per person.

Spreading Holiday Cheer on Board

Christmas Day is celebrated with special activities throughout the ship. The day begins with carol singing and the arrival of Santa Claus. Guests are invited to join the Christmas Tree celebration in the atrium where they exchange small gifts and experience an artificial-snow show for the event’s finale. A Christmas mass also is held on board.

For “grown-up” time there is an arts and crafts session reserved for adults only, where they can practice their Christmas decoration skills. Teens also have their turn at making Christmas decorations with a Christmas arts and crafts session in the Teen Zone.

Special cocktails, such as the “Santa Claus” consisting of rum, fruit punch and banana cream, are served at select bars. Following a special dinner with Christmas all the trimmings, the evening entertainment shines bright with a Classical Christmas Concert, or perhaps special crew show presented by the cruise director, as way of thanking guests for joining Costa on the holiday voyage.

For Jewish guests, a variety of activities onboard will celebrate the first night of Hanukkah Dec. 22.

On New Year’s sailings, glamorous parties featuring laser lights and a DJ will continue late into the night at the Lido and atrium. Junior cruisers will be able to say “cheers” to the New Year with a nonalcoholic toast and be invited to write their New Year’s resolutions on a massive canvas to be displayed during a Jan. 1 shipboard parade. A teen “Cheers & Chat” party will be organized with nonalcoholic mocktails.

The Costa Cruises Experience

For over 70 years, Costa’s fleet has offered an authentic Italian-style holiday for cruisers from every continent. Given the international clientele, announcements are in Italian, Spanish, French, German and English, and the entertainment bridges language barriers with theme parties, musical offerings, games and contests. Costa Cruises takes pride in its culinary traditions, serving authentic Italian food the way real Italians like it, with later dining times, mozzarella made onboard and venues that reflect every region of the country. Guests can indulge in Italy’s most popular food and beverage brands, such as Barilla Pasta, Illy Caffé, Aperol and Ferrari Trento. The Costa experience includes an expansive Samsara Spa program and “Peppa Pig”–branded fleetwide areas and activities for children and youths. On a Costa cruise, North American guests can expect Italy’s Finest on a truly international cruise experience.

For reservations, call a travel agent or 800-GO-COSTA. To learn more about Costa Cruises, visit www.costacruise.com. Connect directly with Costa socially on Costa’s official Facebook, Twitter and YouTube pages.