By Carol Eannarino

Who said there’s no place like home for the holidays? In recent years, more and more multi-generational families are packing their bags and heading for a land or sea vacation at holiday time. Home Based agents have their choice of festive packages created by smart suppliers and cruises that add holiday sparkle to their offerings. A sampling follows.

Land Tours
“There are two obvious benefits supporting winter European travel,” said Brittny McCarthy, spokesperson for Insight Vacations. “First, there are the savings — in the case of Insight, a savings of up to 25% compared to our summer departures.
“Moreover, the major cities (London, Paris, Rome, Florence, etc) are not nearly as crowded with tourists as in the summer.”
Insight’s three Christmas Market itineraries introduced last year were so popular that they are back for the 2006 holiday season, according to Marc Kazlauskas, president.
The three itineraries include Christmas Markets of Germany & Alsace; Christmas Markets of Bavaria & Austria; and Christmas Markets of Scandinavia and Berlin.
“In addition to the Christmas Markets, any winter tour featured in the Winter European Touring program brochure can qualify as a holiday vacation. Our Southern Italy & Sicily and Amazing Spain & Portugal itineraries are perfect ways to escape the weather back home.”
The Big Apple is THE place to be for the holidays, according to Joel Cohen of NYCVP (New York Vacation Packages). The company offers a number of packages, including Thanksgiving and Macy’s Parade Vacations; Pre-Holiday Shopping Weekends; New Year’s Eve; Radio City Christmas Spectacular; Christmas Holiday Walking Tour, including Rockefeller Center’s famous Christmas Tree; and a Holiday Lights Motorcoach Tour. All holiday packages include extras, such as complimentary admission to some of New York’s most popular sights and museums and more.
City Escape Holidays also features Thanksgiving, Shopper’s Weekends and Near Year’s Eve packages in New York City, along with a Country Christmas in Nashville, Autumn & Holidays in Branson and a Rose Parade/Rose Bowl Combo; as well as basic or deluxe packages to the Rose Parade.

Cruises
According to Richard Meadows, CTC, Holland America Line’s senior vice president of marketing and sales, holiday cruises have evolved in recent years.
“There used to be more couples wanting to get away from it all,” he said. “Now it’s an opportunity to share and spend time together — and get away from it all as an extended family.”
Meadows noted that families favor 7-day Caribbean or Mexican holiday itineraries. And he added that holiday cruises on Holland America ships offer a number of special features.
“Ships are decorated in Christmas and Hanukkah themes. Santa arrives — sometimes by waterski — to the delight of the children. A priest, minister and rabbi are on all holiday sailings for services and traditional religious sacraments.”
Moreover, he said, there’s a special holiday dinner, Christmas and holiday movies shown on stateroom televisions, cookie decorating for kids and adults — and football for the sports enthusiasts.
Meadows suggested that Home Based agents look into booking their clients on holiday cruises right now.
“There are some very attractive promotions now,” he said.
Meadows added that the Noordam, the newest ship in the fleet, will cruise its first holiday season in the Caribbean from New York.
Vicki Freed, Carnival’s senior vice president of sales and marketing, said, “Family cruising over the holiday period continues to grow in popularity. A lot of people have figured out that taking a holiday cruise together as a family is a fantastic way to enjoy each other’s company and get in some quality bonding while having a terrific vacation experience at the same time. Plus, no one has to stress out over hosting the family function or preparing the big meal.”
Carnival ships are decorated with Christmas trees, wreaths and mistletoe, with music reflective of the season. The movie “Polar Express” will be shown this holiday season.
An elaborate production show, including snow machines, is performed. Children participate and decorations they made in Camp Carnival are used. Santa Claus also makes an appearance, toting a bag of gifts, which are distributed to youngsters. Midnight Mass is celebrated on select ships.
A special menu is served on Christmas Day. On New Year’s Eve, guests are provided with party favors and noisemakers and complimentary champagne is served.
All Carnival ships sail during the holidays. Freed suggests booking as early as possible to ensure best available rates and cabin location.
Norwegian Cruise Line kicks off the holidays with special Thanksgiving-themed menus and festive Thanksgiving decorations. At Christmas, a priest and a minister are onboard each ship to conduct Christmas Eve services. A rabbi is onboard each ship to conduct services for the holiday period,
The crew enlists youngsters to participate an interactive holiday show.
On Christmas Day, Santa hands out gifts to children. The cruise director and staff perform Christmas carols to the tunes of the ship’s piano. High-traffic areas on NCL ships are outfitted with a variety of Christmas decorations, including poinsettias and guests are offered Christmas-themed menus. During Hanukkah, an electric menorah is placed in a central location and lit each day.
For New Year’s Eve, party-goers are given hats, noisemakers and colorful streamers to help ring in the New Year,
Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises also pull out all stops for their holiday cruises. On Royal Caribbean, there are decorations and holiday music throughout the ship and most ships have a holiday show. On Christmas Eve, there’s caroling with staff and guests and a Midnight Mass with clergy. Christmas brings Santa’s arrival, a holiday show, a gingerbread house display, morning Mass, an eggnog party and special Christmas Day ice skating sessions on the Voyager and Freedom class ships.
Hanukkah brings a menorah on public display, religious service with clergy and a Hanukkah service with potato pancakes, jelly donuts and wine. At New Year’s, there’s a themed party in each lounge, party favors, champagne for a toast and a countdown by the captain. Holiday movie classics are shown and Adventure Ocean kids and teen activities are holiday themed. Similar activities are held on Celebrity ships.
Princess’ fleet offers Christmas and New Year’s cruises across the globe. Ships are trimmed with holiday décor. Entertainment includes themed production shows, live music, holiday films and caroling. Passengers can attend Midnight Mass and interdenominational services.
A special Christmas dinner is served, as is a range of seasonal treats.
Youth counselors provide kids with a wide array of activities, including arts and crafts, where they can create ornaments to decorate the ship’s Christmas tree. Junior cruisers take part in a holiday play performed for passengers. Santa makes a surprise appearance on Christmas, bringing gifts to each child.
For Hanukkah, a rabbi plans special prayer and song services. Ships display menorahs and fresh flower arrangements decorated in the Hanukkah colors of blue, silver and white. Kosher meals are available when requested in advance and dining rooms feature specialty items, such as potato latkes.
A New Year’s Eve party includes champagne to join the ship staff in a toast. Traditional college bowl games are telecast, complete with “munchies.”