Holiday vacations continue to increase in popularity, with many families celebrating their holiday season at sea on a cruise ship. Their growing popularity is a direct result of the incredible festive atmosphere that can be found on board today’s cruise ships. With all the trimmings, including holiday dinners, activities and even a myriad of religious observances, these cruises have become a holiday tradition for many world travelers.
Along with the holiday celebration, many travelers also want to do a gift exchange and, with a little planning, it can be done splendidly while on board. Just remember, the secret to gift giving while traveling is to find personalized, thoughtful presents that are easy to pack, yet will still create that delighted reaction we all love to see.
CruiseCompete has once again created their list of the top holiday gifts to give while at sea. (Please note prices are approximate and subject to change):
Gifts for Men:
Restoration Hardware’s Italian Leather Passport Cover- Designed for journeys near and far, epic and everyday, Italian leather accessories are as luxe as they are practical. Crafted with care by a 150-year-old Italian tannery, each is made from the finest English hides, chosen for richness and character. Buy the Italian Leather Passport Cover here.$29.00
Uncommon Goods’ Ballpark Seat Pens- Give fans of America’s favorite pastime a gift that really steps up to the plate! After being removed from iconic stadiums due to remodeling or demolition, salvaged seats are hand-turned into one of a kind writing tools. Buy a Ballpark Seat Pen here. $150.00 – 190.00
Garmin’s Approach® S6 Golf Watch- In studies of successful golf swings, an ideal ratio of 3:1 has emerged, even with individual variations of speed. TempoTraining uses the 3:1 ratio and gives you audible tones to synchronize your swing mechanics and fine-tune swing tempo. Which makes S6 as valuable on the driving range as it is on the course. Buy the Approach® S6 Golf Watch here. $399.99
Gifts for Women:
Pottery Barn’s McKenna Leather Travel Jewelry Portfolio- Keep treasures organized and protected in this hard-case travel companion wrapped in bonded leather and embossed with a sophisticated texture. Buy the McKenna Leather Travel Jewelry Portfolio here. $79.00 – $99.00
Uncommon Good’s Hand Crocheted Scallop Neck Warmer- Keep cozy on even the coldest day in designer Janelle Haskin’s scallop-edged neck warmer. Its multi-function form allows wearers to cover their heads and ears on crisp February evenings and keep things low for that first walk through the late-April blooms. Buy the Hand Crocheted Scallop Neck Warmer here. $92.00
AllThingsCruise Travel Gift Store – From gorgeous jewelry replicas of Jackie Kennedy pearls, Marilyn Monroe diamond pieces to Natalie Wood items, these are truly beautiful. Special 100% Kona Coffee, this store has some amazing ideas. If you’d like to take a look at some of our very favorite gift ideas, please visit the AllThingsCruise Store at: https://travelstore.allthingscruise.com/.
Anthropologie’s Arrowgreen Bib Necklace- Taking inspiration from everywhere under the sun – vintage markets, Italian piazzas, far-flung locales that she’s visited on holidays – and focusing on quality and craftsmanship, Daniela Ravaioli has designed the Rada collection for more than twenty years. With a silk blouse in a neutral hue, this stunning bib necklace makes a statement. Buy the Arrowgreen Bib Necklace here. $398.00
Gifts for the Techno-Geek:
Bluetooth Tracking Tag- Simply secure the Bluetooth Tracking Tag to items that keep getting lost throughout the house (your iPad, the remote, keys, wallet), then be able to find them at a moment’s notice with the Bluetooth technology and the free downloadable app. Lost your phone, but have your tracking tag? No problem–this handy device works both ways! Just touch the alert button on the tag to locate your phone in minutes. Buy the Bluetooth Tracking Tag here. $40.00
Bose QuietComfort® 20i Acoustic Noise Cancelling® headphones – The perfect low profile headphones for travelers! The first in-ear noise cancelling headphones from Bose give you more control over how you listen than ever before, in all kinds of environments. Block the outside world with full-on noise reduction. Or, choose Aware mode and let some of it in—all while keeping your headphones on and your music alive with lifelike Bose® sound. Buy the Bose QuietComfort® 20i Acoustic Noise Cancelling® headphones here. $299.00
Gifts for Teens and Tweens:
Custom T-Shirt Quilt – This gift requires a little more room to pack, but is well worth it for the reaction! Give beloved t-shirts the kind of treatment they deserve by framing them in a custom quilt. Each quilt is custom-made using 12 t-shirts, provided by the owner. Shirts are backed with 20/80 cotton-polyester batting and patterned with 100% cotton materials in a complementary color range. Handmade by Kathy Carrier and her team in Indiana. Buy the Custom T-Shirt Quilt here. $275.00
Kooba – Kooba is a portable magnetic activity that combines the action and dexterity of darts with the strategic play of a board game. Using metal rods, players send magnets soaring toward the Kooba target at the center of the board in an effort to be the first to stack up their markers in the race to win. But watch out, with a little luck and target practice, opponents can send each other right back to where they started. Buy Kooba here. $69.95
Gifts for the Younger Crowd:
Lego Minecraft Sets – This year’s hottest kid gift! Lego is offering a series of sets based on the popular Minecraft game. The Ender Dragon set (available only online) features The Ender Dragon, pillars, Ender Crystals, Steve, 3 Endermen and more! Buy The Ender Dragon here. $69.99
Create Your Own Road – Here’s one for the do it yourself-ers! Package up some road tape (here), a set of road signs (here), and a set of Matchbox cars (here). Playing with cars appeals to boys and girls of all ages, and the road tape can be put down, taken up, and reconfigured any way they like, to fit any space they have room to work in! A great thing to play with during down time in travel. Approximately $35.00 for the supplies noted here.
The Gift of a Memorable Experience: (The whole family will absolutely love this!)
Sometimes the best gifts are not things; they are experiences together that create cherished memories. Kids will remember a special shore excursion forever! One great example is “A Date With A Turtle”.
With this intimate shore excursion you will climb aboard a Morgan 46-foot ketch for this half-day sail and snorkel to the Marine Sanctuary, where you’ll have a date with a giant green sea turtle. $89.00 for adults, $71 for children 12 and under. Find out more…
Don’t feel like packing a gift? No problem!
If you prefer not to take gifts with you, consider there are many wonderful items on board the ship in the shops. Or, perhaps a special onboard spa treatment or exclusive dinner reservation is the way to go?
Another option is planning some memorable shore excursions will be remembered forever……Who could forget a sea lion encounter while many folks are celebrating the holidays in the snow? More…
(See all shore excursions here: http://www.cruisecompete.com/shore_excursions_by_port.php. These shore excursions have been discounted up to 50% cruise line pricing, so savings abound!)
Maybe the best gift is a cruise itself; there is still time to book!
If you are looking for the best deals for this holiday season, there are still some incredible deals available.
Gift giving while at sea can be a simple and lovely holiday tradition with just a bit of planning and preparation. If you’d like more information, or assistance planning your holiday at sea, please visit CruiseCompete.com.
