Destinations Caribbean

Dreaming of a white sand Christmas

Treat yourself to Christmas on board a Cunard Queen and wake up to a winter wonderland in the sunshine. Be swept away in the festive spirit on Caribbean Celebration voyages on board Queen Mary 2 and Queen Elizabeth, exploring magical islands like Antigua or St Kitts.

4 min 24 Jan 2025

What is the weather like in the Caribbean at Christmas?

How do the Caribbean islands celebrate Christmas?

What is the weather like in the Caribbean at Christmas?

If you're planning on swapping the snow for sun, sand, and spiced rum, the weather will not disappoint you. At Christmas, the Caribbean islands are dry, hot, and sunny, with the temperature typically ranging from the mid-70s to mid-80s Fahrenheit (around 24-30°C), making it the ideal festive getaway destination.

How do the Caribbean islands celebrate Christmas?

Apart from the weather and the setting, a Caribbean Christmas is not a far cry from the celebrations back home. The Caribbean is very religious, so the church is well-frequented over the holidays, with events like Midnight Mass being a key event in the Christmas calendar. As well as this, expect carolling, festive get-togethers, and streets adorned with decorative lights (also known as 'pepper lights') across all the islands.

As well as these typical Christmas traditions, a festive cruise to the Caribbean brings with it a host of unique customs that differ between each port.

Festive feasts

Much like the rest of the world, food is an integral, highly anticipated part of the Christmas celebrations.

In the Caribbean, pork tends to replace turkey as the yuletide meat of choice, with an overnight pig roast being a Christmas Eve tradition in the Dominican Republic. Christmas dinners tend to differ across the islands: Jug Jug (a mix of pigeon peas, salted meat, corn, minced pork, and herbs, similar to haggis) is a Bajan staple, whereas an authentic Dominican Christmas dinner features pasteles en hoja (plantain dough stuffed and wrapped in a green plantain leaf) and ponche, a Dominican eggnog with rum and brandy.

Sorrel, coming from the hibiscus plant, is the season's favorite fruit, and chilled sorrel punch is a quintessential feature of the festivities.

As for dessert, no Caribbean Christmas is complete without black cake, a traditional delicacy that combines dried fruit and rum to create a dark, sweet, post-dinner treat.

If you happen to be at sea on Christmas Day or New Years Eve, you can expect a lavish yuletide feast on board. Imagine enjoying a decadent festive dinner with loved ones in the beautifully decorated Britannia Restaurant, or sipping on a crisp glass of Champagne in one of our onboard bars as you welcome the New Year.

Tropical traditions

Dance is a quintessential part of Caribbean festivities, and is embraced in different ways. The Bahamas bursts into a kaleidoscope of color at Christmas with their annual Junkanoo Carnival. Observed on Boxing Day and New Year's Eve, Junkanoo celebrates the rich and dynamic heritage of The Bahamas by dancing the night away in extravagant costumes to the steady beat of whistles, cowbells, horns, and goatskin drums. Meanwhile, the Mummer's Parade sees Antiguan locals singing folk songs in colorful costumes and masks and spreading festive joy from house to house.

You can expect to find Christmas markets ashore on a Caribbean cruise. Most notably, Christmas in the Square sees the heart of Bridgetown, Barbados transform into a spectacular scene, with live performances, festive markets, and an awe-inspiring Christmas tree lighting ceremony.

Interestingly, across the islands, Christmas cleaning is a common yuletide ritual. This significant tradition sees families deep cleaning their homes in the lead-up to Christmas not only to prepare for the festive period but to also rid the home of bad luck and ensure a fresh start in the new year.

How do Cunard celebrate Christmas?

No matter where you are in the world, Cunard's Christmas cruises exude style and sophistication. Imagine infusing the festive season with winter sunshine - stepping from your stateroom to your balcony into the warm Caribbean sun. Spending sociable days and evenings with friends old and new, all the while being exquisitely looked after with our White Star Service.

Queen Mary 2's Grand Lobby, decorated for Christmas

The Christmas tree

Where else would we display the centerpiece of the festive season? Our Grand Lobby is the heart of each ship and, every December, home to a beautiful tree adorned with traditional decorations. See how many other beautifully decorated trees you can spot in venues around your Cunard Queen.

Seasonal shopping

Browsing the boutiques and stores on board is a world apart from Christmas shopping on shore. It’s a serene experience, with Cunard branded gifts, and a wide range of designer names like Pandora, Tag Heuer and Chanel.

Gingerbread village

One of our favorite festive traditions on board is the gingerbread village. By the time it goes on display, the Chef Patissier will have spent several weeks designing, baking, and icing the edible festive scene. Why not try making your own at home with our recipe from the Cunard kitchen?