Holiday Cruises 2027 · 3 of 3
It's 11:58 PM, and the whole ship is holding its breath.
The deck is packed shoulder to shoulder, and nobody minds. The air is warm for December, soft with salt, and the wind tugs at sequins and loosened ties. Somewhere behind you the DJ drops the music to a low pulse. Above, there are more stars than you've seen in years, because out here there is nothing to dim them.
You find your people: the ones you came with, or the ones you met over cocktails two nights ago. Someone presses a glass of champagne into your hand, cold enough to sting your fingertips. All around you, people who were strangers a few days ago are grinning at each other like old friends.
Then the countdown starts, and hundreds of voices carry it together. Ten. Nine. Eight. The ship's horn joins in on the last three, a deep note you feel in your chest more than hear.
Happy New Year.
The cheer rolls down the deck like a wave. Glasses touch. Confetti catches the deck lights and drifts out over a black, shining sea. You kiss the one you love, or hug the friend you made on day two, and for one perfect moment the old year is simply behind you, somewhere back in the dark wake of the ship.
And here is the best part: there is no coat check line. No surge pricing on the ride home. No scramble for a cab at 1 AM in the cold. When you're ready, and not one minute before, your bed is a short walk away. Tomorrow, the ocean will still be there.
If you've ever stood in a crowded bar at midnight wishing you were anywhere else, this is your sign. Here's how to make next New Year's Eve the one you remember.
There is only one December 31
Every cruise ship sails about fifty-two weeks a year, and only one of them holds New Year's Eve. A March Caribbean week has dozens of near-twins. A ship at sea on December 31 has none.
That is why New Year's sailings are among the first to fill on every line, and why the best cabins on them are often gone a year out. Cruising is fuller than it has ever been: Carnival Corporation reported in late September 2026 that it was already half booked for 2027, at record prices.1 Inside those numbers, the holiday weeks go first.
Two ways to ring in 2028
New Year's Eve Cruise · Virgin Voyages · Valiant Lady · Dec 30, 2027 – Jan 3, 2028. The adults-only party.
| Day | Port | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Thu, Dec 30 | Miami, Florida | Departs 5:00 PM |
| Fri, Dec 31 | Key West, Florida · New Year's Eve | 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Sat, Jan 1 | At sea · New Year's Day | |
| Sun, Jan 2 | The Beach Club at Bimini | 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM |
| Mon, Jan 3 | Miami | Arrives 6:30 AM |
Spend the last day of 2027 in Key West, watch the year's final sunset from the deck as the ship sails, and count down with the party already on board. New Year's Day is at sea for sleeping in, and Bimini closes the trip. We have sailed Virgin's New Year's Eve cruise three times. Virgin brings out special menus, fireworks and spa days for the night, and it is still our favorite way to start a year.
Disney Believe New Year's Cruise · Dec 31, 2027 – Jan 5, 2028. The family celebration.
| Day | Port | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Fri, Dec 31 | Port Everglades, Fort Lauderdale | Sails 3:00 PM |
| Sat, Jan 1 | Disney Castaway Cay, Bahamas | 8:30 AM – 4:45 PM |
| Sun, Jan 2 | At sea | |
| Mon, Jan 3 | Cozumel, Mexico | 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM |
| Tue, Jan 4 | At sea | |
| Wed, Jan 5 | Port Everglades | Arrives 8:00 AM |
Sail away on New Year's Eve itself and count down at sea, then wake on New Year's Day at Disney's private island. Five nights on Disney Believe, with Cozumel and two sea days to follow, give the whole family the holiday together.
Not a couples-only night
Sailing solo? Good news. Virgin hosts meet-ups for solo sailors from the start of the voyage, so by December 31 the strangers from the first night are the ones counting down beside you. Come on your own, bring a group of friends who simply want to celebrate together, or bring the person you love. New Year's Eve at sea isn't built for couples. It's built for anyone who wants a unique, unforgettable way to ring in the new year.
How to choose
- Adults only, whether solo, with friends or as a couple? Virgin. It is adults-only, the countdown is the centerpiece, and you get a day in Key West first.
- Kids or grandkids along? Disney. The celebration is built for every age, and New Year's Day on Castaway Cay is hard to top.
- Short on vacation days? Virgin is four nights and back on the morning of January 3.
Planning a New Year's cruise
- Book the cabin first, everything else after. On New Year's sailings the cabin is the scarce part. Hold it with a deposit, then plan the rest.
- Fly in a day early. A missed holiday flight is the one thing that can't be fixed once the ship sails. Stay the night before in Miami or Fort Lauderdale.
- Plan the New Year's Eve dinner. Reservations for the big night go quickly, and we'll tell you when they open.
- Pack for the party. Something sparkly, something comfortable for dancing on deck, and a light layer for the breeze at midnight.
- Plan the island day. Cabanas at Bimini and Castaway Cay go fast for New Year's. We'll help you decide whether one is worth it for your group.
The bottom line
There is only one December 31 each year, and only so many ships at sea for it. Finding the right sailing, on the right ship for your crowd, in the cabin you want, takes research and timing. That is where we come in.
2027 at a glance
- New Year's Eve Cruise · Virgin Voyages, Valiant Lady · Dec 30, 2027 – Jan 3, 2028 · Miami, Key West, Bimini
- Disney Believe New Year's Cruise · Dec 31, 2027 – Jan 5, 2028 · Fort Lauderdale, Castaway Cay, Cozumel
Text or call for today's best price and current promotions. See every holiday sailing on our Holiday Cruises page.
Notes
- Cruise Industry News, “Carnival half booked for 2027 at record prices,” September 29, 2026.
Let us hold your cabin
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404.421.1742 · info@aureviavoyages.com · See all our holiday sailings
From the Aurévia Voyages office
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