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With record high temperatures gripping most of North America this summer, it may seem like a strange time to be thinking about where to spend the winter holidays. After all, most of us just want to crank up the air conditioning or lounge by the pool.

However, many of the best choices and deals on this year’s holiday season cruises will be gone by the end of September, along with the best airfares and routes. So it does pay to book early from both a pricing and convenience perspective.

Christmas, Hanukkah and New Year’s cruises are offered in a variety of warm-weather destinations, but the most popular ones take place in the Caribbean, Hawaii, and the Mexican Riviera. These cruises vary in length from five to 14 days, and typically depart from easy to reach cities in Florida, Puerto Rico, Louisiana, and California. There are also a handful of departures from New York City for those who don’t mind braving a few days of cold weather before the ship arrives in the Bahamas.

Holiday season cruises typically attract people who don’t have or want to be part of large family gatherings at home, or simply want to avoid the hassle of all the preparations. The larger ships tend to draw lots of families with children on their holiday sailings, while the smaller, upscale lines usually attract couples.

While some itineraries include both Christmas and New Year’s Eve, most offer just one or the other. Whatever your preference, try not to start or end your cruise on either of these holidays as it will take away from your experience. It also pays to arrive at your port of disembarkation a day early to avoid any delays caused by poor winter weather.

What can you expect from a holiday cruise?

Whether it’s singing carols by the pool or welcoming in a New Year while dancing under the stars, a holiday cruise offers many of the seasonal trappings of home combined with a wonderful tropical twist.

For example, the interiors of ships are decked out with festive décor and restaurants offer holiday menus with seasonal favourites like roast turkey with all the trimmings. In addition, many guests decorate their own cabins with wreaths, menorahs, and decorations picked up in each port of call. Some also put up stockings and leave wrapped gifts in a section of their cabin to open on Christmas Day.

Most holiday cruises travel with ministers, priests and rabbis so that passengers can attend religious services for Christmas and Hanukkah. And there are usually plenty of opportunities to observe familiar rituals such as tree and menorah lighting ceremonies, Christmas caroling, and holiday meals and drinks.

During December and early January, most ports-of-call are bursting with holiday decorations, music and festivals, all with a tropical twist. As for New Year’s Eve, dinner, entertainment, and a bang-up party are all included in your cruise fare.

So if the thought of having someone else prepare your holiday celebrations while you sail around idyllic islands sounds appealing, why not put a holiday voyage under the tree this year. Once you’ve tried it, you may well decide that a holiday season filled with palm trees, beaches and steel drums is a lot more cool than one filled with snow, ice and freezing temperatures.

Instead of celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah or New Year’s in the frigid north this year, why not trade in your snow boots and mittens for a warm weather cruise?

Holiday cruises to the Caribbean and Mexican Riviera offer many of the seasonal trappings of home combined with a tropical island twist. For example, just picture the whole family sipping eggnog by the pool, singing carols on a coral-fringed beach, greeting Santa Claus with Palm fronds, and welcoming in a New Year from the foredeck of a luxury liner while overlooking the turquoise-hued waters of the Caribbean.

If you’re beginning to think that holiday cruises sound idyllic, just wait: this magical atmosphere extends into the interior of the ship where public rooms are decked out with festive décor and restaurants offer holiday menus with seasonal favourites like roast turkey with all the trimmings. Many guests also decorate their own cabin doors and interiors with wreaths, menorahs, holiday cards and locally-made decorations picked up in each port of call. And most put up stockings and leave wrapped gifts in a section of their cabin to open on Christmas Day.

Holiday cruises also travel with ministers, priests and rabbis so that passengers can attend religious services for Christmas and Hanukkah. And there are usually plenty of opportunities to observe familiar rituals such as tree and menorah lighting ceremonies, Christmas caroling, and holiday meals and drinks.

When it comes to the holiday spirit, the ship won’t be the only place you’ll find it. Most of the ports will be bursting with holiday decorations, music and festivals, all with a Caribbean or Mexican twist. In fact, some ports like St. Kitts will be in the middle of island-wide celebrations, while others will be focused on local traditions and folklore.

As for New Year’s Eve, you won’t need to book a table and fork out lots of cash for a celebratory evening. Dinner, entertainment, dancing and a bang-up party are all included in your cruise fare. And you don’t have to appoint a designated driver – your cabin is just a few steps away from the party!

While Christmas and New Year’s cruises are generally more expensive than the rest of the year, the current economic downturn has impacted demand and generated lower than normal cruise fares for the 2009/10 holiday cruise season.  In fact, you may be surprised to find just how affordable a holiday cruise is this year.

However, if you want to lock in your favourite ship, cabin and itinerary for the holiday season, now is the time to book. Once the cold weather arrives, these holiday sailings will sell out quickly. And, as time passes, getting the best air connections will become increasingly difficult.

If you do decide to cruise in the holidays, here are some tips to make sure you get the most out of your trip:

* Fly into your port of embarkation a day early. Winter weather up north can be very unreliable, and you don’t want to start the first day of your holidays stressed out because your flight has been delayed.

* If possible, choose a cruise itinerary where Christmas and New Year’s Eve are not on your first or last day on the ship.

* If you can afford it, splurge for a balcony cabin. And if you have more than two kids, consider adjoining cabins.

* Select a large ship from a mainstream cruise line (Disney, NCL, RCI, Carnival, and Princess) with lots of kid-friendly facilities if you’re travelling with children. Conversely, if you’re without kids and don’t want to share your cruise with 1,000 adolescents, try a smaller ship, a line that caters to adults like Holland America, or an upscale line like Regent, Crystal, Silversea and Seabourn. Also, since most families take 7-day cruises, you can also avoid the little folks by booking aboard a longer cruise of 10 to 14 days.

* Bring some decorations for your cabin – a piece of cord or wire for stringing cards, a string of lights, and a favourite decoration or two. And buy some locally made Xmas decorations in each port of call to add to your collection.

* Pack some festive outfits including colorful ties and hats, as well as tuxedos or suits and dresses for the formal and party nights.

So if the thought of trading in your snow boots and mittens for a cruise in the Caribbean is beginning to sound appealing, why not put a holiday cruise under the Christmas or Hanukkah tree this year. It’s a gift that will deliver loads of family fun as well as many years of wonderful memories.