Where would you rather be this Christmas?
Of these, a fifth would prefer to be at sea for Christmas this year.
The poll, conducted by independent cruise travel agency www.BonVoyage.co.uk polled 1,356 people aged 25 and over from across the UK, and initially asked them “Do you already have plans for Christmas this year?” to which 78 per cent said yes.
Nearly two thirds of respondents (62 per cent) explained that they were planning on celebrating Christmas at home with their family this year, whilst a fifth claimed that they were going on holiday abroad, and nine per cent stated they were planning on celebrating Christmas with their friends.
The respondents who admitted that they already had plans for Christmas were then asked if they would rather be doing something else this year, to which over a third (38 per cent) said yes. These respondents were asked to state what they would prefer to do for Christmas this year from a multiple choice of answers.
Many people want to get away from all the stress that Christmas involves and simply enjoy some family time together, and a cruise can be a great opportunity to get the whole family together
According to the results, the top five desired Christmas alternatives for Britons this year were as follows:
1. Go on a winter sun holiday - 68%
2. Go skiing - 44%
3. Go on a cruise - 21%
4. Stay at home - 16%
5. Do nothing - 13%
Steph Curtin, Cruise Development Manager of bonvoyage.co.uk, said: “There is something very magical about a Christmas cruise. Depending on what you are looking for, Christmas cruises can give you the chance to get around all the world-famous Christmas markets and a variety of wintery destinations.
“Many people want to get away from all the stress that Christmas involves and simply enjoy some family time together, and a cruise can be a great opportunity to get the whole family together. All you need do is enjoy the facilities on board, and let the cruise ship take you around as many different exciting ports as you choose!” Steph said.
The respondents who admitted that they would prefer to be at sea for Christmas were then asked to explain the reason why they felt that way. Just under half of the respondents (45 per cent) claimed that they thought a cruise would be a ‘unique alternative’ to their usual Christmas plans, whilst a quarter thought a cruise would give them a good chance to spend time with ‘different people’ at the festive time of year, and a fifth thought a cruise would help them ‘avoid the stress’ of the Christmas period.
Steph added: “Whether you choose to go for a pre-Christmas cruise, celebrate Christmas on the ship or just want to get away from anything related to Christmas with a sunny destination; we have something for everyone. Just don't wait too long to book, as this is an incredibly popular time of year, and cabins book up fast!”
What are your plans for Christmas this year? Tell us in the comments below or tweet us @FemaleFirst_UK
FemaleFirst