Want to celebrate the Passover and Easter differently this year? Why not go on a cruise. Let this USAToday.com article help you.
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Cruise lines help passengers celebrate Passover (April 14 to 22) and Easter (April 20) with religious services, traditional foods and holiday treats — available to anyone who wants to participate.
Check out these Easter and Passover cruises.
Norwegian Cruise Line: On Easter Sunday, Hot Cross Buns are a treat at breakfast. An Easter-themed brunch is featured in the buffet and a special dinner menu (including honey glazed ham) is available in the main dining rooms — where the entrances are decorated with chocolate bunnies and other treats. Special Easter-themed cocktails are available. During Passover, a special menu including a Seder plate is available to guests in the main dining rooms (on request), with Kosher wine for purchase.
Royal Caribbean: On Royal Caribbean ships a rabbi is onboard for Passover and passengers can attend a group Seder on the first night of the holiday — featuring Kosher-style food. Holiday services are available on Easter, along with a special Easter Sunday meal, egg hunt and special arts and crafts activities.
Holland America Line: Most HAL ships have a rabbi or cantor onboard leading Passover services. Passengers can RSVP to attend a Seder. The Easter Bunny passes out chocolates and poses for photos on Easter Sunday. There is also an Easter egg hunt for kids and an Easter bonnet competition. Egg decorating and jellybean counting are among other activities. A priest conducts Easter mass and a minister conducts interdenominational services.
Carnival Cruise Lines: Traditional foods are offered during the eight-day Passover period with special menus available upon request. If guests wish to conduct a Seder, Carnival will provide the facility and traditional foods. The Easter bunny makes an appearance on Easter Sunday and poses for photos with guests. There is an egg hunt that takes place for kids and the ships are decorated with Easter decorations and ornaments.
Cunard: Easter activities include egg/candy hunts and other activities for younger guests, plus a variety of holiday decorations in public areas. Clergy are onboard to conduct Easter services. On Passover, there is a service and traditional Seder dinner is available.
Disney Cruise Line: Easter events Disney-style include a special character meet and greet. Children have the opportunity to participate in themed arts and crafts, face painting and Easter egg hunts. A Catholic Mass and separate interdenominational service take place on Easter morning. Special holiday flower arrangements are also available for purchase.
MSC Cruises: On the MSC Divina, sailing from Miami, activities include a kids’ “Easter hunt,” costume parades, Easter chef classes, chocolate Easter eggs, special line dancing and arts and crafts and a number of other Easter-themed activities on the ship’s April 19 sailing. At an Easter Gala dinner on April 20, features such dishes as thyme-crusted lamb chops.
Crystal: A Passover dinner takes place in Prego on both Crystal ships, with crew, officers and entertainers participating. A rabbi conducts the Seder. The Crystal Symphony will be in Shanghai, where an optional excursion explores Shanghai’s Jewish heritage. On Easter, guests can attend a sunrise service with onboard clergy and an egg hunt and will find chocolate bunnies and other treats decorating tables in the dining room and at the Lido buffet. Guests in Penthouse suites receive a special platter of Easter treats.
Silversea: On Passover, a rabbi is onboard and conducts religious services and also hosts a table at dinner for any passengers who wish to join him. For Easter, depending on the vessel and the day (whether a port day or sea day), Silversea features a special holiday luncheon or a Gala Dinner on board. The line also offers Easter eggs as a turndown gift in every suite. Clergy conduct religious services.
Costa Cruises: Italian line Costa goes all out for Easter (one all ships except those in Asia) with themed decorations including bunnies, eggs and chicks in public areas, including bars. There is a Holy Mass conducted by a priest on Easter.
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Louis Habash 