If swapping cold winter weather for warm ocean breezes sounds appealing, a Disney Merrytime Cruise might be the perfect holiday escape. Disney Cruise Line decks out its ships with festive decorations and layers in special holiday-themed programming throughout the voyage, creating a season-within-a-season feel for guests of all ages.

Onboard highlights include holiday dining options, themed entertainment shows, and character experiences designed around the winter holidays — plus the ever-popular unlimited soft serve that's become something of a Disney cruise tradition in its own right.

Itineraries include a stop at Castaway Cay, Disney's private Bahamian island, where guests can swap the holiday bustle for beach relaxation and water activities before returning to the ship's festive atmosphere for the evening.

The Merrytime Cruise concept caters especially well to families looking to celebrate the holidays in a non-traditional way, combining the warmth of a Caribbean sailing with the kind of immersive Disney storytelling that makes the season feel a little more magical. World of Walt covered the experience in a recent post.