Holidays on a Boat

Holidays on a boat while cruising can be a little, well, weird. So here’s a few ideas for you: 

Family and Friends 

Missing family and friends? Some cruisers budget for a trip home over the holidays, while others – such as Nica, my podcast partner — make arrangements for kids to come visit on the boat. Remember to budget not just for airfare, but also for a marina, lodging, rental car, and anything else you might need. 

Video calls and phone calls can also help, but what if you’re out of internet/cell range? Celebrate with whoever IS around – perhaps make cookies or other treats for other boats in the anchorage or invite them over to celebrate with you. 

Group dinners, happy hours, and dinghy caroling can also help with the feeling of being alone.  

Cooking and Baking 

The galley is smaller. There’s a lack of refrigerator and counter space. The oven is probably smaller. And if it’s hot out, a day of baking puts a lot of heat into the boat.  

Never fear! I’ve got a whole post of tips and techniques that work. Check it out. 

Look in the Recipes section of The Boat Galley website for a few great boat-friendly holiday recipes. You’ll find far more in The Boat Galley Cookbook. 

Finding Ingredients 

If you’re outside your home country – or possibly even outside your home region – you may have problems finding ingredients for some of your family-favorite traditional recipes. Several options: 

• Ask other cruisers – often someone will have found them somewhere 

• Make your own! I’ve made mincemeat for my favorite Christmas cookies, and every year a group of cruisers in LaPaz, Mexico, gets together and makes corned beef for St. Patrick’s Day 

• See if you can find a “close substitute” – chop up a chocolate bar in place of chocolate chips, or use shortbread cookies instead of vanilla wafers, say. It may not taste exactly the same, but it will evoke all the memories. 

Music 

We found that playing some of the music we associated with a holiday really helped us to feel that it was the holiday, even if the climate, food, company, surroundings, and everything else had changed. Fortunately, the internet makes this easy even at the last minute. Whether you decide to buy a few downloads, or stream on Amazon Prime, Spotify, Pandora, or even subscribe to Sirius/XM radio, you can set the musical tone. 

Decorations 

When you move aboard, think about taking a few small holiday decorations from your previous life. When we moved onto our first cruising boat, I took felt Christmas stockings that my stepmother had made for Dave and me. They took up next to no space and gave me a feeling of family connection.  

When we moved aboard Barefoot Gal, I accidentally left them in storage and grabbed three (had to include the dog, too) at the local grocery store. Not quite the same as the handmade ones, but they did bring the same smile to my face when I’d see them. 

As time went on, I bought other easily-stowed decorations as local bazaars and even made a few myself. If you’re looking for Christmas craft ideas (and one for Stars of David), check out these eco-friendly suggestions from Amy Alton. 

Local Events 

Make the effort to find and participate in local events, such as craft bazaars, religious services, or charitable events. In LaPaz, Mexico, we were astounded at how large the Christmas bazaar was in the downtown square and surrounding streets. One year, we played “Santa’s Elves” handing out presents to low-income children.  

While in Marathon, in the Florida Keys, we went to the annual lighting of the Christmas Lights at the park next to the mooring field, where Santa arrived by fire truck. One year, I was one of the judges for the Christmas boat parade in the harbor. And we always participated in the Bike Fund, where cruisers raised money to give deserving youngsters bikes, helmets, and locks. 

Bottom Line 

Whatever holidays you celebrate, and whatever traditions are important to you, there are ways to make them special while living on a boat. A little creativity goes a long way! 

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