MSC Cruises

MSC Cruises Reveals Santa Landing Pad For Kids At Sea

With Christmas just around the corner and 75% of parents wanting to take their family away over Christmas, MSC Cruises has unveiled a dedicated landing pad for Santa’s sleigh on the deck of MSC Preziosa.

Holidaymakers were greeted by this festive 5-metre installation in Southampton, which ensures Santa and his reindeer can safely visit at sea, reassuring children travelling away from home that their gifts will still arrive on time.

The ‘Sleigh Pad’ features colourful markings inspired by a helipad, with a sleigh-shaped design and individual hoof ‘ports’ for each of Santa’s nine reindeer.

To ensure a smooth docking, trained ‘Santa Spotters’ have been stationed at the sleigh pad with candy-cane marshal wands to guide Santa and his sleigh through the night.

Christmas queries kids have about Santa include tactical questions like “How will Santa find us if we’re not at home?”, with 67% of parents confirming this is a Christmas concern.

Other questions often asked are “How does he visit every house in the world in just one night” and “What happens if a house doesn’t have a chimney” and “How does he know where we live”.

While 65% will be in their own beds this festive season, 32% will find themselves on holiday or staying with family.

When families decide to travel over Christmas, their top priorities are finding destinations with family-friendly activities (61%), a festive atmosphere (56%), and plenty of dining options (24%).

Managing kids’ excitement (38%) and maintaining cherished traditions (32%) are among the biggest considerations during this time.

Over half of parents (54%) keep one to three Santa-related traditions alive, with 74% believing it’s important that their children continue to believe in Santa.

Antonio Paradiso, VP of International Sales and Managing Director of MSC Cruises UK and Ireland MSC Cruises said:

“Santa always does his best to find families, but a cruise ship out at sea can be a moving object, so we thought he’d appreciate the extra help.

“Kids ask some very valid questions, so we’re pleased to show them exactly how Santa will find us at sea.

“Our research highlights that being away from home on Christmas Day often leads to tricky questions from kids, prompting parents to get creative with their answers.”

The research also highlights that families would most enjoy festive shows (57%), a Winter Wonderland experience (51%), and carol singing (50%) during their Christmas holiday.

On board MSC Preziosa, guests can expect a floating winter wonderland filled with festive cheer, including Christmas workshops, Father Christmas’s Grotto, classic carolling, and a special edition of MasterChef at Sea.

Antonio Paradiso added: “Hopefully our sleigh pad will give kids heading away on a cruise with their families this Christmas some much-needed reassurance that he’ll still visit.

“Across our fleet, we work hard to create special, memorable experiences for families, and making Christmas as magical as possible is high on our agenda. ‘Santa’s Sleigh Stop’ is part of the festive fun that kids – and their families – can look forward to on board.”

Agents can book a magical Christmas 2025 voyage for their guests with MSC Cruises here: www.msccruises.co.uk.

Explore MSC Cruises’ world-class ships on Travel Pursuit’s ship directory here.

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