● 67% of parents reveal their kids are worried that Santa won’t be able to find them to deliver their gifts when holidaying on Christmas Eve, new research from MSC Cruises reveals
● Rightly so, as 32% won’t be waking up at home this Christmas Day
● A special sleigh pad for Santa and his reindeer has been set up on the deck of MSC Preziosa, sailing from Southampton this festive season
London, UK – 16 December 2024: With Christmas just around the corner, MSC Cruises highlights the most common questions parents face when celebrating the holidays away from home. As research reveals that nearly a third of children (32%) won’t wake up at their usual address on Christmas Day, it’s unsurprising that one of the top questions kids ask is, “How will Santa find us if we’re not at home?”, with 67% of parents confirming this is a Christmas concern.
With 75% of parents wanting to take their family away over Christmas, MSC Cruises unveils a dedicated landing pad for Santa’s sleigh on the deck of MSC Preziosa, to keep delivery dilemmas at bay. 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.
Additional Christmas queries kids have about Santa include ‘Is Santa real?’, alongside tactical questions like ‘How does he visit every house in the world in just one night’, ‘What happens if a house doesn’t have a chimney’ and ‘How does he know where we live’.
For 77% of parents, answering these questions can be tricky, with kids asking about Santa an average of four times a week leading up to Christmas. To ease their children's worries while traveling, nearly half of parents (49%) often mention Santa’s "magic map," his love of adventure (43%), or leave a note on the chimney with their new address (38%). In fact, 26% of parents have even delayed their travel plans to keep the holiday magic intact for their kids.
When families do 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 target, 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. Onboard 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 onboard.”
TOP QUESTIONS KIDS ASK THEIR PARENTS ABOUT SANTA:
Book a magical Christmas 2025 voyage with MSC Cruises here.
1Poll of 1,000 parents with children aged four-12 who celebrate Christmas by OnePoll in December 2024 on behalf of MSC Cruises
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