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Sure, the holiday season is supposed to be all about crackling fires and cuddly family gatherings around homecooked meals. We all aim for this ideal, gathering ornaments to hang and chestnuts to roast, but despite our best efforts, the result is often a few points short of that glowing classical standard.

Hollywood has made a bundle playing off of the typical chaos that generally reigns in the household under the stress of preparing mountains of food and the perfect environment for family gathering. The fall/winter holiday season has almost become synonymous with high-tension squabbles and weeks upon weeks of preparation for a day or two of payoff.

So, how about trying something unconventional this year? A trip to the bahamas maybe?

Instead of stressing over buying gadgets and socks for each other this year, have your family pitch in toward a week-long Christmas cruise to some exotic port of call, and ditch the whole nightmare of present-buying.

Lines like Disney, Holland America, and Princess offer holiday-specific excursions to create the perfect atmosphere for hassle-free family bonding time.

After all, your cruise will have mapped out every day for you and your entourage, providing the setting and preparation, allowing you to sleep and play through the travel, and even roasting your turkey to perfection (and providing a vegetarian substitute for your finicky niece) without requiring the slightest help in the kitchen.

So, consider getting away for the holidays, and letting yourself (and your family) be pampered.

Chances are, the memories will turn out to be better (and longer lasting!) than socks and gadgets, anyway.