Carnival, Mardi Gras & more: How to enjoy iconic parties affordably & fuss-free

Cruise and stay holidays ensure travellers get real bang for their buck by teaming a fun getaway at sea with time exploring cities and land-based attractions.

Getting to some of the globe’s most iconic festivities can prove a pain to organise by yourself but by opting for a cruise and stay package you can attend with ease (and save a pretty penny too!).

With travel agents such as Paramount Cruises everything is taken care of with a cruise and stay holiday, from flights and transfers to hotel stays and the cruise itself – surf and turf but with glitter and feathers.

Cruise packages mean you can attend New Orleans’ Mardi Gras (never needing to worry about getting there or where to stay), relish the wonders of the Deep South and swan off on a Caribbean cruise all in one break.

Or perhaps you’ve always wanted to experience Carnival in Rio de Janeiro but weren’t sure how to start organising it? Enter cruise and stay holidays – get the experts to sort it all for you, complete with an all-inclusive South American voyage. All you need to think about are your party outfits!

Here are some of the best global celebrations you can attend – and how to bag the best deals.

Mardi Gras is much more than just Pancake Day in New Orleans, Louisiana. The exuberant annual celebration – translating to “Fat Tuesday” (our favourite kind of Tuesday) – is rooted in a rich history of French, Spanish and Creole traditions. It’s the culmination of weeks of parades, parties and festivities leading up to Lent.

Colourful and elaborate floats, masked revellers in ornate costumes and lively music fill the streets of the French Quarter and beyond as locals and tourists alike come together to indulge in food, drink and high spirits. Good luck getting away from this one without a hangover.

Experience it

Cruise packages make sure you attend the festivities and immerse yourself in the region’s splendour, as you stay in Nashville and Memphis as well as soaking up the sun on a Caribbean cruise.

Carnival in Rio de Janeiro is a world-famous spectacle and one of the most iconic cultural events in Brazil. Held annually in the lead-up to Lent (these Christians sure know how to party, hey?) Carnival transforms the city into a kaleidoscope of colour, music and dance.

Samba schools, each with their own elaborate theme and intricately designed floats, compete in the Sambadrome, a purpose-built parade stadium, to showcase their creativity and rhythm in a dazzling procession.

Expect lavish costumes adorned with feathers (told you) and sequins plus oodles of exuberant energy from performers and spectators as millions of people from around the globe flock to Rio to enjoy the famous fiesta. Pack your (comfortable) dancing shoes and get ready to shake those hips like Shakira.

Experience it

Make the most of cruise specialists and soak up the renowned party before kicking back on a luxury cruise down the coast of South America with this cruise and stay deal.

The Calgary Stampede is an annual, world-famous rodeo and exhibition held in Alberta, Canada that attracts millions of attendees each year. Often referred to as “The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth,” the ten-day event celebrates Western heritage, cowboy culture and the spirit of the Canadian West. Yee-haw!

The event features a thrilling lineup of rodeo events, including bull riding, chuckwagon races and barrel racing, drawing top rodeo performers from around the world.

Visitors can enjoy a wide range of other entertainment too, such as live music, rides and games, agricultural exhibits and a spectacular fireworks show. Now’s the time to dig out that Cowboy hat…

Experience it

Ride the high seas on your getaway by pairing the rodeo with an Alaska cruise (and if you’re into the cowboys you’ll love the lumberjacks in Ketchikan…)

The 4th of July, also known as Independence Day, is a major annual national holiday in the USA commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in 1776, marking the country’s independence from British rule.

Americans across the nation observe this day every year with patriotic displays, but the 4th of July festivities in Nashville, Tennessee are particularly extraordinary thanks to their grandeur and musical heritage.

The highlight of the day is a massive fireworks display, which is synchronised to a live performance by the Nashville Symphony Orchestra and launched over the Cumberland River. There are also concerts featuring prominent musicians and food vendors serving up Southern delicacies along with a patriotic atmosphere by the (fried chicken) bucket-load.

Experience it

Make the most of a 4th of July cruise package holiday by taking a Caribbean cruise too…you know, to indulge in some R&R after all that merry-making.

You’d be hard-pressed not to have watched a TV show or movie that depicts the magic of Christmas in New York so you’ll know this is a city that puts Big in the Big Apple with its holiday spirit.

During the festive season, New York’s streets come alive with dazzling decorations, including the world-famous Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree, adorned with thousands of lights and a massive star. Ice skating at the Rockefeller Center rink and shopping at holiday markets like Bryant Park’s Winter Village are cherished traditions.

The city’s department stores, such as Macy’s and Saks Fifth Avenue, showcase elaborate window displays, while theatres host special holiday productions like The Nutcracker. Visitors can also enjoy horse-drawn carriage rides through Central Park, warming up with hot chocolate and roasted chestnuts from street vendors. Totally understandable if you pretend you’re Kate Beckinsale.

Experience it

Embrace the Golden Age of travel and head to NYC by ship from the UK thanks to the cruise specialists at Paramount (and no, you won’t need to slum it in steerage).