A third of children will be spending Christmas away from home this year, causing anxiety about whether Santa will be able to find them. A survey of 1,000 parents with children aged between four and 12 revealed that 32% will be on holiday or staying with family, not in their own homes.
Among those who are staying elsewhere, a significant 67% worry that Santa won’t realise he needs to deliver presents to a different location. Consequently, 26% have even postponed their travel plans to maintain the festive magic for their children.
The study was commissioned by MSC Cruises, which has introduced a special ‘Sleigh Pad’ on the deck of its MSC Preziosa to reassure children travelling over the holidays that their gifts will arrive on time.
Antonio Paradiso, managing director of the cruise line, 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. »
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%).
To alleviate their children’s concerns while travelling, 49% of parents refer to Santa’s « magic map, » his love for adventure (43%), or leave a note on the chimney with their new address (38%).
Over half of parents (54%) keep at least one Santa-related tradition alive, with a whopping 74% believing it’s crucial for their children to continue believing in Father Christmas.
The study also revealed that families would most enjoy festive shows (57%), a winter wonderland experience (51%), and carol singing (50%) during their holiday season.
Antonio Paradiso from MSC Cruises, which offers Christmas workshops and features Father Christmas’ grotto and carolling on its ships, said: « 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. »
« 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. »
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