A study of 1,000 parents with children aged four to 12 found 32% will be on holiday or staying with family and not in their own beds this Christmas
One in three youngsters will be spending Christmas away from home this year, leaving many worried that Santa might not be able to track them down.
A survey of 1,000 parents with kids aged four to 12 found that 32% will be on holiday or staying with relatives, and won’t be sleeping in their own beds on Christmas Eve.
Of those who’ll be away from home, a whopping 67% are concerned that Santa won’t realise he needs to deliver their gifts to a different location.
In fact, 26% of parents have even changed their travel plans to keep the magic of Christmas alive for their little ones.
The study was carried out by MSC Cruises, which has come up with a fun solution to reassure kids that Santa will still find them, even if they’re on a ship in the middle of the ocean.
The cruise line has created a special ‘Sleigh Pad’ on the deck of its MSC Preziosa ship, complete with colourful markings, a sleigh-shaped design, and even hoof ‘ports’ for each of Santa’s nine reindeer.
Antonio Paradiso, managing director of 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.”
When it comes to planning a Christmas getaway, families say their top priorities are finding destinations with plenty of activities for kids, a festive atmosphere and lots of dining options.
To alleviate their children’s concerns while travelling, almost half of parents refer to Santa’s “magic map,” his love for adventure or leave a note on the chimney with their new address.
Over half of parents keep one or more Santa-related traditions alive, with a whopping three quarters believing it’s crucial for their children to continue believing in Father Christmas.
Antonio Paradiso 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.”
