No, it's not too late - you can still book these last-minute Christmas cruises

For the whitest Christmas of your life, celebrate in Antarctica. Princess Cruises' 16-night cruise from Buenos Aires is priced from only $2579. Departing December 18, Sapphire Princess spends four days "scenic cruising" around the Antarctic Peninsula, which means you won't step foot on the ice, but it doesn't get much cheaper.

If you like it hot, Celestyal's first Arabian Christmas cruise starts at $1069 for a whole week of Festive Desert Days. Celestyal Journey departs Doha, Qatar, on December 21 and celebrates Christmas Day in Oman.

Try a different style of cruising on a mixed passenger-cargo ship, Aranui 5. Aranui Cruises' Polynesian Christmas departs Papeete, Tahiti, on December 16 and arrives in Makatea on Christmas morning before Boxing Day in Bora Bora. Fares start at $8181.

Or take a river cruise from Cambodia to Vietnam with Heritage Line. The Jahan offers a seven-night Lower Mekong cruise departing Siem Reap on December 21, priced from about $US4000 ($5960).

On family-friendly sailings from Australia, passengers can enjoy carolling, festive feasts and appearances from Santa handing out presents for the kids.

Royal Caribbean's Ovation of the Seas spends Christmas Day exploring the New Zealand Fiordland, including Milford Sound. Departing Sydney on December 18, this 10-night voyage is priced from $2499. From Brisbane, Quantum of the Seas heads to Vanuatu on a seven-night South Pacific cruise, from $1799.

Carnival has an eight-night cruise aboard Carnival Splendor from Sydney to New Caledonia, starting at $1509, and a seven-night cruise on Carnival Luminosa from Brisbane to Vanuatu, from $1698.

Pacific Adventure's last Christmas cruise for P&O will set sail on December 19 from Melbourne to Kangaroo Island, Port Arthur and Hobart. This eight-night Aussie trip starts at $1649.

The fancier Celebrity Cruises has a 13-night New Zealand Holiday aboard Celebrity Edge from Sydney on December 20, from $3283.

And we haven't even touched on the world's most festive cruising - Christmas markets river cruises in Europe - but I've heard there's a handful of cabins left for 2024 with Viking, Uniworld and Tauck. Merry Cruise-mas!

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Myth: Christmas cruises are overpriced.

Fact: December can be more expensive, especially as it coincides with school holidays, but the fares are not outrageous. Prices fluctuate depending on availability, and many cruise lines offer early-booking or last-minute discounts. Check out the examples in today's column, with plenty under $2000 per person. I was pleasantly surprised when comparing costs for other months. Royal Caribbean, for example, offers its 10-night cruise to New Zealand in March for the same price. It's $300 cheaper in November, which means a couple pays only $600 more for Christmas. For all the festive trimmings on top, I think it's worth it.