With so much hard news to digest in the world right now, the premiere of Hallmark’s new unscripted series “Christmas at Sea” on July 7, 2025, couldn’t come at a better time. After previewing screeners for all four hour-long episodes, airing each Monday night in July, it’s safe to say “Christmas at Sea” is the feel-good show of the summer.
Part of the network’s growing lineup of “reality TV with heart,” the limited series shares the compelling backstories and journeys of multiple passengers aboard one of Hallmark’s first-ever Christmas cruises, which sold out in hours and set sail in November 2024, with 11 beloved Hallmark stars on board.
It could have wound up being one big commercial for Hallmark (and granted, there’s inevitably Hallmark branding at every turn), but the network delivered on its “reality TV with heart” mission — and here are our top three reasons we’re convinced you’re going to love it. (Don’t worry — no spoilers ahead!)
‘Christmas At Sea’ Beautifully Humanizes Hallmarkies
As Jonathan Bennett has often joked, “There are two types of people in the world: people who watch Hallmark movies and liars.” The proof is in the pudding: in 2024, Hallmark Channel was the top entertainment cable channel of the year for the 11th year in a row.
The over 3,000 fans who boarded the second Hallmark cruise in November did so knowing they all shared a love of Hallmark, but as producers zeroed in on the stories of certain passengers, that was only part of what they shared about themselves.
What was far more compelling was watching Gail face real-life fears with her bestie Alicia by her side, witnessing Rob and Donna make a life-altering decision with help from several stars, or seeing sisters Victoria and Lauren wind up chasing after a dream together during their rare alone time as a twosome, away from their families.
In five jam-packed days, producers managed to find so much more than fandom as the common bonds among the fans who became the stars of the show. They highlighted how those people wound up rooting for each other as much as they cheered for the celebrities they came to see, and showed real-life versions of the very things fans tune in to Hallmark movies for: vulnerability, courage, personal triumphs and yes, even romance.
‘Christmas at Sea’ Also Wonderfully Humanizes Hallmark Stars
HallmarkEver wondered whether Hallmark stars are as kind and relatable in real life as they are in their movies? “Christmas at Sea” provides solid confirmation, featuring 11 beloved celebs who were on board the cruise: Benjamin Ayres, Jonathan Bennett, Wes Brown, Erin Cahill, Paul Campbell, Taylor Cole, Nikki DeLoach, Sarah Drew, Tyler Hynes, Kimberley Sustad, and Andrew Walker.
The docuseries captures them throughout in fun and meaningful interactions with each other, but also in candid moments with the fans whose stories the show followed, from heartfelt conversations about personal trauma (like Deloach, whose youngest son has had three heart surgeries, talking in the gym with Donna, a spunky New Yorker still grappling with the physical and emotional effects of brain surgery) to Campbell getting genuinely pumped about Rob’s idea to propose to Donna on the ship.
And while Hynes has enough on-camera moments to keep Hynies’ hearts fluttering throughout the series, one of the sweetest scenes is when his mom overhears 60-year-old besties Alicia and Gail swooning over having just met her son. When she goes up to meet them, it’s suddenly unclear who they’re more excited about meeting — the Hallmark heartthrob or the woman who raised him. Side note: Don’t miss the proud mama glee on her face in the final episode as she watches Hynes from the audience; it’s just a half-second glimpse, but it’s the sweetest.
The stars are continually present and engaged throughout “Christmas at Sea,” with too many bear hugs to count and sweet reminders of what truly matters in life.
Finally, ‘Christmas at Sea’ is Just What We Need Right Now
HallmarkThe world is an especially rough place to live in right now, with heartbreaking headlines at every turn. Hallmark has always prided itself on being a soft place to land in hard times — “a place where love is multiplied and memories are made,” as star Erin Cahill says in one exchange with fans in “Christmas at Sea.”
That doesn’t mean burying one’s head in the Bahamas sand and doing nothing to help. But in 2019, behavioral scientist Pamela Rutledge told NBC News that the way Hallmark characters routinely find positive solutions to stressful situations can actually help people find their own courage and ideas for solutions to their own issues.
“Translating these stories into personal meaning can trigger a shift in behavior and highlight new goals,” Rutledge said.
“Christmas at Sea” is not just a show about Hallmark-crazed fans on a cruise ship. It takes viewers on a surprisingly emotional journey with multiple fans who wind up taking big steps in their lives aboard that boat — conquering fears, taking risks, chasing dreams, and voicing their appreciation for each other. But instead of being a scripted Hallmark movie, it’s real life — and it’s a beautiful shot in the arm of inspiration at the perfect time.
“Christmas at Sea” premieres on Hallmark Channel on July 7 at 8 p.m. Eastern time and each episode is available to stream on Hallmark+ the following day.
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3 Reasons You’ll LOVE ‘Christmas at Sea,’ Hallmark Channel’s New Cruise Ship Reality Show