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Loews Portofino Bay Hotel Christmas
Want to make the Christmas season truly special? Then consider a stay at Loews Portofino Bay Hotel at the Universal Orlando Resort!
Loews Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal Orlando is a wonderful luxury hotel themed like an Italian Riviera village. Portofino Bay is within walking distance or a short boat ride away from Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure theme parks. You can also take a boat or walk to Universal CityWalk. The hotel features large luxurious rooms and wonderful amenities like a great pool and a Mandara spa. Portifino Bay is an official Universal hotel so you also get great perks like early entry to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
With all these great features, it’s not surprising it is one of the more expensive Universal hotels. But you can still get a great deal if you book a stay through here. And it will be definitely worth the price. Portofino Bay is a wonderful hotel to stay in any time of the year. Though it is especially great at Christmas time. You can see how great the hotel is and Christmas decorations from this video. We took during a November Universal trip a few years ago:
But this video only begins to scratch the surface. That’s because there are so many reasons Loews Portofino Bay hotel really comes to life during the holidays. And we’ll go over those in this Loews Portofino Bay Christmas Guide.
Holiday Harbor Nights
Holiday Harbor Nights take place on Friday, November 26, 2021. This is the Christmas tree lighting ceremony. It takes place at the giant Christmas tree at the Harbor Piazza. You can see the Christmas tree going up here:
Seeing the beautiful lights decorated on this amazing Christmas tree is wonderful enough. But you also get to enjoy select wines and delicious gourmet foods at wine and food stations. Plus there’s live music and dancing. You can enjoy a live band, as well as a special performance by Portofino’s opera singers. So this is definitely something you’ll want to experience.
Strolling Holiday Carolers
Starting Monday, December 20th through Christmas Eve, you can enjoy great Christmas music from carolers! They’ll be in the lobby and throughout the hotel from 7:00 PM to 9:30 PM.
Kids’ Holiday Crafts & Activities
December 20th really is when things get cooking at Portofino Bay! Because starting December 20th through Christmas Eve, there will be holiday crafts and activities for kids. This is available in the lobby for free, from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM.
Holiday Cookies & Beverages in the Lobby
Starting Monday, December 20, 2021, up until Friday, December 24, 2021, you’ll be able to get free holiday cookies in the lobby! This is available from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM.
Christmas Day Buffet
Lucky enough to be spending Christmas day at Portofino Bay? Then you’ll want to check out their Christmas day buffet in Trattoria del Porto! Live music makes the event more special.
But of course, you want to know about the food. It is a buffet, right? Well, the Christmas Day Buffet features a delicious menu of great food:
Chafing Dishes Station
This includes:
- Italian Brased Beef Stew
- Tuscan Shrimp
- Lemon Chicken
- Baked Pasta Rigatoni
- Cinnamon Roasted Acorn Squash
- Seared Ocean Bass
- Skillet Chicken Breast
- Zucchini Bacon Wild Rise Casserole
- Whipped Potatoes with Garlic Oil
- Crispy Brussels Sprouts
Carving & Chef Station
This includes:
- Slow Thyme Roasted Turkey
- Ham Seasoned with Clove
- Beef Rib Roast
- Roasted Potatoes
Desserts Station
This includes:
- Lemon Almond Torte
- Pastry Chef Special
- Chocolate Ganache Cake
- Double Chocolate Cocoa Tart
- Gingerbread White Chocolate Bavarian Mousse
- Italian Cream Cake
- Strawberry Cheesecake
- Classic Tiramisu
- Pistachio Pot De Creme
- Stollen & Holiday Cookies
- Cherry Compote
Desserts Action Station
This includes:
- Apple Strudel
Salads Station
This includes:
- Antipasto Salad
- Confetti Bean Salad
- Fresh Medley Greens
- Savoy Cabbage
- Radicchio & Green Bean
- Tomato & Mozzarella
- Green Lentils & Orange Salad
- Italian Chopped Salad
- Cubed Fruit Display
Children’s Buffet Station
This includes:
- Pepperoni and Cheese Pizza
- Mac and Cheese
- Spaghetti & Meat Balls
- Chicken Fingers
- Peas & Carrots
- Brownies
- Mini Cupcakes
- Cookies
Chilled Seafood Display
This includes:
- King Crab
- Lemon Poached Shrimp
- Fresh Oysters
- And more!
Soup Station
This includes:
- Liguria Christmas Macaroni Soup
Cold Appetizers
This includes:
- Smoked Salmon
- Italian Cured Meats, Pate
- And more!
Cheese Station
This includes:
- Imported Cheeses
- Domestic Cheeses
- Crackers
- Homemade Breads
- Dried Fruits
- Nuts
- Assorted Fruit Preserves
Pasta Station
Create your own risotto using some of these available toppings:
- Shrimp
- Roasted Onion
- Butternut Squash
- Mushroom Ragout
- Roasted Fennel
- Spinach
- Fontina Cheese
- Roasted Tomato
- Parmesan Cheese
Hanukkah Menorah Lighting Ceremony
Loews Portofino Bay doesn’t just celebrate Christmas during the holiday season. There’s also a Hanukkah Menorah Lighting Ceremony in the lobby.
Universal Orlando Theme Parks
Now, when you stay at Loews Portofino Bay, you can walk to Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure. Or you can take a great boat ride. And this is great during the holiday season because there’s a lot of great holiday fun at the parks. You can read more about it in our Universal Orlando Holidays Guide.
You should note that staying at the hotel does not include tickets to the parks. But you can save money on your tickets by booking them along with Portofino Bay through this website.
