VENTURA COUNTY WEEKEND : Dreaming of a Bright Christmas on the Water : Cruises around Ventura or Channel Islands harbors offer plenty of lights and a season-appropriate chill.

If you want a dose of holiday spirit, take a brisk evening cruise around the Ventura or Channel Islands harbors and see the boats and waterfront homes decked out with glittering Christmas lights.

You can sip hot chocolate and listen to Christmas carols while the boats chug by these lighting displays, some of which are dazzling engineering extravaganzas.

Island Packers, which expanded to Channel Islands Harbor in June, is offering the holiday cruises there beginning this weekend. On Friday and Saturday, the boat goes out at 7 p.m for a leisurely 90-minute spin around the harbor. The price is $8 for adults and $6 for children 12 and younger.

Island Packers has trips scheduled for Dec. 8 and 15 too. These are all aboard their 55-foot powerboat “Sunfish.” It has seating for 45, either inside the cabin or outside.

Regardless of where you sit, it’s bound to be chilly. “We recommend dressing like you’re going to the snow with a hat, gloves and warm coat,” said Island Packers’ Cherryl Connally. “It goes right through you.” Hot cider and cocoa should take the chill off.

The trip is a smooth one on calm water. The boat cruises slowly, about five m.p.h., giving passengers plenty of time to see the decorated homes and boats. In the past, some have been spectacular--everything from red-nosed dolphins pulling Santa’s sleigh to a Mississippi riverboat with a paddle-wheel to a huge computer-animated scene with wise men, camels and even snow falling.

Cisco Sportfishing is also offering holiday cruises at Channel Islands Harbor for the first time this year. Starting the week of Dec. 11, they’ll run trips nightly from 7 to 8:30 p.m. through Dec. 29. The outing costs adults $7 and children younger than 12, $5.

Cisco’s is cruising the harbor in its 65-foot “Speed Twin,” which holds 85 people. They’ll be selling hot rum drinks and hot chocolate aboard.

Each year many of the homes that border the harbor participate in a holiday lighting contest, and this year’s theme is “A Victorian Holiday.”

“It was pretty good last year, but we’ll see more homes decorated this year,” said Russ Harmon, Cisco’s manager.

Of course, if you’re really into light shows, the Parade of Lights at Channel Islands Harbor is Dec. 9 at 7 p.m. with more than 40 boats decked out for the event.

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After Dec. 9, Cindy Lyon, owner of Harbor Hopper Water Taxi, will usher passengers around the harbor to see the lights through the holiday season. Lyon, who has done this for six years, takes parties by reservation, any night, until about midnight.

Her smaller boats are licensed for six and the total price is $45. The bigger boat carries up to 24, for $90. She doesn’t offer drinks, but passengers can bring their own.

At the Ventura Harbor, many of the boats and waterside homes that line the Keys are also shimmering with Christmas displays, some lavish.

Island Packers is doing one cruise here on the night of Ventura’s Parade of Lights, Dec. 16. From the deck of the boat, people can watch the parade at 7 p.m. and then cruise the harbor for an hour to see the decorated homes. This one costs $15 for adults and $10 for children 12 and younger.

Also operating out of the Ventura Harbor is Bayqueen Harbor Cruises, the veteran of these nighttime outings. This is the 13th year that owner Tom Rush has been doing the holiday gig, which runs from Dec. 8 until New Year’s.

Rush runs two 90-minute cruises a night, one at 6 p.m. and a second at 8 p.m. The price is $10 for adults and $5 for children 12 and younger. He sells coffee and hot chocolate and provides an open bar.

Rush decorates his 40-foot boat with garlands and lights and pipes in Christmas music for passengers. He pilots the boat down the narrow fingers of the Keys for an up-close look at the shoreline homes, decorated with Santas, Nativity scenes, candy canes, Christmas trees, reindeer and a dolphin or two.

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DETAILS

* EVENING CRUISES to see Christmas lights are available at both harbors. All require advance reservations.

* BAYQUEEN HARBOR CRUISES operates out of Ventura Harbor at Ventura Harbor Village, 1567 Spinnaker Drive; 642-7753.

* ISLAND PACKERS, operates out of Ventura Harbor at 1867 Spinnaker Drive; 642-1393. Also operating out of Channel Islands Harbor, Coast Chandlery, 3600 S. Harbor Blvd.

* CISCO SPORTFISHING, operates out of Channel Islands Harbor, 4151 S. Victoria Ave.; 985-8511.

* HARBOR HOPPER WATER TAXI operates out of Channel Islands Harbor at Harbor Landing; 985-4677.