Family Cruises

Choosing Family Cruises

Not every cruise is suitable for a family getaway. Luxury lines, for example, typically do not have many activities for younger passengers and the cabins may not be equipped to handle third, fourth, or fifth passengers. Similarly, not every destination will appeal to children and teens, and parents should take those factors into consideration when planning a getaway.

Cruise Line

When deciding on a cruise line for a family vacation, parents should investigate different cabin options as well as onboard activities and children’s programs. Many mainstream cruise lines such as Carnival and Royal Caribbean not only offer larger cabins equipped for families, but they also have a variety of adjoining cabins that may be suitable for larger families or older children. Several lines, in fact, offer family suites – less expensive interior cabins with extra bunks for younger passengers.

Before sailing with young children, parents must investigate the age limits for children on board. Most cruise lines will permit children to sail as young as eighteen months or just one year old, though policies vary. Children’s programs are usually age-differentiated, with separate facilities and activities for young children, pre-teens, and teenagers. Carnival and Disney have some of the best programs at sea, with extensive activities for different age levels, though many larger cruise lines offer comparable programs for their young passengers.

Itinerary

The itinerary is another crucial part of a family cruise. Out-of-the-way exotic ports typically do not cater to large crowds of tourists, and therefore may have fewer attractions or excursions that would be interesting for young travelers. An excellent option is to investigate cruises that stop at private islands, where a wide range of supervised activities may be available – some cruise lines even offer an extension of their children’s programs on shore. Otherwise, parents should opt for a cruise that stops in Key West, Nassau, or another well-known port that may have fun activity museums, aquariums, zoos, or other activities suitable for young passengers.

For the Parents

Just because they are meant for families, that doesn’t mean that family cruises don’t have plenty of activities for parents to enjoy as adults. While their children are occupied in daily programs, parents can indulge in spa treatments, casino games, and other onboard entertainment without any guilt about leaving the kids behind. Most large lines offer either group or private babysitting to give parents a special evening of romance, and some cruises even offer sleepovers or slumber parties for their children’s programs – possibly during formal nights, when most parents want those few extra hours alone. Parents never need to feel concerned about their child’s whereabouts or safety, and all programs are staffed by experienced counselors. For further piece of mind, young passengers are often required to wear a wristband identifying their cabin number in case they should get accidentally separated or the parents need to be contacted.

For the Kids

Children can enjoy an endless array of fantastic activities on cruises. Children’s programs offer a wide range of activities for passengers from toddlers to teenagers. Depending on the specific age group, different activities may include:

There are activities for everyone.

• Scavenger hunts
• Pizza or sundae parties
• Karaoke contests
• Trivia contests
• Computer games or classes
• Face-painting
• Ship tours
• Enrichment classes related to ports of call
• Sports activities and contests
• Discos or dances
• Board games or puzzles
• Arts and crafts
• Themed play areas
• Movies

Children are often given their own version of the ship’s daily newsletter that details the following day’s activities so they don’t have to miss a thing. Furthermore, many ships offer additional services for children such as cookies on their beds at night, specialized children’s menus, and a waterslide for hours of fun in the pool.

For the Family

Despite the plethora of activities geared toward either children or adults exclusively, there are many things to do together on family cruises. Many onboard contests are fun for the whole family, such as team games or competitions, and early evening entertainment is suitable for the entire family. Many shore excursions are organized around several stops, including those that will appeal to adults as well as children. Of course, simply enjoying a vacation without worrying about who wants to do what or how to independently please everyone can be a great experience for a family.

Saving Money on Family Cruises

For many families, the biggest problem with a cruise is the expense. The vacation does not have to cost a mint, however, and there are many ways to find discounts. Third- and fourth-person fares are often drastically slashed on cruises, letting children sail for half the cost of their parents if they stay in the same cabin. Booking early can guarantee a better cabin choice and potentially lower fares, and onboard programs exist for soda fountain cards that can help ease the budget of extra costs.

With proper planning to choose the best cruise line and itinerary, family cruises can be a delightful experience for young and old. Parents and children alike will feel pampered with a range of suitable programs, and the vacation will go down in family history as one of the best they’ve every shared, whether it's a Christmas break cruise or a summer vacation cruise.