Cruising – a fantastic family friendly holiday option to keep the kids occupied
Cruising used to be considered old-fashioned but now cruising is officially cool for kids and a great family option. If you want to take it easy while the kids are entertained then the cruise ship is the perfect place for a family holiday. If you choose carefully, you will be able to find a cruise which has dedicated kids’ areas whether it is a ball pool for five-year olds or somewhere cool for teenagers to hang out. Facilities can include craft activities, toys, arcade games, pools, climbing frames, wave simulators, ice skating and a variety of programmes for children of different ages. These programmes can include painting, building bricks, sing-along and colouring for toddlers, working up to internet cafes, plasma TVs, movies, games and parties for teenagers.
Childcare accommodation and meals
As you would expect from good land based family resorts, family accommodation ranges from rooms with extra beds and sofa beds to interconnecting cabins and children’s meals can be accommodated by special teas as well as a good choice of meals.
All inclusive packages make this a surprisingly affordable option as generally everything is included in the price. You should bear in mind however that larger and more modern ships can mean long walks from one place to another and you should study deck plans carefully when selecting your cabin, bearing in mind the age of your family. The new super liners feature fewer port stops and more days at sea and again, this is something you should consider. Check the cruise itinerary to see how long you will be staying in each port and whether the programmes both on the ship and in port focus on things your family are likely to be interested in.
Top tips to consider when booking your cruise family holiday
Are there going to be organized activities for children and are they extra or included in the price?
Consider whether this is a cruise which is suitable for young children and whether it is likely that there will be other children for them to play with. Look also into the type of entertainment that there will be for your children.
If you are considering enrolling your children in the activities, check the qualification of the staff and if they are competent and qualified to deal with children. Our guide to choosing a kids club should help you.
It would be unusual not to have baby sitting available, but again check this is available if you would like babysitting after the children are gone to bed.
When you are investigating accommodation look at whether you can have connecting cabins or say a suite with a pull-out bed in the sitting room area.
Check whether or not there would be a medically trained person on board and make sure you bring appropriate medication for seasickness in the event that this affects any member of the family.
Generally, the Mediterranean and the Caribbean are the most popular destinations with summer time in the Mediterranean being the most popular. In the Caribbean, there are two high seasons, namely the summer and February to mid April. You should note however that the later you go in the summer, the higher the hurricane risk.
Further information
Highly regarded tour operators who provide excellent family friendly cruise offers include Thompson cruises and Royal Carribean. Expedia have great offers on cruises to the Carribean which are often priced in dollars which is great value at the moment so check out their special offers. They also have special offers on short four day and longer European cruises with up 30% off.
However you book be sure to enquire about special offers and deals or discounts for booking online.
You will find lots of family friendly travel tips and advice in our research and advice section to help you book the right family holiday. Check out also the experiences of other parents and travellers in our parents forum and add your own experiences as we are a great believer in real parent's experiences as the best measure of whether somewhere will suit you for your family holiday.
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