You heard me correctly, my friends. In my opinion, one of the best family vacations with kids is a luxury cruise.
1. One of the best facts is that some cruise lines let young children go for free or at reduced rates. Between January 22nd and May 28th, kids set sail for free on most Disney Cruise Line 3-night cruises when accompanied by two full-fare adults. Lines like Norwegian and Carnival also offer shorter cruises with kids for free or at deep discounts.
2. For many cruise lines, 10-day or longer cruises attract an older crowd, 2-3-day cruises attract party-loving adults, and 6-7-day cruises include more kids and toddlers programs. So choose accordingly (unless, of course, you’re going on a Disney cruise).
3. Most cruise lines have kids/teen programs to offer. Lines include Disney, Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Princess, Holland America, Celebrity and Cunard. Check with other cruise lines regarding their offerings. Thus, most ships offer parent/child orientation with young supervisors on the first day of the cruise. Take advantage of the important information they provide. The quality of the program can vary somewhat, and it can be important to ask exactly what each program has to offer and if it keeps the kids occupied throughout the day as well as into the evening. (Also, if you have newly diapered or potty-trained babies, make sure beforehand that the ship offers a program for them.)
4. What about the housing arrangements? Some cruises have cabins large enough to sleep five; Others have adjoining cabins. But, if this is not the case, be aware that cell phones do not work on ships. If your cruise line doesn’t offer larger or adjoining cabins, you should probably buy walkie-talkies that your family can use. Walkie-talkies can also be very useful whether in the cabin or detached on board a ship or engaging in shore excursions.
5. Sailing ships are bigger than you can imagine, so walk the entire ship with your kids when you get aboard so they are more comfortable. Take your little ones to the children’s program every day and pick them up when it’s over. There’s a really good chance they’ll be hopelessly lost if they try to navigate the ship on their own. Also, nicely, if your older kids are walking around the ship, they write on a chalkboard in the room they are in at any given time.
6. Show a little interest. Do not allow your children to scream, run, slam doors, jump on beds, push against walls, etc. Other guests deserve to enjoy their cruise, too.
7. Some beach excursions may make babies cry (or frown). Children usually love fish and animals. It will be interesting to visit an aquarium, an underwater sightseeing exhibition, a wildlife park, or even a submarine ride. And you might want to insist that everyone get together for dinner. Besides potential trips, this may be the only time the family gets together.
With programs offered for all ages, a cruise may be one of the best family vacations you will ever enjoy.