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What to Consider When Choosing a Family Cruise
Cruises are an awesome choice when it comes to traveling with kids. Picture this: you’re on a massive floating hotel, surrounded by endless ocean views, and your little ones are having the time of their lives – sounds pretty amazing, right?
Well, that’s just the tip of the iceberg (pun intended) when it comes to cruising with the kiddos. From exciting onboard activities to exploring different destinations without the hassle of packing and unpacking, cruises offer a convenient and fun-filled adventure for the whole family.
But you may be thinking…ugh, I don’t want to go on one of the cruise lines that are typically promoted to families and tailored to kids. If that’s the case, you’re in luck! Because when looking for the best cruises for kids, keep in mind that the ships don’t have to have in-your-face kid stuff. Some cruise ship lines may not have water slides and famous characters running around, but they still understand what kids – and parents – like.
I’ve been on one of the family cruise lines with kids and we had an amazing time and my children loved the water slides and kid clubs. My husband and I also loved that our young toddler had a safe child care place to go to, even though it cost extra — it meant we got to have a couple romantic dinners at the specialty restaurants on board!
On the flip side, I’ve also been on one of the more modern, luxurious cruise ships. There were no water slides, the pool had adult-only hours, and there was no day care for kids under the age of three. Yet, it still felt incredibly kid-friendly even though there were just a handful of other kids we saw each day.
The staff was incredibly friendly and engaging with the kids and even the other cruisers seemed more relaxed around the kids — maybe because there weren’t so many running around all the time, ha! will relish in the fact that there are plenty of adult activities to partake in while their children are in the kids clubs including lounging in the peaceful adults-only Solarium.
One of the mid-range cruise lines that isn’t totally focused on families is also a good fit for kids who get overwhelmed easily with sounds and crowds. They can have a blast on the ship while not getting overwhelmed with waiting in lines to do onboard attractions or getting too much stimulation.
Here are six more reasons cruising is one of the best vacations you can take with kids. And if you aren’t sure how to pick a cruise line that will work best for your family, check out this article with tips for picking the right cruise ship.
Clean, Bright Play Areas and Child Care
If there’s on thing cruise lines are good at, it’s keeping things pristine. On a family cruise, you’ll find that even the kid zones are clean and bright. Usually the areas designated for children and teens have light, bright interiors with welcome, friendly staff members who keep up a high level of safety protocols and cleanliness.
Plus, free child care! On most ships, the kids club areas are part of your cruise fare, though you may need to make a reservation for when you’d like to drop off your kid there. And some do charge extra for babies or toddlers still in diapers. Still, it’s worth it and one of the best reasons I love cruising with kids.
Educational Fun
In most cruise line kid areas, there is also a focus on arts and education, not just frenzied fun and activities. While in the onboard kid zone, there is usually open play time as well as structured activities that lead children in making crafts or doing experiments that help them learn more about the world around them.
Older kids may even learn a valuable skillset for the modern day and age with a friendly competition that includes videography, editing, or other STEM-focused activities.
There are also usually on board presentations about wildlife or the history of the area you’re visiting which families may enjoy.
Exciting Entertainment
Back on board the ship after a day exploring a port of call, you don’t just have to hang out in your stateroom. Cruise lines have excellent evening offerings, from family trivia night and bingo to musical guests and elaborate Broadway shows. Some ships even have Cirque du Soleil-style performances, water acrobatics, and even ice-skating shows.
During a day at sea, you can usually do onboard arts and crafts, go ice skating, ride a roller coaster, go swimming, and so many more things to do depending on which cruise ship you’re on.
Delicious & Creative Kid Food
You’ll be happy to hear cruise lines go way beyond chicken nuggets and hot dogs when it comes to its kids menu. You’ll still find kid favorites like mac and cheese and spaghetti on the menu, but you’ll also be able to encourage your children to try something new, such as a filet mignon or freshly prepared fish sticks.
Getting your kids to eat is easier when they’re not exhausted, and most cruise lines have flexible dining programs. This lets you choose which time you want to dine each day based off of that day’s activities or how tired your kiddos are, instead of being set into a time.
And if you’re not up for the Main Dining Room one day? No problem! Stop in at the casual buffet. Alternately, free room service is usually offered, though it may have a more limited menu. This is great for tired kids who just want to cuddle up in bed after a long day exploring and eat some comfort food before falling asleep. Parents will appreciate not having to lug exhausted kids to a dining room in order to eat, and not having to pay to enjoy quality food in the calm of their room.
Water Fun on the Ship
Not every cruise line has those waterslides you no doubt see in commercials, but nearly all ships have a pool with swim times open to families. Though double check requirements since usually kids in diapers (even if they’re not swim diapers) aren’t allowed. In that case, choose a ship that has a splash pad area for littles.
And if your family is totally into water fun, then definitely look into some of the ships that have the mega waterslides on the top deck. They’re incredible and so much fun!
Kid-Friendly Shore Excursions
Cruising isn’t just about ship time. While in port in one of the incredible destinations cruise itineraries sail to, your family can embark on a shore excursion both kids and adults will love. Many shore excursions put a focus on activities that provide fun and educational experiences while in port for an assortment of ages. No worrying about your kids getting bored and restless while on land!
Quality Family Time
More than just fun activities and exciting adventures, what kids want most (even if they don’t know it) is quality family time. A cruise makes this easy since you’re in close quarters on the ship with usually spotty or non-existent cell service and wi-fi. Plus, on a cruise, everything is done for you, from food to entertainment to how to get around. You can just relax and focus on each other.
Check out my other cruise articles and start building those families memories now!
You also may like reading: What to Pack for a Cruise with Kids
