5 Reasons Cruising Is For Families

Mary, travel blogger at The World Is a Book, and her husband take their two young kids all over the world. Her blog is truly a delight, and is a feast for both the eyes and the wanderlusting soul.

She honored me by writing this post for my Travel Week Extravaganza.  A true cruising veteran, let her walk you through some of the reasons why it’s their favorite type of vacation…

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Despite its increasing popularity, there are still a few misconceptions about cruising.  It may not be for everyone but I’ve always told friends and family – just try it once.  It’s one of our favorite ways to travel and spend our vacation.  We are going on our 12th cruise next month, 11 of them with kids.  My almost 10-year-old daughter went on her first cruise at 6-months-old to Alaska and she still loves it.

There are many reasons why we cruise and why cruising is also becoming more popular as a family travel option.

1.)  Reason Cruising Is For Families :  Onboard Activities

One of the surprising things we found about cruising was the sheer number of activities available once you get on the ship.  They range from educational with classes on photography, cooking, computer basics, art auctions to fun games like trivia, karaoke and talent contests.  Most nights, the ships put on comedy shows or Broadway style productions or movies under the stars at poolside theaters.

If you just want to relax and listen to some music, there are a variety of lounges and bars with entertainers.  There is also a nightclub for those who want to dance the night away.  Like to take some chances or feel like you’re in Las Vegas?  They have Bingo games, casinos with table games and slot machines with tournaments.

For people with a sweet tooth, some ships put on food displays like Chocoholic Buffet or Dessert Extravaganza.  Yes, the Chocoholic Buffet is as enticing as it sounds and is one of our favorite nights.  Ships have gyms, tracks and sports facilities from basketball courts to mini-golf to stay in shape too after overindulging in all the food.

The problem is not about getting bored but choosing which activities to do on a daily basis.  Ships hand out a schedule of the day’s activities so you can plan out your day.

What about the kids?  One of my kids’ favorite parts of the cruise which they look forward to every time is the Kids Club.  Kids are separated into various age groups at the club.  They get to meet and mingle with other kids their own age.  Activities like pizza making, cupcake decorating, arts and crafts, and scavenger games are the highlights for my kids.  Most have teen hangouts with numerous activities that should entertain even finicky teenagers.

2.)  Reason Cruising Is For Families:  Great Value for Family Budget

Unlike many other vacations, most of the costs are upfront. The cruise fare includes your lodging, entertainment, onboard activities, food and transportation from one port to another.  What’s not included?  Gratuities are added to the bill which as of our last cruise early this year was $11 per person per day.  The tips are for the room stewards (more on them later) and the wait staff.

The other extras are sodas and alcoholic drinks, souvenirs, photos, gambling, spa services and the off-shore excursions.  While food is included, some people prefer to pay a little extra to try out the specialty restaurants.  We find it easier to budget knowing a majority of the expenses are paid for and the rest can be controlled.

Cruises cater to all sorts of family travel budgets.  Prices vary depending on what cabin type you choose with the interior (window less ones) the cheapest and family suites and balconies in the higher price range.   The third and fourth passengers in a cabin are usually discounted and some cruise lines like Costa, MSC Cruises, and Disney run kids sail free promotions throughout the year.

 

 

3.) Reason Cruising Is For Families:  Personal Service and Choices

As a working mom, I love being pampered and catered to.  I don’t have to figure out dinner, clean or cook.  Cruising allows me to relax, unlike a land based vacation where we’re trying to decide what and where to eat and how to get there on a daily basis.  Each cabin is assigned a room steward who cleans up after you and turns down the bed for you leaving towel animals and chocolates on the pillow.

The ships are essentially floating cities.  Some of them are so huge it would be hard to feel claustrophobic.  It’s also all about choices.  Do as little or as much as you want.  One can relax by the pool or watch the scenery from the deck or your cabin’s balcony.  There are sea days to enjoy the ship and port days to choose a myriad of activities on shore.

4.)  Reason Cruising Is For Families:  Multiple Destinations

One of the biggest advantages of cruising for us is seeing multiple destinations on a single trip and unpacking only once.  I like to call it sampling.  While we may be in one place for a short time with excursions, we get a feel of it and decide if we want to return for an extended land vacation or feel lucky we were only there for a day.  Waking up to a new island or city almost everyday is such a wonderful feeling  knowing there’s something new and exciting waiting for us.

Some places are meant to be seen on a cruise like the Caribbean or Hawaiian Islands, the Norwegian fjords or crossing the Panama Canal.  Alaska is a great itinerary to explore those remote glaciers.

Some sail to a destination and stay there for a few days, like the Bermuda itinerary.  Ships cater to many interests from Disney, to fine dining and itineraries that go anywhere in the world.

5.)  Reason Cruising Is For Families:  Family Time

Cruising offers something for everyone in the family and makes the perfect trip for multi-generational travel.

We’ve gone on two cruises with our parents and everyone had a great time.  The children got to enjoy the kids’ club while the adults picked activities that suited our interests.  But, we also made sure we had family time by spending dinners together and doing activities on shore as a family.  We’ve gradually seen more grandparents traveling with their grandkids on cruises lately.

Reasons Cruising Is For Families:   Two Common Concerns

I thought I should also address the two biggest worries my friends and family have expressed about cruising.

What if I get seasick?

Most ships are so large and equipped with state of the art stabilizers that it’s sometimes hard to feel its movement.  My kids hardly experienced seasickness.  Green apples and ginger ale work great with them.

For some of us who are a little bit more sensitive, I take non-drowsy Dramamine during the first couple of days and I’m usually fine the rest of the trip.  We’ve seen many people wearing motion sickness pressure bracelets or motion sickness patches too. We’ve found that cabins in the middle and back of the ship tend to work better for us to minimize motion sickness.

What if my kids go overboard?

Also, I don’t know how to swim and Titanic comes to mind. Cruising is one of the safest travel options around.  Hundreds of ships sail every week all over the world and aside from the Costa Concordia incident in Italy, ships have a pretty good safety record.

The balconies on decks and in rooms are pretty high up, even for overactive toddlers.  I don’t swim very well and it hasn’t stopped me, knowing safety is such a high priority with the ships.  There are mandatory life boat drills before sailing and life vests are available inside the cabins.

There’s a different level of energy when cruising.

We usually feel that excitement once we board the ship.  We’re greeted with lively music and we can feel all the other passengers’ high levels of enthusiasm. It is a total escape from reality, with limited connection to the outside world while sailing.

The vast number of activities onboard and in ports, great value for the money, and its ability to offer something for everyone are just some of the reasons we choose to cruise.  It’s a wonderful travel experience I hope many more will discover and enjoy.

* Have you enjoyed the wonders of cruising?  Are you willing to try cruising?

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 About the author:

Mary lives in San Diego, CA with her husband, 9-year-old daughter and 7-year-old son.  She has worked in the Information Technology field for over 15 years and currently works full-time as a computer programmer.  She was born in the Philippines and grew up in Guam and considers herself an island girl at heart. Mary writes about the family’s travels along with tips and guides on her blog: www.theworldisabook.com.  She has traveled to almost 40 countries and loves cruises, National Parks, art and quirky museums.

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/worldisabook
Twitter:  http://www.twitter.com/worldbooktravel

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This guest post is part of my Travel Week Extravaganza. There will be great travel related articles and travel gear reviews and giveaways all week… so be sure to check out the fun!