Nothing can beat the excitement you’ll see on your kids’ faces when they discover they’ll soon be heading off on a cruise holiday. The mere thought of boarding a giant cruise-liner and enjoying a fantastic holiday on the high seas is enough to fill every kid with visions of their very own pirate holiday – indeed many of the kids’ programmes aboard some of the best cruise ships focus on a pirate theme and related activities – a big hit with all kids.
For teenagers too, this is a very ‘grown-up’ holiday, so don’t underestimate the amount of ‘street-cred’ it will bring once they inform their friends that they’re heading off on a cruise. And, for a few weeks at least, Mum & Dad may even be considered ‘almost cool’.
Having a holiday on a cruise ship gives kids the opportunity to enjoy life aboard with other kids from many nationalities and with many languages spoken. MSC Cruises, for example, specialises in multi-lingual kids’ programmes designed to ensure that all of the kids on board have an unforgettable and very international experience.
The best cruises for families offer a range of options including the all important kids’ clubs and teenagers’ clubs which gives the kids the opportunity to really enjoy their time on board getting involved in activities such as drama, pirate treasure hunts, theme parties and discos through to an endless number of sporting options like mini-golf, mini-football and volleyball. Most cruise ships have multiple pools and plentiful deck areas and games like shuffleboard. Some newer ships even offer special activities rock-climbing walls, wave surfing, scuba-diving lessons and clay pigeon shooting from the deck. Modern cruise ship companies take passenger safety seriously and ensure that all sporting and recreational activities are well supervised.
Despite the endless options for having fun on board, when the cruise reaches port, the kids can start getting excited about a whole new adventure exploring each destination with Mum and Dad. Most port visits are generally timed to allow passengers to get back on dry land for part of a day or a whole day, which gives everyone plenty of time to take in some sights and experience the local culture. Your cruise staff will advise you of what sights or activities are available at each port and how you can maximise the time available to suit the whole family’s interests.
With the kids taken care of and an endless list of planned activities in the kids’ club, Mum and Dad will be free to unwind and relax. The important thing to remember is that cruise holidays don’t just let kids have all the fun. There are plenty of options on modern cruise ships for adults including poolside bars and sunbathing decks, evening dining & entertainment, deck games and even talent shows!
Whatever you choose to do onboard, make sure that you have clearly designated time to relax with and without the kids.
Although most families opt to explore together when in port, you can sometimes arrange to have the kids taken on an adventure excursion with staff, leaving Mum & Dad free to explore the local area on their own.
Some of the more popular cruise locations include;
