Family Cruising
by Linda Coffman
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Know Before You
Go
Will your family enjoy a cruise?
Most parents report that once they are on board the ship, they
barely see their children. Mom can savor some well earned beauty
rest while Dad heads for a solitary jog on the deck, secure in the
knowledge that their children are happy and well cared for in the
youth center.
Organized, age appropriate
activities supervised by youth counselors are generally scheduled
all day long in well-equipped "kid zones." With breaks in
the late afternoon, the action resumes again in the evening. Take
care when researching a family cruise vacation, though, as not all
programs are created equal. Some cruise lines limit or close
activity centers on port days, while others offer as little as group
or private babysitting at an additional charge when in port. The
best programs are business as usual every day and some even schedule
escorted educational shore excursions for older children and teens.
Youth programs are divided into
small age groups in order to provide engaging activities for
different developmental levels. Generally, children under two, or
those not potty trained, will not be accepted into most children's
programs. Even on ships with nurseries, due to legal constraints,
counselors will rarely change diapers or assist children with their
bathroom needs. On some ships, parents are issued a beeper to summon
them in case of a problem.
Will there be many children on
board? It depends—peak times for family
cruises are during school holidays and summer vacations. Be sure to
attend the youth program orientation and enroll on the first day of
the cruise. Prizes, such as tee-shirts and visors, may be
awarded to children who attend the activities,
or special goodies are often available for purchase. Real money
savers are low-cost soft drink "cards" that allow children
to obtain an unlimited number of fountain drinks anywhere on the
ship.
Children and teens either love the
organized activities or they shy away from them. Parents must
realistically assess their children's social skills and desires.
Bashful youngsters may not feel comfortable interacting with
children they don't know, while some teens may be secretly relieved
of the necessity to strike out on their own in search of others
their age.
Some cruise lines offer special
discounted fares for children occupying the same stateroom as their
parents and, while infants sail "free" on some cruise
lines, port charges are often assessed.
Do's
- DO book a cruise early; triple
and quad cabins are limited and ships have a maximum passenger
capacity
- DO consider adjoining cabins for
parents and older children
- DO find out if the cruise line
provides baby supplies (diapers, food) and bring any other
necessities
- DO indicate to the travel agent
if a crib or high chair is needed
- DO bring a stroller for toddlers
- DO pack a favorite game or
stuffed animal
- DO dress up on Formal Night and
have a family portrait taken
- DO control your children in
public areas, especially around the swimming pool
- DO participate if the children's
program invites parents to take part in activities
- DO bring along 2-way radios to
keep track of family members
- DO plan to spend family time
together
- DO invite the grandparents to
come along!
"Multi-generational
and family reunion cruising are definitely a growing trend in the
travel industry," said David A. Giersdorf, senior vice
president, marketing and sales for Holland America Line.
"Parents and grandparents can truly enjoy their cruise, knowing
their kids are equally enjoying the time in supervised
pastimes."
And Don'ts
- DON'Ts... the major one is don't
stress. Once on board, there's no cooking, no dish washing, no
bed making or bathroom clean up to take care of and, best of
all, no small voices in the back seat of the car asking, "Are
we there yet?"
The only significant problem you
are likely to encounter on a cruise is convincing the children they
have to leave the ship at the end of the voyage. What could be
better for the entire family?
BACK
TO --> Family
Cruising, The Basics
Related...
Planning
& Packing & Lists — For
the entire family
The Cruise
Planning Timeline
— Practical considerations to
take care of before your cruise
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Adventure Ocean
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Courtesy of Royal
Caribbean International
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