CRUISING WITH CHILDREN
Up until a few years ago, the words "cruise vacation" and
"children" were seldom uttered together, and if they were, it
was usually during a discussion of who would babysit while the
parents went on a cruise. Most people would not even consider
taking their children on a cruise vacation, and those few brave
souls who did were often viewed with disbelief.
Those days are gone. Family cruise vacations have exploded in
popularity, with more and more cruise lines catering specially
to the needs of families with children of all ages. Now when it
comes to cruising with children, your choices are many and your
biggest challenge will likely be choosing from the amazing
selection of cruise options.
Getting started The first step to successful cruising with
children begins with the planning. Include your children in the
planning process as much as possible; after all, it is a family
vacation and the trip will go much better if everyone has had at
least some input from the start. Set an expectation up front
that adults will make the final decisions but that everyone in
the family will have some input.
A child's input will be limited by their age, but even the
youngest kids can have a role in cruise planning. You should do
the initial homework to determine which cruises fit your budget
and then sit down with your children to discuss the options.
Research potential ports of call at the library or on the
internet, and talk with a travel agent who specializes in
cruising.
With research in hand, let each person in the family write down
the two or three things that are most important to him or her.
These things might be a specific port of call, an onboard
activity, an onshore excursion, or some other attribute of the
ship and its amenities. Once everyone has submitted their
suggestions, work together to plan a cruise that combines as
many of the ideas as possible so that each person gets at least
one thing included that is important to them.
Expect the unexpected No vacation ever unfolds completely as
planned, and a family cruise vacation is no exception. Be
flexible and allow for delayed airline flights, bad weather,
long layovers, and the other common problems that can arise when
traveling. Take along complete contact information for your
travel agent, the cruise line, and the port agent, just in case
you get lost, run late, or even miss the boat's departure from a
port of call. The ship will not wait for you so it is critical
that you know whom to contact in a pinch.
If you have to fly to your cruise departure point, avoid
checking your baggage if at all possible. Opt for carry on
luggage if you can, just to avoid the risk of you and your
suitcase being separated somewhere along the way. If you must
check baggage, be sure to pack a carry on bag for each person
that contains one full change of clothes, toiletries, and any
necessary medications.
Balance family time and adult time Once you are onboard, strike
a balance between family time spent together and adults-only
time. Take advantage of shipboard activities and supervised
children's centers to get away from the kids for a while.
Chances are they will love getting away from you, too, and their
vacation experience will be much more memorable if they can
participate in the kid-focused activities that most cruise lines
now offer. You get the benefit of adult time to take that
moonlight stroll, have a romantic dinner, or just lounge on deck
with a good book.
During your time together as a family, though, make it a
priority to play with your kids and have fun. Do some shipboard
activities together, play in the swimming pool, let yourself
relax and let go of the "parent" role for just a little while.
It will be refreshing for you, enjoyable for your kids, and make
your vacation that much more memorable.