Family Fun at Sea: Tips for Going on a Cruise With Kids

If you are looking for an idea for your next family holiday, why not consider going on a cruise? A cruise can make a great family travel option for a number of reasons. You and your little ones will be able to visit a number of different destinations in a short time, keeping things interesting and fun. Also, the cruise ship is a safe and family friendly environment and you won’t have to worry about staying in a hotel in a bad neighborhood. Another perk is the fact that food and accommodation is all covered in one price, so it makes it much easier to budget for your family holiday.

Cruising with kids can also be fun because there are a lot of fun activities available for the little ones on board – which will keep them busy and entertained. There are even certain cruise line finder sites such as the Cruise Sale Finder website where you can search for cruises that cater to families. Most cruises offer lots of great programming as well as childcare services. This can take a lot of the pressure off and make your travels much easier.

So how can you make the most of your cruise experience with your children? Here are some helpful tips to keep in mind when on a cruise with the:

• Find out the age requirements of your cruise – as some of them will not accept babies under a certain age. Also, many cruise lines will not allow swimming pool access to children in nappies or pull-ups. Check the cruise line’s website for more information.
• Check to make sure that your room has a bathtub. If you don’t reserve one specifically, you might find that you are stuck with only having a shower.
• When cruising with a young toddler, try to stay on the same schedule that you have at home for mealtimes and nap times. It will help your little one to stay well rested.
• If you are going out for an evening meal, it is better to opt for an earlier meal rather than a later one, because the earlier dining time usually has more families with children and is slightly less formal.
• Buffet dining is usually more suited to young children, as they don’t have a lot of patience for formal sit-down meals.
• If you can afford to request a balcony, it’s very nice to have. While your baby or child is napping, you can sit out on the balcony and enjoy the view.
• When you first get to your room, take a few minutes to “childproof” it. For example, place tape over any light sockets and make sure that the balcony’s railing doesn’t have spaces that the child can slip through.
• Take advantage of any children’s activities and programming on the ship. Many cruise lines will offer supervised “Kid’s Clubs” with fun activities throughout the day such as games, sports and arts and crafts. It’s also a fun way for them to meet other kids their own age.
• Bring extra nappies! If you have to buy more on the ship, you will find that they are very expensive.
• Little ones can find a change in routine upsetting, so bring something familiar and comfortable with you such as their favorite bedtime stories and their favorite teddy bear.
• When the ship is in port, don’t be too ambitious about the amount of sightseeing that your family can handle – you don’t want to burn out the little ones. Choose the most important things that you want to see and make them your priority.
• Give your little ones a cheap disposable camera so that they can document the holiday. It’s a lot of fun to see your adventures from their perspective.
• Because everyone boards the ship at the same time, it will usually take the crew quite a while to deliver the luggage to everyone’s room. Take a carry-on bag with you with your essentials including wipes, nappies, camera, swimsuits and shorts so that you can start enjoying the ship right away.

These are just a few of the tips that you can keep in mind to ensure that you and your little ones will have a fun and enjoyable cruise.

 

GUEST BLOGGER: Ryan Posa is a travel enthusiast and the General Manager of Cruise Republic. He loves to explore off the beaten track as well as relax in the comforting luxury of a cruise. He likes to write about travel tips and share his stories from his adventures. Keep up with Ryan on Twitter.