When we think about going on vacation, the word relaxation comes to mind. You might picture yourself at the beach on a recliner sipping sangria, just resting the day away in a beautiful location. But, if you are planning a family vacation, you can kiss the ideal image of the word relaxation goodbye.
If your regular days include taking care of children and elderlies, any family vacation means doing the same chores but in an exotic location, all the while spending hundreds of dollars just for being there.
So, what is the point of paying money to spend your holidays living an even more stressful version of your daily life? Does this mean we should just forget about going somewhere for vacation?
Relax, we have the ultimate solution for you. If you want to spend a stress-free vacation, with all your worries taken care of, consider going on a cruise for your next family vacation.
Why Choose A Cruise Trip For Family Vacation?
Never been on a cruise before? Don’t be stressed out, as these first time cruise tips will make your cruise vacation a breeze. Even if a cruise is something out of your comfort zone, you should consider it. You will be surprised how a cruise trip can take care of all your family vacation-related problems.
The following factors can help you to understand why cruises are perfect for family vacations:
Cruises Are Unique
Unless you are a deep-sea fisherman, a marine, a sailor, or in any profession that requires you to spend time at sea, you probably have spent 99% of your life on land. While on a cruise, you get to spend time on the ocean, which is a unique experience for most people.
Imagine, waking up to endless blue waters. Catching the occasional glimpse of sea life and getting to experience something truly different from our mundane 9 to 5 lives on land.
You get to see the sunrise and set in all its true glory and to witness a sky full of stars, both of these can be a rare sight, especially if you live in a bustling city.
Your children will love being on a cruise because of its unique experience. They will talk about it for months and have more than enough content to write about in their summer vacation essay.
Easy Planning
As much as we love going on vacations, the planning part sucks. Vacation planning can be so stressful. You have to decide on a location, where to stay, the sightseeing, the food, and so on, all the while maintaining a budget.
The worst part is that if something goes wrong while following the plan, you have to bear the responsibility of finding a solution. The fact that the planner is also on vacation becomes redundant as you are responsible for everything.
This is what makes planning cruises the easiest, as you don’t have to plan or worry about most parts. Where you will sleep, eat and go has all been planned and all you have to do is follow that plan.
All you have to do is look through the websites and brochures to decide on the company and package offers that appeal to you and your family, and they will take care of the rest.
Something For Everyone
The best part about a cruise is that you can find almost every kind of entertainment onboard. From elderly and children to adults and teens, with the right cruise line, you can find something for everyone.
Most cruises designated for family fun will have some activity and areas planned for kids. From miniature theme parks to kid club activities, children will have so much to do that you are bound to get some “me time” or romantic time off with your partner.
For adults, there can be disco, spas, casinos, live shows, cabarets, etc. Each cruise is different and comes with its perks, but most have the option of fine dining, bars, dance clubs, and other adult-only activities.
Most family-focused cruises also have family activities where everyone can have fun together. You can talk to the travel agent to find the right cruise line, where you can personalize your itinerary so that it caters to your dream vacation.
You get to Relax
Going on a vacation can be stressful for the person who is planning and is responsible for the budget. Making sure everything is going smoothly during vacation is not easy. It takes a lot of planning to avoid a mid-vacation meltdown. These tasks always fall on the already worn-out parents, who ironically are the ones most in need of a vacation.
But, on a cruise, everything can be preplanned. If you have children or teenagers, there are plenty of activities available for them to take part in. If there are elderly family members under your care, there are plenty of options also for their entertainment, to keep them occupied as well.
When everyone is busy and taken care of, you can finally let your hair down. You can visit the spa, recline by the pool and finally get time to yourself. There will be many couples mingling, so you will get to relax and reconnect with your partner.
Cruises are Economical
What makes planning for a regular vacation so difficult is budgeting a trip. Even when you know how much you will spend on the rooms and allocate a budget for food, there will always be hidden costs everywhere.
From taxi fares to entrance fees, you end up always paying for a lot of extra expenses that accumulate into a much bigger bill than you have initially predicted. This is where going for a cruise makes a difference.
The cruise packages are often all-inclusive, so you don’t have to worry about matters like hotel and food bills. All your main expenditures are already paid for when you enter the cruise ship.
Whatever extra you might be spending, it will be during your offshore excursion, for activities like sightseeing or buying souvenirs. So, besides this and possibly the cost of drinks, you don’t have to worry about too many hidden costs.
Visiting Multiple Locations
The best part about cruises is that you get to visit many beautiful places during the trip. The cruise ships call on a few ports along the way, allowing you the chance to visit a few cities and port areas. Some even stop overnight in these cities, so that you can get a taste of the place and not just a slight glimpse.
Imagine being on a cruise ship traveling along the coasts of Europe, it will stop at so many beautiful cities. Depending on the stoppages, you can select a cruise that takes you places you always wanted to visit. This will cost you a lot less than if you have to fly from one city to another.
So you will get a taste of these places, without having to face the challenges of visiting multiple locations during the vacation, such as flying, hotel fares, etc.
No Stress of Shifting Hotels
Most people have a love-hate relationship with hotels. While the unfamiliarity of a hotel room might make it difficult to sleep, we do love not having to worry about cleaning or making a mess. However, having to make a hole in the wallet for the services, does make it bitter.
However, we probably hate nothing more than the unpacking and the packing of our belongings. When you are traveling from one city to another, shifting hotels is tiresome. It is super tedious to have to unpack somewhere then repack and then repeat it again. And, let’s not forget, someone will always forget something important at a hotel in a city they won’t be returning to.
This is debatably the best part about cruising. You have to unpack only once. No matter how many cities you visit, you don’t have to worry about shifting hotels because you will be spending your nights on the cruise ship.
You can Find Something To Fit a Vacation of Any length
There are so many types of cruises available, you will be surprised by the sheer number of packages available. Whether you are planning a three-day or thirty days vacation, there is something to fit any length of time.
Did you know that there is a cruise available now that goes on for the better part of a year? The Viking cruises have come up with a 245-day cruise that travels around the world! So, whether you have a long vacation ahead or a short one, there is something for everyone.
Final Thoughts
Cruises are fun, exciting, and unique. Your family will love to go on a cruise for a family vacation, as there is always something to match everyone’s taste. Cruise trips bring relaxation and exploration back to vacations. Have a wonderful time with your family, cutting through the open waters on a ship during your next vacation.
