Cruising industry has been on a steady rise in a recent decade. There are many cruising companies catering to all segments of our population from very wealthy to the average families. I have personally taken a cruise with kids, and once I did, I have realized why cruising with kids works.
Cruise prices can add up but many times 3rd and 4th guest in the same room is charged only half price of the original fare. The 3rd and 4th member of your family will be sleeping on a pull out bed in the ship cabin, and this increases children sense of adventure and fun. If you are on a budget, you may want to get an inside cabin that has no windows or portholes. The advertised fares usually represent the inside cabin charges and upgrades to the cabin types are extra. In my personal opinion the inside room is sufficient and comfortable enough.
What to expect?
When you come on board you'll be greeted by the vessel staff and shown the way to your cabin. Cabins on most ships are pretty small, so pack lightly. Soon after you settle in your room, you will hear an announcement to report to a certain location and go through the safety drill. This is a little nuisance of cruising but very important. You will learn where to find your life west, and where to report in an event of evacuation. This drill is not only important for everyone safety but also educational for children. Soon thereafter the vessel will leave the port and kick off the sailing with music and drinks. Everyone is in a good mood because, well, the cruise has just started.
The meals on the cruise are all inclusive. You and your children will have access to buffets with variety of foods and this is especially important for those picky eaters that only eat macaroni and pizza. The buffet contains different cuisines, drinks and desserts. It is a real bonanza and feast for both your stomachs and eyes. In addition if you have a male teenager like I do, you will probably save money because those kids can eat a ton. I am under the consistent impression that the cruise company actually loses money on my teenager because of all the food he eats. Some cruise lines have a relaxed attitude toward dining which means that you go and eat whenever you feel like it. Others do have formal dining dinners where you are actually scheduled to arrive at the certain time. The formal dining will include the appetizers, main dish, drinks, coffee, tea and desserts. Dinner is the best and most expensive meal you will eat, so you may want to save some space during the day. My tactic was to eat less during the day in anticipation of a fancy dinner.
Dressing code is casual for the most part, and shorts and T-shirt will work. Some cruise lines have formal nights that require formal attire: suits and ties, elegant dresses. The dress code also applies to children so make sure they have the clothes required to go to dinners during those formal nights. If you or your children don't meet the minimum formal nights requirements, you'll have to eat your dinner at a buffet instead in the main dinner hall. Please check with the cruise line regarding the dress code before you go.
The ships have tons of amenities. My favorite pastime on cruises is just lounging by the pool and staring at the great big ocean around. Yet, for those who like being entertained there is live music, ping-pong tournaments, culinary demonstrations, theatrical performances etc. The top decks of the ship usually have a sports court, swimming pools and other amenities your children will enjoy. If you like to enjoy spa services, they also provide daycare services.
One thing I feared the most by embarking on the first trip was that I will be just eating and getting fat. Yet, the cruising is not only about eating, although it is an impressive and important part of the experience. The ships have fitness facilities and promenade decks where you can take your morning runs or casual afternoon strolls looking at the sunset. The other concern I had was that kids can fall off the vessel and although there are few spots where the only barrier to the ocean are horizontal rails, it is really not as scary as I initially thought. The risk of your children falling off is minimal.
Most cruises go from port to port where you can disembark from the vessel and explore the location. If you don't feel doing this on your own, the cruise line organizes excursions to suit your tastes. Those excursions can look expensive but we have done exploring on our own, as well as using organized excursions and there is not much difference in prices. The benefit of going on an organized excursion is a peace of mind and security that you will not miss the ship as it will wait for all excursions to come back before leaving. When you go somewhere on your own and don't return on time, your options are to either swim or pay airfare to the next port of call : neither an attractive option.
If you like venturing on your own you may be able to squeeze more hours of enjoyment in a particular location as organized excursions are more time-limited.
The biggest benefit of cruising with kids is the fact that the whole family is entertained, well fed and kept satisfied. Although vessels are very big, your kids will never be very far away. This time presents great opportunity to bond with your kids and to really see them. The cruise companies are doing a great job to beat costs of a land vacation and give you memories of the lifetime.
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Recommended reading:
Complete Guide to Cruising & Cruise Ships 2010
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