8 reasons why cruising is the perfect family holiday
It’s the fastest growing holiday market in the world and it’s just made for families. Here’s why you should be taking your whole family on a cruise.
1. It’s easy
Really, really easy. All you have to do is book the tickets and once the whole family is onboard everything is organised for you. There’s no extra planning involved, which means you can concentrate on the most important thing – relaxing.
2. It’s great value
Just about everything you need for a great trip is included in your cruise fare, like accommodation, meals, transport, entertainment and activities for every single day. If you break down the fare on a day by day basis, it works out as much better value than a standard resort-style holiday. You could be cruising for less than $100 per person per day.
3. It’s fun for everyone
On a cruise you won’t have to choose between the water park and the movie theatre, inevitably upsetting some of the family. That’s because all the fun activities are right there in the one place and everyone can choose something that suits them. Then you can all have your own perfect day and meet up to swap stories over dinner.
4. It’s delicious
Many seasoned cruisers will tell you that there’s something in the sea air that seems to make your clothes shrink… Well, either that or there’s just too much good food onboard. The dining options are endless, from family-friendly buffets and burger joints to fine dining French or innovative sushi restaurants. The best part is, most of the food is included in the fare and specialty restaurants come at a very reasonable cost, usually around $20 per person.
5. It’s entertaining
Trivia competitions, karaoke, musicals, jazz bands, acrobatics shows, ice skating performances – you’ll be entertained onboard from morning to night. Many ships host world-class productions of Broadway stage shows featuring highly-skilled performers, which are every bit as good as those you’d see in the theatre.
6. It’s exciting
The days of cruise ship activities being limited to shuffleboard or bridge are long gone. Now, family-friendly megaliners are stocked with huge waterslides, zip lines, rock climbing walls, bumper cars, ice skating rinks, surf simulators, sky diving simulators and laser tag. You’re essentially cruising on a giant floating theme park.
7. It’s about the journey
On a cruise, you’ll never hear the dreaded phrase so familiar on family car trips: “are we there yet?” While the destinations are important, much of what makes cruising so great is that the journey is just as entertaining. Sea days are filled with activities, entertainment and excitement. The kids might not even want to get off at port.
8. It’s safe
Parents and grandparents often say they find it hard to relax on holiday because they are constantly keeping an eye out for the children. On a cruise ship, free kids’ and teens clubs’ ensure that everyone has a great time, plus late night babysitting or supervised sleepovers mean the adults can dance the night away.
Do you agree that cruising is a great holiday for families to enjoy? Have you ever cruised with family members before, and if so how was the experience? Let us know in the comments.
Image: Getty