When the time comes to plan your next family vacation, why not consider taking a cruise? This is without a doubt one of the best vacation options for families, even with little ones, offering activities for all ages, a variety of destinations to explore, and food choices to suit any palette. Planning such a trip, however, can be a challenge, especially when doing so for the very first time. It’s also a little more tricky to plan a cruise with kids, as there are many more details to consider. To ensure you have the best time possible, here are ten cruise tips you should know.
Get The Kids Involved
Different cruises have different fun things to do on board. If you’re wondering whether or not your little ones will enjoy the activities available on the trip that you’ve chosen, then you should just ask them. When you include the children in the planning process like this, it makes it much more likely that they will enjoy the vacation. This creates a better experience for the whole family. Getting the kids involved also provides an opportunity for you to set expectations for them.
Consult A Travel Agent
Even if you plan and book all other travel yourself, you should consider working with a travel agent when planning a cruise. They will have a much greater knowledge of different cruise lines, ships, cabins, activities, and more, and, as such, can help you to build a trip that best suits your family. They will complete most of the registration and paperwork for you too, making the entire process seamless. Many travel agents also have access to better deals.
Pack The Right Way
You don’t need to pack the entire dresser for a cruise, but you should have plenty of clothes, especially when you have little ones who may be prone to spilling. Make sure that you have an outfit for each day and that those outfits are appropriate for the activities available. You will also need swimsuits, cover-ups, and some nicer clothes for dinners. Your carry-on should have everything you might need for the first day, as it can be a while before you get your bags.
Arrive A Day Early
The stress of flying the same day that your cruise departs is unimaginable. You’re constantly worried that something will go wrong, whether it be your luggage going astray or the flight being delayed. No one should start a vacation in that headspace. For this reason, you should always fly in at least a day before you depart. As well as avoiding all of the worries, this will give your family time to get some rest and adjust to the time one before you need to set sail.
Stay Ahead Of Sickness
We all get down from time to time, even on vacation, and kids are more prone to it than most. To keep this feeling from ruining your trip, take a look at these 30 ways to improve your mood. If motion sickness is the reason you or another member of your family is in low spirits, then you should head to the center of the ship, as this is the steadiest part. You can also ask someone at guest services for seasickness pills. Most cruises will happily give these out to guests for free.
Visit The Kids’ Club
You’ll know whether or not your cruise is truly family-friendly based on the kids’ clubs. These are the perfect place for parents and children to have some fun away from one another, offering fun activities for your little ones based on their age groups. Even if your kids insist that they don’t want to attend these clubs, you should still check them out on the first day. Most cruise lines host an orientation party on boarding day, which gives your little ones the opportunity to make friends.
Know The Childcare Options
Although kids’ clubs give parents some time away from their little ones, they’re not available every hour of the day, which means that, if you want to head for a late dinner or a walk on the deck, then you’ll need to look elsewhere for childcare. Not every line has this on offer, but many do, so make sure that you look into this before booking your trip. Babysitting services get booked up quite quickly, especially for in-room childcare, so try to book yours as soon as you can.
Look After The Cabin
The cabins on cruise ships offer almost everything you need out of a room, but no one can deny that they can get pretty cramped. With so little space to work with as it is, the last thing anyone in your family should be doing is taking up more with their mess. You can relax on vacation, of course, but you shouldn’t become slobs. If you do, your room will quickly become a stress hotspot. Because of this, you need to put everything in its place and keep the space tidy.
Give The Kids Freedom
Cruise ships are very big places, but they are also contained and well manned. This presents a wonderful opportunity for you to allow your kids some freedom. If you would let your children go off and play alone back home, then you may feel comfortable allowing them to do so on the ship. You just need to make sure that you communicate effectively. Always set a time and place to meet up later and consider giving each of your kids a walkie talkie to call you from.
Keep A Loose Schedule
With so many activities at your fingertips, a cruise is the last place you need a tight schedule. You will have plenty of downtime, so feel free to sleep in now and then and spend hours lounging by the pool. This gives your kids a break just as much as it does you. However, if you intend to get off the ship at any time, this is something that you will need to plan. You don’t want it to sail off without you, after all. Choosing shorter excursions can help you to avoid any unnecessary worry.
Hopefully, with these tips, you and your children will have a great time on your first cruise.
