Cruising Can Be a HAPPY Experience for the Entire Family
By Stephen Bright, Johnson County LIVING WELL Magazine
If you’ve vacationed with your children you know the look – a couple of bleary-eyed, bedraggled parents returning back to the hotel at 6 p.m. In tow are two hyperactive offspring wearing mouse hats or whale t-shirts sporting cotton candy hair extensions. Next, the big choice: wash them up and suffer through another dinner or collapse in the hotel room with another service or take-out pizza meal. And today’s receipt for all this fun? Well, let’s just say it cost more than your first car did?
If this is how you define vacation in your household, maybe it’s time for something different. How about an experience where EVERYONE actually gets a vacation? The answer is quite simple and does not end with the words “Park,” “World” or “Land.” But it does end with the word “Happy.” On a cruise it is possible to make everyone happy with the vacation.
Contemporary cruise lines figured out quite a while ago that if you can keep the kids happy and occupied then the parents follow right along. Over the years, children’s programs on board ships have blossomed from having one children’s counselor on board over the holidays to full blown year round programs and separate facilities for different age groups. Every age from 6 months to 16 years is often covered and childcare is offered at various levels.
Cruise lines are now savvy enough to plan nighttime activities for the children so their parents can enjoy the facilities of the ship in a relaxed style simply unavailable at most land-based resorts. Cruises are an exceptionally good idea for single parents and grandparents too, as they have a controlled environment and childcare on the ship. Extended families also love ships because cousins and friends can hang together on the ship while the adults reconnect.
Before you plan your next road trip, let a cruise expert fill you in on the many choices and the “secret” affordability of family cruising. Oh, did we forget to mention that all meals, snacks, entertainment, accommodations and transportation are often included in one upfront price? This year, take a cruise and leave the mouse hats, maps and (cotton candy remover) shampoo at home.
Cruise Planners / You Go Cruising is a full-service travel agency offering cruises, land tours and completely packaged vacations; including air, car and hotel, which can be purchased directly through its website. As a representative of American Express Travel, Cruise Planners Travel Advisors can offer exclusive AMEX benefits as well as provide you the opportunity to travel in style at the lowest prices available while still receiving the best service in the travel business. To learn more or to sign up for its travel deals newsletter, go to YouGoCruising.com or check out its FaceBook page at Facebook.com/YouGoCruising. Send email inquiries to info@yougocruising.com.
Top 10 Tips for Family Cruising
Kid’s Programs: Review all the programs that are available on the ships and destinations you are considering and make sure they are being offered on the exact sailings you may book. Make sure you understand what costs, if any, are involved for any and all those that interest you and your children – and plan in advance which ones they’ll be participating in (not only will this help your budget, but it will save you a lot of planning time so you can enjoy your vacation versus having to run family meetings while on the ship).
Shore Excursions: Costs can add up fast for families or large groups. Remember, it’s often possible to explore a new town on your own rather than on paid tours. In addition, consider purchasing any shore excursions ahead of time through your travel agent to prevent you having to stand in long lines to purchase them on the ship (usually helps with the budget too).
Length of Cruise: When traveling with children, it is often best to consider five to nine day sailings as those that are less than five nights often get a heavy party crowd and those over nine nights tend not to have many other children on board to interact with.
Cabin: Check the size and location of the stateroom as well as how many each cabin sleeps. Some ships have adjoining cabins, give special rates for a second cabin for teens, or now have family suites.
Documentation: Make sure you are cleared on what exact documentation is required for children (ID, etc.), especially if you will be getting off the ship at any of your destinations. Be especially careful if your child crosses borders and only one birth parent is on the trip.
Travel Insurance: Consider purchasing trip cancellation insurance, as these days you never know when a child will come down with the chicken pox or an illness that will cause a change in plans. Be sure you understand cancellation fees, fees for changing dates and what types of cancellations are covered by your policy.
Sodas: Consider buying “soda packages” for your kids if they drink sodas, as these drinks are typically not free and can be costly when purchasing individually.
Gratuities: Ask about the common practice for your ship and plan ahead. Your budget will thank you.
Infant Care: If traveling with an infant, check to see if there is a nursery, baby-sitting or day care available; and, if so, what costs are involved. Often these may cost extra and knowing ahead of time will help you budget/plan. You will also need to plan ahead when it comes to bathing your infant, as very few cabins have bathtubs; as well as decide what size stroller you will want to take (probably not full size).
Pregnancy: Check to make sure you are clear what medical services are available. Some ships bar women in the third trimester of pregnancy. Also, if you think there is any chance you may get pregnant between the time you book your cruise and your sailing, make sure you are clear on what penalties or fees are involved with either the cruise line or your travel insurance carrier, if any, if you cancel your cruise.
