It’s a plain and honest truth that going on any type of holiday with your children can be an intimidating prospect. But stuck aboard a boat with them for long stretches of time and water? We don’t know whether to jump ship, walk the plank, or simply retire to the cruise ship’s bar until we reach terra firma.
But to be so flippant would be to ignore the wonderful benefits of taking your kids on a cruise, including countless things to do onboard to keep them entertained, the opportunity to see the world from a truly unique vantage point, and the family bonding time you’ll simply have to enjoy/endure together.
After surviving choppy waters during COVID-19, the cruise industry is expected to grow to over $25 billion by the end of the year, and with thousands of cruises available online, it’s easy to get a little lost at sea looking for one ideally suited to your family. We’re here to help with that; here are the world’s best cruises for families.
7 Night Eastern Caribbean Cruise on Disney Fantasy
Kids, almost unanimously, love Disney, and a trip to Disneyland Paris or Disney World Florida will never be met with complaints from the younger tourists in your family.
But if you’ve got your heart set on a cruise and don’t want to give this up, then here’s some good news for the all the gang; there is a Disney cruise line which hosts family holidays on the sea!
Fantasy is a huge vessel that has over 1,200 staterooms and is widely regarded as the best cruise ship in the line. For one week, venture through the lands of Castaway Cay, Orlando, Phillipsburg and San Juan whilst experiencing the endless immersion that Disney has to offer back onboard the ship, bound to please old and new fans alike.
She offers an array of amusement options set to keep the kids entertained for hours, from meet and greets with characters like Mickey Mouse and Pluto, the Walt Disney and Buena Vista Theatre and the AquaDuck roller coaster. Adults can enjoy more private areas that are still just as magical, such as the Quiet Cove Pool for a relaxing swimming experience and The Tube, which is an 18+ night club for those seeking late-night raves, Disney-style.
Though such trips are certainly an immersive, all-inclusive experience, do make sure you do your research on travel insurance for cruises before you book. Making sure your policy covers missed port departures, itinerary changes, and COVID-19 related cancellations will give you peace of mind prior to – and during – your trip, which is essential when the whole family is involved, don’t you think?
You can find out more about this adventure with Disney here.
7 Night Alaska Cruise by Royal Caribbean
The 7 Night Alaska Cruise by Royal Caribbean sees a voyage encompassing breathtaking destinations like Vancouver, Seattle, Juneau and Ketchikan, where you will be exposed to the natural wonders of the world. But if having a ride on a husky sledge is not enough for your children, then trust us; they won’t be feeling underwhelmed when they see the vast range of facilities waiting for them on board.
Read: 6 things to do with the kids in Downtown Vancouver
Royal Caribbean’s vessels are equipped with many teen-only spaces where your older children can chill until late with those of their own age, even heading over to the teen-only nightclub with their newfound friends.
Meanwhile, younger visitors can train to become aquanauts with the Adventure Ocean youth program, providing spaces where 3- to 5-year-old sailors can conduct their own amazing experiments. Sounds like great fun to us!
Learn more about this incredible cruising holiday here.
Mediterranean Cruises on MSC Magnifica
If taking a cruise around the Caribbean sounds like a little too much of a mission with the little ones, then why not consider a holiday onboard closer to home?
MSC’s famous Mediterranean cruises are a wonderful way for the kids to dip their toe into the waters of cruise holidays without having to fly or sail halfway across the world to get started!
Abroad the Magnifica, you’ll find a 4D cinema, 1’200 seat cinema, both open-air and indoor pools, tennis, mini-golf, billiards, and so much more, if the kids get bored on this cruise, then… Well, you know what they say about only boring people getting bored?
There are also themed rooms, each of which hosts kids clubs throughout your cruise around the Mediterranean, but we’ve saved the best bit until last with this one; aboard any MSC ship, children cruise for free!
Find out more about MSC Magnifica’s Mediterranean cruising here.
From Orlando To The Eastern Caribbean on Carnival’s Mardi Gras
Speaking of saving the best ‘till last, we might have saved our very favourite cruise line for families until the end here. That’s because Carnival Cruise Line’s Mardi Gras is perhaps the most exhilarating time the kids (and adults!) will ever have out at sea.
Curiosity piqued? Allow us to explain. In August of last year, the world’s first ever onboard rollercoaster set sail as part of Carnival Cruise’s latest liner, the state-of-the-art Mardi Gras. Named Bolt, the coaster sits 187 feet above sea level, is 800 feet long and reaches speeds of 40 miles per hour. Wow!
And if that’s not enough to keep the kids starry-eyed, then the open-air cinema on the top deck, with the latest films screen on huge projectors, oughtto do the trick. You can even catch a film whilst frolicking in the top deck’s water park. complete with wave machines and slides galore! Well, we’re sold… See you on board?
Taking in The Bahamas and Dominican Republic, find out more about Carnival’s flagship cruise from Orlando to The Eastern Caribbean here.
We hope that you are inspired by our picks. Just remember, a cruise should be fun for the entire family, so make sure to choose wisely!