Traditionally, cruising was seen as an activity your grandparents did for a fun vacation. There was nothing stressful, plenty of food, and it allowed them to pull out those awful plaid Bermuda shorts and get their party on at the buffet.
Oh, how the times have changed!
Cruising is now very much a family vacation option, but even with all the exciting activities, shopping experiences, and port excursions available, you still want to be aware of the children’s activities onboard your floating hotel. You’ll find that the amount of fun your kids have may be dependent upon several factors.
Start with cruise line selection. Disney Cruise Line has elevated children’s activities to an art form. You can bring your children for games, crafts, characters and more for up to 15 hours a day. Club Carnival on the Carnival line is also a fairly extensive program, but in many cases, you will have to remove your children at meal time.
Keep the time of year you cruise in mind if you want to take advantage of kids’ programs. Some cruise lines staff their children’s activities based on the number of kids booked, so if you are sailing at a time when there aren’t likely to be many kids, you may find the program limited not only in the number of hours they are open, but in the activities as well.
Cruising is not just for your Grandmom anymore. Bring the kids, have some fun!
Guest blogger Anna Bilbrough Skamarakas lives in Bellmawr, NJ with an interesting collection of children, pets, and a husband. When she’s not packing and unpacking suitcases, she can be found blogging at www.beautygirlsmom.com or studying at Rutgers University, Camden, NJ.
