Our family loves travel adventures. You can visit my Travel tab in the navigation bar above to see some of the great places we’ve visited. One adventure we’ve never take has been a family cruise. I cannot wait to take our first family cruise. We’d like to go on a cruise to Alaska in the next couple years.
Cruise options and destinations have almost doubled in the last ten years, with everything from exclusive club cruises to family friendly cruises being offered for the busy family. Whether you are a frequent cruiser, or it is the first time booking a cruise, you will be excited to find out that there is something for everyone and you now have many reasons to take the kids with. Family cruising has become so popular that many of the more traditional cruise options now include options to add children to your sail, when they never did before.
If you are considering taking the kids along when you go cruising, here are five reasons why you absolutely should.
Five Reasons to Take a Family Cruise
Cruising and Travel Gives Kids a Sense of the World
Traveling of any sort is a great experience for children because it takes them out of their world and set of experiences. When children can get a sense of more of the world they are part of it is better for their growth and understanding of the world around them. Cruising gives children an even better sense of what the world holds, especially if you are landlocked and they do not get the chance to see as much ocean as they will while on a cruise.
The Kids Activities Are Incredible
With so many families taking their children along for cruises, more and more cruise lines are beginning to up their child friendly activities and excursions in order to attract your travel dollars. Some cruise ships have what would be considered a full fledged water park aboard, others focus on the activities and play spaces they are able to offer children, and then there are those cruises that look to offer options for parents that bring the kids along but want some time alone.
They Make International Friends
One of the most unexpected benefits of bringing kids traveling is that they are able to meet other children from all walks of life and locales. Kids are quick to make friends with each other, especially when they are having a good time, and when they do so aboard a cruise they often make international friends. A lot of times the kids are keen to keep in contact, setting the stage for pen pal situations after the cruise and a buddy to try new things with during the cruise.
Kid Free Deals Are Great
In order to help you get more for your money, look for those deals aboard cruises where options for children are free. There won’t always be a kids free cruise option, but sometimes their meals or activities are free when there are adults that they are booked with. The cruise lines don’t expect the kids to take up as much room or resources, which is why they offer these deals, and you get to take the kids along for a hugely reduced price.
Cruises With Kids are Easy
Everything about cruising with children is easy, from the transport to the meals to the room and everything in between. Think of all the little details that were involved in the last family trip that you took, the getting from place to place and needing to scout out restaurants, the need to organize excursions and activities and then try to get everyone situated in a hotel room. All of these struggles are eliminated when you travel and cruise with kids, so why would you do any other type of travel?
What big adventure would you like to take with your family?
Our Disney cruise was by far the best. We’d like to take a Disney Cruise up to Alaska one summer before our boys get too old for Disney.