As most of you guys know we love to travel with our kids. I love to try different kinds of adventures for my kids whether it’s just a day trip or a weekend trip. But most of all, I always always dream up our vacation trips. I try not to stick to one type of vacation. I believe in exploring different kinds of traveling like cruising, city sightseeing or road trips and going out of our comfort zone like camping.
We have done various types of traveling but still have yet many more to explore. One of many memorable trips we had and have been on top of our list is Cruising.
Here are our 5 reasons why we love cruising with kids and I think if you haven’t done so at least you might want to consider it.
1. Great Kids Club
There are plenty of activities for them to do on the ship that are organized by staffs. It is a great way for them to have fun with kids of their own ages and a great escape for us to have some time alone.
Don’t like organized activities? Kids can also enjoy swimming in the pool, explore the ship, or playing putt-putt on the deck. And sometimes, just sitting at the back of the ship watching white foamy wave from the ship can take up the whole afternoon.
2. No more ‘What to eat’ question
Deciding what to eat each day is one of the most stressful for any family vacation. For cruising, this problem is solved and I don’t have to worry about planning. Food is easily accessible 24/7. There is something for everyone even the most picky eater of the family.
Our absolute favorite is unlimited soft serve ice cream. We could live on those!
3. Set Budget
We *try* to set our budget for every vacation trip. But most of the time, we ended up spending more than we plan. It’s just what it is. Cruising helps us sticking to our budget because everything is pre-paid. Food, accommodation, transportation and excursion can be paid in advance. So we know how much our vacation will cost. Plus most of the time, you will have to pay certain amount before cruise date. So it helps not having a big bill at the end.
4. Destinations Buffet
I consider our cruising to each port of call as ‘Destination Buffet’. We get to see what each city is like. Try it out and we can come back later for longer stay. It gives us a chance to visit several difference places without going bankrupt. It’s a great introduction to different cultures and experiences.
Also traveling with kids to various cities in one trip can be a hassle. Cruising helps eliminate that issue. You don’t have to check-in your luggage to the airport to fly to different cities. You don’t have to pack and unpack your luggage at each location once you arrive. If you are the only one who pack and unpack, you will really appreciate this benefit!
5. You can do Nothing or Everything
A lot of times, I have heard people who said they don’t think they will like cruising because they afraid they will get bored. Well, I can say that there are more activities than more days on the ship. So you will never get bored. And at each port of call, you have options to do NOTHING or do ANYTHING that you love. It’s for both adventurous and non-adventurous type.
For family with kids, just spending time at the beach at the port of call can be the most amazing time for them. The best part it’s free. And if your kids are older and want to do more then you can also plan excursion that suit them.
Just talking about it make me want to start planning our next cruise.
So have you cruised before? If so, tell us why your love cruising.
The Q Family is a family of 4 with 2 school-aged kids who love to explore as much as their parent.
Hi Amy,
I’m seriously considering a cruise, as you know. One quick question…at each port of call, do we need to pay for “activities” or “day trips”? Or can we simply disembark the ship and explore the city on our own?
Thanks for answering my questions,
Jen
We had a great time on our trip to the Bahamas. The beach there was so beautiful! We loved going to the cruise ship’s private island, where the kids played on the sand and collected seashells. They also had hammocks, a giant slide, a mini car race course, and child care available. The only downside for me was the metal clanking of the anchor or whatever at nighttime when I was in bed trying to go to sleep!
Cruised to Alaska last summer. Excellent for my 5yo at the time, who never wanted to leave the kids club. Great for when you want plenty to do, but without the hassle of planning the entire itinerary.
I love cruising! Haven’t gone with kids yet, but when my smallest one is old enough to enjoy kids clubs, we are so there! That’s one reason I almost wish we lived on the east coast… seems there are more places to cruise from there.
This is a really interesting post. In spite of being pretty well-traveled, I’ve never been on a cruise, and it wouldn’t spring to mind as a particularly child-friendly option. This post has made me think again. Thanks.