Thankfully, the history-making ice storm and holiday rush are behind you allowing time to look ahead to life in 2008! Spring Break will sneak up soon, and summer will be here in a flash. So, the time is ripe to plan ahead for that well-deserved vacation. Why not set your sights on a voyage aboard a cruise ship and be a landlubber no more!
Family cruising is quickly growing in popularity and it’s no wonder. There are over 2,000 ports of call to visit and cruise styles for every budget——offering a convenient, entertaining and educational way to see the world. Once you decide where to go and how much you want to spend, the bulk of the work will be done. Aboard ship, the experienced staff takes care of nearly everything while you relax and enjoy quality time with family on board and off shore.
Offering enormous choice, many cruise ships have classes, kids clubs, Las Vegas-style shows, gyms, spas, art exhibits and even quiet spots to simply enjoy the view. And, in case you’re wondering, you’ll never go hungry. In addition to pre-arranged dining time slots, some ships let you eat whenever and with whomever you want.
Not all cruise lines are well-suited for children, so it pays to do your homework. According to CruiseReport.com, some of the most popular and affordable family-oriented choices include Carnival, Celebrity, Disney, Norwegian Cruise Lines (NCL), Princess and Royal Caribbean, in part, because of their children’s programs highlighted below.
Carnival: “Camp Carnival” is an extensive program, broken down by age group—- Toddlers (2-5), Juniors (6-8), Intermediates (9-11), Teens (12-14) and Older Teens (15-17). There are babysitters and shore excursions (older kids).
Celebrity: “Celebrity X Club” is similar to Carnival’s program. Entertainment is geared toward each age group’s liking, offering talent shows, slumber parties, and nature lessons.
Disney: “Oceaneer Club,” for 3-7 year-olds, has its own pool and play area. 8-12-year-olds have some scheduled and some free playtime. Teens are provided with a designated space to watch movies, play video games and listen to music. There’s even a baby nursery.
NCL: “Kids’ Crew” caters to ages 2-17. Newer ships have more robust programs including arts and crafts and treasure hunts as well as playrooms.
Princess: Their innovative program has an educational slant. For example, if your destination is the Caribbean, there’s a marine life program. If you are going to Alaska, there’s the Jr. Ranger program.
Royal Caribbean: “Adventure Ocean” offers nearly non-stop activities, catering to five age groups, from 3- to 17-year-olds. They also have top-notch music and comedy shows, rock climbing walls, and miniature golf.
For more intimate-style cruising, consider Cruise West. Its fleet of smaller ships can explore territories that larger ships cannot possibly navigate. In the summer of 2006, my son, along with his grandparents, took an Alaskan expedition, affording him an “up close and personal” look at whales and bears. He even stepped foot on a glacier! All the while, the crew served as instructors, sharing their knowledge about the environment.
Whatever your desires, make this cruise experience a family-oriented event. Engage your kids early by researching the history of each port of call you’ll visit. Prepare and excite their minds about what’s to come. Have them keep a journal and take photos (those disposable cameras might do the trick) to create a memory book to have as a keepsake.
Decipher your cruise of choice. Then, get set to walk away from the pressures of daily life and see some of the world’s beauty from the ship’s deck and at each stop along the way.
Bon Voyage!
Family Cruising Tips:
It’s beneficial to use a travel agent, who is often privy to great deals and can consult on many issues! FYI–the cruise line pays agent commissions–not you!
Book early for great rates and room choices. And, budget for extra costs. “All-inclusive” can oftentimes be misleading.
Find out about dining arrangements in advance to reserve a preferred time slot. Early seating is best for younger children.
Consider suites/adjoining rooms. And, for peace of mind, avoid rooms with balconies when traveling with small children.
Find out exactly which destinations require passports and get your travel documents in order early on.
Get full cancellation insurance in the event of a last-minute curveball. Otherwise, you could lose the whole fare, which you pre-pay in full prior to the trip.
Find out where and when the cruise lines travel to various destinations throughout the year. Itineraries are set based on weather patterns.
Check out cruise line schedules for certain ships (e.g. Carnival, Royal Caribbean and NCL), which leave from Galveston Island, Texas or New Orleans, LA. These ports are easy to get to from Tulsa and are neat places to explore pre- or post-cruise time.
Purchase “Berlitz Complete Guide to Cruising and Cruise Ships 2008”, by Douglas Ward. His book does a fine job of analyzing and rating ships.
Visit the cruise industry’s leading website, www.cruisereport.com for extensive expert advice and customer reviews. |
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