10 Reasons to Choose a Family Cruise Holiday for Your Next Getaway
Thinking of a family cruise holiday? Read our top 10 reasons why cruises make the ultimate family holiday and planning your next adventure.
Choosing a family cruise holiday has become more popular than ever, and it’s not difficult to see why. Where else can you enjoy round-the-clock entertainment, all-inclusive dining, and the opportunity to explore multiple destinations on one trip?
My first cruise was at 22, during a holiday in Florida. Myself and my boyfriend stumbled upon an incredible deal on a Caribbean sailing that took us to Jamaica, Grand Cayman, and Mexico. I remember coming home and telling friends and family that we swam with stingrays in the Cayman Islands – they couldn’t believe it. Frankly, neither could I!
Now, more than 30 years and many cruises later, my favourite cruise memories have been made with my family. And I’m not alone. Cruise lines are constantly innovating with mind-blowing new onboard activities and experiences designed for families and kids of all ages.
With the growing popularity of multi-generational travel, and 27% of cruisers in the past two years being brand new to cruising, it’s clear that cruise lines are on to a winning formula.
Read: 20 Top Tips For First Time Cruise Holidays
My children have always loved a family cruise holiday, from the days when they were splashing around in Royal Caribbean’s water parks, to last year when they were living their best lives on Sun Princess, ordering food on their phones on the pool deck!
Read: My review on Sun Princess
From water slides to west-end shows, kids clubs to unlimited treats, family cruises offer something for all age groups, young and old.
Below, I’ve shared my top 10 reasons why a family cruise holiday might just be your perfect holiday. Hopefully, they will inspire you to set sail with your own family soon!
Read: How To Choose The Right Cruise – The Ultimate Cruise Guide
1. Cruise holidays suit the whole family – seriously!
Planning a holiday that pleases toddlers, teens, and adults is no small feat. That’s what makes cruising so ideal, they cater to all ages. From kids’ clubs and teen hangouts to adult-only zones and family-friendly shows, family cruise ships are built with every generation in mind. Whether you’re craving a little me-time or looking to create memories with the grandparents, cruise holidays deliver for the whole crew.
2. A family cruise holiday has the wow factor
As well as the whole experience of being on a big cruise ship, children can try ground-breaking activities on cruises that are not available on land based holidays. It seems like every month there is a new cruise ship launch with even more mind-blowing facilities on board.
I recall the first time my daughter Alex went on the SkyPad on Independence of the Seas. This Virtual Reality trampoline was like nothing she had seen before! I rode a race track around Norwegian Encore, a slide coaster (a combination of a roller coaster and water slide) on Norwegian Aqua, and dined at the water’s edge on a floating platform on Celebrity Beyond!
Read: My review of Norwegian Aqua
The Crown’s Edge on Icon of the Seas is a part ropes course, part skywalk and part aerial adventure, where guests step onto a walkway that hangs over the edge of the ship, while MSC World America has a unique, over-water swing ride called The Cliffhanger, which teens will love!
Cruise ships are floating wonderlands. Kids (and adults!) will be talking about these high-tech adventures for years – they simply don’t exist on land-based holidays.
3. Cruise holidays offer unbeatable fun for young kids too
Today’s family-friendly cruise ships go way beyond kids clubs and splash parks. MSC cruises has partnered with Lego offering children a huge selection of Lego to play with, and there is a LEGO family parade on selected MSC ships.
Pirate parties, escape rooms, DJ academies and circus schools are just some of the activities available with Royal Caribbean cruises, while on selected Princess Cruises you can let your children become an engineer for a day with programs from the California Science Centre. And, luxury cruise line Celebrity Cruises offers STEM projects and sporting events as part of their kids club activities.
Royal Caribbean international have a whole neighbourhood called Surfside on their latest ships that is specifically designed for families with young children, and the games zone in Norwegian Aqua with a LED sports court, virtual reality activities and high-tech minigolf course, is a Mecca for tech-fans. Family cruise ships are next-level fun for little ones and tweens alike.
4. You can visit multiple places on one holiday
One of the greatest advantages of cruising is that you can wake up in a new country each day, without the stress of packing and unpacking! I can almost hear the chatter in school when the kids return – how they went to Spain, France and Italy on their holidays!
And, if you’d rather stay on board, ships are delightfully quiet during port days, giving you the perfect chance to unwind.
5. Cruise lines create fabulous family shore excursions
From gladiator lessons in Rome to pizza-making in Sorrento, cruise excursions turn travel into unforgettable family experiences. In the Caribbean, you might swim with stingrays or visit a sea turtle sanctuary, while Alaska offers dog-sledding adventures. Some cruise lines even have their own private islands, complete with waterparks and beach fun.
6. Cruise ships offer all day dining options – that kids love!
Hungry kids or picky eaters? No problem. Cruise ships offer endless food options, most of which are included in your cost of your cruise holiday. From lavish buffets to pizza by the pool, ice cream trucks to formal dining rooms, there’s complimentary options to satisfy even the fussiest eaters. Dietary needs like gluten-free or vegetarian? Also covered.
7. Cruise ships are a safe space, and offer more freedom for kids
One of the things I love about cruise holidays is the freedom they provide. Cruise ships are secure, self-contained environments, giving kids a rare sense of independence, and parents the peace of mind to relax. Whether they’re grabbing a snack, watching a movie, or heading to a kids’ activity, they can explore safely while you unwind.
8. Parents can enjoy some alone time too
While the kids are off having a blast, parents can relax in adult-only pools, enjoy some spa treatments, or even a romantic dinner at a specialty restaurant. Many ships even offer babysitting services or extended kid’s club hours in the evening – perfect for guilt-free grown-up time.
9. There are amazing shows and entertainment onboard
Land based summer holidays usually involve happy pool time during the day, but evenings can be tricky! Once children are past the mini disco stage, the hotel entertainment needs to be extremely good to avoid the dreaded question – ‘how much longer’?
There is no comparison between the entertainment on a family cruise ship to what is available in a family resort. Even the best family hotels fall behind the West-End style shows and variety of world-class entertainment on board a cruise ship.
I still recall my kids’ faces when they saw Grease for the first time in the theatre on Harmony of the Seas, not to mention the extraordinary show in the open-air Aqua theatre.
Read: My review of Harmony of the Seas
Broadway-style productions are commonplace, with shows such as Mamma Mia and Dirty Dancing available. Princess Cruises have The Voice of the Ocean show on their ships, which is a licensed version of The Voice TV show – it even has rotating chairs!
10. Cruise holidays offer amazing value
When you consider meals, snacks and entertainment are included in the cost, cruise holidays offer great value for money. Of course you will find superb dining options in top-class all inclusive resorts, but I have yet to find one that matches the variety of entertainment on board a cruise ship. And, tell me another holiday that offers you the chance to visit multiple countries so seamlessly – I’ll wait!
I hope this family cruise holiday post will help you plan a cruise with your family soon. Whether you’re seeking adventure, relaxation, or cultural immersion, a family cruise holiday delivers in one family-friendly package.
I originally wrote this post for Travel Centres cruise brochure. Travel Centres are a multi-award winning travel agency consortium with 62 members located across Ireland, who can recommend and book the right family cruise holiday for you. It is Ireland’s largest grouping of independently-owned travel agencies – all of whom are government licensed and bonded.
