Family cruising

Cruise Vacations 
A unique new travel option for families

More and more families are choosing to go on cruises than ever before, and cruise lines have responded by adding more family-friendly amenities on each new ship they build. There are dozens of new cruise line programs to keep kids from ages 2 to 17 busy and happy, which gives parents a chance to relax at the adults-only pool, hit the gym, or attend a class. In the evening, most lines offer in-cabin babysitting so that Mom and Dad can visit the casino or see a show. Many cruise lines even have pagers that are provided to families so parents and kids can keep track of each other.

The various programs, including award-winning Camp Carnival & Celebrity Cruises’ X-Club, have storytelling, arts and crafts, face painting, magic shows, movies, cartoons and more. Among the offerings for junior sailors are video games, ice cream parties, educational programs, backstage and galley tours, karaoke and lip-sync shows, pizza parties, and pajama parties. Luxury line Cunard has a nanny-supervised Play Zone Nursery and Children’s Centre for kids up to the age of 6, while the The Zone is reserved for those aged 7 to 17. Children can also enjoy a traditional British Children’s Tea in the afternoon. Even those hard-to-please teens are kept busy with pool parties, volleyball, pizza pig-out, hairdressing, talent shows, slide & sun, ping-pong tournaments, photography workshops, video games, and teen-only discos. Several lines offer teen-only pools and hot tubs.

While most programs cater to ages 2 and up, Disney’s cruises also welcome babies 12 months to 3 years old in their at-sea infant-care center, Flounder’s Reef Nursery. There, little ones in diapers will be delighted by an “under the sea” soft play area themed to Disney’s “The Little Mermaid,” and “Mickey’s Splash Zone,” a water playground that features a soft play surface and splash areas. And there’s no need to pack an extra suitcase with baby supplies. Disney’s Baby Travel Lite & Royal Caribbean’s Babys2Go! let you preorder diapers, formula, organic baby food, and more online, so they can be delivered to your cabin.

Many lines also combine fun and learning. On some Alaska and Tahiti cruises, Regent offers a program entitled, “Ambassadors of the Environment Youth Program.” Jean-Michel Cousteau and his colleagues from Ocean Futures Society share their knowledge with enrichment programs, videos, lectures and shore excursions so kids can learn about the eco-systems of the region. Princess Cruise’s “Edutainment” offers a program on marine life and gives kids a chance to meet U.S. Park Rangers in Glacial Bay.

Of course, your family does not need to split up as soon as you reach the boat: there are a host of activites you can enjoy together both on and off the ship. Royal Caribbean cruises feature rock-climbing, full-court basketball, mini-golf, ice-skating, game shows, and even a family disco. Carnival cruises offer waterslides and craft nights, while Disney has a nightly show for parents and kids alike.

There’s even more fun to be had at each stop on your cruise with a wide variety of shore excursions available. Families can enjoy activities like beach volleyball, parasailing, kayaking, hair braiding, live entertainment, and open-air barbecues at Disney’s Castaway Bay in the Bahamas. A few other gorgeous and fun Bahama destinations include Royal Caribbean’s Coco Cay, Norwegian’s Great Stirrup Bay and Princess Cay, and Holland America’s Half Moon Bay. If you’re still unsure, and worried about flying to your destination with a fidgety infant or toddler, there are convenient homeports which depart from Bayonne and New York City, letting guests begin their vacation just a few hours from home. And if there’s a special ship or destination that doesn’t depart locally, there are other options. Cruise Planners offers special rates on “Stay and Play” vacations designed for pre- and post-cruise stays at hotels throughout the world.

With so much to offer, the only hard part is choosing the cruise that’s right for your family. If you would like more information, check with a travel agency that specializes in cruise travel. Shore Point Travel, headquartered in Holmdel and run by Michael and Denise Garone, can offer good advice on which cruise might fit your ideas and plans. Or if a land and air vacation might better suit your plans.

Check out their website at www.shorepointtravel.com or call toll-free at 866-688-0688.