Cruise With Kids?

My first cruise was with my three daughters who were 8, 8, and 10 at the time.  (Yes, I have twins.)  As a single mom, it made the most sense.  But like some, I thought cruising was going to be too expensive.  I was right about the sensibility; but wrong about the cost.


From the kids' perspectives, here is why they liked to cruise:

1. Soft serve ice cream is available 24-hours a day.
2. Pizza is available 24-hours a day.
3. The pool, the slides, the need to pack multiple swimsuits.
4. Hot cocoa for breakfast and chocolate milk for dinner.
5. Riding in the glass elevators.
6. Watching the singing and dancing shows.
7. Putt-putt golf.
8. Seeing the ice sculptors work their magic.
9. Wondering what towel figure would be waiting in the cabin.
10. Air-boating in Belize.
11. Exploring the Tulum ruins in Playa Del Carmen.
12. Whale-watching in Cabo San Lucas.
13. Frolicking on the white sandy beaches in the Bahamas.
14. The turtle farm in Grand Caymen Islands.
15. Getting their hair braided.
16. Buying souvenir t-shirts.
17. Their own bunk.
18. Cookies and pretzels delivered by room service.
19. Discovering every interesting feature of the ship.
20. The big red tail fin and blow horn.

From my perspective, here is what I liked about cruising with kids:

1. We spent quality time together.
2. Cruising is affordable...$409 ea for two and $159 ea for other two.
3. Shore excursions were unique and interesting experiences for them.
4. The kids were able to visit several countries in a short period of time.
5. Talking with them about different cultures and geography.
6. Ordering whatever they wanted at meal time - trying new foods.
7. They learned proper table etiquette.
8. Seeing their faces in awe of the size of the ship.
9. Lots of activities to choose from that we all could do.
10. Safety - we felt safe on the ship...didn't feel alone.
11. No figuring out how to get anywhere or worrying about getting lost.
12. We got to dress up for dinner.
13. Our waitstaff really took interest in the kids and the kids looked forward to seeing them at mealtime.
14. Camp Carnival had a lot of cool kids activities for all age levels.                       (I escaped for a massage.)
15. We had several family photos taken on the ship by the crew.
16. They enjoyed seeing the different crew members introduced at the Captain's Reception.
17. It was easy getting around the ship with the kids in tow.
18. The kids wrote in a journal about everything they did each day at bedtime.
19. The kids were worn out at the end of the day and fell asleep quickly.
20. We had so much fun!

When my oldest daughter graduated from high school, my husband and I chaperoned a small group for their Senior Spring Break....it was another smart decision and probably another blog.

I would say that if you are still in doubt, then select a shorter cruise the first time.  To this day, the girls ask me when are we going on another cruise?

What's Up With All The Food?

Have you ever wondered why cruise ships have so much food available around the clock?  It is because having a full stomach prevents seasickness.  (At least that's what they told me on the cruise ship.)  It makes sense when you think about it.  So I don't chance it....I eat.

A cruise ship is no place for someone that truly must count calories and still enjoy all the wonderful choices.  TIP:  Lose 5 pounds before you cruise, then you won't worry if you are gaining while on the cruise.

Styles of Dining

There are so many ways to dine on a cruise ship - there is something that will suit your style.  Try them each once to get the "flavor."

Main Dining Rooms

On some cruise lines, you are assigned a table in the main dining room that is yours to sit at every dinner.  You will have the same waitstaff too.  I think this offers an very nice dining experience complete with leather-bound menus, different soups, salads, appetizers, entrees, and desserts each evening.  It is the best way to sample new foods because if you don't like it, you send it back and choose something else.  The menus also have a "lighter fare" section for those with diet concerns.

Fine Dining

Some cruises offer a really fine dining room for which you would need to make a reservation.  There is an additional cost to dining in this special restaurant area.  This is the classiest, most secluded way to dine out but not among so many others.  Higher end meals are among the menu choices.

Buffet/Cafeteria

All cruises offer an open seating, open environment buffet-type or cafeteria style dining options.  I say "options" because there is more than one choice.  There may be a buffet near the pool - so you don't have to change attire to eat.  There are usually several ethnic-themed buffet lines serving Mexican, Italian, or Chinese.  There is usually a sandwich and/or sub station (mainly open at lunch time).  There are salad bar areas as well as fruit bar or dessert bar areas as well.  There are even sidewalk cafe-type options, but those are usually at an additional cost.

Sushi Sometimes

On some of the longer cruises, there are various times when Sushi is served from one main area - usually near the casino or bar areas.  It is free...so give it a try.

Midnight Buffet

So if you missed any of the meals thus far, the longer cruises will set aside one night to display a fabulous array of culinary creations.  After the viewing time, you can dig in.  Sometimes there is a theme to the buffet like Tropical Treats or Everything Chocolate.  You won't know - it'll be a surprise!

24-Hour Pizza and Salad

I am not sure if other cruise lines offer 24-hour pizza and salad, but Carnival does.  Usually found at the back of the ship, they serve several differently topped pizzas all fresh from the oven.  This is great if you are in between activities and just need a little something at the moment.

24-Hour Ice Cream/Yogurt Station

On Carnival, they have an area that serves soft-serve ice cream or soft-serve yogurt 24-hours a day....cone or cup and sometimes they will put out an array of toppings.

                                                                                                                                                                                            24-Hour Room Service                    
If you don't feel like going out of the cabin, then order in.  Although the menu is significantly smaller than the offerings on the other decks, it is great to know you have this option.  Did I mention there is no additional cost for this?  But I recommend tipping the waitstaff that brings it to you.  Placing the order by cabin phone, I've never waited more than 15 minutes for food to arrive.

No shortage of food options or styles of dining.  Which is great if you are traveling with picky eaters or those that are more adventurous.  To think this is all included in your cruise package too!  What a deal!

How to Choose a Cruise Line?

So my last blog gave some thought to how to decide when to cruise, this one will provide insight as to which cruise line might be best for you.  It boils down to what you expect to experience and what atmosphere you fit into more comfortably.

1.  Family-oriented
There are certain cruise lines that have a strong reputation for being family-friendly.  Some cruise lines
choose to cater to those traveling as a family.  One obvious choice is Disney Cruise Lines with their full cast of characters and children's activities.  Other such as Celebrity, Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Princess, Norwegian, and Holland also have an assortment of pools, slides, karaoke, arcade, video or interactive games.  Some still have the old stand-by air hockey, foosball, ping pong, darts, bowling, and putt-putt golf.  While others have advanced to rock climbing, ice skating, and waterfalls.  Most offer in-cabin or special area babysitting.  Most offer a variety of clubs based on age ranges.

2.  Senior Citizens/Retirees
If steering far from children is your preference, consider sailing when the kids are in school.  The cruise lines that cater to Senior Citizens or Retirees are:  Silversea, Norwegian, Princess, Celebrity, and Holland.  To enjoy lectures from celebrities of yesteryear, choose Celebrity.  For pottery, photography, and various lecture topics consider Princess.  They also offer wheelchair accessible cabins.  Silversea has fewer passengers (130-540) and cater to you in luxury with butler services.  Holland seems to offer the most with regular reminder announcements for meals and activities, fresh flower arrangements, soup/salad bars, cooking demos, art and antiques, and less of a nightlife.

3.  Fun, Fun, Fun
Carnival quickly rises to the top of the charts with a reputation for all out fun.  In fact that is part of its theme, tagline, and fleet reference "Fun Ships."  From the moment you step onto the ship until you leave, the crew has one goal in mind and that is for every passenger to simply have a really fun time. Imagine deck parties, dance clubs, game shows, scavenger hunts, and waitstaff that sing and dance during dinner.  Next on the list would be Royal Caribbean with its quest for the wow factor in providing activities to delight. They feature the skating rinks, rock climbing, talent shows, and the Dreamworks characters.

4.  Romantic/Honeymoon
Carnival offers some nice touches to enjoy if love and marriage are your focus.  Like several other cruise lines, they offer wedding packages aboard ship.  A boutique offering tuxedos for rent, chocolates, room decorations, champagne, flowers, strawberries, and more are available to add to the ambiance.  Princess gained fame as the Love Boat decades ago.  Aside from these purchased perks, you would be surprised at how easy it is to find the quaint, out of the way, spots on the ship where you can enjoy the sun rising or setting.  Or consider spa treatments for couples or late night dips in the Jacuzzi.  Snuggling up in the corner of a piano lounge caps off a day to remember.

5.  Budget-friendly

Those who have never cruised before might think that cruising is expensive.  But Carnival leads the pack in affordable cruises.  The best-priced cruises are usually those that are the shortest like 3-, 4-, and 5-night itineraries.  But sometimes it is finding that off-season sale or last minute attempt to fill a ship.  I have paid as little as $159 per person for a cruise.  Compared to road-trip or one destination travel, this is a great value when you consider your room, all meals, entertainment, beautiful ports of call, and a ship full activities are included.

6.  Luxury
Top of mind for luxury cruising goes to Cunard, Seabourn, Crystal, Oceania, Windstar, and Silversea.  From white gloves and silver trays to gold fixtures and brass, these vessels are decked out with accents that will dazzle you.  Orchestra music, Feng-Shui spas, unique and exotic itineraries, ballroom dancing, theatre, planetarium, and fencing are a sampling of the finer things in life.  You might even be surprised at how some luxury cruising doesn't come at luxury prices....but it might.

7.  Itinerary/Ports of Call/Length of Cruise
Rounding out the list of deciding which cruise line to choose is what your preference for itineraries or ports of call might be.  Shorter cruises may visit one or two ports fairly close to the port of departure.  This could be a 3-day cruise to the Bahamas, or 4-day cruise to Western Caribbean aka Mexico.  Longer cruises provide opportunities to explore more of the Caribbean (East and South), the Central America region, or even Alaskan territory.  Even longer cruises take you transatlantic, Panama Canal crossing, or Hawaiian island hopping.  The unique cruises are the re-positioning cruises because they stop at a variety of ports as the cruise line relocates a ship from the Bahamas to the Baja Mexico area or from Long Beach, California to Miami, Florida.  Then there are the European cruises or those among the majestic seas farther East.

What this boils down to is what you are in the mood for....or maybe you might want to try cruising once with each to help you decide which is your favorite.  (Shhh....I have mine!)

How to decide when to cruise

Deciding that you want to take a cruise but choosing "when" to sail depends on a few things.


1.  Are you looking for a colder or warmer climate than where you live?  Living in Michigan provides a calendar with four distinct seasons.  I happen to like the warmer climates.  So sailing in the Caribbean November through April offers me the chance to escape the cold.  If I lived in Arizona, I might consider taking an Alaskan cruise in July.


2.  Consider hurricane season when selecting your destination.  Although the ships will still sail during hurricane season, the rough waters and the possibility of a hurricane passing through may dampen your cruise.  Unless you are a thrill-seeker, I would recommend avoiding the Caribbean, Bermuda, and Panama area during the months of July through November.  Even if you don't actually encounter a hurricane, one of your destinations could be struck and that won't be pretty.

3.  Are your sailing dates flexible?  Most cruises are priced higher the week leading up to or just after a major holiday.  So if price is an issue, avoid these periods.  (That goes hand in hand with airfare too.)  The holiday weeks are also when the ship has the most passengers.  Most school breaks are around holidays so you will notice more kids aboard then too.  Although the ships are quite large, you will notice longer waits in food lines; less choice seating at the shows; the casino is more crowded as will be the pool areas, arcade, and just about everywhere else.


4.  Do you need to request vacation time well in advance or can you sail at a moment's notice?  Rather than sail ships that are less than full, some cruise lines offer special pricing the closer it gets to a cruise date.  Past guests are usually notified of specials prior to the general public, so you also pick up a great deal this way too...if you can respond quickly.

5.  Maybe pricing isn't an issue for you but going on a cruise instead of spending the holidays with family sounds better?  Almost all the cruise lines have special events, parties, or themed activities that coincide with the holidays.  Those can offer a different experience than a normal cruise.


6.  Looking for celebrities?  Carnival is becoming known for cruises that feature certain celebrities.  Royal Caribbean and Norwegian recently got in on the act (no pun intended).  Some that have occurred or are planned include: musical performers such as Kid Rock, Brett Michaels, Kiss, Motley Crue, New Kids on the Block, R Kelly, Beatles Tribute, or Motown talent.  Even comedians Lewis Black and Kathleen Madigan created a wave of laughter on their cruise. On the rise are sailings with popular Chefs.  These are becoming very popular because of the daily exclusive concerts, sing-a-longs, impromptu performances, and meet n greets you can experience.


7.  Planning a special occasion?  If you are getting married and want to honeymoon on a cruise, consider all of the above.  Celebrating a milestone birthday or anniversary, invite the family to join you and turn it into a real party!

Cruise planned

Hello travelers...
Looking forward to my pending 8th cruise this March.  All have been with Carnival, so my experiences are limited to that cruise line.  Couldn't have picked a more newsworthy week to begin my travel blog.  My heart goes out to those impacted by the unfortunate incident with the Costa Concordia.

Even with this tragic news, my passion for cruising is unaffected.  My hope is that sharing my rather great experiences with cruising can interest those that have never cruised and share insights with those that have.

I am a firm believer in getting the biggest bang for your buck when traveling.  So many of my suggestions will be on how to save money and avoid overspending yet have a great time doing both.  Stay tuned for more....