Tag: cruise vacation packages
Searching for the ideal vacation for a family can be a challenge! Parents with young children may find the logistics overwhelming and may go several years without a vacation at all. This is especially unfortunate, given that so many favorite childhood memories are intimately connected to events surrounding family vacations.
When they do vacation, many families choose to rent a home on the beach thinking they can enjoy a break without much hassle. Unfortunately, reality soon rears its head as the dishes pile up and clutter begins to accumulate – suddenly it feels more like home and less like a vacation!
Next time around, why not consider the alternative that boasts the highest customer satisfaction rating in the industry? A cruise vacation! When it comes to traveling as a family, a cruise simply cannot be beat, providing an all-in package that includes not only amazing destinations, but also your accommodations, all meals, on-board activities for all ages and stages, entertainment, and incredible children’s programs.
That being said, there are definitely cruise lines that are especially good picks for family vacations. Choose from our “favorites list” below and you will not be disappointed:
• Disney
If you’ve ever visited Disney World, then you may think a Disney Cruise just can’t compete—but nothing could be further from the truth! With their roomy family-friendly cabins, water-play areas, and character experiences, Disney caters to kids and the young at heart! Disney offers some of the best entertainment in the industry (of course!) and their ships cater to families … most definitely including the parents in the fun.
• Royal Caribbean
Travel + Leisure magazine agrees that Royal Caribbean is one of the best vacation options for families. With incredible youth programs, family-friendly dining, and activities like scavenger hunts, it’s easy to see why! On a number of ships, Royal Caribbean offers the DreamWorks Experiences for kids of all ages to enjoy specialized dining, playing, and adventuring with characters like Shrek and the Penguins of Madagascar.
• Princess
While Princess cruises are great for families with children of all ages, they are an especially good choice for those with older children and teenagers. From their infamous National Park Service Junior Ranger program on Alaskan cruises to a teen-only lounge, Princess cruise lines makes it easy for parents to kick back and relax while their kids are having the time of their lives!
• Norwegian
Norwegian knows that kids of different ages have different interests, which is why they have unique programs for each age group. Guppies are passengers ages 6 months to 3 years, while the Splash Academy takes kids ages 3-12 who get endless options of sports and creative play. Teenagers love the Entourage program—which is full of movies, music, video games, and even dance clubs with peers their own age.
• Carnival
Finger painting, puppet shows, themed parties, and story-time are just the beginning for kid friendly fun on Carnival cruise lines. Age-appropriate activities are monitored by professionally trained counselors so you can rest assured that your children are in the best care. And for a modest fee, you can even hire an on-board sitter so the adults can enjoy a night out, or a night alone!
No matter which cruise line you decide to go with, you will experience a hassle-free vacation free from cooking, cleaning, and shopping simply can’t compete with staying at the same destination in a rental or a hotel. With twice daily service, including turn-down service, you won’t lift a finger – but definitely will lift a fork! The changing scenery, amazing off-shore excursions, and unbelievable food will make your family not be able to wait for a chance to follow up with another cruise! And with cruises departing from 22 ports in the United States, it could hardly be any more convenient. Contact me today for help selecting the perfect cruise for your family and budget. We choreograph dreams … and all our cruises can be booked with a modest deposit, making them affordable as well!
A common concern that I hear from my cruise clients is “How can I avoid the long line to check in on the cruise?”
Waiting in line is certainly no one’s idea of a stress-free vacation. And though lines come with the territory on mega cruises, when over 6,000 other people are along for the same ride, there are strategic tactics you can utilize to significantly reduce wait times!
1. Check in Online Before Embarkation Day. This step is essential! When you book your cruise, we submit your reservation to the cruise line and follow up by providing you with a booking confirmation. You can use the booking number from your confirmation for your pre-cruise check-in as well as to pre-reserve special dining and entertainment arrangements for your cruise. By completing your pre-cruise check-in and presenting your boarding pass when you arrive at the pier, you will save significant time when checking in at registration.
2. Become a Frequent Cruiser: If you’re a loyal cruiser who returns to one provider over and over again, you can earn points that add up to a VIP membership! This gives you access to all kinds of perks, such as exclusive rates, complimentary dinners, early luggage check in, and sometimes even skipping the check-in lines!
3. Buy a Pass: Carnival cruise lines currently offer a fast pass option called Faster to the Fun. It only costs an extra fifty dollars, but it moves you past the crowd at check-in. It saves you from waiting in the general boarding lane on embarkation day. Plus, you have the option for early or late disembarkation, and priority tender service from ship to shore. You save time at check in and again at check out!
4. Enjoy the Shipboard Activities on Port Days: Do you or your family want to try out the new 10-story slide on Royal Caribbean, or scale the climbing wall, or enjoy the hot tub in solitude? Today’s cruise lines have a multitude of popular activities on these new mega ships and let’s face it – they can get crowded! Your best bet is to go is on port days, when the majority of cruisers leave the ship. This gives you the freedom to roam the vessel with a little more space…and take advantage of the shorter lines! The spa frequently offers special pricing on port days as well!
5. Buffet tips: Don’t go at noon…or 5pm. Try going 30 minutes earlier to skip the lines at the food. One of the best ways to skip the line at the buffet is to avoid it altogether. While everyone is lined up, you can easily find open seats in the quieter main dining room at breakfast and lunch, or at some of the ship’s alternative dining venues.
6. Disembark Last: If you think trying to disembark first will get you off the ship fastest, that actually isn’t the case. If you wait it out, you’ll miss the lines. If you’re in no rush to get to the airport, it’s best to let all the other passengers off the ship first, and exit only when the last call is announced. Find a comfortable place to hang out and lose yourself in that engrossing novel while others fight their way off the ship. Bonus: Your bags will be much easier to find, and extending your vacation for as long as you can is always a good idea!
Searching for the ideal vacation for a family can be a challenge! Parents with young children may find the logistics overwhelming and may go several years without a vacation at all. This is especially unfortunate, given that so many favorite childhood memories are intimately connected to events surrounding family vacations.
When they do vacation, many families choose to rent a home on the beach thinking they can enjoy a break without much hassle. Unfortunately, reality soon rears its head as the dishes pile up and clutter begins to accumulate – suddenly it feels more like home and less like a vacation!
Next time around, why not consider the alternative that boasts the highest customer satisfaction rating in the industry? A cruise vacation! When it comes to traveling as a family, a cruise simply cannot be beat, providing an all-in package that includes not only amazing destinations, but also your accommodations, all meals, on-board activities for all ages and stages, entertainment, and incredible children’s programs.
That being said, there are definitely cruise lines that are especially good picks for family vacations. Choose from our “favorites list” below and you will not be disappointed:
• Disney
If you’ve ever visited Disney World, then you may think a Disney Cruise just can’t compete—but nothing could be further from the truth! With their roomy family-friendly cabins, water-play areas, and character experiences, Disney caters to kids and the young at heart! Disney offers some of the best entertainment in the industry (of course!) and their ships cater to families … most definitely including the parents in the fun.
• Royal Caribbean
Travel + Leisure magazine agrees that Royal Caribbean is one of the best vacation options for families. With incredible youth programs, family-friendly dining, and activities like scavenger hunts, it’s easy to see why! On a number of ships, Royal Caribbean offers the DreamWorks Experiences for kids of all ages to enjoy specialized dining, playing, and adventuring with characters like Shrek and the Penguins of Madagascar.
• Princess
While Princess cruises are great for families with children of all ages, they are an especially good choice for those with older children and teenagers. From their infamous National Park Service Junior Ranger program on Alaskan cruises to a teen-only lounge, Princess cruise lines makes it easy for parents to kick back and relax while their kids are having the time of their lives!
• Norwegian
Norwegian knows that kids of different ages have different interests, which is why they have unique programs for each age group. Guppies are passengers ages 6 months to 3 years, while the Splash Academy takes kids ages 3-12 who get endless options of sports and creative play. Teenagers love the Entourage program—which is full of movies, music, video games, and even dance clubs with peers their own age.
• Carnival
Finger painting, puppet shows, themed parties, and story-time are just the beginning for kid friendly fun on Carnival cruise lines. Age-appropriate activities are monitored by professionally trained counselors so you can rest assured that your children are in the best care. And for a modest fee, you can even hire an on-board sitter so the adults can enjoy a night out, or a night alone!
No matter which cruise line you decide to go with, you will experience a hassle-free vacation free from cooking, cleaning, and shopping simply can’t compete with staying at the same destination in a rental or a hotel. With twice daily service, including turn-down service, you won’t lift a finger – but definitely will lift a fork! The changing scenery, amazing off-shore excursions, and unbelievable food will make your family not be able to wait for a chance to follow up with another cruise! And with cruises departing from 22 ports in the United States, it could hardly be any more convenient. Contact me today for help selecting the perfect cruise for your family and budget. We choreograph dreams … and all our cruises can be booked with a modest deposit, making them affordable as well!