5 Reasons You Should Cruise With Your Family

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They say ‘once a cruiser, always a cruiser’ Until a few years ago, I believed cruising to be for the retirees or for those that were in their golden years. That was – until I took my first cruise 10 years ago. Now three children and three cruises later, I cannot wait to take my three girls on our next cruise….

All inclusive package

Snacks, some drinks and meals onboard a cruise are usually included in the booking cost. This means your kids can play and snack all day at no extra cost. Some cruises ask for guests to be smartly dressed for dinner while some cruise lines are more laid back about their restaurant rules.

Convenience  

A cruise ship is essentially a floating hotel. When you’re a family travelling with children, there is nothing better than not having to pack and unpack every few days. Once you’ve boarded ship, it’s a great feeling to unpack and not have to bother much with that later. And let me tell you – as a mum myself, that is music to my ears.

Explore more

This is possibly the best perk to taking a cruise. If you have selected an itinerary such as the Mediterranean one, you will have the absolute joy of waking up to a new port and country almost every morning. It’s the best way to pack in 3-4 countries in a single week.

Onboard day time activities

Entertainment on board includes activity clubs for children of all ages. Some of the newer ships offer adventurous activities like zip lining alongside water slides, swimming pools, rock climbing walls and much more.

Evening entertainment 

Come night time and you will get the opportunity to watch world class shows in the theatre…at no extra cost! Theme nights and special culinary events are popular with guests so there’s always something to look forward to. 

4 Recommended cruising itineraries:

Mediterranean Itineraries

Rome, Florence, Nice, Marseilles, Barcelona – these are just some of the stops on the most popular Mediterranean itinerary. Perfect for first time cruisers.

Western Mediterranean cruises will typically call at ports in Spain, France and Italy, and may also visit ports in Portugal, Monaco, Tunisia or Morocco.

Eastern Mediterranean cruises may include Italy, Greece, Turkey, Croatia, Bulgaria or the Ukraine.

The Mediterranean cruise season is from late April to October, although now a few ships cruise this region year-round. Cruise duration varies from 7 to 14nights.

North Europe and Baltic itinerary

Departing from Copenhagen and heading to Tallin, Helsinki, Stockholm and St. Petersburg – this is one of the most scenic cruises to be on. Balcony cabins are recommended for spectacular views of the stunning ports that you sail into, each morning.

Norweigan Fjords: Norway is the Land of the Midnight Sun and one of the most naturally beautiful countries in the world. This cruise departs from Copenhagen and the ports of call are Bergen, Alesund, Stavanger and Geiranger.

Caribbean Cruises

The islands of the Caribbean need no introduction. Be prepared to be amazed with each stop on the fabulous itineraries that include Jamaica, George Town, Cozumel, Key West, Aruba, St. Lucia, St. Kitts and more!

Alaska Cruises

Alaska remains one of the world’s most popular cruise destinations. These cruises offer you opportunity to view dazzling glacier, snowcapped peaks, steep fjords and wildlife such as whales, black bears, brown bears, bald eagles, sea otters and seals.

Alaska cruises are generally divided into Inside Passage cruises and Gulf of Alaska cruises. The Inside Passage is the traditional way to cruise through Alaska, with most ships sailing round-trip from Vancouver or Seattle and visiting Skagway or Juneau.

Gulf of Alaska cruises offer opportunity to view more glaciers as they sail from Vancouver through the Inside Passage and up to Seward / Anchorage or in the reverse direction.

The Alaska cruise season is from May through September. Cruises are 7-nights duration with a choice to include 3 to 5 nights cruise tours covering Denali National Park and Yukon gold rush country and give you the best of Alaska by ship, rail and lodge. 

Special offers on cruises if booked before Wednesday, 31 May 2017. Contact Andrea Bailey for more information – andrea.bailey@beyondavisit.com