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We have been living in the pandemic for a few years now. However, with the rapid development of vaccines, the “New Normal” life has given us the chance to continue living an ordinary life, including traveling. Your family, especially your kids, must miss the times when they could build sandcastles at the beach and swim in their favorite pool. That said, what better time to plan a cruise trip for the whole family than now?
For you to have a better plan for your trip, check out the 7 tips below to help you make the experience a memorable one for you and your kids.
Choose The Right Cruise
When you are ready to book that cruise vacation for the family, picking the right ship will probably be the most important part of keeping your kids happy. When cruising, you need to choose a cruise that caters to you and the kids.
Some notable cruise lines are tailored toward kids, such as Disney Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, Royal Cruise Line, and Norwegian Cruise Line. For you to decide on the best cruise ship to stay, I suggest getting your kids involved in this stage of planning. Show them pictures of the vessel or the pool area and let them decide what kind of activities are most appealing. This activity allows them to have a head start with what the place will look like and won’t feel disappointed if you pick one that was not their first choice.
Research the kids’ clubs
Nowadays, most cruise ships have a program dedicated to children. So, it’s efficient and important for you to evaluate while choosing which cruise to book. The kids’ clubs have lots of fun activities that are outfitted with play spaces appropriate for kids of a certain age. Most kids’ clubs will have spaces for building toys and board games. Other playing spaces include a lounge seating area for video games and TVs, which are better fit for teenagers.
Some cruise ships even have daily activities such as crafting activities, cooking lessons and scavenger hunts. If you’re travelling with babies or toddlers, remember to look for cruise lines that offer nursery or babysitting options. They usually charge you an additional fee, but it can be super helpful when you want to spend time by yourself and relax. You can look for specific websites on the cruise lines to find more information about the kids’ club’s activities.
Know your entertainment options
Next, you should research the shows and activities provided in advance. Different cruise lines offer different kinds of shows, so make sure you are aware of cruise shows that may not be appropriate for kids to watch.
Some cruise lines have character partnerships that might allow your kids to participate in fun activities and meet their favorite cartoon characters. I have seen a few shows that offer kids a chance to meet characters from Disney movies or other movies like “Kung Fu Panda” and “Shrek.” This kind of show brings lots of joy and excitement to kids, so it’s nice for us parents to know about it beforehand and give the kids an option to choose from.
Plan a shore excursion
I highly recommend going on a shore excursion in the middle of your trip (if possible). Having a break from staying on the cruise can make a difference to your travel experience. Whether it’s going to the nearest beach or participating in adventurous excursions like snorkeling and hiking, these outdoor activities can bring more joy and excitement to your cruising trip. However, keep in mind if there are any age, height, or weight restrictions.
Make sure to talk to family members, especially your kids, about their choice of excursions. You don’t want to book a tour that one family member can’t participate in, right?
Pack carefully
Now that you’ve planned out the details for the trip, it’s time to think about getting ready for it. A forbidden rule when travelling is not to pack your entire closet, which goes the same for cruising trips. You need to consider what types of clothes, and how many outfits you should bring. This is when the plan you’ve made comes in handy because you already know the activities that the family will participate in, making it easier to pack your outfits.
Whether you’re travelling with teens, tweens, or toddlers, keep in mind some important things you need to prepare in advance. If you’re travelling with a toddler, remember to bring milk formula, diapers, and medicines required. Some cruise lines might now provide travellers with products like those.
Make sure to pack plenty of sunscreen and hats for extra sun protection. When kids are playing on upper decks or on shore excursions, they are constantly exposed to sunlight. Also, bringing an action camera might be a good idea to capture all the amazing sights you might pass by.
Avoid motion sickness
A common problem that lots of cruise travelers encounter is motion sickness. You cannot skip this preparation if you’re cruising with your family. Even if no one in your family has motion sickness issues, it’s best to prepare medicine such as Dramamine, MotionEaze, or Bonine to prepare for the worst. I’m sure there are shops on board where you can buy these types of medicine. However, being prepared is a good plan to follow.
Take safety measures
It’s a good idea to give your kids some safety rules, especially when you’re travelling on a cruise ship. Though there will be a mandatory emergency session that all travelers must attend, establishing some simple family rules is also important. A few safety rules for your kids can be not running on the decks, not playing or hanging around dangerous places, and not going into anyone’s cabin. The key thing here is to alert the kids to know how to protect themselves from possible dangers.
Cruising can be a perfect destination for families with small children and adults. I hope the list above will inspire you to go on a cruise trip and help you and your family plan your travel better.
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