While children and families are warmly welcomed aboard most cruises, some cruise lines are more family-oriented than others. All cruise boats have family cabins sleeping up to 4 persons and interconnecting cabins are usually available on certain decks.
Cruises are very family friendly and allow freedom for youngsters that could not be enjoyed in a hotel and resort vacation ashore. Provided that children understand the basic rules of safety, they are in a contained environment with plenty of activities night and day. Ensure that your child knows how to get to the main reception desk in case of an emergency.
Keeping in touch with your independent offspring is not easy as cell phones do not work away from ports. Many ships offer handset radios which can be rented to keep children in touch with parents and vice versa. This is essential if you want to make arrangements to dine together, or to enforce a bedtime!
Carnival cruise lines are particularly family-friendly and market themselves as ‘fun’ cruises. Camp Carnival has onboard activities for children from 2 to 14 and has excellent games rooms and amenities for all sorts of team fun. Babysitting can be arranged for an additional fee, and teens can go on their own shore excursions. Similar clubs and activities are offered by other lines, but Cunard excels with British nannies and fully trained children’s nurses employed for their mainly British clientele. Disney is a well-loved brand for children’s entertainment and they also excel at children’s programs and events. Although Regent Seven Seas offers luxury cruises for adults, during the summer holidays they do add youth counselors on select Alaska and Tahiti cruises with such lecturers as Jean-Michel Cousteau to share his Ocean Futures Society knowledge, teaching youngsters how to be responsible members of our planet.
While the children enjoy their fun and games, adults are free to enjoy the more adults-only entertainment onboard which includes shows and casino gambling. Cruise ship casinos offer the very best gambling entertainment with slot machines, blackjack tables, roulette, craps and baccarat so all the family can enjoy their favorite activities.
