For those looking to avoid the logistical hassle of planning a trip, a group tour is a great option. You might travel on a bus with dozens of other like-minded tourists, escorted by a knowledgeable guide, and your days are largely planned out. By contrast, you could choose to plan your vacation entirely on your own, booking flights, hotels and activities. While there's a certain appeal to this level of freedom, it could also require months of careful planning, with the added stress that there's no guarantee things will go as planned.
So, why not go on a cruise? Cruises are a combination of a planned vacation along with the freedom to make your own choices. Accommodations, ship activities and shore excursions are provided, but cruises also offer the freedom of a self-guided tour. Your time onboard the ship is largely your own, and how you spend shore days is entirely up to you.
Should You Go On a Cruise?
Why should you go on a cruise? There are a few factors to consider. First, despite some misconceptions, cruising isn't only a luxury vacation. In many cases, it's actually more budget-friendly than your typical vacation. When you consider the cumulative cost of meals, alcohol, hotels and transportation on a self-planned vacation, it adds up quicker than you think. Cruises might feel more expensive up front, but with all meals and accommodations covered (and sometimes alcohol), you can actually save money. If you're wondering, "How much cash should I take on a cruise?" Well, the answer is tricky: it depends. Since everything on a cruise is conveniently linked to your credit card, you're spared the added hassle of carrying around extra cash while you are onboard, and can bill everything from shore excursions to spa treatments and tips back to your room. Still, you'll want to have some cash on hand for use in ports on everything from taxis (if you're not taking shore excursions) to tips for tour guides (if you are). You may also find that some souvenir shops prefer cash, and you'll want to have some handy for purchases you might like to make, such as locally distilled rum and fresh nutmeg in the Caribbean or bronze die-cut pasta and leather sandals in Italy. Many cafes and restaurants also prefer cash. We suggest bringing anywhere from $20 to $100 per day depending on your plans. Should you go on a cruise, and forget to bring cash, you don't want to run to an ATM in order to buy gelato in Rome just because the shop is cash only!
What about choosing a destination? Since cruises go to appointed destinations and stop at certain ports, this means your options are limited/, right? Not true! Cruise ships travel all over the world. Royal Caribbean alone travels to more than 800 destinations. Picking a cruise is really similar to booking any other vacation. Do you want a beach trip? A hiking adventure? A city with a vibrant culinary and nightlife scene? What cultures are you interested in learning about? Indeed, cruising is a great way to expose yourself to cultures around the world, and culinary traditions from Caribbean salt fish to the famous street food of Thailand. It's as simple as searching a cruise line's website for the destination that best suits your interests. And, since most cruises travel to multiple ports on the same trip, you'll be able to see several different destinations that would otherwise prove logistically impossible.
Should You Go On a Cruise?
Exploring family vacation ideas often starts with what's available for your kids from infants, toddlers, teenagers to young adults. With the first question typically being, will there be safe places for little ones to run around and play? Will there be enough entertainment for school-aged kids to not get bored? What kind of food options are available for less sophisticated palates?
Cruises excel in children's care. Starting with the youngest in your family (infants & toddler), onboard trained professional nursery staff are available to keep an eye on your children aged six-months to 36 months for those times when you just need a break to relax and get some adult time when traveling with your baby.
Included activities and amenities geared for different ages — including bumper cars, arcade rooms and video game tournaments, skydiving, ice skating and more, depending on the ship — almost guarantee that your kids will be begging to return to the spaces tailor-made for them.
Royal Caribbean's Adventure Ocean offers so much fun for kids and teens onboard. The kids' club staff engages them with fun new games that the whole family can enjoy, too. There's just something truly relaxing about knowing your kids are well taken care of.
Plan Fun for the Adults on Your Family Getaway
As for what the adults in your family can do while the kids are off having fun, cruises excel there, too. Cruises make for a great way to bond with friends and extended relatives, whether it's catching up over cocktails in one of the many sleek onboard lounges, treating yourselves to massages or pedicures in the spa, or laughing together during a few rounds of karaoke or trivia.
Adults-only spaces are great for the grown-ups in the family who enjoy a quieter space to unwind. On these family getaways, you can set a meeting time and space with your friends once the kids are safely checked into their clubs. Then, you can spend a few hours of uninterrupted conservation in the hot tub or lounging on the deck. Parents with young kids know how infrequent those moments can be with kids around, so the time together is invaluable.
Find Flexible Cruise Dining Options for all to Enjoy
One of the most challenging parts of family vacations (especially a travel getaway with large family groups) is finding suitable dining that fits various needs, including different budgets, appetites, dietary restrictions such as allergies and more. The larger the group you're traveling with, the more potential for headaches when it comes to selecting a restaurant that everyone can agree on.
Not so with a cruise. Not only are there numerous onboard dining options (from sushi, pizza, burgers and buffets to room service and formal dining), but within each type of restaurant, you can rest assured that things like dietary restrictions and allergies will be taken care of. And the service cannot be beat.
One of the best aspects of cruising with families is getting the kids ready for a special dinner and watching the wait staff dote over the kiddos. Frequently, special items such as favorite desserts will be on the table even before you arrive. The waiters get to know the kids (and the adults), spending a few moments catching up and sometimes even performing impromptu magic acts or comedy routines.
As stressful as it is to find suitable dining on a typical family getaway, it's amazing how effortless and fun it is to take the whole family out for dinner on a cruise.
Seek Out Best Vacation Places for Families
Everyone gets a little bored by the same old vacation, even if it's a tried-and-true getaway for your large family. In choosing to travel by cruise, you can pick the best family vacation places to visit! Try somewhere new to explore every time you plan a trip for the whole family: one year, you might pick the Caribbean or Mexico to enjoy exploring ancient ruins or time on the beach. The next year, you might head to Alaska for a family getaway that is sure to wow all from the glacier tours, experiencing sled dogs in person, and other local wildlife.
Even though the accommodations are familiar, the scenery changes, allowing your entire group to learn new things, meet locals and make memories together in new destinations.
