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How Do I Prepare My Kids For A Cruise?

Cruising With Your Family Made Easy

By Amanda Mesa | Published on August 25, 2023

Cruising with children can be an exciting and fulfilling experience in more ways than one. For starters, kids tend to have an unmatched sense of wonder, and there's nothing quite like discovering a destination through their eyes. If you're new to cruising with children and are wondering, "How do I prepare my kids for a cruise?" there are a few ways. For starters, ensuring a stress-free, fun-filled getaway with little ones requires an itinerary filled with activities to keep kids busy. It's all about keeping every port day packed with engaging experiences everyone in the group can enjoy — including parents. It's also important to make kids feel invested in the vacation by giving them some planning power. Those are just two ways you can make traveling easier with kids. To further simplify your travel planning, check out these tried and true tips on how to make traveling easier with kids for maximizing every vacation day.

1. Know What Makes Your Kids Tick

Everyone has different tastes and preferences. Some people love the great outdoors, while others find hours of entertainment exploring ancient ruins, stately castles or centuries-old fortresses. A cruise can take you there. In order to plan an engaging port day with your little ones, it's crucial to understand their interests. A visit to a museum might fascinate a child who loves art or history, while an ATV adventure through the rainforest might thrill one who feels most at home in nature. From nature hikes and outdoor adventures to historical landmarks and walking tours, every port offers its own unique wonders worth discovering.

2. Give Everyone In The Group Something To Look Forward To

Don't worry if you're traveling with kids with different interests — you can plan your cruise getaway so every child has a day to look forward to. Of course, this is easier on longer cruises, but even a quick weekend escape can be planned to include different kinds of activities tailored to different tastes and preferences. If you're short on time, try filling each port day with shorter activities or attractions. Most cruises offer at least six to eight hours to explore any given destination — ample time to experience multiple things. You might just have to stick to a tighter schedule.

3. Let Little Ones In On The Planning Process

When asking yourself, "How do I prepare my kids for a cruise?" one of the best ways is to invite them to participate in the vacation-planning process. Researching all the incredible things you can do at each port of call on your itinerary is one of the most thrilling parts of any cruise, and your kids are sure to have a blast throughout the process. They'll also appreciate having a say in the itinerary and will be even more excited about the trip if it involves experiences they hand-picked themselves. Inviting your children to weigh in during the planning phase also instills a sense of fairness and compromise. Since they're getting to choose some activities for themselves, they'll likely be more open to making time for the things that make you or any other adults in your travel party happy, too.

4. Add Some Of Your Kids' Favorite Items To Your Packing List

If your little one has a favorite toy or bedtime story, bring it onboard during your cruise getaway. Having something familiar close at hand can help stave off homesickness while also giving your child a sense of security. Some items — like plushies or action figures — make for great travel companions during port days and will make your little adventurer feel like they have a best friend along for the journey. Still unsure how to keep kids busy on a cruise vacation? Taking pictures of their favorite stuffed animal in different destinations can be a fun project!

5. Take Advantage Of Kid-Friendly Programs And Activities Onboard

Most family-oriented cruise lines offer some kind of child care program onboard. Leading the charge is Royal Caribbean, whose Adventure Ocean has won awards year after year. Available on most ships in the cruise line's fleet, it breaks kids into groups depending on their age and keeps them engaged with supervised science experiments, scavenger hunts, arts and crafts, and more. It's also a great way for little ones to make friends and stay engaged during your cruise getaway.

6. Keep Kids Busy By Making Everything Into A Fun Game

If you research, "How do you make traveling easier with kids?" you'll find a seemingly endless list of games to keep kids busy. Turning something into a game can instantly pique a child's interest, fueling their competitive fire and turning the most mundane experiences into exciting adventures. Look for ways to gamify your vacation experiences to help keep kids engaged no matter what you're doing. For example, consider making a contest out of spotting particular wildlife, landmarks or objects. You can also help kids venture outside their comfort zones by "daring" them to try new foods. After a day in port, conduct a round of trivia to hear what everyone learned.

7. Encourage Little Ones To Aid In Archiving The Family Vacation

The best thing about family vacations is making memories. During your trip, make sure to record moments from every port day with plenty of photos, video, and souvenirs — anything from store-bought goodies to postcards, seashells or even restaurant coasters. Get your kids excited about turning all these memories into historic a scrapbook when you return home so you'll always be able to relive their favorite times. You can also help them to grow their skills with a digital camera designed for children or even encourage them to keep a travel journal during your family getaway, giving your kids something to look forward to do after every day onshore. By being able to revisit all the amazing moments of your last family vacation you built together, your little ones will be even more excited about the next one.