A family cruise is a lot of fun for kids, their parents, and their parents’ parents. Onboard activities are fun for all ages. While a huge plus for parents is the ability to send their kids to the onboard youth program, or the teens club where they can play video games all day, at some point the whole family is going to want to be on vacation together, and it’s probably best done outside your stateroom.
5. Hang Out by the Pool
This is a no brainer. It’s kind of what pools are built for. They’re a handy way for kids and adults to cool off, and a great excuse for grown adults to act like kids again. All cruise ships have pools, even if not all cruise ships have the water slides they really should. We’re looking at you Royal Caribbean. Water slides are a staple for a family cruise!
4. Catch a Movie at the Pool
One of the new and common features on cruise ships is the outdoor movie screen over the pool. It’s an opportunity to enjoy the big screen while immersed up to your neck in water, or in the hot tub, is an experience that’s unique to cruising, and one that all ages are going to enjoy. At night, you can bring a blanket and snacks and enjoy the show from the deck or a lounge chair. You can find out what’s playing in the onboard newsletter.
3. Catch a Show
Or you can head inside for the live show. Even the oldest cruise ships that are still in service have theaters that are the envy of any playhouse or performing arts theater on land. The shows range from full on Broadway productions on Disney Ships to musical reviews on Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and Norwegian. They’re fun for all, and the schedule is listed in the daily newsletter.
2. Feel the Rush
Aboard nearly every ship is some sort of adventure activity. On Royal Caribbean, it’s the rock climbing wall or the wave simulator. On Carnival and Norwegian ships, it’s the rope climbing course. Disney ships have the sports deck outside aft where games like basketball, soccer, or ping pong are enlivened by the ship’s 30 knot headwind. Whatever it is, this family cruise activity makes for a fun way to get the heart pumping.
1. Catch a Parade
Royal Caribbean has built its new ships on a neighborhood style plan with a central promenade serving as the main street. At some point on most of the large ships, the Dream Works characters aboard are going to parade down the main street. Disney has its own characters doing meet and greets and shows in the central atrium. Carnival has Seuss at Sea. Kids can get their pictures taken, and parents can probably score some points for getting an autograph or two.
Family cruising is fairly new. It only really began as a major cruise segment when Disney launched its ships. The other lines have followed, and now cruising is a great family vacation and every ship has tons of family friendly activities. In fact, too many to list here. These are just some of the highlights. As cruise ships get bigger and better they’ll only become more family friendly.
A family cruise is a unique way to spend your vacation, but it doesn’t have to start your vacation. Go Port offers hotel packages that are family (and budget!) friendly. Port Canaveral is located near the most kid entertaining place on earth, Orlando! Book from a variety of Orlando hotels with shuttle to Port Canaveral and even get a roundtrip airport shuttle included with our Fly Snooze Cruise package. Enjoy Orlando before or after you cruise, you won’t regret it!
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