Best Cruise Itineraries for Families
Caribbean itineraries are the most popular for families, with 3 to 7 night options from Miami, Port Canaveral, and Galveston. The 7 night Eastern and Western Caribbean loops are the most common and visit ports such as Cozumel, Costa Maya, Roatan, Nassau, St. Thomas, and St. Maarten. Bahamas itineraries on Royal Caribbean and Disney include a stop at Perfect Day at CocoCay or Castaway Cay, which are private islands with beaches, waterparks, and kids activities. Alaska cruises are a great fit for families with school age children, with glaciers, wildlife, and the Inside Passage. Mediterranean and Baltic cruises are a better fit for families with teens, with rich cultural experiences in ports such as Barcelona, Rome, and Copenhagen.
Choosing the Right Stateroom
Interior cabins are the cheapest at 100 to 200 dollars per person per night, but they have no window and no natural light, which is tough for a 7 night cruise. Oceanview cabins are 20 to 50 percent more and include a window, which makes a big difference for claustrophobic adults and curious kids. Balcony cabins are 50 to 100 percent more than interior cabins and give the family a private outdoor space. Family suites are the most expensive at 500 to 1,500 dollars per person per night, but they sleep 5 to 8 people, include a separate kids bedroom in some configurations, and come with priority boarding, priority dining, and access to a concierge lounge. For most families, an oceanview or balcony cabin is the right balance of price and comfort.
Budgeting for Extras on a Family Cruise
The base cruise fare is only the starting point. Budget 100 to 250 dollars per person per day on top of the fare for specialty dining, alcoholic and non alcoholic beverages, shore excursions, arcade games, the FlowRider or other premium attractions, spa services, and gratuities. Specialty restaurant meals run 30 to 75 dollars per person, drinks run 8 to 15 dollars, and shore excursions run 50 to 200 dollars per person. The easiest way to control the budget is to pre purchase a beverage package and a shore excursion bundle before the cruise, since the onboard price is marked up 10 to 20 percent. Some lines offer all inclusive packages that bundle the extras into a single upfront price.
Tips for a Smooth Family Cruise
Book a cabin near the kids clubs to make drop off and pick up easier. Pack a small backpack with water bottles, snacks, sunscreen, and a change of clothes for the kids. Bring a lanyard with a credit card holder for each family member, since onboard purchases are charged to the room key. Sign up for the kids clubs online before the cruise to save time at embarkation. Schedule port days with at least one full sea day in between, so the family has a chance to relax on the ship. Pre book the shows and the specialty restaurants before the cruise, since the popular time slots fill up fast. Use the cruise ship app to track the kids club schedule and the daily events, and to message other family members onboard without paying for wifi.
When to Book a Family Cruise
The best time to book a family cruise is 9 to 12 months in advance, especially for peak summer dates, school spring break weeks, and holiday cruises. Early booking gets the best cabin selection, the best pricing, and the best kids club availability. Last minute deals, defined as 30 to 60 days before sailing, can be 30 to 50 percent cheaper but the cabin selection is limited and the kids clubs may be full. The shoulder season, defined as mid September through early November and early December, has the best combination of low prices and low crowds. Avoid sailing during school spring break weeks, the week between Christmas and New Year, and the week of Thanksgiving, since prices are at their peak and the ship is at full capacity.
Photo: High Contrast, CC BY, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c7/Amadagio_on_the_Danube.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=original)
Fazlur Rahman
