Thinking about a cruise, but wondering if maybe that’s something that has to wait until your kids are older? Not anymore! Most cruise lines now offer an astonishing array of wonderful activities for children of every age. Cruises are safe for even the smallest children, and there are so many activities oriented toward children that the problem isn’t that they’ll be bored. It’s that they’ll run out of time before they can do all the super cool things on board. Most modern cruise ships are enormous, and there’s plenty of room to run and roam from stem to stern.
Virtually all cruise lines now offer activities specifically designed with children in mind. The activities are separated by age ranges so that your kids, no matter what their ages, will be with other children in the same age range and doing things of interest to them. It’s not a one-size-fits-all schedule. The activities take place all over the ship, so the kids will stay active and have a blast! There are trained, certified, background-cleared childcare workers as well. Cruise lines know it’s important not only to keep the kids happy, but to keep the parents happy and worry free. Some cruise lines even have Directors with Childhood Education degrees!
What can your kids expect? Activities ranging from themed on-board youth clubs where kids can participate in specific activities unique to their interests, to character greetings, to live shows with Broadway quality acting and music. There are movies on board most ships, and jumbo televisions. Many cruise lines even have spas specifically designed for teens. There is music, dancing, karaoke, video games and game arcades. These activities are all separate and apart from typical activities like swimming and sun bathing. There are also art projects, and educational courses and programs.
More? Many cruises offer full-blown game show environments where you and your children, or just the children, can participate in trivia contests just like on shows like Jeopardy. Those are an absolute blast! And there’s no pressure. You can play golf, basketball, or croquet. You and your kids can also choose to participate in Dancing with the Stars style dance contests where they’ll be judged by an audience and judges.
Families with special needs children are also welcome aboard all cruise lines. Most cruise lines have staff members specifically trained to ensure that children are treated like VIPs. These staff have the education and experience to deal with a range of limitations on board.
And as the night gets late, believe it or not, there are even more activities for kids! Cruises shift into high gear at night to provide activities for children indoors in a safe, secure environment. There are even babysitters on most cruises that will stay with your children until they run out of energy, usually as late as 1 AM.
Cruising with kids? You bet. Give me a call and I’ll make sure you board the ship that is perfect specifically for your family. Happy sailing!
VERONICA WOLD IS A CLIA ACCREDITED CRUISE COUNSELOR, A LICENSED FLORIDA SELLER OF TRAVEL, AND A DISNEY DESTINATIONS SPECIALIST. SHE HAS TRAVELED THROUGHOUT THE WORLD AND IS THE CONSUMMATE PROFESSIONAL. CONTACT HER AT 850-321-5477 OR VERONICA@MAKINGTRAVELEFFORTLESS.COM.