Cruise holidays are best family vacations! Here are 12 reasons why

It’s the second day on our 12-day cruise to New Zealand.

It’s just after 11:00 am. My son and I are about to step out of our room to go the pool, when he says he’s hungry. Again. An hour after his second breakfast. Now if I was back home, just the thought of going into the kitchen to cook/prep would make me go ‘arghhh!!’ Don’t get me wrong. I love my kids. I just don’t love the idea of cooking, cleaning, washing—you know the drill. But not today. Today I am on a cruise! Its food galore. The only problem is choosing which dining venue to go to.

So I stepped out to get my son something to eat while my husband and daughter went to catch a broadway-style show in the ship’s theatre. As my son ate his meal sitting by the pool side, I immersed myself in the jacuzzi by the pool, and soaked up ocean views as the ship sailed. Few hours later when we all came back tired (from enjoying) to our room – it was crystal clean and smelling beautiful (see the pic below). Our excellent room attendant had been in and cleaned it while we were away.

I was in bliss-land!! And that was just the start to our holidays on the cruise.

12 reasons why holidays on a cruise are best family vacations

Holidays on a cruise is vacation in its truest form, an actual holiday for mums too, along with the whole family. There is absolutely no work to be done. You have world-class entertainment; gourmet, multi-cuisine food; and adrenalin pumping, exhilarating activities—all at your door step (literally). With no cooking, no cleaning, 24*7 room service, it is pure relaxation. And wait for this—with endless entertainment provided for kids of all ages—they are taken care off too. So, you can genuinely put your feet up and relax.

Having enjoyed some cruises over the last few years with two major cruise companies, I really do believe that holidays on a cruise are indeed the best family vacations from several different perspectives. Below are my reasons. Would love to know your thoughts in the comments box below.

All-inclusive convenience

Cruises are known for their all-inclusive nature, which means that your delish meals* and snacks; entertainment options such as state-of-the-art light and sounds shows, family bingo, movie screenings; adrenalin inducing activities like rock climbing, gigantic water slides, simulated sky diving, accommodation and much more are all included in the price of your ticket.

This is a huge convenience for families, as it means that you don’t have to worry about budgeting for separate meals, tickets, and activities. It was great for us as it meant we could all do different things that each of us loved to do and yet come together for all family-type things and meals.

*There are some specialty restaurant meals and drinks packages at additional costs if you wish to purchase them. But with multiple, inclusive, dining venues, you won’t feel like you missed out if you don’t wish to purchase.

Food, food, food

Yes, I know I’m bringing up food for the third time now, but it deserved a category of its own and it is a major attraction for foodies like me. Food is important in every culture, but coming from the sub-continent, for desis, food takes a whole new meaning. It becomes the reason behind celebrations and meeting friends. If the food served is good, somehow everything else fits into place. On a cruise, its floors of food, variety to cater to every palette, and /or dietary restrictions. You have all kinds salads, fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds, cheese, breads, cereals, curries, stir-fries, rice – the list goes on…

One of the chef’s commented ‘people have only one meal on the cruise —it begins at 6 in the morning and ends at 10 in the night!’ Food is available 24*7.

True relaxation and/or thrill of adventure – all rolled into one. Take your pic

Absolutely no cooking, no cleaning, no work—you don’t even have to make your own room. It is a true vacation, where mommies can genuinely relax.

You can choose to rest and unwind as much as you like, or/and experience the excitement and adrenaline from adventures offered by the cruise.

While I chose to mostly lounge in pyjamas in my room balcony, feasting my senses—to the sounds of the ocean, to the sight of dolphins doing acrobatic spins at the wake of the ship, to the views of lush green mountains of New Zealand—my daughter enjoyed every thrill and activity the ship had to offer. She enjoyed simulated sky diving, roller skating, driving bumper cars, kayaking at the port stop on the turquoise waters of NZ, dance lessons and family bingo.

The sheer relaxation of seeing the mountains just lying there in their absolute raw beauty, has an amazing therapeutic and a calming effect that cannot be described in words.

The constant sound of crashing waves during the day, the cool, crisp, refreshing breeze in the evenings, and the sight of glistening, moonlit ocean by the night is an unparalled feast for your senses.

Win-win for all ages

One of the biggest benefits of a cruise is that there is something for everyone. From thrilling water slides and wave pools, to kid’s clubs and teen centres, to spas and adult-only areas, a cruise ship has it all. For entertainment, there are broadway-style and acrobatic shows, art auctions, live music, character-parades for kids, art and craft sessions, etc. This means that each member of your family can choose the activities and experiences that best suit their interests and needs.

Great way to see a country or a city – with multiple stops

Cruising provides you the opportunity to visit multiple destinations within the same area/country that you are visiting. Say, if we were going to New Zealand by air, we would never go to 8 different places ourselves or get into the hassle of packing and unpacking again and again—esp. with kids! But with cruises you can visit multiple destinations without having to worry about packing and unpacking at each stop. You only unpack once in your room when you board the ship as you travel from one exotic destination to the next with breathtaking views.

Cruise companies go through an incredible amount of research to choose the ports for us. You can opt to purchase on-shore excursions to maximise your experience or draw your own itinerary, or just walk around the city without any agenda to simply soak in the place for what it is. We generally do a combination of both. On some ports, we just walk the streets, enjoying the local delights, as we simply take in the city. At other ports we may purchase an excursion around something we have never done before. Kayaking on turquoise waters, surrounded by mountains, and underwater glass bottom boat was the highlight of our port excursion this time.

Educational opportunities

Cruises offer excellent opportunities for your family to learn about so many different things. You could attend seminars on health, hair and skin, enrol to learn yoga or water skiing, or opt for behind-the-scenes tour of the ship, which is amazing (to see how they prepare each single meal for thousands of people on board, or the engine room from where they control everything). You can register for cooking classes or language lessons, or learn about different cultures and destinations. There are also educational programs and activities for kids, dancing lessons, and onboard lectures and presentations about the places you’ll be visiting.

Forced technology time-off, giving kids and yourself a chance to reset

With forced time-off internet and technology during the duration of our cruise (unless you decide to buy an expensive internet / streaming package) allowed my kids to experience surroundings around them and really live in the moment.

As my daughter sat with me in our room balcony, she experienced both the calmness of water and relentlessness crashing of waves at the same time. Spotting dolphins now and then was always a bonus.

Very kid-friendly

Whether you have a baby, toddler, pre-schooler, school-going, tween or teen, most cruise lines go above and beyond to make sure that kids have a special and memorable vacation. This can include everything from special welcome gifts and activities, to character meet-and-greets, onboard parades and kids clubs. They also provide extra facilities for special needs kids to make it easier for families.

Also, there are always plenty of dining options available that are tailored to kids. From buffets with a variety of kid-friendly dishes, to special kids’ menus at the onboard restaurants, there’s sure to be something to suit even the pickiest of eaters.

These special, little touches can make a big difference in making your child feel special and adding to the overall fun of the cruise vacation.

Pure convenience of having facilities at your door step

Whether you want to hit the gym, or go for a walk in natural settings; whether you want to catch-up on a comedy show or learn latino/salsa dance moves – its all there in the vicinity of the ship.

This time around, our room was coincidentally located next to the library and one of the ship’s cafés where the shows and family events took place. It was perfect.

Safety and security:

Cruises are known for their high levels of safety and security, which is especially important when traveling with children. Ships have 24-hour medical staff on hand, and many also have supervised kids clubs and play areas. Plus, with the ship’s crew keeping an eye on things, you can relax and enjoy your vacation.

Affordable:

This is an important factor when you cost your family vacations. Cruises can be a cost-effective choice for families, when you take into account the inclusive activities, accommodation, meals and entertainment. It also helps to budget for your vacation upfront.

Also, with a wide range of cabin options available, and the flexibility to choose the length / destination of your holiday on the cruise, you can pick the one that best fits your budget and interests.

Sheer awesomeness of it all:

When you step on the cruise for the first time, and see it in all its magnanimity, majesticity and grandeur, it is an experience in itself. Rest assured, if you have never cruised before, it is something out of the ordinary.  

From the excitement of setting sail, to the adventure of visiting new destinations, to the relaxation and bonding time with your family, a cruise has it all. And with so many amazing photo opportunities along the way, you’ll have plenty of pictures to look back on and cherish for years to come. Overall, cruise holidays are an excellent choice for families looking for a convenient, all-inclusive, and memorable vacation. With something for everyone, and the opportunity to visit multiple destinations, a cruise is sure to be a hit with the whole family.

So what does your ideal family vacation look like? Does it include fun, adventure, relaxation, exclusive kids clubs, gourmet foods, exotic destinations, heavenly desserts, light and sound acrobatic shows? What would make it truly amazing?

You can read more posts on Living Well here, and others from Indian Mums Abroad here.