Even though the first-time cruise with your entire family can seem quite challenging and a bit intimidating, the truth is that it doesn’t have to be like that at all if you know what you’re doing. All you need to do right now is to keep on reading because we have top five first-time cruise tips for families such as New Years’ Eve cruises on Sydney Harbour etc. Just check them out and enjoy!
First of all, choose a cruise that meets your budget
Staying within your budget is absolutely essential – especially when traveling as a family, so choose a cruise that meets your budget in the first place. According to a Family Travel Intention Survey, Princess, Carnival, Norwegian, Disney, and Royal Caribbean are the most popular ships for families, so make sure to check for the most affordable rates, packages, and discounts. Besides that, you should also find a cruise line (one of which is MSC Cruises) that allows kids ages 11 and under to sail for free, and kids ages 12 to 17 to sail at a reduced rate. Even though Princess, Disney, and Norwegian typically cost more, they frequently offer promotions, which is why you should stay up to date with them if you want to save money. If you have the budget, you should definitely try Luxury Nile cruises as that will be a lifetime experience for you.
Know the limitations of babysitting
Truth be told, finding an in-room babysitting service is often an impossible task. Even though some of the most popular cruise lines offer this service for approximately $20 per hour for up to three children who are at least one year of age, it should be booked 24 hours in advance at Guest Relations. The fact that it can’t be reserved prior to your trip can be a bit problematic, but the good news is that a lot of kids’ clubs offer late-night hours for a reasonable fee. For example, Carnival offers Camp Carnival Night Owls, whereas kids clubs on Norwegian and Carnival also provide babysitting services when the ship docks. Just bear that in mind before you make a final decision and avoid potential problems that way.
Get a travel insurance
When you’re planning a cruise holiday, a specialized cruise travel insurance policy will be needed to cover your time on board the ship. In fact, travel insurance is absolutely essential before you embark, no matter where you choose to cruise, and the reasons for that are more than good. First of all, did you know that your Medicare benefits are no longer eligible once your ship leaves port? This means that medical costs onboard can be unreasonably high, which is exactly why you should buy cruise travel insurance which can get you covered for unexpected illnesses or injuries during your holiday. Besides that, it can also ensure that your valuable belongings are protected while you travel and provide practical help when you need it most as experienced medical advisors are just a phone call away. Don’t skip this step and enjoy your cruise at its finest!
Don’t worry about the picky eaters
The majority of famous cruise lines have found a way to please even the pickiest eaters among the kids, which is exactly why you don’t have to worry if your little ones are picky when it comes to their food. First things first, a lot of cruise lines (including Disney, Carnival, Norwegian, and Royal Caribbean) will provide high chairs upon request. Some of them also provide both formula and baby food (Princess, Royal Caribbean, and Disney), which sometimes needs to be pre-ordered. All of the aforementioned ships provide children’s menus that include pizza, chicken fingers, grilled cheese sandwiches, and similar foods every kid loves. Apart from that, you should know that Carnival has launched a new program called Seuss at Sea which offers a Green Eggs and Ham Breakfast together with Moose Juice and Goose Juice. Does it get better than that? We don’t think so!
Don’t compromise cabin space
Even though squeezing a family of four into one cabin seems realistic at first, you should know that standard cabins are actually much smaller than standard hotel rooms. This basically means that no one will be able to spread out as much as they want to – especially if you need to get a crib that inevitably takes up the extra space you have. One thing you mustn’t ignore is the importance of naps and downtime, so be sure to book a bigger cabin that offers much more space for the entire family. For example, a Family Mini-Suite on Norwegian is a great choice, as well as a Deluxe Family Oceanview Stateroom on Disney. Just remember that family accommodations typically sell out quite quickly, so be fast enough and book your perfect suite on time!
As you can see, there are a lot of things you should bear in mind when embarking on a cruise with your family for the first time. Needless to say, these five tips are undoubtedly the best ones out there, so stick to them no matter what and you’ll enjoy your fabulous vacation at its finest, without a shadow of a doubt!