Our family has cruised six times and find that it is a style of vacation that can appeal to everyone. Here is a list of our pros and cons of cruising as a family vacation.
Have you ever thought about going on a family cruise and wondered whether you could do it without losing someone overboard? Or fretted that your kids would be out of place among a boat load of senior citizens playing shuffleboard and bingo?
There’s no need to worry as the mainstream lines have transformed themselves over the last few years. Several have become family-friendly floating resorts as they try to woo family travelers and even if your taste runs more to the elegant ships than the party ships you are likely to find that your family is being heartily welcomed to the world of cruising.
We have completed seven cruises and, although I was a bit hesitant the first time, it has turned out to be a style of vacation that our entire family enjoys. Our experience with cruising is quite broad. We have cruised the Eastern, Western and Southern Caribbean, Alaska, the Baltics and the Mediterranean. We have cruised with grandparents and on our own. We have sailed on Disney, Holland America, Princess and Celebrity.
We have cruised with our daughters from toddlers to teens and over the years since we first cruised (in 2006), I have formed a number of opinions about the advantages and disadvantages of cruising as a family vacation and have drawn some definite conclusions about how and where I am willing to cruise.
Advantages of a Cruise Vacation
1. Transportation
A cruise ship can be an excellent mode of transportation either for getting to or between distant locations. For example, our family went to Alaska a few years ago. We sailed for 7 days northbound on the Diamond Princess (stopping in Ketchikan, Juneau and Skagway) and then spent an additional 5 days traveling by rail as far north as Fairbanks (spending 2 days in Denali Park). It would have been impossible to cover the same amount of territory in the same amount of time if the Vancouver to Anchorage portion of the trip had not been by ship.
2. Unpack Once
One of the primary advantages of a cruise vacation is that a number of destinations can be visited without the inconvenience of having to pack and unpack with each change of locale. This is a big advantage with kids who appreciate settling in to one room for the duration of a holiday.
3. Unique Destinations
A cruise may provide an opportunity to visit destinations that you might not otherwise choose and introduce you to places that you would like to return. For example, when we cruised in the Baltics on the Emerald Princess we started in Denmark and visited Sweden, Finland, Russia, Estonia, Poland and Norway.
It is unlikely that I would have selected any of those countries for a land-based vacation prior to our cruise and through our exposure we discovered that we would love to go back to Sweden and Norway to spend more time.
4. Kids Clubs
Neither of my daughters have ever used a Kids Club at a land-based resort, however, they both frequent them on cruises. The girls have made extensive use of the facilities on Princess, Holland America and Celebrity. This gives them a chance to socialize with kids their own age and also gives Mom and Dad some time together.
On port days the girls will head to the Kids club after we have finished dinner and on sea days they will typically spend as much time as possible there. Technology now allows them to keep in touch with these new friends from around the world even after we have returned home.
5. Payment in U.S. or Canadian Currency
Payment for a cruise vacation is made ahead of time in either U.S. or Canadian currency. This is advantageous to North American passengers who no longer need to worry about the effect that currency fluctuations (particularly in Europe) will have on the overall cost of their vacation.
6. On-Board Entertainment
All of the major cruiselines offer a variety of forms of entertainment. Sometimes the shows can be enjoyed by the whole family while other times parents may attend a show while the kids go to the kid’s club to hang out with their peers. Either way it’s nice to have something to do in the evening whether it’s watching a Broadway-style show, getting caught up in a magician’s tricks or sitting and sipping a glass of wine while listening to a pianist in one of the lounges.
7. Great for Multi-Generational Travel
Cruising works particularly well for multi-generational travel. The range of activities available on-board allows grandparents, parents, and kids to entertain themselves during the day if they like, participate together in some activities or excursions, and congregate for a family dinner in the main dining room at the end of the day. Everyone is able to pursue their own interests, have time to themselves, and still have quality family time together.
8. Dining Options
The fact that most meals are taken aboard the ships can be an advantage for families – particularly those with picky eaters. Food choices tend to be familiar so that the less adventurous members of the family can find something to eat. Apart from specialty restaurants, and sometimes items like gelato or ice cream, the food on-board the ship is included in the cost of the cruise.
Food is readily available – not necessarily a good thing for some of the adults on-board who have trouble limiting themselves – but with kids like mine that prefer to graze all day (eating a little every 45 minutes or so) it’s nice to have food available.
As well, most cruise lines now have some form of freestyle dining that allows families to eat when they choose rather than at traditional seating times.
9. Guest Speakers
Some of the cruise lines that we have been on have had interesting guest speakers conducting talks about the ports that were being visited. Most notably, John Lawrence on the Emerald Princess who discussed each upcoming port in great detail. He provided information on the key sites in each port as well as outlining step by step how passengers could see the port on their own.
The Smithsonian Lectures on the Celebrity Equinox in the Mediterranean were also extremely informative. On our Alaskan cruise one of the guest speakers was Iditarod champion Libby Riddles who, to the delight of the children aboard, brought a couple of her sled dogs with her.
Disadvantages of a Cruise Vacation
1. Limited Time in Port
The biggest disadvantage to a cruise, in my opinion, is the limited amount of time available in each port. A few cruises have overnight stays in certain ports but the vast majority of the time there is only 8 hours or so available.
This isn’t an issue for most Caribbean cruisers, however, it is impossible to fully experience a European city in one day. One of the most frustrating days for me on a cruise was the day that we were in Oslo, Norway when we had only about 5 hours or so to see the city. I fell in love with Oslo and wanted to spend so much more time exploring.
2. Distance from Port to City
On some cruises, particularly in the Mediterranean, the city that you are visiting may, in fact, be some distance from the port where the ship docks. Cruisers then need to use some form of transportation to get into the city and then back to the ship and the commute cuts down on the time available for sightseeing.
3. Crowds
Mainstream cruise ships often carry 2000-3000 passengers and the mega ships carry double that. As well, there may be several cruise ships in port on the same day. This can mean very crowded sites during the high season.
This may be a deterrent to many, however, keep in mind that if you are traveling during the high season then tourist sites are going to be busy whether you are a cruise ship passenger or not.
4. Small Rooms
By North American hotel standards the rooms on cruise ships are quite small although generally carefully planned to make the best use of the available space. A solution for families is to book a suite, connecting rooms or a balcony and an inside room that are across from each other.
5. Seasickness
The potential for seasickness can be a significant drawback for many people although there are now a number of simple remedies available. We always travel with Gravol, just in case, but have not had to use it yet.
People who are prone to motion sickness often wear a patch to counteract their nausea.
Certain itineraries and seasons for cruising are also more likely to have rougher seas. As well smaller boats are more susceptible to motion.
Our experience has been that most of the time the motion of the ship is hardly noticeable. The only time that we have ever had rough seas was a March cruise from Fort Lauderdale when the seas were rough during the Atlantic portion of the journey.
6. Dining on Ship
The fact that most meals are eaten on-board the ship can be a disadvantage as well since cruisers miss out on the opportunity to sample local cuisine.
Cruises are growing rapidly in popularity with families because they truly can offer something for everyone. Cruises can be as short as a weekend or they can sail the world for months on end. They can be floating fun parks or they can transport you to the other side of the world to learn about ancient history and culture. Cruises can be upscale or casual. A ship may be not much larger than a yacht or it could be a floating city. It seems that regardless of one’s style of travel that it is possible to find a cruise that will satisfy.
After having cruised seven times, I have concluded that I would continue to cruise for the following reasons: (1) I view a cruise as a reconnaissance mission to determine whether or not I would want to travel to a particular destination and spend more time; and (2) there are certain specific trips that I would like to take that can really only be done via ship.
My wish list for cruise vacations includes the Galapagos Islands, the Norwegian Fjords and a river cruise on the Danube. Hopefully we can fit all three into our family travel plans in the not too distant future.
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Jessica
Great review! I love the new look of the site too. Nice work!
Lisa Goodmurphy
Thanks, Jessica! Progress is finally being made but there’s still so much that I can’t figure out how to do! 🙂
Amy
Love the only having to unpack once. That’s one of the reasons why we love RV travel … to limit the moving and packing! 🙂
Steve
We only have one cruising experience under our belts, but our whole family had a great time. The small rooms would definitely be our biggest negative, but everything else was wonderful. The Galapagos island cruise sounds like a great idea!
Michelle Martus
We recently did our first cruise as a family and I thought it was great for all of the above reasons. The kids were asking us to take them to the babysitter which felt a bit strange but all in all it was a great experience and one we plan to repeat. I think it can also be a very economical way to travel because as it grows in popularity competition for your business keeps prices in check. I can’t say the same for the airlines.
Terumi
I think we’re going to try and cruise this summer with the kids. Love how you listed the pros and cons. Thanks!
Lisa Goodmurphy
@Michelle – Very good point about the competitive pricing of cruises as compared to airlines. Particularly for people who are able to drive to cruise ports it can definitely be a much more economical way to travel.
Mary @ theworldisabook
Lisa, this is a great cruising pros/cons post. Everything you listed on the pros are the reasons we have cruised 10 times and counting =) I love how you referred to it as a “reconaissance mission” to scope out future travels. Cruises are great samplers for the Caribbean and Hawaiian islands.
Nicole Ratliff
Thank you for the great list of pros/cons!!! I am a single Mom and need a vacation with my 2 year old twins. Was going to go on Disney but heard it’s really expensive. Do you have suggestions for someone on a budget and traveling in December? My twins will be 3 years old by then. Thanks in advance!
Lisa Goodmurphy
Hi Nicole, thanks for your comments – I think cruising is a great option for a single Mom! Since your twins will be 3 years old by the time that you cruise then you will be able to use the kids club facilities and have a little time for yourself if you like.
Disney is an expensive option but it is a wonderful experience. If your children already love Disney then you might want to consider it and look at the less expensive cabins. It may be a better option when they are a little older though and can appreciate the characters as well as the fabulous shows that Disney puts on.
The other cruiselines that you will want to consider are probably Princess, Norwegian, Royal Caribbean and Carnival. They are all mainstream lines which have kids clubs and are very welcoming to families.
The cost of your cruise will vary considerably depending on the type of accommodation that you choose. Each ship has a variety of rooms ranging from the most expensive suites to cabins with balconies, then oceanview which have a window but no balcony and finally inside cabins which have no window. If I was traveling with two small children, however, I might consider splurging on the balcony and trying to save money elsewhere. That way if your children are napping or going to sleep early in the evening then you would be able to sit out on the balcony rather than in a dark room.
The time of year that you are sailing will also affect the cost of your cruise. Cruises around Christmas/New Years will be more expensive than those earlier in the month because of their popularity.
You haven’t said where you are traveling from, however, if driving to the port of embarkation is a possibility rather than flying then you can save money there.
Those are my initial thoughts. I’d love to chat with you more and help you figure out the best way for you to cruise with your twins. Feel free to comment again or to send me an email (via my About Me page) or to leave a comment on my Facebook page. I’m sure that you and your family will have a wonderful time cruising.
Nicole Ratliff
Hi Lisa, thank you for the cruise options and loads of info! I have been on a Carnival cruise that sailed from Puerto Rico in December when I was 17 and absolutely loved it!!! I have been leaning towards getting a balcolny as you suggested. Are you aware if any of the cruise lines offer babysitting services like offered at Disney World in case I want to have a night out to explore the ship sans the kiddies? To answer some of your questions:
•My twins love Mickey Mouse but for the balcolny I wanted it was well over $3,000 and not within the December dates I wanted. I was going to take them to Disney World but realized with all the walking and with two 3 year olds I would be pretty wiped to say the least.
•My only traveling options are in December as I attend school throughout the year and during the summer this year we are planning a cross country trip across the states. I’m an avid traverler! Also my twins birthday is December 15th and last Christmas and New Years was pretty much a downer for me being by myself. So I decided we needed to get away this Christmas and New Years lol.
•We live in Augusta, GA so we can easily drive to any ports in South Carolina or Florida. Or we could fly. Either way it’s going to be quite an adventure.
Thanks again!
Lisa Goodmurphy
Hi Nicole, I think time for yourself is very important, especially for a single parent. We have sailed on Disney, Holland America, Princess and Celebrity and all had kids clubs that were divided by ages and available for kids ages 3 and up. As long as your twins are 3 by the time of your sailing then you should be able to make use of the free kids care in these facilities. The ones that we have been on were open on sea days typically 9-12, 2-5, and 7-10pm. There was also after 10pm group babysitting in the kids club for a fee, however, we never made use of it. On days in port the kids clubs are available in the evening generally although some have the option of paying a babysitting fee to leave the kids on board. Some lines also have in-room babysitting for a fee. Another great resource for you to check is the family boards on http://www.cruisecritic.com I have found lots of great information there about cruising. Hope that helps a bit.
krstarenje dunavom
I think that too much off this things Disney, Holland America, Princess, Celebrity and so on.. can put children imagination on the decline..the same with video games, tv and etc. .. pretty sad ??
Lisa Goodmurphy
I’m sorry that you feel that way. I don’t believe that cruising with children is comparable to playing TV and video games at all. Travel of any sort fuels children’s imaginations as they experience cultures that are different from their own and provides an educational experience that far exceeds anything that they will read in a book at school. In addition to those benefits, a cruise can be a relaxing vacation where families can enjoy spending time together without the stresses of everyday life.
My children have cruised in the Caribbean, Alaska, the Baltics and the Mediterranean. They have seen glaciers calving, stared in amazement at Russian palaces and walked the same streets as Cleopatra in the ancient city of Ephesus. Do I think that their imaginations have been negatively impacted by cruising? No, not at all!!
Ann
Great things to think about.
Oh, and a tip for American expats living in Europe… cruises are a great way to get some of the things you miss from back home (some of the Norwegian ships have a Johnny Rockets!) and are usually cheaper than flying back home and visiting family everywhere. And the gift shops are actually reasonably priced for toiletries compared to what we can get locally.
Lisa Goodmurphy
I had never thought about cruise ships providing familiar products for American expats – that’s awesome!
Melissa
What a fun trip to Mexico! It looks like the whole family had an absolute blast! I will be taking a family vacation soon enough. I am looking for pet friendly new hampshire hotels as we speak.
Movingmommie
Thankyou so much for an excellent overview. we are going on the disney magic cruise 12 days venice to barcelona . Im very nervous and also excited thanks for helping us prepare ! Happy cruising.
Lisa Goodmurphy
Hi there, so happy that you found the information useful! You will love the Disney Magic – we have sailed on it twice and it’s such a family-friendly ship!! I would love to do the Venice to Barcelona itinerary. We cruised the Eastern Mediterranean and now I would love to do the Western! Have a great time!!