Are cruises worth it for families?

Cruises offer great value for family trips It goes without saying that a cruise is both your hotel and your transportation to whatever destinations are included on an itinerary, but cruises also include a range of activities, entertainment, pools, waterparks and more.



People Also Ask

Cruises are fun for kids of all ages, and there are plenty of activities to keep your toddlers entertained.

MORE DETAILS

Cruise ships often offer some of the unhealthiest foods to their guests. From burgers and fries to doughnuts, cakes and entire buffets, you're very likely to overeat. With all kinds of drinks and cocktails on board, you'll also be likely to imbibe plenty of harmful alcohol.

MORE DETAILS

Infants must be at least 6 months of age at the time of embarkation in order to sail. Children must be at least 12 months of age at the time of embarkation to sail on trans-ocean crossings and remote itineraries, where there are more than 2 consecutive sea days.

MORE DETAILS

What is the cheapest time to book a cruise? Prospective cruisers can usually find a lot of good deals at the beginning of the year during wave season, Goldberg-Glazer said. That period typically lasts from January until March. However, the optimal time to book may depend on when you plan to sail.

MORE DETAILS

If you're bringing the whole family, a 5 or 7 day cruise might be the best way to make sure everyone has an awesome getaway. And for those lucky folks with even more time to spare, a cruise of 10 days or more will give you an incredible experience of all the best things a cruise has to offer.

MORE DETAILS

Resorts could offer a pricing structure that's one flat rate per night for guests no matter their age, but they don't tend to do that. Teenagers will generally cost less than adults, kids will be less than them, and babies under age two may cost less or even be free.

MORE DETAILS

The base prices for cruises are typically lower than prices for resorts because the cruise lines expect you to make up the difference in onboard purchases.

MORE DETAILS

Is falling off a cruise ship easy? No. Cruise ships have railings — usually about chest height on the average person — on all open deck areas and cabin balconies. They are placed intentionally to ensure passenger safety.

MORE DETAILS

But, if you can splurge, balcony staterooms on a cruise ship are awesome. If your kids are still in the napping phase, you can relax on your balcony while your kids are napping. Balconies give you extra living space and make your stateroom feel larger. On sea days, the upper decks are crowded.

MORE DETAILS

Each resort has its own formula for how they charge guests, but the bottom line is this: kids and teens will usually cost less than adults, but they are almost never free.

MORE DETAILS

Keep young children under close supervision at all times. The guardrails on most cruise ships are at least 42-inches high, which makes them a challenge for a young child to scale, but kids should definitely not climb them or sit on top. And it's a good idea to be careful any time you're near the edge of the ship.

MORE DETAILS

According to the CLIA survey, 88% of cruisers say cruises are better for relaxation than other vacations. The moment you step aboard a Windstar ship, your worries will slip away. You only need to unpack once, and you can make your private cabin feel like a cozy home away from home.

MORE DETAILS

The intimate ships of high-end lines like Silversea Cruises, Seabourn Cruise Line, SeaDream Yacht Club and Regent Seven Seas Cruises (or ultra-premium lines, such as Oceania Cruises, Windstar Cruises, Azamara and Viking Ocean Cruises) are refined, dignified and geared to adults.

MORE DETAILS

Children who are not toilet trained (and those in diapers or swim diapers) are not allowed in any of the water facilities on board, as per United States Public Health Services. Toilet trained children should be taken on frequent bathroom breaks. Water sports include pools, spray parks, waterslides and whirlpools.

MORE DETAILS