5 Reasons Why Cruises Make Great Family Holidays

This year’s family holiday already seems like a dim and distant memory (even though it was only two weeks ago) and I am already thinking about next year.  The teen will have taken his GCSE exams next summer, so we are thinking that we would like to do something special.  Some friends of ours, with similar aged kids, went on a cruise this year as their family holiday and I must admit I was quite surprised.  I commented that that was something I thought I would do with my husband in years to come when the children had grown up.  My friend laughed and showed me the details of their cruise on the internet and I was amazed to see that many cruise holidays are really family-friendly and they weren’t as expensive as I had imagined either.

Now I am obsessed with cruises and I have looked at endless options and it is certainly on the possible list for next summer and I thought I would share the main reasons why cruises make such great family holidays.

There is non-stop entertainment

One of the things that I quickly realised about cruises is that there is so much onboard to keep everyone entertained. I couldn’t believe the vast array of activities available.  From water-sports, swimming pools, waterslides, sports such as football, golf,  climbing and trampolinging to table tennis, there are endless activities for active families to get involved in together.  Some cruises even have icerinks or fair ground rides, so there will never be a time when your kids will say they’re bored.

If parents want a break, many family-friendly cruises offer kids clubs and babysitting facilities meaning that the kids are occupied while parents can take some time out for themselves.  Maybe relax in the bars or restaurants, or pamper yourselves with some spa treatments.

Of course, it doesn’t end there, cruises are renowned for their evening entertainment with West End standard shows and performances that wow their audiences every single night.

A different destination every day

With so much going on onboard,  it is easy to forget that you will also be visiting some fabulous locations on your trip.  How many other holidays can offer you the excitement of being in a completely different location, or maybe even country every day.  What better way to enjoy some quality family time, than to explore new destinations and cultures and make lots of incredible family memories.

Photo by Dana Cristea on Unsplash

Cruises can be great value for money

I always find that we spend far more on holidays than we ever budget for and this can seriously mount up on a family holiday. When you consider the cost per person of a cruise, there is a lot included in the price of the ticket; food, entertainment and activities.  Of course, there are additional costs for some activites and you will want some spending money when you are visiting different places, but it is easier to budget knowing that the main cost of travel, food and entertainment is already paid for before you start. It is also well-worth looking for some last-minute cruise deals to get the best value from your family cruise holiday.

Fantastic Food Choices

Someone else doing the cooking (and the washing up) works for me and one of the huge benefits of a family holiday.  My tribe all have different tastes, so the idea of a holiday where there is a number of restaurants to choose from and they can all go and choose what they each want to eat, is so appealing.  According to a regular cruising friend, the food is always a highlight for her when she takes a cruise holiday.  She loves the choice and the quality, plus of course, you can also try the local cuisine of some of your destinations too.

Photo by Nick Karvounis on Unsplash

Holidays can be a no-fly zone

I have to be honest and say that as much as I don’t mind flying to a holiday destination, it is a whole new level of stress when you have kids.  Queueing, going through customs, baggage checks, waiting for luggage, more checks, it can tax even the calmest of families.  That is before you have even sat on the plane and the novelty of that experience wears off pretty quickly with the kids.  With many UK cruises sailing from Southampton, you simply park your car, hand over your luggage, check-in and off you go.  No stress.  You can start your holiday from the minute you step onto the ship.  That certainly sounds heavenly to me. Plus you don’t have to worry about luggage limits, which is very handy when you think about all of the ‘stuff’ you need to take on holiday when you have children.

If those five reasons aren’t enough, there are many more advantages to taking your family on a cruise holiday.  If like me, you had never considered a cruise for your family holiday, it is well worth taking a good look at different cruise holidays as you might be surprised at how much there is to do and see on a cruise and what a fantastic family experience it would be.

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