You’re thinking about cruising with kids on a nice cruise. That is a wonderful idea and a great way for children to explore many new places and learn about different cultures and people. While planning and preparing for any cruise can sometimes be stressful, when you add children to the mix, the automatic requirement for more planning and thought can become overwhelming.
Plan, but don’t over plan…
It’s a good idea to try and map out possible scenarios without working yourself into a whirlwind of gloom-and-doom. Go into it with an attitude that things can and will go wrong from time to time, so you’ll need to have some alternatives just in case. Definitely have a plan to structure family meals together aboard the ship and time to enjoy a show or two. What you don’t want to do is create a daily itinerary that is impossible to follow.
It’s their vacation too…
When planning your cruise with children, get them involved in the decision making process so they can feel like it’s their vacation too. Get their input on places they’d like to visit on the cruise. Maybe they studied a destination in school that interested them and you could have them tell you interesting facts about that place. Use these discussions with your children to identify the right cruises and itineraries that get them excited about going in the first place.
Work in enough time, and be ready to change your plans…
When planning activities, especially ashore, give yourself enough time to handle the “distractions” that will inevitably be waiting for you around each corner. Remember that delays happen, weather happens and sometimes you just want to do something different than what you originally planned.
Don’t assume they’ll want to go to the kids club all the time
Sure, the kids clubs on ships these days resemble more like amusement parks than your grandmas basement, as they did years ago. They’ve got every new techno gadget, cool theming and fun and energetic counselors, but if your start off you cruise by just dropping the kids off for hours at a time, they may soon get bored with it and not want to go at all. Instead, create sessions within the club of varying lengths of time. Try to find out in advance some of the highlights the kids will experience during the cruise, and plan for them to be there at those times.
Mom and Dad need a break too…
If the kids are happy, then the parents should be too. Find your happy place at one of your ship’s many secluded or adults-only spots. Relax at the spa, enjoy a dip in the hot tub or plan a nice meal for two in one of the specialty restaurants. There’s always your room to retreat to for a nap. Use this time to recharge your batteries and get ready for the next round.