Forget the plane. Leave the car at home. If you’re looking for a great family break, why not choose a holiday at sea?
Kids love cruising. It’s official. Cruise lines just can’t do enough these days to keep children entertained and well looked after while they’re on board. And if the kids are happy, that means mum and dad will get a chance to relax, too.
With cruises it’s all about the journey and lots of pampering along the way. And if you choose a UK departure and return destination, not only does your holiday start before you even leave the country but you’re also making a more environmentally friendly travel choice by not taking a plane to go to and from your ship.
Royal family…
Royal Caribbean’s quite magnificent Independence of the Seas has several cruises to the Canary Islands and the Mediterranean departing from Southampton next summer, and they couldn’t be more kid-friendly.
Supervised and scheduled activities take place all day long. There’s a Stroll & Roll dedicated jogging track for parents with babies in buggies plus Crayola workshops and a Fisher-Price toy lending programme. Sitters at Sea mean parents will also be able to enjoy time out from tots aged one and above with Royal Caribbean’s babysitting service.
Why not go P&O…
P&O already have several family-friendly ships on the seas and their latest ship Azura will join the fleet in April 2010. Family-friendly features on this 
spanking new ship will include Noddy and Mr Bump for tots, a dedicated Wii room and an open-air cinema.
On all P&O family-friendly cruise ships, as well as the on-board kids’ clubs, children can enjoy early teas to allow parents to enjoy a leisurely dinner alone. Departures from Southampton next summer include a 14-night Mediterranean cruise on P&O’s Ventura.
Northern delights…
MSC’s Norwegian Wonders and Baltic Explorer tours sail from and return to Dover next summer and children are guaranteed a good time on the fleet’s classy and luxurious Opera ship. MSC promises plenty of entertainment for little ones with on-board activities and dedicated staff. In the dining room, MSC’s imaginative and tot-friendly children’s menus cater to their tastes while satisfying parents’ nutritional requirements. Plus some dishes even come in a variety of amusing shapes to make meal times even more fun!
5 reasons to take a family cruise
- Leaving from UK departure points and no airport waiting time is less stressful for families with small children.
- Child places are often free or discounted and children’s entertainment, activities and night nursery are often included in the cost of the cruise.
- Facilities for children are first class on many ships. As well as lots of activities, cruise lines also have excellent child-care facilities in place so mum and dad get a break too.
- Travelling to lots of different destinations is a great way for kids to learn about different countries.
- There are some great deals around – including discounts and cabin upgrades so if you do choose a cruise, book early for the best deals.
Get advice from The Co-operative Travel to find out where is best to go at what time of year.