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4 vital tips for cruising with kids

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According to the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association, 2017 had over 28.5 million global cruise passengers, and the numbers were expected to increase to 27.2 in 2018. As you can imagine, part of this massive number were families who enjoy staying on the water and a little adventure and adrenalin. Diversification from the white sandy beaches has led to this increase as families seek to combine the joy of being on the water with their favorite holiday activities such as sports, entertainment, and delicious cuisine. If it’s your first-time cruising with kids, these tips will guide you on what you need to know before you book.

  1.     Choose a cruise line

When traveling with kids, you want to be sure they will be comfortable and well cared for during the tip. You also want to ensure they will have enough entertainment and activities to keep the trip interesting and fun. Choose a cruise line that tailors it’s cruising to families and kids particularly. You will be tasked with less creativity in coming up with the activities your kids can engage in so you have time to enjoy yourself as well. If you like being on top of things, consider hiring a yacht and taking your family with you from island to island. Bareboat charters in the Caribbean would be a great place to start looking. With a yacht, you have control of where you go, the days and nights you spend on the water, and on land exploring, as well as your meals.

  1.     Use a travel agent

You may be accustomed to planning all your family trips yourself, but it’s better to use an agent when cruising with kids. Besides having better deals, an agent will have information on all relevant cruises available and give you their pros and cons without trying to influence you to use a particular charter. They will also have information on the best cabins to book and have your luggage tags delivered properly, which saves you time when boarding. Using an agent won’t cost you anything because most get their commission from the cruise line.

  1.     Research meal times

Are your kids used to eating with you during dinner? Kids like it when you maintain familiarity even when traveling. While the days will be full of activities to keep everyone busy, it’s always a great idea to gather in the evening over a meal and share stories of what you enjoyed most, the same way you do back home. Know what time meals are served so you can plan to have the whole family together. Also, the different cuisines will probably not be the highlight for your kids, even though you and your spouse will have a field day. Check what’s available on the menu to see if your little ones will enjoy the meals.

A cruise will have enough entertainment and sports to keep everyone busy, but always check what’s available to make sure they have kids shows as well. 

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