Get Discount Family Cruises
through a
Family Travel Group
Most people do not know that family cruises are economical and offer fun, family entertainment for all ages.
The best way to get the biggest discount cruise is to book your family cruise with a family travel group at least six months in advance. Booking 6 months in advance guarantees you the lowest price on some cruise lines. This means that if you book and the price of the cruise drops before you set-sail you will get a credit for the difference.
Does this mean that we can’t book if it is less than six months until we want to cruise?
Definitely not!!
Groups can usually book up until the week before the ship sets sail as long as there are enough cabins left. Sometimes really great deals can be had last-minute if the ship is not full.
If your not sure if a cruise is right for your family, check out some other fun family vacations and get
great family vacation ideas.
What exactly is included in a family cruise? Almost everything is included in your family cruise which makes cruising one of the best values in family vacations. Check with your specific cruise line or with your family travel group coordinator for the specifics of what is included but here is a quick rundown:
Food
Drinks
Entertainment
Kids Camp
Accommodations
A Lifetime of Unforgettable Memories
Which Cruise Ship should we take our Family on?
This is a great question and we have a few suggestions for you. Almost all cruise ships today have family activities and child care options, but there are a few ships that really stand out.
Royal Caribbean
Royal Caribbean’s Voyager-Class Ships
Royal Caribbean really thought about children and how they can get board quickly when they developed this class of ships. Onboard you will find these areas for kids to spend their time:
Rock Climbing Wall
Ice Skating Rink
Miniature Golf Course
Roller Blading area
Basketball Court
Pools and on some ships FlowRider Surf Park
Video Arcade
Computer Stations
Teen Nightclub
Now if that wasn’t enough, Royal Caribbean also offers children programs, like day-camp, too. They have broken down the age groups to meet the developmental patterns of children. Children are divided into 3-5, 6-8, 9-11, 12-14, and 15-17 age groups. Activities are age appropriate and include dance parties and scientific experiments.
Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival Cruise Line’s Conquest, Splendor & Dream Class Ships
Carnival is dubbed the “The Fun Ship” and they definitely do not fall short of their name. If you can’t find your kids, just take a look in any one of these areas: Miniature Golf Course
Basketball Court
Track
Pool
Hot Tub
Water Slides
Video Arcade
Computer Stations
Teen Nightclub
Outdoor Movie Theater
Carnival like almost every other cruise line offers family cruisers a program called Camp Carnival. They divide children up based on the age groups 2-5, 6-8, 9-11, 12-14, 15-17. Carnival is one of the few lines that accept children starting at age 2. There is no additional fee to send your kids to Camp Carnival during the day. They do offer an after hours babysitting service as well.
Disney
Disney built their ships with families in mind. Their cabins have extra storage and split bathrooms to make getting ready easier on families. Both ships have 3 pool areas, one for just the young kids, one for adults only and one for the entire family. Disney has waterslides, hot tubs and a sports deck too. Live entertainment including Disney characters is sure to make the kids stare in disbelief.
Disney is a great choice for those with younger kids, around the 3-12 age range. They also have a day program that divides children up based on 3-4, 5-7, 8-9, and 10-12 ages. Disney has a Nursery as well for the up-to-3 year olds. They do charge an additional fee for the nursery. Disney has set up a club for the teens onboard as well.
Princess
Caribbean, Crown or Emerald Princess
These 3 ships were built with families in mind to occupy the children and adults. Activities include:
If you can’t find your kids, just take a look in any one of these areas: Basketball Court
Track
Pool
Hot Tub
Video Arcade
Computer Stations
Princess divides children into two age groups, 3-7 and 8-12. When kids are in the day program, they will be able to take part in activities such as: Arts & Crafts
Discos
Movies and Cartoons
Exclusive Kids only Dining
Video Games
Edutainment Programs
Scavenger Hunts
Karaoke and Talent Shows
Afternoon Ice Cream Parties
Pizza Parties
Hall of Fame Tournaments
Shipboard Olympics
T-Shirt Coloring
Pajama Parties
Theme Parties
Why should my family go on a cruise with a family travel group?
Many travel groups have special family vacations planned during the summer months and when kids are typically on break from school. Besides the discount that you will get on the cruise by going with a family travel group, your kids will already know other kids that will be with them through the whole experience. This can be great for kids that have a hard time making friends. As parents, you know that you are travelling with other families that all have the same concerns and challenges when travelling. Each family in the family travel group looks out for each other and each others’ kids. Even during a family vacation, parents may want a little time to themselves. Traveling in a group makes this a reality as each family may take turns at the pool watching a group of kids or taking kids to dinner, so you can enjoy a romantic dinner for 2 at sunset.
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