Taking the Kids™
Cruising on Southwest
The first decision was the easy one. You’ve decided to take your gang on a cruise. Lucky you! Lucky them!
Now comes the hard part. With so many choices, it’s no easy task to choose the ship and the itinerary that best fits your family’s vacation needs and style. You can get exactly what you need at a price you can afford. Here’s what you need to ask yourself:
- Do you want all the bells and whistles on a giant floating resort with a rock-climbing wall, casino, spa and lots of glitzy restaurants?
- Do you want good supervised programs for younger children or do you want a ship that will attract families with teens with special teen (and tween) clubs and discos?
- Do you need a ship that will please seniors as well as kids, with activities they can all enjoy together? And will give the three generations time together?
- Where do you want to go - Alaska to see natural wonders, the Caribbean or Mexico for some fun in the sun, or Europe to give the kids a dose of culture?
- Would you prefer a port close to home (there are 26 U.S. ports to choose from), or one that requires a flight?
Now you can find your ship. Every major cruise line is touting something new or different to appeal to families, no matter what the ages of their children. There's everything from scheduled infant-parent playtime on Carnival's Paradise, to the kids-only shore excursions on Holland America, to a special teen spa opening this spring on the new Caribbean Princess. That's not counting the giant arcades, kids' computer and activity zones, Internet access, coffee bars, pizza and burger joints, and round-the-clock activities that have become de rigueur on large ships.
Cruise lines have never before done so much for families. There are a million children cruising each year (double the number of children who went on cruises five years ago) and cruise lines recognize that families are important customers.
They work well for multigenerational families who need a variety of activities and can be a very good value when you consider that you’re paying one price for lodging, entertainment and all the food your gang can eat. Another plus: Since the food is included, your kids can try dishes they’d never order at restaurants - whether lobster, shrimp or chocolate soufflé. Even better, if they don’t like something, they can always ask for a burger or some pasta at no extra charge.
Remember that tips for your cabin steward and waiters, (the cruise line can suggest the amount, typically a couple of dollars a day per person) and drinks (including those frothy nonalcoholic ones the kids like) are extra as are shore excursions. Ask about purchasing a soft drink card for the kids that will allow them to get drinks all week. Alternate expensive ship excursions with going off on your own.
Save even more money by being flexible with your travel dates. Can your first-grader miss a week of school if it means saving hundreds of dollars? Just make sure children's programs will be offered during the dates you choose. And if you’re traveling with older youngsters and teens, ask how many other kids their age will be on board.
If you can cruise from a port near home - ships sail from cities such as New York, Baltimore, Houston, San Diego, Los Angeles and Seattle - you can avoid paying for flights.
Of course, you may not think sharing a cabin with two kids for a week is a vacation. That's why you might want to consider booking two inside cabins rather than one more expensive cabin or book a second inside cabin for the kids. One bathroom for four people trying to get ready at the same time may not be enough.
Ask a lot of questions before plunking down significant bucks for the deposit. For example, if there are toddlers in your gang, choose a cruise line like Cunard's new Queen Mary, or Disney, which offers day care for the diaper set. Carnival takes kids as young as 2, but children's programs on some other ships only accept kids who are preschool age or older.
And if you're counting on some romance under the stars, make sure the ship can provide you with an evening sitter for kids too young to join organized activities. Disney Cruise Line has a nursery open on certain evenings for just that reason.
When older kids are part of the equation, you want to make sure the ship has sufficient facilities and staff to keep them as amused and happy as their younger brothers and sisters. It's even better if a cruise line divides the teens by age, as is the case with Royal Caribbean and Disney, so that the middle-school set and the high-school set each have their own "space" where they can have non-alcoholic drinks, grab a snack, watch music videos and, most important, connect with other teens.
With the kids so busy, you'll also want to make sure there's plenty for the grown-ups to do, whether they're 35 or 85. Look for ships that have some designated adults-only areas besides just the casinos and spas. Maybe you'd like to join cooking or bridge classes. Maybe you'd like to take yoga classes every day. Maybe you’d like a pool that isn’t packed with kindergartners. Look carefully at the programs that are offered - and if there will be any extra charges to participate.
Bon Voyage.
See advice for kids going on a cruise.
Don't forget, you can book your cruise on southwest.com and find cruise specials in our Special Offers section!
By: Eileen Ogintz
