Expert advice for your first family cruise

A cruise can be one of the most family-friendly holiday options. Not only is a family cruise good value, but you have all the amenities you could ever wish for on board with you, including clubs and entertainment for the children. With so much going on while you travel from port to port, the whole family can enjoy the time at sea as much as the ports. 

But as anyone who has taken a cruise will tell you, your first family holiday needs plenty of planning and thought. Luckily, we’re here to offer you some expert advice to ensure everything goes swimmingly: 

One of the most time-consuming and important things to do before taking your first family cruise is planning and researching. On a conventional holiday, you may need to figure out the transport, entertainment, where to eat and where to stay that is convenient to all of these things. But when you book a family cruise, everything is on your doorstep. 

You won’t have to fret about making sure there is something for your kids to do, as you’ll be able to choose from multiple classes, activities and groups depending on age, or you can choose any of the onboard entertainment. 

As a group, you’re going to want to ensure that everyone is happy and catered for. To ensure this, invite everyone to make suggestions, like Gretta from Mums do Travel does, “My tip for family holidays is to involve everyone in the planning so that, hopefully, the experience will appeal to each member of the family. It’s unlikely that everyone will be happy all of the time, but if each of you enjoys the trip for at least some of the time then that’s good.” 

Make sure to consider how many ports you’d like to visit and along with that, how much time at sea you wish to spend. You will want to find a destination that will interest the whole family, whether that’s a luxurious trip to the Caribbean or a cultural cruise to Europe. 

Knowing what to pack is vital for your cruise. Of course, your destination will determine what you’re going to bring with you. If you’re on an Antarctic cruise, then you would need plenty of warm clothing and more entertainment, whereas you can pack the trunks and flip-flops on a trip to the Mediterranean. 

If you’re booking your first family holiday then it’s worth remembering that your luggage will be taken to your cabin, which may take a couple of hours. The ship is free for you to explore, so pack a few things into your carry-on: 

• Snacks: Preferably ones from home. Keep some in your main suitcase so everyone has something familiar to tuck into, but carry some on your person in case anyone gets hungry.
• Swimwear and towels: It could take a little while for you to get to the rest of your stuff, so carry on some swimming costumes and then you can dive straight into the pool.
• Water: The likelihood is that you can go to one of the bars or restaurants, but if your family are excited to explore the ship then have a couple of bottles to hand. 

As you pack your shorts and light dresses or thick coats and gloves, remember that almost all cruises have a dress code that you should adhere to. At some point, you may wish to treat the family or at least the grownups, to formal dining. 

Like flying, the boarding process can be the most tedious time of the holiday. Expect your luggage to be taken to your room for you, so bring cash for tips, before having to fill out questionnaires and have your documents checked. But you have to remember that the staff must safely and thoroughly get several thousand people on the ship. 

This is where those snacks and water will really come in handy. They will prevent anyone from getting a little tetchy. We recommend bringing a brochure, or a rundown of what is on the ship and where you’re going. If you’re able to reel off a list of the activities and amenities onboard it will help build the excitement and pass the time. Because your luggage isn’t going to be in your cabin for a little while, consider maybe looking for somewhere to eat, or at least sit down for a while. However, everyone else is likely to have a similar idea, so perhaps make sure you have a decent meal not long before you are due to board.

Queuing might be a very British concept, but when you’re just metres from the ship with a hoard of family members, you aren’t going to want to stand around forever. You’ll be provided with a boarding window, for example, from 12 pm to 3 pm. In this example, aim to arrive before noon. It isn’t cheating, it isn’t frowned upon, it’s just being prepared and you’ll be glad you did it. 

Do your homework on the ports and your excursions. You might find that there isn’t much to see or do in the port. If that is the case, then perhaps take a half-day tour or excursion. That way, everyone can still be entertained but the little ones won’t get overly tired. You can, of course, plan your own time ashore, checking out the local beaches or shopping. This would be more suitable for those with a young family, as you can come and go as you please and amend your routes depending on your needs.

Do consider the age of your children or any member of the family during your cruise. There will be plenty of opportunities to explore the native wildlife or landscapes if you want a more adventurous excursion. Alternatively, you may rather have a walk around the markets or a day soaking up the sun at the beach.

You’ll want it to entertain everyone. Consult everyone before your trip and be willing to compromise. Maybe you can’t all agree on one particular activity, in which case you could give people allotted days where they choose what you all do. 

A well-fed child is a happy child and a cruise ship often has a bounty of dining options for you. There are, of course, formal dining restaurants, but you will find more family-friendly buffets or bar menus as well. Your cruise holiday is also a great opportunity to get your family to try new dishes and engage with different cultures. By spending some time in the port, you can go for lunch at a local restaurant and again, let the whole family come to a group decision. Alternatively, you can research where you can eat once you have booked your trip. If you know you’re in a particular city on a certain date, look to see what is open. It will prevent any possibility of you walking around for too long.

Each cruise line offers different onboard activities and entertainment. This should be a serious factor when booking your family cruise. For example, do the classes or clubs offer childcare? Do they provide lunch? And most importantly, is there enough to keep everyone happy? 

If you’re travelling with your children, let them influence the decision. If they’re happy, then you’re certainly going to enjoy yourself more. It is a tactic that Sarah from Extraordinary Chaos adopted, “Our two boys are mega sporty so one of our main focuses is finding a ship with football courts and any extra sports they can try out to keep them busy when onboard. They particularly love surfing and climbing, but as there are new developments in cruising all the time, it’s worth checking out new facilities your family will love.” 

If you’ve picked a ship that doesn’t contain a wealth of activities, then bring your own. Bring toys and gadgets to play with or books to read. 

A schedule does have its benefits. You know when and where things are, how long you have and more. But do consider letting things be a little more organic. Plan your day around the mood of the group of what you missed out on yesterday. Everyone will have a few things that they are desperate to do, so you can work around those. If someone is desperate to visit a particular site in one of your destinations, then shape your day around that.