Considering a family cruise this year? Wondering if it will be a disaster at sea or the trip of a lifetime? Traveling with little ones anywhere can be nerve-racking; and boarding a ship for a predetermined length of time without the option to abort might be some parents’ worst nightmare! We want to eliminate those nerves and reassure you that a family cruise with your little ones might just be the perfect family getaway.
Here are some essential tips and tricks to make sure the entire gang enjoys your adventures at sea. Before you know it, you’ll be smooth sailin’!
1. Contact a travel agent.
First on the to-do list is to decide which cruise is best for your family and to book your trip. Yay! We recommend working with a travel agent as they are highly knowledgeable and versed in all the options you’ll have. Most of us don’t frequent cruises as often as air travel, so it’s best to consult a travel agent as they’ll be able to properly guide you.
Also, they may have access to better pricing and specials that otherwise aren’t available when booking on your own. PS: when meeting with your agent for the first time, have an idea of cruise destinations your family might enjoy. We like this list and search tool from @cruisecritic.
2. Choose a cruise line that caters to kids and families.
You’ll save a whole lot of hassle and headache by simply choosing the right family cruise line and ship. Everyone is going to have a much better experience if they are on a family cruise ship that actually welcomes them and has activities planned with kids and families in mind.
Don’t miss out on different kids’ clubs, suites designed with families in mind, and in-cabin babysitting services. Some family cruises offer complimentary night nurseries for babies under 2. Many of these ships offer dedicated kid spaces, outfitted with video games and art supplies.
3. Involve the kids in some of the planning processes.
Don’t do all the leg work of planning a trip for the whole family on your own. Get the kids involved in the planning process! Not only does this build up anticipation, but it gives the kids some ownership of their time on vacation.
Kids, especially tweens and teens, will want to be part of choosing where your family should cruise and which activities are best. Incorporating some of their wishes will make the cruise a better experience for all family members. To build pre-vacation excitement, try to find age-appropriate books for your children to read about your cruise destinations.
4. Request a crib in advance.
Does your kiddo still sleep in a crib? No need to bring the pack ‘n play, cruise lines have cribs that they can put in your room. They won’t be overly fancy, but it is a dedicated spot for your little one to sleep while on vacation. Best of all, there is no charge for this service. Just call the cruise line before you sail or let the room steward know when you get on the ship.
5. Choose the Balcony Cabin
We suggest getting a balcony cabin if you are sailing with children that take naps during the day. This way, there is a space for you to go out and get some fresh air or talk in a normal voice to your partner. It’s much nicer watching the waves go by or reading a book on the balcony than sitting in a dark cabin.
6. Arrive at least one day before you set sail.
If you are able to fly in the day before your ship sets sail, then do it. When flying a long distance, consider arriving a few days before you depart. This will give your family time to adjust to the time zone pre-cruise and explore the embarkation port. This will also allow room for flight delays or luggage mishaps. Think of it as a vacation warm-up!
7. Discuss rules and expectations before cruising with kids.
Before cruising with kids, discuss rules about safety and guidelines regarding onboard behavior with your children. This is an important safety precaution. Make sure kids understand the danger of the ship’s railing. NEVER let your kids climb on the railing and make it clear right from the start how dangerous it is to even think about sitting on the rail. It’s literally a matter of life and death in some cases.
With older kids, set clear rules about the degree of freedom they will have during the cruise and family commitment expectations. For example, if you would like all family members to eat dinner together every evening, make this clear before boarding the ship. It would be wise to create plans for meeting places and what to do if separated from the group.
If your kids are old enough to go out on their own around the ship, then be sure that they know the cabin number and how to navigate to the room. This way there’s little chance of them getting lost on the ship. Should they need to go back to the room for something (or just to hang out) they can do so without having to find you first.
8. Take advantage of all the family cruise activities and things to do!
Family cruises and cruise lines that cater to kiddos have lots of activities, events, excursions, and entertainment. Make sure to soak up as much as you can, especially since these activities are unique to the cruise experience. Most cruises will offer a list and guidebook of activities prior to setting sail. Review the options with your entire family. Let the kids pick out a few things they’d like to do. That way they are involved in the decision-making process and they’ll get super excited!
9. Schedule a travel day “sandwich”.
Try to arrive at your departure destination at least one day prior to the start of your cruise and give yourself one travel and adjustment day to get home before going back to school and work. Hence, the travel day sandwich. You sandwich your vacation in between two travel days. Adding (at least) two days to your trip (one at the beginning and one at the end) will keep anxiety at bay, allow for jet lag adjustment, and give some buffer time in case flights are delayed, weather happens, etc. Just make this part of your vacation routine in general.
You will never regret having a little extra time to explore your departure city or a few extra hours at home to do laundry before heading into your busy week back at work. The kids will love this too. They won’t feel as rushed and they get to spend more time with family.
10. Bring everyone’s swimsuit in your carry-on…and sunscreen too!
It may take a little while to check into your cabin and get your luggage once you’ve boarded the ship; so make sure to pack everything you might need for Day 1 into your carry-on. Bring swimsuits, snacks, sunscreen, diapers, and wipes. Keep it simple but be prepared too. Better yet! Have the kids carry their own small backpack full of Day 1 necessities. We like these travel sets by @heysluggage.
Related articles:
- Best Sleep Schedules for Babies & Toddlers
- 14 Secrets for a Successful Family Vacation
- BabyQuip Baby Gear Rentals: How to Get Started
11. Pack (matching!) refillable water bottles to stay hydrated.
Travel can make us all a little dehydrated, so definitely make sure to bring water bottles for the entire fam. Camelbak water bottles are always a great option. Make a travel kit (using their new @heysluggage bags) for the kiddos and include a brand new Camelbak, along with some of their favorite snacks, a new book, and maybe a small @melissaanddougtoys puzzle they can do at night. They’ll be so excited!
12. Pack plenty of over-the-counter medicine.
The tricky thing about being on a cruise ship is that you can’t just run out and grab something from the local drug store if you need it. If your child gets sick and needs some over-the-counter relief late at night, it’s best to have those things on hand yourself. Whether you are preparing for an earache, headache, stomach ache, etc; it’s a small peace of mind should your little one come down with something on your vacation.
13. Get to know the staff and crew (they will help you!).
We asked BabyQuip providers if they had any recommendations on how to navigate a family cruise and many mentioned the value and importance of getting to know the ship staff. Whether it’s the dinner team, kids’ club crew, or excursion leaders, these are the folks that you’ll reach out to for help and they will definitely be your kids’ new best friends! Also, they will get to know you and the kids, so hopefully, dinner time goes smoothly because they remember that Johnny doesn’t like mayonnaise and maybe you can even squeeze in a date night because the baby loves Jenny in the kids’ club!
14. Don’t forget your baby gear!
Why spend so much time planning the perfect family cruise only to be gearless and without the basic baby gear necessities? Definitely rent a small umbrella stroller from the local BabyQuip provider in your departure city. They’ll meet you on your travel sandwich day so you have the stroller prior to boarding. An umbrella stroller is perfect for cruising the deck while baby naps or to make sure you all can enjoy every pit stop excursion
15. Avoid the seasickness and be prepared.
Little ones and motion sickness often go hand in hand. This is unfortunate, but there are a few ways to avoid it or minimize the impact. Try to book cabins in the center of the ship and request a porthole or balcony. The motion and movement won’t be as extreme in the middle of the ship and your kiddos will feel better with some fresh air or a view of the ocean.
Also, make sure to bring medications, motion sickness meds, and other pills you need with you. Purchasing them on the ship will cost an arm and a leg. You’ll depart the ship at the end of the family cruise looking like a legless pirate after purchasing expensive items from the ship store!
16. Leave the technology at home and be present in the moment!
It may be no surprise, but wifi might be unreliable or slow while you’re in the middle of the ocean. We recommend you leave the technology (phones for parents or grandparents are OK) at home and truly enjoy your family cruise. Prepare the kids beforehand and explain to them that it will be a “technology-free” zone. Your family time is precious and you’ll want to soak it all in.
We hope you feel more prepared to embark on a family cruise adventure with these tips and tricks. And who knows? Maybe cruises will be your new family tradition! All aboard!
Kaylee Garcia is the mama to one sweet boy and one sweet girl, and wife to an awesome husband. Kaylee and her son (he’s only 4!) have completed over 20 trips via air travel (thank you, Alaska Airlines!) on over 40+ airplane rides! They love sharing travel tips with other families since they’ve learned a lot in the last 4 years. Kaylee enjoys spending time with family, researching baby gear, and exploring the Pacific Northwest.
Not all families consist of a mom and dad. Speaking from a 2 mom family here, please be inclusive with your language.
We went on an Alaskan cruise when my son was 9 months old. The crew was so friendly and joyful toward him–it was one of my favorite parts of the trip, and that’s saying a lot for Alaska!