Traveling with Children on Cruise Control

Now that I have two baby girls, I think back and remember all the traveling I did with my parents. From spending three spring breaks at a dude ranch horseback riding in a rodeo, to spending several nights at the foot of Mt. Arenal (an active volcano in Costa Rica), to riding the train through England, Florence, Madrid, Paris, and London, the list goes on, and the experiences so memorable.

My father loved telling people I cruised before I crawled, and that statement was actually, very true. He loved to go on cruises, usually cruising at least four times a year and he always saw to it that I cruised at least two times a year.

Cruising is not just for young children, but also for tweens and teens. Whatever age, cruising can fit the needs of the entire family. It is easier to board a ship and unpack once versus being on land, changing hotels as you move from one destination to another. Plus, your meals are readily available on the ship. If you are traveling to exotic locales, you can eat on shore which is often an exciting cultural experience. At the same time, especially with small children, you might want them to eat the food they are used to eating.

Activities are often planned for children of different ages. In choosing the type of cruise and the ship you want to go on, it is important to use a travel advisor who will have the knowledge of individual ships and cabins. The type of cruise and even the ship will often change with the age of the child, and if there are several children of varying ages, it is important to make sure there is something for everyone, including the adults.

For older children, don’t forget river cruising and/or barge cruising. There are usually on-shore tours included in the price of the trip. One of my most enjoyable memories was taking bikes off the barge in France and arranging with the captain where we would meet the barge down river. My parents and I would take the bikes and explore the small villages and countryside, and it is a memory I will hold dearly for the rest of my life.

Cruising offers the opportunity for family travel, while still giving members of the family an opportunity to explore their own interests. There are cruises I don’t remember but my parents remember going on them with me. They would tell of the time the QE II ship was sailing through the Straits of Magellan and they were strolling around the deck with me, and a gentleman stopped and said that it was a shame the child would not remember the trip. My mother said she explained to him they would remember the time we spent together for the rest of their lives even if I did not. The memories like that are the ones most special.