Taking children and teenagers on a cruise might not seem like such a good idea, but with so many cruise lines catering to families, you may change your mind. Depending on the ages of your children, you may be able to take them on a three or five day cruise to a variety of locations. This can be a great experience that your children will cherish for a lifetime.

But before you head out onto the open seas, you should make sure that the cruise you pick will keep your children happy the entire time. When booking a cruise, you should consider the following:

• Activities for children
• Accommodations
• Safety
• Length of time
• Food  

Some cruise ships have activities for specifically for children, while other cruise lines have general activities that children may or may not enjoy. It is a good idea to choose a cruise that offers something for every member of the family.

Even if you do not choose a cruise that is for families, you should find one that has a swimming pool, sports activities, an arcade, and other areas for children to play in. This will keep them occupied during the cruise.

ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN

The activities for children on cruises will range from social gatherings to entire decks that are set up for specific age groups. Before you book the cruise, you should make sure that these activities will be available during the time you want to take your cruise. Some cruise lines will offer these activities only during certain times of the year.

Activities for children will include: swimming lessons, sports, dancing, arts and crafts, indoor games, day trips for teenagers when the ship is docked, workshops, storytelling, and other activities that children will enjoy.

Since you will be spending a few days on the cruise ship, it is important to find enough activities for your children. While you will want to spend time with them also, there will be times when your children will want to be around other children.

All activities are supervised by ship counselors. Parents are usually given pagers that will alert them when to pick up their children. While the children are having fun participating in fun activities, you will be able to rest, relax, or find an activity such as swimming or rock climbing that you would like to participate in. This will make your cruise more memorable for you as well.

It is important not to forget about yourself when planning a cruise for your family. Adults like to spend time together as well. With babysitting services available, parents should be able to go out for a night of dancing or socializing in one of the bars or nightclubs.

ACCOMMODATIONS

Most cabins on cruise ships will fit four comfortably. You will have to ask for cots or daybeds if you have more than two children. If you have a larger family, you may need to get an adjoining room that will accommodate everyone. If you have teenagers, some cruise lines have special rooms for teenagers that have their own bathroom.

When traveling with younger children, having an adjoining room may be a problem especially if they are afraid of being in a new place or are afraid of the dark. Explaining to your children that you are right next door may not always work. But, there are ways around this problem if you are willing to be creative.

If you have a couch or chairs in your room, you could make beds out of them and let your children sleep there. Or your can sleep on the floor if you pile up their blankets. You can pretend that they family is on a camping trip so that children will stop being afraid. Another alternative is if each parent sleeps in each room so that the children feel safe.

Before taking a cruise, you should determine if your child will be afraid to be on a cruise ship. If they are afraid of being on a ship, then they will not want to be alone in another room. Waiting until your children are a little older may be the answer. This way they will want to be in an adjoining room.

SAFETY

Safety is a huge concern for parents that are taking their children on a cruise. Children can fall overboard, they can be kidnapped, or they can get lost on another deck. Cruise ships are very large and for young children, this can be frightening.

Find out how the staff handles missing children and where the inflatable rafts and other safety equipment are located on the ship is important. You should also ask about staff counselors and how they watch children while activities are taking place. Even though leaving children on an activities desk seems like a fun idea, the reality is that they can be hurt or lost very easily if people are not watching them.

Another concern parents have about cruise ships are the beds in their children’s cabins. When you arrive, make sure that all bunk beds have safety restraints so that children do not fall out of bed. This can cause serious injury. Also, make sure there are no sharp objects or other items that could injury. When on vacation, children are not as careful as they normally are when playing and may hurt themselves.

You should talk to your children before going on the cruise and again once you arrive and tell them about safety. This will help them cope in an emergency situation.

You should also bring a first aid kit with you so in case of cuts or scraps that your child may receive. This will prevent infection and keep germs out of the wound.

LENGTH OF TIME

The length of time you spend on the cruise is also important. Too many days and your children will be bored. You should plan on spending three to five days on a cruise, even if it is child friendly.

This length of time will allow everyone in the family to have a good time before those feelings of boredom set in.

FOOD

If your children are young, then you may want to find a cruise that will have a varied menu for adults and children. Since the food is usually covered in the cost of the trip, you and your children will be able to eat as they want without having to pay extra.

Most cruise lines that cater to families will have children’s and an adults menu. You should ask about menu options and the times that the dinning room will be open so that you can plan mealtimes accordingly.

TEENAGERS AND FAMILY CRUISES

Most teenagers do not want to go on a vacation with their parents after the age of fifteen, but many cruise lines are trying to change that mindset by offering new programs that are for teens only. Cruise lines are now featuring night clubs that are for teenagers fifteen to seventeen, where teenagers can meet and hang out. There are also day trips with staff counselors when the ship is in port, and many sporting activities to participate in while on the ship.

When looking for a cruise to take with your teenager, you should find out how well counselors are trained, the types of activities that are planned, and the rules concerning drinking and gambling aboard the ship. Teenagers still need to be protected even though they are older than other children.

When taking a cruise with teenagers, you should be flexible about the time they should spend with the rest of the family. You should plan fun activities that you think your teenager will be interested in but make sure that they have time for themselves as well. 

BEFORE LEAVING THE SHIP

Before you leave the ship, you should inspect the room to make sure that nothing has been left behind. If you or your child left an item in the room, it could take months before you will get it back. Many times when families are hurrying to pack, they will forget an article of clothing that they left behind a door or in the bathroom. Doing a quick check will keep your family from losing valuables.  

Leaving a ship after a cruise can be bittersweet. Take some pictures of your family before leaving. This will help make the transition from water to land a little easier.