Why Cruising is a Great Family Vacation (And How to Choose the Right One)

How to choose the best cruise for your family, budget, and travel style.

A cruise is a great family vacation adventure any time of year!

For starters, you can visit several destinations (or ports of call) on a cruise, and you only need to unpack once. Everything is taken care of for you and your whole family. Your itinerary is planned, and excursions are offered. It’s like an all-inclusive low-stress resort on the water. There’s something for everyone in the family, from dining and entertainment to kids’ clubs, swimming, sports, shopping, and spas.

There are so many options when it comes to a cruise. A great place to start planning your adventure is to decide what kind of experience you want.

• Where do you want to go?
• What type of ship do you want to voyage on?
• How many days do you have, and who is going?
• What do you want to do?
• What’s your budget?

Where do you want to go?

Thinking through where you want to go is a great first step, as your destination can help narrow your cruise options.

Most people think of cruises as going only to Mexico, the Bahamas, or the Caribbean. Or perhaps a bit further, to European ports of call like Italy, Greece, and Spain. You can literally go all over the world via cruise!

In the U.S., you can explore the Pacific Northwest or the entire Pacific Coast, the Mississippi River and the Great Lakes, Alaska and its glaciers, the New England Coast, or cruise the Hawaiian Islands.

Adventure to Iceland, Greenland, and Canada. Cruise across Asia to Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand, China, Japan, and more. Explore Europe’s magical Christmas Markets. All by ship.

How about South Africa, Seychelles, and Mauritius? Or Australia and the Great Barrier Reef? Egypt and the Middle East? How about South America, Peru, Argentina, Chile, and Brazil?

Yes, yes, and yes!

Some locations are best seen only by boat, such as cruises through the Panama Canal or Antarctica.

There are even Transatlantic Cruises from the U.S. to Europe, and cruises that take you around the entire world!

What type of ship do you want to voyage on?

You can choose from huge ships, smaller boutique-style ships, or even a genuine steamboat.

The larger ships typically offer fun kids’ activities, water sports, and kids’ clubs. River cruises typically feature smaller, quieter, more intimate vessels. They average 190 passengers and spend more time at each port of call.

Different ships offer a range of accommodations to suit your family’s needs.

How many days do you have, and who is going?

You can take a long weekend cruise, a week-long cruise, or several months on longer voyages.

Are you a family of four, or traveling with a multigenerational group, such as a family reunion? There’s a perfect ship for family vacations of all sizes.

What do you want to do?

Cruise activity options can be endless. Knowing what you want to do on your cruise can help you choose the best ship and itinerary.

Do you want to see lots of destinations, relax, or have a mix of both? Do you want to enjoy fine wine and dining?

Are you looking for tons of activities for the kids, including kids’ clubs? Or are the kids older and looking for exciting destinations and excursions?

Do you want to see more in one location? Some cruises stay longer in their ports, so you can explore more. Some cruises specialize in culture, history, and behind-the-scenes experiences.

What’s your budget?

Cruising is an excellent value for your family vacation. Cruise costs include accommodations, sailing between ports of call, all meals, and onboard entertainment.

As you can see, there are so many Cruise adventures for you and your family to choose from.

Explore more of our articles and podcast episodes about cruising here.

Cruise Vacation Adventure Awaits!