Why?
Cruise ships offer deck after deck of food and age appropriate fun, plus ports for exploring. Everyone can go their own way by day, then come together at night for dinner and shows. And everything except drinks, gratuities and shore excursions is included in the up-front price.
Smart Strategies
Princess, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line and Carnival are better at catering to extended families, according to Nanci Rossetti, owner of Magical Journeys travel agency. Ask about early-booking rates and large-group discounts; when you reserve eight cabins or more you’ll usually get one free cruise fare (though taxes and government fees will still apply). Instead of splitting the savings among the group, it’s nice to give the freebie to the family member who coordinates the trip, says Rossetti.
Crowd-Pleasing Ideas
Royal Caribbean’s enormous new Freedom of the Seas has innovative features like a surfing pool, ice-skating rink and rock-climbing wall. While children socialize in age-appropriate kids’ clubs, you can hang out in the adult solarium, with hammocks and huge glass-enclosed hot tubs that jut out over the sea. Seven-night cruises to the western Caribbean start at $859 per person, double occupancy; $240 per person for third and fourth passenger in a cabin. (Call 866-562-7625 or visit rccl.com.) For a shorter voyage, Carnival’s Elation sails from Port Canaveral, Florida, for five-day Caribbean jaunts, and its dining program offers informal bistro seating and a pizzeria. Rates start at $349 per person, double occupancy; $199 for third and fourth passenger in cabin. (Call 800-CARNIVAL or visit carnival.com.)
Success Secret
“Instead of a suite, we got cabins across the hall from each other,” says Laurie Ortell, of Ellicott City, Maryland, who cruised with her parents, husband, and 7-and 9-year-olds. If your children are old enough to bunk alone, put them in a separate stateroom nearby, suggests Rossetti. (Ask the cruise line about any specific rules and age requirements pertaining to this.) Booking a balcony stateroom for yourself and inside cabin for the kids is still ultimately cheaper than upgrading to a suite, she says.
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