It’s a family affair
With new ships taking facilities for kids to new levels, Jeannine Williamson explores the joys of family-friendly cruising
Once the preserve of mature clients in search of a leisurely life on the ocean wave with like-minded shipmates, cruising is now very much a family affair. From fun-filled nurseries for tiny cruisers, amazing aqua parks, action-packed kids’ clubs and cool areas for hard-to-please teens, ships offer a host of facilities to keep youngsters – and parents – happy. And when you add food, accommodation and non-stop entertainment to the mix, it’s great value too. “A cruise is the perfect holiday for families,” says Andy Harmer, managing director, Clia UK & Ireland. “Whether it is parents and children travelling together, multigenerational or skip- generational families of grandparents travelling with grandchildren, agents can be confident that a cruise offers something to suit all ages and interests.” He adds: “There are more exciting
cruise itineraries than ever before, with many lines sailing directly from the UK to the Mediterranean,
34 May 2022
Canaries, Caribbean or around Britain. A huge range of excursions are on offer in these destinations, including child-friendly trips visiting water parks, animal attractions or iconic sporting sites such as Barcelona’s Camp Nou football stadium.”
FUN AT SEA Most families take their first cruise in the Mediterranean, and sailings from Southampton and Dover are a good suggestion for those with small kids. For older children, consider fly-cruises to destinations such as the Caribbean and the US. New ships this year are taking
family facilities to new levels. Disney Wish has AquaMouse, the first Disney attraction at sea, and a Frozen-themed dining experience. As well as going into the record books as the world’s biggest cruise ship, Royal Caribbean’s Wonder of the Seas boasts the all-new underwater-themed Playscape area. For older thrill seekers there’s Bolt, on Carnival Cruise Line’s Mardi Gras,
travelweekly.co.uk/cruise
PICTURE: NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE
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