FAMIly CRUISES
From left: Norwegian Prima, Joy and Bliss
have go-kart tracks; Bolt on Carnival’s Mardi Gras; Disney Cruise Line’s Disney Wish
the first-ever rollercoaster on a cruise ship. Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Prima features the first three-level go-kart track and freefall dry slides on a ship. Plus, the latest wearable technology
and apps, such as Princess Cruises’ Medallion and MSC’s MSC for Me, means family members can be located anywhere on board. There’s also a growing trend
for family cabins, and the most spectacular are on Royal Caribbean’s Symphony, Spectrum and Wonder of the Seas. Measuring 1,346sq ft, the two- storey Ultimate Family Suites feature a slide from the children’s bedroom to the living room and a climbing wall. MSC offers Superfamily Plus cabins,
three interconnecting staterooms sleeping up to 10, on MSC Grandiosa, Meraviglia, Bellissima, Seaview, Seaside, Preziosa, Divina and Opera. “The rise in family-oriented ships has ushered in tailored accommodation, with cabins offering additional space with extra beds that slot down from the ceiling or fold out from sofas,” adds Harmer. “Inter-connecting cabins for families with older children are another good option.” Gary Anslow, senior director of sales
UK & Ireland at NCL, says the line’s Freestyle Cruising concept is ideal for
travelweekly.co.uk/cruise As the ships are smaller, river cruises
As the ships are smaller, river cruises mean families spend more quality time together
families, thanks to the lack of fixed dining times and dress codes. “Freestyle Dining means that families can eat where they want, when they want, giving them ultimate freedom of choice. Our family-friendly cabins offer options for every group and budget, and our Free at Sea programme includes free cruise fares for the third and fourth family members on select cruises.”
FAMILY-FOCUSED RIVER SHIPS One of the biggest innovations is the introduction of family-friendly river cruises, culminating with the first dedicated family vessel. Tauck pioneered family river cruises in 2010 with the introduction of its Tauck Bridges programme. Fellow luxury line Uniworld followed suit with the Generations Programmes and value-for-money operator CroisiEurope offers Family Club cruises.
mean families spend more quality time together, with typical activities including pasta-making classes, scavenger hunts and visits to fairytale castles. A-Rosa River Cruises is taking things
a big step further with the May launch of the 280-passenger A-Rosa Sena on the Rhine. Facilities will include cabins sleeping up to five, a family area in the dining room, children’s swimming pool and a kids’ club. “We’ve been welcoming children
onto our ships for more than five years,” says Lucia Rowe, managing director UK & Ireland at A-Rosa River Cruises. “It started when some of the A-Rosa employees brought their kids onto the ships, and everyone realised what a wonderful time they had. So we decided to apply the same formula for our customers and it worked.” “We recognised this niche market
wasn’t being served by anyone else and looked to lead the way with our kids cruise free offering. A-Rosa Sena is the next stage in our journey. It has been tailor-made from the outset with families and multigenerational groups in mind. The children cruising today are the cruisers of the future, and if they have a great time cruising with their parents and grandparents, I’m convinced they will be cruisers for life.”
May 2022 35
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