64 | CRUISE NEWS
www.nitravelnews.com
November/December 2024
Cruise Expert Reveals Five Tips To Know Before Booking Your First Family Cruise
FAMILY cruises have been growing in popularity in recent years, with cruise lines such as P&O Cruises, Celebrity Cruises and Disney Cruise all catering to families. With pools, water slides, game rooms and more,
there is plenty to do to keep the kids entertained. Not only that, but a family cruise has never been easier as plenty of sailings now embark from the UK, meaning you can skip the airport altogether. With that being said, the Chief Commercial
Officer of Iglu Cruise, Dave Mills, has revealed five things that you should be aware of before booking your first family cruise. 1. Book Early to Avoid Disappointment Family cruises get booked up quickly, so it’s best to book way in advance. We recommend booking at least six months before your planned departure date. For summer cruises during the summer holidays in peak season, it’s best to book a year in advance.
Booking early also has a wider range of advantages. You’ll be able to get the first pick of your cabin, including the location of your cabin on the ship. If you want to travel with a bigger group, you’ll be more likely to be able to book all members of your party onboard. You’ll also have more time to plan your trip and activities. Some cruise lines also offer lower deposits when you book early, meaning you’ll be able to secure your cabins at a lower rate. This is also sometimes refundable, meaning that if for any reason your plans change, you’ll be able to get it back. 2. Check the Daily Cruise Schedule When you embark on a cruise, you will receive
a schedule of what is going on around the ship, including entertainment, activities, and timings for port days. This can help you plan your children’s activities both on and off the ship.
Have a look at this every morning so you can work out what you want to see to ensure you make the most of your holiday and don’t miss out on
the fun. You’ll usually find scheduled daily shows catered especially for children. However, space can sometimes be limited, so make sure you know what will be available once you are on board, and book if need be.
Sometimes a schedule can be found on the cruise line app before you embark, and you may be able to book seats for an event or show on your cruise. It’s therefore a good idea to download the app ahead of your voyage. 3. Do Some Cabin Research It’s no secret that some cruise ships are huge. So
it’s important to decide where you want to stay with your family ahead of time, to ensure that you’re in the part of the ship that suits all your preferences. Bigger ships will have a variety of amenities, from swimming pools to theatres, games rooms, a range of restaurants and more. And whilst some people will want to be close to the action, others may prefer to be in a quieter location. If you have younger children, having a quieter cabin may be a better option. This means you’ll still be able to access all the fun, but you’ll be able to get the kids to sleep easier in the evenings. Either way, you’re going to want to look at the deck plan and book a cabin that’s right for you. An inside cabin is almost always cheaper, so this is a great option if you have older children and don’t plan to spend a lot of time in their room. Have a browse for the type of cabin you’d like
and if you aren’t sure which cabin is right for you, an expert cruise agent will be able to help you choose the best cabin at the best value. 4. Plan Onshore Activities Before your cruise departs, you’ll have a good
idea of the destinations you’re going to visit during the voyage. You can book onshore excursions before you embark, meaning you’ll get to visit some of the most amazing attractions in the city or location you are visiting. Plus, you have the peace of mind of knowing that your activities are all
planned with a trustworthy professional (and you won’t miss your port times). Child-friendly shore excursions are available for
all ages. Everything from snorkelling, scuba diving or kayaking, to trips to a beach, child-friendly museums and sightseeing. There will be plenty to do with children of all ages, meaning you can make memories that last a lifetime. However, it’s advisable to be wary about the length and activity level involved in an excursion. Some excursions can require lots of walking, often through narrow streets, steep hills or staircases, so be realistic about your family’s abilities. On the other hand, you may wish to not partake in many excursions at all. The ships are usually quieter when docked in a port, and some families enjoy using this time to make full use of the ship’s fantastic facilities such as the pool or games room. Either way, make sure you plan ahead. 5. Pack Appropriately There are many factors to consider when planning a cruise holiday with kids, but one of the most important is what to pack. Fortunately, you won’t need to worry about packing lots of devices and toys, as most of the onboard entertainment is typically included in the price of your cruise. However, there are a few must-have items that you’ll want to bring along to ensure a comfortable and enjoyable experience for everyone. Firstly, you’ll want to pack clothing which is appropriate for the climate and time of year. Depending on your itinerary, you may find yourself in warm or tropical weather, so be sure to pack light and airy clothing that will keep you cool. If your cruise includes stops in colder climates,
make sure to pack some layers to stay warm. In addition, comfortable shoes are a must, as you’ll likely be doing a lot of walking during shore excursions, especially if you have older children. Finally, don’t forget to pack any essential toiletries, including a high-factor SPF sun cream.
Carnival Expands 2026/27 Programme with New Sailings from Miami
Emerald Cruises Unveils Next Chapter in River Cruising With Launch of New Star-Ship
EMERALD Cruises has announced the launch of a new ship, adding to its fleet of Star-Ships, Emerald Astra, along with extensive updates to the entire Emerald Cruises river fleet across Europe. The developments aim to enhance guest experiences, blending Emerald Cruises’ hallmark features with luxury yacht-inspired design elements. The investment in both the launch of Emerald Astra and enhancements across the fleet follows a marked increase in demand for river cruises as Emerald Cruises also reports a 32% increase in river trade bookings from 2023 to 2024 YTD, a clear indication of its growth in popularity with agents and their customers. Emerald Astra: An Evolution in River Cruising Emerald Astra will mark the next evolution
Royal Caribbean’s New Ship Enters Water for the First Time
FLOATING on air, Royal Caribbean
International and thousands of workers celebrated the new Star of the Seas floating one step closer to its highly anticipated debut. The ship reached a major construction milestone as it floated for the first time, a moment marked less than one year ahead of its introduction at one of the world’s top travel destinations,
Port Canaveral
(Orlando), Florida, in August 2025. Next up, the new vacation enters the final stages of construction. To kick off the milestone, a ceremony – a maritime tradition, complete with a shot from a cannon – took place in the Meyer Turku shipyard in Turku, Finland, to celebrate 19 months (and counting) of hard work put in by the thousands behind Star’s construction. Then, the proverbial floodgates opened to fill the dry dock with 92 million gallons of water – an overnight process that took nearly nine hours. Star was then floated out of the dock and into the outfitting pier, where it will continue to take shape inside and out.
of Emerald Cruises’ award-winning river fleet. Designed to mirror the sleek elegance of the line’s luxury superyachts, the ship features a modern, grey-tinted glass exterior and will welcome 180 guests. From ancient Greek and Latin origins, ‘Astra’ translates as ‘Star,’ and Emerald Astra promises to be a true shining star among our stylish Star-Ships – the seventh to sail the Rhine, Main and Danube. The updated design focuses on both style and functionality, offering guests’ favourite amenities such as the pool/cinema combination, multiple dining options, and a sun deck dedicated to relaxation and panoramic views. All interiors have also been enhanced with a sleek, contemporary design, ensuring a sophisticated and spacious atmosphere for travellers on Europe’s rivers. Emerald Astra will join the fleet in 2026 and will sail the iconic Rhine, Moselle and Danube rivers. Emerald Cruises’ 2026 river cruise season will be available to book from 22 October 2024, including via Expressbook for travel agents. Fleet-Wide Enhancements Emerald Cruises also announced comprehensive
CARNIVAL Cruise Line has added to its departures from Miami throughout 2026 and early 2027. Carnival Magic and Carnival Sunrise will sail from PortMiami, visiting destinations across the Bahamas. These include Carnival’s upcoming exclusive destination, Celebration Key, as well as other ports in the eastern, western and southern Caribbean. Carnival Magic will operate six and eight-day cruises, several of which will visit Celebration Key, which will be located on the island of Grand Bahama and open in July 2025. Six-day ‘Eastern Caribbean’ cruises will take in Amber Cove, Grand Turk and Celebration Key or Half Moon Cay. Meanwhile, six-day ‘Western Caribbean’ departures will feature stops in Montego Bay and Grand Cayman, as well as Celebration Key, while eight-day ‘Southern Caribbean’ itineraries will explore Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao. Additionally, eight-day ‘Eastern Caribbean’ voyages will call at San Juan, St. Maarten, St. Thomas and Half Moon Cay. Carnival Sunrise will offer four and five-day options, with the former calling at Half Moon Cay, Princess
Cays, Celebration Key or Nassau. Various five and one six-day itineraries will feature destinations such as Grand Turk, Grand Cayman and Ocho Rios. Fred Stein, vice president of itinerary planning at Carnival, said: “These sailings build on our strong deployment plan from the cruise capital of the world for 2026/27. Year-round from PortMiami, our guests have an incredibly diverse range of itineraries to choose from as they plan their next fun and memorable cruise holiday.” Also departing from Miami for the 2026/27 season are Carnival Celebration and Carnival Horizon. Carnival Celebration will offer a variety of seven-day cruises exploring the eastern and western Caribbean, visiting Celebration Key, Nassau, Half Moon Cay, Grand Turk, Amber Cove, Cozumel, Mahogany Bay, St. Thomas and San Juan. Carnival Horizon will sail a 13-day ‘Carnival Journeys’ sailing from Barcelona to Miami on June 15, 2026, calling at Alicante, Malaga, Gibraltar and Celebration Key after transiting the Atlantic Ocean. The ship will sail six and eight-day Caribbean cruises from Miami. For more information, visit
carnival.com
upgrades across its Europe river fleet, which includes vessels navigating the Rhine-Main- Danube, Rhône in France, and the Douro in Portugal. Guests will be able to enjoy these enhancements during the 2025 season.
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