Word got around long ago: A cruise can give the >kreuzfahrten.de, the cruises travel agency in the Internet, an overview of the family offers and know, on which families should pay attention: the comfortable accommodation on board, good child care and an attractive price performance ratio. In addition: German ships are better, if the smallest ones do not know English yet.
Families with children have lots of luggage such as games, XL teddy bears and buggies. Cabins with four beds on 15 square meters are only for campers. The best solution for families are suites or connecting door cabins. Carsten Fäth, managing director of kreuzfahrten.de, advises parents: “The shipping companies do a lot to make cruises a holiday for parents with children. They find many offers on modern ships. Fäth advises families to take a cruise on new ships such as Aida Prima, Mein Schiff 4 by TUI Cruises and Norwegian Breakaway.
Cruises with families are difficult to compare
The offers of the shipping companies are difficult to compare. In order to calculate all costs, the advice of experts is needed. The consultants of kreuzfahrten.de recommend not to be blinded by bargains. For families on cruises count not only the full payer prices, but also the costs of the child tariffs, restaurants, beverage packages and trip programs. The shipping companies known for their family friendliness include Aida and TUI Cruises, two German brands. Carnival, Costa, Disney, MSC, Norwegian and Royal Caribbean also have offers for families. A small overview:
Aida Cruises: On AIDA vessels, connecting door cabins and four-berth cabins are available. The younger AIDA ships have indoor and outdoor play areas with a children’s pool. In the Kids Club, children in five age groups are looked after in German: seahorses (three to six years), dolphins (seven to nine years), sharks (ten to eleven years) and teens (12 to 17 years). Excursions are available for children aged 12 and over. Children under the age of two travel free in their parents’ cabin.
Family cabins for up to five people at TUI Cruises
TUI Cruises: TUI Cruises offers family cabins for up to five people. There are also four-bed cabins and children’s cabins at a special price. The Kids Club offers childcare in German with indoor and outdoor areas including a children’s pool: crabs (three to six years old), monkfish (seven to nine), piranhas (ten to eleven), manta rays (12 to 13) and teens (14 to 17). As with Aida, TUI Cruises offers childcare with meals while parents take part in a shore excursion. During the holidays there are excursions for children from seven to 12 years and excursions for teenagers.
Carnival Cruise Lines: There are no special children’s rates on Carnival ships, but discounts are available from the third person per cabin and a 4 or 5 person occupancy of the cabins as well as family cabins with two bedrooms and connecting door. At Camp Carnival, children in three age groups (two to five, six to eight and nine to eleven) are cared for in English. There are also special excursion offers for children aged 12 and over.
Costa cruises: With the campaigns Kids & Teens free of charge and Happy Family Comfort Costa provides affordable family cruises in one or two cabins. Costa offers four-bed cabins, children’s cabins at a special price and cabins with connecting doors. Four children’s and youth clubs look after children in Italian in four age groups (three to six, seven to eleven, 12 to 14, 15 to 17). Childcare is also provided while parents take part in a shore excursion.
Mickey and Donald are the ones on Disney ships to get excited
Disney Cruise Line: Cruises with Mickey and Donald will make you enthusiastic. However, childcare and on-board language are in English. In the Oceaneer Club and Oceaneer Lab, children between three and ten years of age are looked after on the Disney Magic and between three and 12 years of age on the Disney Wonder. There are also areas reserved for kids, such as the Teens Spa on the Disney Dream.
MSC Cruises: The Italian shipping company has families in mind: Two children up to the age of 12 travel for free with two adults in the same cabin. There are also special promotions for families to which kreuzfahrten.de refers. For many cabin categories, MSC offers four-bed occupancy, cabins with connecting doors and children’s cabins at a special price. The child care takes place in three groups: Minis (three to six years), Juniors (seven to eleven) and Teens (12 to 17). The carers speak Italian, and MSC Fantasia and MSC Splendida also speak German.
Norwegian Cruise Line: This company is suitable for families. Family cabins and the freestyle cruising concept promise a varied cruise for all age groups. In addition to a selection of flexibly combinable cabins, suites and villas, Norwegian has outdoor areas for children. The NCL Kids Crew cares for children in English in the age groups three to five, six to nine and ten to 12 years, the NCL Teens Crew in the age group 13 to 17 years.
Royal Caribbean International: For families, Royal Caribbean International also offers connecting door cabins, family suites and four beds. English childcare is available for infants aged six and over.