Wyndham Grand Rio Mar Puerto Rico Golf And Beach Resort Rio Grande Puerto Rico
The Wyndham Grand Rio Mar Puerto Rico is another passport-free tropical family vacation idea. Located on the northeast side of the island, this sprawling resort borders El Yunque rainforest and is home to three lagoon-style swimming pools featuring a waterslide and waterfall. Its inclusive meal plan package includes unlimited alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, three meals per day, and use of the tennis courts.
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Club Med Punta Cana Punta Cana Dominican Republic
At Club Med Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic, kids ages 11 to 17 get their own space called Club Med Passworld, which offers activities like horseback riding, water sports, archery, and even learning to swing on a flying trapeze. Its a great vacation option for families with hard-to-please teens and tweens.
Planet Hollywood Beach Resort Culebra Costa Rica
With its movie memorabilia, walk-of-fame, red carpet, and Stars Kids Club, Planet Hollywood Beach Resort in Costa Rica is a family vacation favorite for younger kids and teens alike. Other popular amenities include multiple swimming pools, a splash zone, a spa, and seven onsite restaurants. The all-inclusive resort also curates special experiences such as zip lining, canopy tours, horseback riding, and water sports like snorkeling and sailing excursions.
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Best Cruise Lines For Families: Norwegian Cruise Line
Norwegian Cruise Line is the innovator of the freestyle approach to cruising. This mean that there are no set dinner times or table assignments. On all Norwegian Cruise Line ships, cruisers can choose where they want to eat, when they want to eat. These vessels have a variety of complimentary and specialty restaurants that offer diverse menus.
For those looking for flexibility and some of the newest onboard activities, Norwegian Cruise Line is one of the best cruise lines for families.
The lines newest class of ships is the Breakaway-Plus class. These innovative vessels boast a number of features that make them the perfect option for families with kids of all ages.
We have sailed on several ships in this class, as well as the slightly smaller Breakaway-class, and highly recommend them. These ships offer cruises in several regions of the world, making them a great option if you are looking for an itinerary outside of the typical Caribbean cruises.
Best Cruises: How To Find One For Your Next Family Vacations
If youre looking to go for a family vacation, youll find many best cruises for this purpose. Several cruises out there claim to be the best in all of their categories. However, only the greatest family cruises really offer the kind of fun and relaxation for any kind of family.
Sometimes people have difficulty in choosing the perfect family vacation. Hence, this is what usually causes the hardest parts of any vacation to be missed. Its often due to the stress of figuring out what the best cruise vacation for your family is going to be. You thus have to figure out how much money to spend on a vacation and think about where and how to go.
In this article, were going to discuss how you can find the best cruises for your next family vacation.
Lets dig in
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Galapagos Islands Voyage From Zegrahm Expeditions
For an intimate cruising experience with your family, look into Zeghram Expeditions. For their Galapagos Islands Voyage, the shipnamed the M/V Evolutiononly holds 32 guests, which allows each passenger to have a uniquely intimate experience on board. Your kids will love having their classroom science lessons come to life in front of them once they disembark and step foot onto the famed islands, made famous by Charles Darwin. Plus, your experience will be lead by three Galapogos naturalists who can answer all of you and your kids questions about the animals and environment to make it more like an immersive family adventure and learning experience, more so than just another average family cruise.
Looking to plan a multigenerational vacation? Check out essential tips here if youre traveling with everyone from grandparents to toddlers!
Does 2022 Sound Better For A Cruise Vacation
The 2021 Taking the Kids Cruise Guide will help you plan an adventure at sea, and is being updated throughout 2021 as cruise lines announce their plans. Be forewarned that some of the cruise and shore activities, onboard facilities and programs we review below, dating to 2020, will likely be modified to accommodate new regulations.
So its not too early to think about booking a cruise for 2022, especially if you want to cruise with extended family. Its always difficult to find a week that fits everyones schedule!
And while you peruse cruises available this summer or next year, make sure to read the fine print as cruise line refund policies vary from a future cruise voucher to additional onboard spending credits or a full cash refund. Thats why we advocate you get insurance premium bids for family travel insurance.
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Norwegian Cruise Line Breakaway
This class of ship has four vessels. The newest of them is Norwegian Encore, followed by its sister ships, Norwegian Joy, Norwegian Bliss, and Norwegian Escape.
One of our favorite features of this class of ship is the Waterfront. This mid-level promenade deck features a variety of restaurants, bars and lounges, and other amenities including shopping and entertainment venues. Among some of the newer additions to this area is the specialty restaurant turned country music venue Q Texas Smokehouse. This area also features many of the other restaurants, such as the lines signature steak house Cagneys.
There is also the Princess favorite, the Sugarcane Mojito Bar. One of the best parts of the Waterfront is that most venues include both indoor and outdoor areas.
The Breakaway-Plus class of ships has some of the most thrilling attractions at sea. Among them are go-kart courses, state of the art laser tag, ropes courses, as well as some of the fastest waterslides. Some of these ships also feature Spice H20, an adults only area with water features, a bar, and private space for those that are 18+.
On Norwegian Joy and Norwegian Encore, there is the Galaxy Pavilion too. This digitally enhanced area is home to interactive attractions, ride simulators, and games that everyone in the family will enjoy.
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Family Vacation Ideas For A Trip Theyll Never Forget
From once-in-a-lifetime trips to no-passport-needed family resorts, these are the best family vacation ideas for 2021 and 2022.
With travel making a comeback after a year of postponed trips, families across the country are finally putting big-ticket family vacation ideas back on their radar. And theyre not just thinking about cheap family vacations or the most popular family vacation spots in the U.S., either. After a year of staycations and road trips, bucket list family vacations are top of mind for a lot of people as well.
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Disney Fantasy From Disney Cruise Line
From the AquaDuck water coaster to interactive on-board play areas, like Star Wars: Command Post, Disney Fantasy is a ship thats full of family-friendly surprises. So many of Disney Cruise Lines activities are for families to do together, from high-quality Broadway-style shows and first-run movies to waterslides, deck parties, shore excursions and even engaging dining venues, says Silverstein, which is yet another reason why Disney remains a favorite for families. And in 2020, Star Wars fans of all ages are in for a special treat when Star Wars Day at Sea returns for nine special sailings from Port Canaveral to the Caribbean from January through March. Heres what Sara Warren from had to say about her familys experience other Instagram page Star Wars Day at Sea is such a cool, immersive experience offered on certain sailings. The night before Star Wars Day at Sea is set to take place there is a secret kick off where Darth Vader arrives to take over the ship. Whats more, you and your kids can expect to spot iconic characters from the Star Wars saga, including Jedi, Wookiees, droids and Stormtroopers, aboard the ship during this special day-long celebration.
Best Cruise Ships For Kids 2020
Considering a cruise for your next family vacation? You might be surprised to see how many cruise ship options there actually are! To help you make your decision, weve chosen the most innovative and entertaining cruise ships for kids. In 2020, sail away on one of these cruise ships for kids, and youll be on cruise control in no time!
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Best Cruise Lines For Families: Disney Cruise Line
When it comes to offering a classic cruise experience with a bit of magic, families cant go wrong with Disney Cruise Line.
The cruise line has a total of 4 ships. These vessels have very similar design and aesthetic, reminiscent of classic ocean liners. The two original vessels, Disney Wonder and Disney Magic, are considerably smaller than the lines newer vessels.
The two newer ships, Disney Fantasy and Disney Dream, are bigger and boast new additions including the Aqua Duck, a waterslide roller coaster.
Across the four ships, you will find award-winning service. All ships have typical amenities including dedicated youth activities organized by age groups and a gym. All ships also have a sports deck, with the larger ships even offering mini-golf.
When it comes to dining, the cruise line offers traditional dining. This means that there are set meal times for dinner at the main dining rooms. However, unique to Disney is rotational dining. So, cruisers remain with their waitstaff and dining mates throughout the cruise but rotate through different themed venues on the ship. Each of the dining rooms offers a unique theme.
When you want to escape from the little ones, all ships offer the adult only restaurant, Palo, which is an American steakhouse. The newer vessels have a second adults only restaurant, the French Remy. Both are specialty venues with up-charges.
A limited number of bars and lounges can also be found on Disney ships.
Evaluating Disney Cruise Line
Adventures By Disney River Cruises
Adventures by Disney, the escorted tour operation run by the famed family brand, offers European river cruise sailings for families and adults. These luxury, all-inclusive itineraries escorted by expert guides are active, immersive and hassle free. The 2022 season is set to include river cruise departures along the Danube, Rhine and Seine rivers.
Whats New: New for 2022, specialty National Geographic Photography Sailings along the Seine River will offer photo-driven excursions with National Geographic photographers. Sailing with AmaWaterways, a premier luxury river cruise line, these all-inclusive voyages are filled with active and immersive experiences in enchanting European destinations.
For Kids and Teens: All Adventures by Disney river cruises feature the expert services of Disney-trained Adventure Guides, who specialize in creating unforgettable vacation experiences that parents, children and teens can enjoy. These range from active excursions, castle and museum tours and unique onboard activities to a special welcome party, teen and Junior Adventurer dinners and Disney movie nights that young guests can enjoy while adults enjoy wine-tasting and adult-only dinners.
Around the Ship: Sailing with AmaWaterways, a premier luxury river cruise line, these all-inclusive vacations allow guests to explore the heart of Europe with active, hands-on excursions.
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Intrepid Travel Enjoy A Taste Of Thailand
If a long-tail boat trip through the canals of Bangkok sounds a great start to your family trip, the Thailand Family Holiday from Intrepid Travel might be the perfect family vacation idea for you. On this 12-day kid-friendly family vacation package, youll discover the markets of Bangkok, visit rescued elephants at a nature park, explore the history and ruins of Ayutthaya, and see up close how others live on an overnight homestay with a local family.
One of the best parts of small-group travel on a family-focused trip like this is traveling with other families. With Intrepid, the typical group size is about 10 people made up of three to five families . Often the kids will form their own groups during a trip, giving parents a chance to rest or socialize, too.
Intrepids Thailand Family Holiday runs on select dates in July, August, September, and December 2021, and there are 16 dates scheduled for 2022 as well. Prices start at $1,670 per person in 2021 and $1,755 in 2022 . The minimum age for children is five years old, and theres a 10 percent discount for children 17 years and under.
Royal Caribbean International Cruise Line
Royal Caribbean has a kids programme called Adventure Ocean.
The programme is divided into different age groups:
- Royal Babies and Royal Tots for ages 0 to 3.
- Aquanauts for ages 3 to 5.
- Explorers for ages 6 to 8.
- Voyagers for ages 9 to 11.
- Teen only venues.
Popular Route: RepositioningThis expertly put together cruise allows you to visit more than one destination with highlights like exploring the Mayan pyramids of Cozumel and taking in the distinctive architecture of Barcelona.
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Carnival Cruise Lines Family Cruise
Carnivals Camp Carnival offers activities that divide children into age groups of 2 to 5, 6 to 8, 9 to 11, 12 to 14 and 15 to 17. For the younger set, Carnival ships feature kid-friendly amenities and programs supervised by highly trained youth counsellors. On several of its ships,
kids can also enjoy arts and crafts centres, cascading poolside slides, activity walls, indoor climbing mazes and computer labs. As well, Carnival features expanded childrens menus in the dining rooms and poolside restaurants.
Im Ready To Start Planning My Cruise How Can I Score The Best Deals
Whether youre looking to book a short getaway or a longer adventure to far-flung destinations, Royal Caribbean makes it easy to save big on everything from your cruise fare to special experiences onboard and onshore. The first step to making sure you get the best deals is to join the cruise lines email list. Once youve signed up, youll receive regular updates on all the latest offers, like deals by destination, kids sail free promotions and flash sales. The savings dont end when you book your cruise, though. Once youve made a reservation, youll also receive notifications about special offers for onboard experiences like discounts on beverage and specialty dining packages, shore excursions, spa services, and more via Cruise Planner.
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Understanding Cruise Line Ship Classes
Broadly speaking, cruise lines are large companies that manage a fleet of ships. Some of the worlds largest cruise lines have dozens of ships.
Each cruise line has its own standard venues, entertainment offerings, and style. So, by investigating each cruise lines general approach to cruising, you can decide whether it is a good fit for your familys next cruise vacation.
Within a brand, there are also different offerings between ships. For instance, Royal Caribbean International has 28 cruise ships available to book through 2022. It would take you hours to research each ship individually just for that one cruise line. Not to mention, Royal Caribbean is just one of over 60 international cruise lines.
Hence, its important to note that each cruise line offers different groups of ships. These classes of cruise ships often feature specific amenities or venues found only on those vessels. While there might be slight differences between ships within a class, they are largely identical.
So, when comparing cruise vacations, you can focus on which classes of ships best appeal to families.
In this guide to the best cruise lines for families, we attempt to highlight the cruise lines and the cruise ship classes within the brand that we would recommend for multi-generational travel parties.
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Nickelodeon Hotels And Resorts Riviera Maya Cancun Mexico
The brand-new Nickelodeon Hotels and Resorts Riviera Maya in Cancun brings SpongeBob SquarePants, Dora the Explorer, and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to life in a five-star all-inclusive resort setting. In addition to its swim-up suites, the highlight here includes a six-acre outdoor water park with slides, rides, and splash pads.
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Austin Adventures Uncover The Secrets Of The Incas At Machu Picchu
It doesnt matter how many pictures youve seen of it before you arrive. Nothing in the world can prepare you for the moment you first glimpse Machu Picchu in real life. This is the ultimate in big-ticket, once-in-a-lifetime family vacation ideas.
Austin Adventures nine-day Machu Picchu family adventure goes light on the physical exertion and all-in on the cultural immersion, with private guided tours of ancient ruins, chocolate making classes, local market shopping, and class II and III whitewater rafting on a trip designed with the needs of families in mind. The minimum age is 10 years old, and the trip features stays at upscale family-friendly hotels like Casa Andina Private Collection Valle Sagrado and the sensational Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel.
When you finally reach Machu Picchu on day seven of what might be your best family vacation ever, its not the rushed experience you get with many other family tour operators. Instead, you have an entire day to explore the sacred mountain-top city with a private guide. Austin Adventures Machu Picchu family adventure will run on select dates in August 2021. The company sometimes offers teen-only versions of these family vacation ideas as well. The cost is $3,698 per adult and $3,398 for kids. Austin Adventures hasnt listed any 2022 dates yet.
So Will Your Family Be Cruising In 2021
There are good reasons not to cruise in 2021. According to major news outlets, the CDC has said that the Framework for Conditional Sailing Order will remain in effect through Nov. 1, 2021. Details for the next phase of the CSO are currently under interagency review, the CDC said in a statement to CNN.
Since the Delta Variant is extremely contagious, you wont want to be far from U.S. medical care should someone in the family fall ill, though the cruise lines have significantly upgraded their medical facilities on board.
With pent up demand and ships operating at reduced capacity, there arent many deals to be had, cruise experts suggest, though you may find value-added amenities like included Wi-Fi, gratuities and drinks on 2021 departures.
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