So you’re thinking about planning a family vacation this year…and perhaps you’re considering cruising for the first time with your whole brood? Well, it’s no wonder a family cruise is on your mind because it’s hard to beat their tremendous value. Cruises are virtually all inclusive and you can often qualify for special group rates or discounts. But aside from cost, the main reason I like cruising with my family so much is that it is truly a HASSLE-FREE vacation. There are few trips out there where you’re going to have access to 24-hour room service, a 2x per day room cleaning and 100% of your meals prepared. Sign me up! That’s why did some digging on iCruise.com to find out the best cruise lines for Boca families.
Best Cruise Lines for Boca Families
The first thing I did when reviewing iCruise.com’s picks was check to see if Disney Cruise Line was on the list. Not a shocker– it is! That was the first cruise we took our preschooler on last year and it hooked us. The best cruise lines for Boca families (as recommended by the team at iCruise.com) include:
- Carnival Cruise Lines
- Celebrity Cruises
- Costa Cruise Lines
- Crystal Cruises
- Disney Cruise Line
- Holland America Line
- Norwegian Cruise Line
- Princess Cruises
- Royal Caribbean International
But the real question is WHY? Bottom line: it’s all about the kids programs and entertainment.
These three offerings sounded the most interesting to me as a mom, so I had to share:
- Celebrity Cruises: 24-hour room service and butler service; “kids only” areas, teen centers & pools; Family Program that lists the activities each morning; Celebrity’s Science Journeys that allow kids to explore science and nature (offered daily); Broadway-style production in the theater; on-board Enrichment Series that highlight special attractions of the upcoming port.
- Disney: Walt Disney Theater with live Disney musical stage productions and game shows; Studio Sea Family Nightclub for all ages: karaoke, game shows, dancing; ESPN Skybox, movies, and internet access; Kids Oceaneer Club and Oceaneer Lab (kids programs) open 9:00 a.m. to midnight; rooms have more storage space than most ships <— I can personally attest to this! The half bath split also comes in super handy.
- Norwegian: Relaxed dress codes; basketball, volleyball, tennis courts, rock wall, mini-golf, bowling alley, water slides, Wii Wall, Nickelodeon entertainment, Youth programs: Splash Academy and Entourage; Broadway-style shows, comedy, magic shows, dancing, offers family bowling, ropes course, Wii Sports, rock climbing, mini golf.
Another cool thing? Cruise lines can also handle picky eaters!
Most ships can accommodate for food allergies. They have kids menus and tons of snack options. But if you’re planning on taking advantage of a ship’s main restaurant, remember that most cruises have dress codes for dining. Other restaurants on board typically don’t follow the formal dress code. However, I found it really fun to dress up as a family! Why not add a little glam to your family cruise vacation? We are from Boca after all!
Sponsored: This post was sponsored by iCruise.com. All opinions expressed in this blog post are my own and not influenced in any way by the sponsor. Any statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with provider. Please refer to this site’s Disclosure for more information. I have been compensated, but that does not impact my views or opinions.
