Does the idea of going on holiday with the in-laws make you cringe?
Well, it’s time to think again, because in the current economic climate, extended family groups taking a cruise together can be extremely cost effective.
And, unlike a holiday ashore, that doesn’t necessarily mean all having to huddle together in one room at night and the likely sleep depravation that ensues.
Cruise lines have long been family friendly and the new generation of ships are even more so, offering adjoining cabins, family cabins and suites among the varied accommodation options.
Some companies, such as Costa Cruises, provide ‘free’ places for children aged under 18 when they share a cabin with their parents. In reality this means a charge of around £90 to cover port fees and taxes for a week in the Med – pretty incredible value when you consider that a cruise includes all food and entertainment.
And the fast-expanding Italian line is going one step further for next year to further attract families by introducing a Family Plan.
This enables two adults to book any category of cabin for themselves – to ensure a bit of child-free quality time – and a special rate will be offered for children staying in a separate inside cabin.
Discounts are also being made available for single adults sailing with children under 18 and single travellers get reduced supplements. Also, groups of ten or more are eligible for special discounts.
Add this all up, and you have a range of money-saving options for multi-generational families or groups of friends wanting to club together to take a cruise in 2010.
Costa Cruises happens to be one of the first of the major cruise lines to release details of its 2010 sailing programme – and it makes impressive reading with three new vessels joining the fleet over the next 12 months, plus a further two by 2012.
With brochures available from this week, Costa is making a play for early bookings for next year in a move that will be followed as other cruise lines start detailing their plans for next year over the next few weeks.
Costa is, of course, by no means alone in making cruises more appealing to larger family groups, often spanning generations from toddlers and teens through to parents and grandparents.
For example, P&O Cruises’ biggest ship Ventura offers a high number of cabins with additional third and fourth beds, together with free child places on selected itineraries throughout the year.
The ship also has two family suits with two bedrooms, two bathrooms and lounge area, offering more affordable and flexible accommodation for larger groups or families.
While the four family ships in the P&O Cruises fleet cater well for multi-generational family groups, in my experience Ventura is perfect as there is a lot to do on board for each age group individually and plenty of things for the family to do collectively.
Royal Caribbean International offers family cruises on board the largest cruise ships in the world – Freedom of the Seas, Liberty of the Seas and Independence of the Seas, which is returning for its second UK summer season of sailings from Southampton in April.
Meanwhile, the ever larger Oasis of the Seas, capable of carrying 5,400 passengers when launched at the end of the year, will provide arguably the most diverse selection of on board activities for all ages.
Innovations range from the first amphitheatre on a cruise ship. The AquaTheater will feature theatrical diving performances and water and light shows.
Oasis will also carry the first zip wire at sea stretching 82 feet in length and suspended nine decks above the ship’s Boardwalk area.
In the Pool & Sports Zone, the H2O Zone aquapark will feature a toddler pool and the first ‘beach pool’ on a cruise ship, featuring a sloped entry and beach chairs and umbrellas.
So forget the notion of being crammed on top of each other in a confined space for the duration of your voyage – cruising has moved on by leaps and bounds and has families well and truly on its radar.
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