Tips For Finding A Family Friendly Cruise

Making memories

There is no better remedy for combating the short, cold days of winter than planning a family cruise vacation. For some reason, just looking at itineraries and ship diagrams is enough to lift the spirits. But before long what started as a fun search for your next family vacation quickly becomes a nightmare as data-overload sends you over the edge.

To help keep things in balance, Family Cruise Advisor has put together a few tips to help make the cruise buying process a little more user friendly.

Think Value, Not Price

Although price is a good motivator, value is a better indicator that a cruise will be a success.

Consider what is included in the cruise price.

• Does the ship have adequate care for infants? Some ships charge for babysitting infants because they do not have facilities for babies.
• Does the ship offer kids programming for the ages you need?
• Are soft drinks and juice included in the price? Disney Cruise Line has generous soda fountains and juice available around the clock. Other cruise lines do not.

Consider A Slightly Older Ship, But Watch The Size

When looking at price make sure you are comparing apples-to-apples. New ships typically have a higher price tag than slightly older ships.

Although Royal Caribbean International’s new Oasis-class ship Allure of the Seas has a lot of great features, pricing is significantly lower on Liberty of the Seas and her sisters in the Freedom-class. The cruise experience is almost the same: great kids programs, specialty restaurants, surf simulator, rock climbing wall, ice-skating rink, arcade, etc.

Royal Caribbean

Speaking of Royal Caribbean, watch the size of the vessel you select. For example, there are many features that are not available on Monarch of the Seas due to her smaller size. This is an example of too much of a good thing. Savvy shoppers will notice some great cruise fares on Monarch of the Seas, but this ship does not have the bells and whistles found on the larger ships in the fleet.

When to spend money for a cruise on a new ship

Disney Cruise Line’s newest ship Disney Dream is fetching top dollar for a product that is completely different than Disney Magic and Disney Wonder. The updated technology and innovations on Disney Dream are well worth the additional investment in vacation dollars.

Destination

Disney Cruise Line

In most cases when cruising as a family, the ship is the destination. However, families must also consider where the ship sails. Popular family cruise destinations for 2011 are: Europe, Alaska, Mexico, and the Caribbean.

Depending on the age of your children and their tolerance for long flights, a realistic destination will become obvious. I say go for gold and head to Europe. But I am also the same person that took a three-month old baby on an six-hour flight to Hawaii.

Show Me The Money!

A lot of people think that if they wait long enough, cruise lines will offer deep discounts. Although this could be the case, when traveling with a family it is better to plan ahead to avoid disappointment.

Remember that there is little risk to putting down a deposit in advance. In most cases (Disney concierge class suites exempt) deposits are refundable. Final payment is due 90 days before the cruise. Some travel agencies and cruise lines will guarantee the price, which means that if the cruise fare goes down before final payment, you are entitled to getting the lower price.

Family Cruise Basics

• Planning your family cruise
• Age Minimums: The ABCs
• Top Tested Tips for Cruising with Babies and Toddlers
• Family Affair: Cruising with the Whole Crew, Grandpa, Grandma & The Kids
• Choosing A Family Stateroom
• Cruise Ship Kid Programs
• Cruise Ship Safety and Security For Families

Crystal Cruises invites kids 17 and under to cruise for free on three Crystal Symphony Pacific Coast voyages next spring and fall.

The new offer, valid for children sailing in a third berth with two full-fare adults, is available for the seven-day sailings between Los Angeles and Vancouver: April 10 and 17, plus a seven-day Thanksgiving cruise sailing round-trip from Los Angeles November 20.

The April 17 voyage – ending on Easter Sunday – and the Thanksgiving itinerary are ideal options for families with children on Spring Break and seeking to spend the holiday together at sea.

Crystal’s April Pacific Coast cruises explore the northern Golden Coast of California and British Columbia with visits to Santa Barbara, San Francisco, California; Astoria, Oregon; Seattle, Washington; and Victoria, British Columbia.  The November itinerary features Crystal’s first-ever overnight in San Francisco, plus stops in Santa Barbara, San Diego and Ensenada, Mexico.  A fourth seven-day southern Pacific Coast cruise sails round-trip from Los Angeles December 4.

Also ideal for families, Crystal’s Family Memories program offers two savings options: $500 credit toward a Crystal Private Adventure, kids under 17 sail free in third berth, plus other perks for six full-fare bookings; all of this, plus one complimentary berth for 10 full-fare bookings.  Promotional, Two-for-One cruise fares start at $2,650 per person, double occupancy, and include $500 per couple ‘All Inclusive – As You Wish’ shipboard credits, complimentary air transportation.  The credits and air transportation apply only to full-fare bookings.

San Diego’s biggest attraction is the harbor itself, known as The Big Bay. You could design a pre- and post-cruise vacation around the Big Bay itself and have a perfectly satisfying experience — with no need to rent a car. If you’re staying a few days or more, you’ll have a good choice of hotels: No fewer than 13 line the Big Bay’s 34 miles of waterfront.

Disembarking cruise passengers can easily explore much of The Big Bay on foot or by using a variety of transportation options. Begin by walking south from the B Street Cruise Terminal toward Seaport Village where you will find four miles of meandering pathways and 14 acres of waterfront shopping and dining. Seaport Village is home to 57 Victorian-style shops and galleries, four award-winning restaurants, and 13 sidewalk eateries, including two — count ‘em, two — Ben and Jerry’s ice cream shops — each within 100 yards of one another! Go figure. Be sure to take a spin on Seaport Village’s historic Loof Carousel (circa 1890).

If you’re not prepared to walk the 10 minutes from the terminal to the entrance of Seaport Village, hire a pedicab and allow your guide to pedal you along the harbor. Be sure to stop along the way to tour the USS Midway Museum, which was the longest- serving carrier in the U.S. Navy’s history until it was retired after serving as the Persian Gulf flagship in Desert Storm.

Heading north from the cruise ship terminal takes you to one of San Diego’s 90 museums, the Maritime Museum of San Diego. This fascinating museum boasts one of the world’s finest collections of historic ships, including the Star of India. Built in 1863, the full-rigged ship hoists its sails at least once each year to be able to retain its title as the world’s oldest active ship.

Directly across from the cruise terminal is Wheel Fun Rentals, where you’ll find a variety of rental bikes, including three-wheel recumbent bicycles and four-wheel surreys (both carry four passengers). Pedaling either of these is a fun way to spend an hour or so along the waterfront.

From the waterfront, you can also go by ferry or boat (about 10 minutes) to Coronado Island. To purchase tickets, make your way to the Embarcadero. Take time to browse the shops and restaurants at the marketplace. While you’re there, you can even book yourself on a Harbor and Whale Watching Excursion.

Or hop on the Coronado Ferry and visit the Old Ferry Landing, a picturesque boutique shopping center with an extraordinary view of San Diego. Have lunch at one of several bayside cafes. Coronado Island is best known perhaps for Hotel del Coronado, one of America’s most beautiful beach resorts. The classic historic hotel, opened in 1888, is a National Historic Landmark and has played host to many movies, including the 1958 film, Some Like It Hot, starring Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon and Marilyn Monroe.

The Travel Channel ranks Coronado Island’s beaches as the nation’s #1 beach for families and #2 of America’s Top 10 Beaches. The island’s main thoroughfare, Orange Avenue, was awarded the Great American Main Street Award in 2000. Spend an afternoon or evening strolling this charming street lined with shops and parks.

With all of this and more, nothing beats a day in the Big Bay.

For families, there is no better cruise port than San Diego. Only a few minutes from the cruise terminal is Balboa Park, the nation’s largest urban cultural park. Encompassing 1,200 acres, Balboa Park is second only to the Smithsonian in size and is often referred to as the “Smithsonian of the West.” The Park is home to 85 cultural institutions, including 15 museums that range from anthropology to science, from classic to contemporary art, performing arts venues, art galleries, botanical gardens and the San Diego Zoo, home to 4,000 animals representing 800 species on 100 acres. Balboa Park is the perfect destination for families.

The San Diego Zoo’s Wild Animal Park, a 2,200-acre nature preserve 30 miles northeast of downtown. The animal preserve features more than 3,000 wild animals that roam over expanses resembling their native habitats. A one-acre Lion Camp habitat allows you to come face to face with lions. Hop on the guide-narrated monorail tour or walk the 1.75-mile Kilimanjaro Hiking Trail through lush botanical gardens. Along the way, you will pass the habitats of gorillas, elephants, cheetahs, lions and many other species.

Animal lovers will also enjoy SeaWorld San Diego, a 189-acre marine park featuring trained killer whales and other marine life. Situated on Mission Bay, Seaworld San Diego was the nation’s first Seaworld park. Of course, the real attraction here is Shamu Adventure, which features the world-famous killer whale, Shamu, performing in a 2.5-million- gallon pool. But there is more than the passive viewing of marine life here. Brace yourself for Journey to Atlantis, the park’s exciting thrill ride, based on the tale of the “lost city.” The six-minute journey includes a 60-foot plunge and a heart-pounding negative G force drop set against a backdrop of the sunken city.

Just 30 minutes north of San Diego is LEGOLAND California, featuring more than 50 hands-on interactive attractions, rides and shows. The 128-acre theme park for families with children ages 2-12 is the only family park of its kind in North America. Legoland also features more than 1,000 Lego models, including “minilands,” miniature cities constructed of Legos.

Closer to the cruise terminal, families also enjoy Westfield Shoppingtown Horton Plaza, a 6.5-block, open-air shopping center that resides in a dramatic architectural setting that calls to mind a Technicolor M.C. Escher drawing. With its five staggered levels, Horton Plaza features 140 specialty shops, restaurants and attractions, including a 14-screen movie theater and live theater performances at Lyceum Theater.

Parents may enjoy the stroll through the historic Gaslamp Quarter. Founded in 1867, the 16-block Victorian-era district is home to more than 100 restaurants, 40 nightclubs and bars, and 100 retails shops. (the legendary Wyatt Earp ran three gambling halls in this once-notorious “red light” district). From here, it is only a short walk back through Seaport Village, with its 14 acres of waterfront shopping and dining, to the cruise terminal.

On a Mexican Riviera cruise from San Diego, my family and I spent one week after our cruise to discover all that this sunny Southern California city has to offer cruise passengers. True, most cruise passengers add only two nights before or after their cruises from San Diego, but friends who had been here told us that two days was not enough, so we decided to go the distance and try to see it all.

We were surprised to find such a varied destination. During our stay, we traveled from San Diego’s cosmopolitan city center to charming Coronado across the San Diego Bay, also known as the Big Bay, from beautiful Pacific coastline to true Southwestern desert — only 90 minutes away. We visited theme parks that our kids loved — LEGOLAND California and SeaWorld San Diego, and then toned the pace down at Balboa Park, with its world-famous San Diego Zoo. Moreover, we enjoyed our week of activities in San Diego’s perfect climate, with average daytime temperatures of 70F and most days sunny.

Clearly, San Diego is a cruise port with no shortage of pre- and post-cruise possibilities. More important for visitors, perhaps, is that San Diego is an unintimidating large city, friendly and easy to get around. Although it claims more than 1 million citizens, San Diego feels like a small town. None of the Los Angeles traffic snarls here, at least not during our visit. In fact, while it helps to have a rental car, you need not find yourself behind the wheel to enjoy this West Coast port.

There are many attractions within close proximity of the cruise terminal — Seaport Village, Balboa Park, Coronado Island and the Big Bay. You can even visit Mexico by boarding the San Diego trolley, just a few blocks from the B Street Cruise Terminal.

You will need a car if you intend to go farther afield, and if time permits, we do recommend a couple of days in the desert. If you’re tight on time, however, just hang out in the Big Bay. There’s plenty there to keep you occupied, and you’re already within a stone’s throw when your jet screeches to a halt on the tarmac.

Like us, the 62 percent of San Diego cruise passengers who arrive by air find themselves only minutes away from the cruise terminal, city center and other attractions. Hop a taxi from the airport, and in five minutes you can be at the cruise terminal. Convenience is the keyword. Almost all of San Diego’s central attractions can be reached by foot, trolley, taxi ride, boat or bike.

As pre- and post-cruise destinations go, San Diego is about as good as it gets. The city serves up such a mix of activities and attractions that two days is hardly sufficient. This exceptional cruise port has enough to keep you on the go for an entire week — and if you’re like us, even then, you will leave wishing you had just one more day in sunny San Diego.

Awesome Overview
You want to take a family cruise, but Florida and the Caribbean seem so been-there, done-that. So why not consider a Mexican Riviera cruise? Begin and end your cruise in San Diego, one of America’s most attractive cities and a great family destination.

The pre- and post-cruise options from the Southern California city are some of the best anywhere, particularly for families because of theme parks like LEGOLAND California and SeaWorld San Diego, the San Diego Zoo, or, for more contemplative pursuits, Balboa Park features beautiful gardens, fascinating museums and gorgeous Spanish Colonial Revival architecture.

And, as a cruise destination, the Mexican Riviera is a fun immersion into Mexican cuisine and culture, with plenty of opportunities for hiking, swimming, shopping and sunbathing.

Just For Kids
The major lines that run regular cuises out of San Diego all have comprehensive programs for kids of all ages. The Mexican ports on these itineraries offer a full range of activities and excursions for any age group and interests. Kids may particularly enjoy opportunities to interact with marine life, in San Diego itself (think SeaWorld) or at ports along the Mexican coast, where excursions such as “Swim with the Dophins” are offered (in Puerto Vallarta).

Family Friendly
The snorkel tour from Cabo San Lucas takes you out to beautiful Santa Maria Bay, where you will swim in tropical waters with abundant sea life. This is appropriate for children who are strong swimmers. Mazatlan offers Salsa & Salsa excursions, where adults can learn to make a little salsa and then dance a little salsa.

Try This!
From Puerto Vallarta, the Outdoor Experience excursion ranks among the favorite trips and is certain to get everyone’s blood flowing. Highlights include some extended zip-line rides, a speedboat trip across Banderas Bay to a secluded beach, plenty of bouncety-bounce in an open-air truck as you head to the base camp in the Sierra Madre, a ride straight uphill on mules and, after crossing some wobbly bridges, rappelling 100 feet into an ice-cold waterfall. Although perhaps too rugged for the smallest children, what an adventure!

On Your Own
A day at the beach in Puerto Vallarta always works: gentle waves, warm sand and hot sun, with parasailing and banana-boat rides always an option. You might even see some turtles hatching.

When To Go
Cruise lines are transitioning ships through Southern California year-round, so most of the major cruise lines offer cruises from San Diego at some point during the year. But Carnival offers 4- and 5-day quickies as well as seven-day cruises year-round. Holland America Line offers seven-day and longer cruises fall through spring.

Seeking Seclusion?
Find a secluded beach in Cabo, seek out a quiet restaurant in Mazatlan or grab a taxi and do your own walking tour of Puerto Vallarta. These ports are large destinations that offer plenty to explore and enjoy on your own if that’s your preference.

Gotta Do It!
The Bay of Banderas, off Puerto Vallarta, offers snorkeling and dolphin encounters year-round. Humpback whales are regularly sighted in the bay from December through March.

Destination Dining
Try dining ashore in Mazatlan. At Mi Casa, for instance, you can enjoy delicious and authentic treats such as tacos with shredded pork. And while in San Diego, the Old Town district offers countless excellent restaurants of all styles.

Let’s Go!
San Diego may well be the gem in the star-studded itinerary along the Mexican Riviera. Convenient (the airport is minutes away from the cruise terminals) and family friendly, with theme parks, zoos and beautiful beaches, San Diego is a destination in its own right. Add a cruise South of the Border, and it’s a match made in paradise.

You can find a lot more to do by taking a look at San Diego local news.