(This is a paid partnership with Princess Cruises - see disclaimer)
When it comes to holidays with children, so many say it's just like being at home but with better weather and to be quite honest, the thought of battling the airport with children is my worst nightmare. Cruising however, especially being from Southampton feels like a doddle and so I recently spent a day on Princess Cruises' Sky Princess with my son to get a taste of what exactly is on offer for children.
Spoiler... SO much plus there's no baggage limit which in itself is a massive pull.
So here are five reasons why you should absolutely cruise with children and whilst we haven't done it yet, this is why we will be...
The Entertainment & activities
I think the entertainment and range of activities available onboard Princess Cruises' ships is a pull for most adults and children; they'll be spoilt for choice. When we joined Sky Princess we spent the beginning of the day in the Princess Theatre to get a taste for their incredible theatrical offering and the five-year-old was utterly transfixed. I've seen a few different shows on Princess ships over the years so I knew the high calibre of what is performed but even this small snippet blew me away.
We enjoyed a fantastic sample of Rock Opera and Inspired Silliness, a brand new puppet show from legendary puppeteer Jim Henson. Full of fun, there was laughter throughout the theatre.
As well as the theatre, children will be able to experience Movies under the Stars with free popcorn plus a host of other activities that take place around the ship daily. You'll be able to access all activity information via the Medallion App and the daily newsletter left in your cabin each day.
Discover Camp Discovery
When looking at holidays having the option of children's clubs is a big benefit not just so you can have a couple of hours alone but so there's still that social aspect for little ones too. Princess Cruises are renowned for having some of the best children's clubs at sea and the five-year-old had so much fun when we visited. Open 9am until 10pm on sea days with breaks for lunch and dinner, the clubs don't carry a charge and you can just pop in.
The clubs are split into three age groups:
The Treehouse ages 3-7
The Lodge ages 8-12
The Beach House 13-17
We spent an hour in The Treehouse which would be the one most suitable for our own children. With a forest theme, it's bright, airy, and fun. There are plenty of activities including bracelet making, video games and a soft play area. There's a great outside space for children to play in too. Princess Cruises have really thought of everything.
Remember to enquire about their babysitting service too!
Plenty of fun wherever you look
From multiple pools and hot tubs to running tracks and sports courts suitable for basketball, tennis and football - children will be spoilt for choice. Cruising can be whatever you make it be it inside or outside, there'll be something for everyone. We really enjoyed shooting some hoops on one of the top decks and it helps that you'll always get unbeatable views from the top.
Don't forget to keep an eye out for Stanley the Bear, he is the cruise line's mascot and you'll be able to spot him around the ship - you can even buy your own Stanley the Bear in the gift shop.
Child-Friendly Dining Options
When it comes to cruising, the huge variety of food is a massive seller and you needn't worry about fussy eaters and small mouths because there is plenty available for little people too. You'll find some delicious included food options on the pool deck such as The Salty Dog, Slice, Soft Serve Ice Cream and there is even a children's section in the World Fresh Marketplace.
The World Fresh Marketplace is also the ideal place for children to try a huge range of new foods and if they just really fancy chicken nuggets and chips then that's okay too.
During our visit, we enjoyed hot dogs and loaded fries from The Salty Dog after a dip in the pool!
.jpg)
.jpg)
The OceanMedallion
Probably some of the most advanced tech at sea, The OceanMedallion makes cruising with Princess a dream. We used it on our own cruise in April and it made things so easy. The wearable device does everything from opening your door as you reach your cabin and ordering drinks to booking classes and enabling you to find your cruise party around the ship.
The ability to track locations makes me feel safe in the knowledge I can see where my children are at all times, whilst neither of them are at an age where they'd be left alone having this added bit of security definitely puts my mind at ease. You can buy wristbands on the ship for children to hold the Medallion which I imagine is much safer to use than a lanyard.
This is just a snippet of why a cruise would be great for children and that's without mentioning making the world more accessible for little ones. I believe once we have cruised with our own children then we'll find even more reasons why it's the perfect option.
Have you cruised with children before? How did you find it?
