Hi! My name is Elaine, and I am the creator of this website and the author of The Family Cruise Companion’s Guide to Cruising With Kids.
Do you dream about traveling the world with your kids, but aren’t quite sure how to pull it off? Do you get discouraged by all of the information overload of where to go, what to see, and how to get there? A family cruise can help you cut through all of that, and this website aims to provide resources and information to help you (with assistance from some valued contributors!). I want to help parents decide whether a family cruise is a good vacation choice for their family. And, provide information that helps families plan fun cruises free of stress and filled with adventure!
You Can See The World With A Family Cruise
I think that family cruising is the best and most accessible way to travel the world with your kids (and/or grandkids). I also think that is is grossly underappreciated.
When I was growing up, my family did not travel much. We never traveled outside the country, and very rarely travelled outside of our state. (Indeed, several people in my family have never flown on an airplane!) I can literally count all of our big trips on one hand – a cross-country drive to California, going to Atlanta when my dad had a conference there, and one trip to Washington D.C.
I finally got my first passport at the age of 24 when I received an unexpected opportunity to visit London. After that first big trip, I used to fantasize about taking an extended trip around the world. I really wanted to see it all, and I dreamed about taking a year or two off to do it. I bought books, researched, planned and tried to learn all there was about long-term extended travel. But, over time real life intervened.
Fast-forward 10 or 15 years (or so) – and I am now closer to seeing most of the world than I ever was sitting on my couch dreaming. And, we’ve done it largely by cruising. Seeing different parts of the world one or 2 weeks at a time.
I’ve loved seeing all of the wonders, surprises and new experiences that can be found throughout the world, and I’ve had a fantastic time doing it! But, the best part so far, is being able to share those experiences with my children.
A Family Cruise Makes Travel With Kids Easier
Both of my children received their first passports before their first birthdays. We have now sailed on 30+ family cruises (& counting), and have been able to visit much of the globe by cruise ship. With itineraries that included Europe (Spain, France, Italy, Montenegro, Croatia, Greece ), the Caribbean (including Cuba, Jamaica, Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, Virgin Islands, the Bahamas, Cozumel, St. Martin/St. Maarten, Grenada, Barbados, St. Lucia, Antigua, and Puerto Rico), South and Central America (Panama, Venezuela, Costa Rica, Argentina, Uruguay, Chile ), Asia (China, Hong Kong, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, India ), Australia, New Zealand, the islands of the South Pacific (including Fiji, Vanuatu, and New Caledonia), and the Middle East (Oman and the UAE). For us, cruising has been a very fun, convenient, and efficient way to see lots of the world.
So why do I say cruising is more accessible? Because it is easier. Think about how much work goes into planning a 2-week land-based tour of Europe (or anywhere, for that matter). Picking the cities. Timing. Internal transportation. The logistics of packing and unpacking and hauling your kids over a continent. Contrast that with looking at various cruise itineraries and picking one that appeals. And using that as a jumping-off point to see what you want to see. Much of the hard logistic work is covered. And it allows you to maximize your travel time. You focus on the extras and the sweet stuff.
I hope that this forum and the information it provides can help your family enjoy exploring the world of cruise vacations as well. For timely updates, please join our mailing list.
