{"id":3877,"date":"2010-02-09T07:56:19","date_gmt":"2010-02-09T13:56:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/?p=3877"},"modified":"2017-03-22T18:27:05","modified_gmt":"2017-03-22T23:27:05","slug":"family-cruises-reinventing-the-road-trip","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/2010\/02\/family-cruises-reinventing-the-road-trip\/","title":{"rendered":"Family cruises: reinventing the road trip"},"content":{"rendered":"

 <\/p>\n

\"Family<\/p>\n

By Kim Windyka<\/em><\/p>\n

When you think of a family vacation<\/a>, bringing the kids on a cruise<\/a> might not be the first idea that comes to mind. However, there are some distinct advantages to setting sail with the whole gang: you\u2019ll only have to unpack once, and you\u2019ll get to visit multiple different ports during your cruise. Plus, your cruise fare includes almost everything you could want: stateroom accommodations, most meals, entertainment, kids clubs, several choices of sports and activities, and even port charges. Not to mention, you\u2019ll avoid hearing the dreaded \u201cAre we there yet?\u201d from anyone \u2026well, once you\u2019re on the ship, anyways.<\/p>\n

And with 21 ports throughout the country, you\u2019re likely to find at least a deal or two for a home port cruise<\/a> — that means no paying for flights or dealing with airport hassles. Score! \"\"<\/p>\n

Another advantage is that cruises, much like traditional family vacations on land, are also highly customizable to both your family\u2019s schedule and interests. Whether you want a weekend cruise<\/a> or a weeklong escape, there\u2019s a cruise for that. When it comes to onboard amusements, your choices range from mini-golf to poolside movies to theatrical productions<\/strong>, so even the grumpiest of young travelers will find something to their liking. The same goes for the wide variety of activity options to be found in each port, whether it\u2019s scuba diving, horseback riding, fishing or just sightseeing.<\/p>\n

And when it\u2019s time to eat? You won\u2019t have to sweat about finding something to please every palate; almost every ship typically has buffet-style grub in addition to restaurants that serve more specific cuisine like Italian, Chinese or Mexican.<\/p>\n

\"Cruises\"

Rock-climbing wall on the Royal Caribbean Adventure of the Seas<\/p><\/div>\n

So, what cruise line to choose for your family vacation? I think the most family-friendly lines include Carnival<\/a>, Royal Caribbean<\/a>, Disney<\/a> and Norwegian<\/a>, though there are some factors to consider. For example, Norwegian offers freestyle dining<\/strong>, meaning you don\u2019t have to eat at scheduled mealtimes, and Royal Caribbean boasts lots of cool features like ice-skating rinks and rock-climbing walls<\/strong>. Carnival ships have a ton of poolside fun, including massive water slides<\/strong> and water-balloon attractions, and Disney cruises bring childhood magic to life with shows starring your kids\u2019 favorite characters.<\/p>\n

A little research is all it takes to find the perfect family cruise<\/a> for your clan, and with school vacations right around the corner, it\u2019s never too early to start planning yours.<\/p>\n

Related Orbitz resources:<\/strong><\/h3>\n