8 reasons why a cruise is the answer to a stress-free holiday with kids
For an easy, relaxing getaway that all the family will love, look no further than a cruise
While holidays are an exciting time for all the family – you get to spend quality time together, make special memories and escape the routine of daily life – going away with kids can undoubtedly be stressful. Packing and long periods of travel can be testing, but also finding a trip that the whole family will love can be tricky.
The answer? A cruise! Whether you've got young children requiring lots of attention or teenagers wanting to do their own thing, a family cruise will entertain everybody. From fascinating port stops and shore excursions, to kids’ clubs and fun activities onboard, all interests and energy levels are catered for.
There's also plenty for (perhaps exhausted) parents to enjoy too, what with alfresco pools and hot tubs, cocktail bars, quiz nights, adults-only relaxation areas and luxurious spas onboard as well.
A cruise holiday also makes visiting multiple destinations easy, as once you're onboard, you needn't worry about logistics, important documents or packing and unpacking everyone's suitcase all over again. As a family, you'll get to see a range of fantastic places in just one trip by simply hopping on and off your ship.
Never considered booking a cruise as your family getaway? Read on for more on the above and other reasons why a cruise is the ultimate multi-generational holiday, however big your brood is...
Explore wonderful destinations together
As we've already said, a cruise is a great way to tick off numerous destinations in one trip, but choosing which destinations is the hard bit.
Visiting over 100 destinations around the globe, Marella Cruises have itineraries that sail around the Western Mediterranean, the Easter Mediterranean, the Canary Islands and the Caribbean.
Their Adriatic Delights itinerary takes in the Croatian city of Dubrovnik (ideal for any Game of Thrones fans in the family) and the Italian city of Trieste (lots of gelato will keep everyone sweet!), but if you're keen to go further afield, the idyllic beaches and tropical wildlife in the likes of St Lucia, Antigua (pictured) and Barbados in the Caribbean won't fail to impress. Decisions, decisions...
Share incredible experiences when there
When docked in different ports, you can go off and explore on your own. However, most cruise lines offer a huge selection of shore excursions, from coach tours around historic cities and natural beauty spots to small-group experiences like cooking classes, boat trips and sometimes even helicopter rides.
With Marella Cruises, you can sign up to shore excursions before your cruise departure or visit the guest services desk when onboard, where their excursions experts can help you pick the right one for all the family.
Whether the kids will love hearing stories of gladiator battles on a guided tour of the Colosseum in Rome or seeing the volcanic craters of Lanzarote on an off-piste biking trip, there's something for everyone.
There's a club for all ages onboard...
Large, family-friendly cruise ships have clubs and activity centres for kids of all ages, which offer a safe, caring and stimulating space for children to enjoy themselves. Better still, they can largely attend without parents, giving you some much-needed adults-only time.
On a Marella cruise ship, children from 3 to 17 years are catered for by free activity clubs. M Club offers daily sessions for 3-11 year olds, where arts and crafts, quizzes and mini-discos are all in store, while tricky teens can escape their parents in The Hideout, where they'll find gaming consoles, comfy sofas and silent discos. Under 3s aren’t left out though, as hosted, parent-toddler 'babytainment' sessions take place daily, too.
... and plenty to do as a family
Holidays are for spending quality time together too, which is a breeze when on a cruise. Together you can splash in the pool, devise a family mini golf tournament or come together for an evening in the onboard theatre, where you can catch West End-style musicals and other live entertainment.
Exclusively on Marella Cruises, you'll find Gamer Zone, a dedicated space where even the biggest of kids (we're looking at Dad here!) can challenge everyone on retro gaming machines.
Don't miss Movies by Moonlight either, where brand-new films and box-office classics are screened out on deck, under the stars. Popcorn included!
Fussy eaters won't complain
Even the pickiest of eaters will be impressed with the dining options on a cruise holiday.
Most ocean cruise liners have a selection of restaurants onboard, each with different dress codes and levels of formality. When booking, make sure your ship has a casual buffet-style venue that offers food from all over the globe, then you won't have to worry about being too noisy around other diners. You can dictate the pace of the meal (speed is of the essence sometimes, we know), and every palate will, quite literally, be catered for.
No one will go hungry with Marella Cruises, as you'll find an around-the-world buffet, fine dining restaurants, sushi bars, steakhouses, pizza joints and poolside grab-and-go eateries all onboard. Save room for dessert though, as there's no shortage of ice cream...
There's accommodation to suit families of all size
If you're concerned about space or the expense of having to book numerous cabins to fit everyone in, worry not. Most cruise ships have an allocation of staterooms designed to accommodate additional people – there will be beds that fold out from the cabin walls or sofa beds in the lounge area.
On Marella Cruises ships, there are cabins available with either fold-down beds or a sofa bed, so it's easy to accommodate a 3rd or 4th person.
Travelling as an even bigger group? You can book one of Marella's family cabins, which utilise the living spaces to sleep up to seven people.
You can go all-inclusive
Nobody likes an unexpected bill, especially at the end of a lovely trip – talk about ruining your post-holiday zen! – so avoid any surprise costs by opting for an all-inclusive cruise.
If you're holidaying on a strict budget (or have kids with appetites that know no bounds), paying up front for an all-in package, which usually include all meals, soft drinks and alcohol when onboard, enables you to know final costs in advance.
Sometimes packages include transfers from transport hubs as well as flights and checked luggage if you're embarking on a fly-cruise (a cruise that doesn't depart from the UK).
You can often find low-deposit deals and offers too, like at Marella Cruises, where the initial deposit for a family cruise can be as low as £100 per person.
You can enjoy the best of both
If you can't pick between a resort stay or a cruise for the next big family holiday, how about combing the two?
Being a part of TUI, Marella Cruises are able to offer Cruise & Stay options, where you can spend a few days, or even a week, in a hand-selected hotel or apartment after disembarking your cruise. Alternatively, you can spend a week in a hotel before setting sail.
Marella Cruises will take care of transfers between the airport, your ship and your on-land accommodation, so the only thing you need to worry about is having a fabulous holiday – and where you packed the suncream, of course...
Douro Valley: a guide to the spectacular region
12 of the best cruises for couples
The best cruises for 2025
Why Uniworld is world's best river cruise line
