Family Cruises: The Ultimate Family Vacation

Table Of Content

• VACATION WITH THE FAMILY
• Here are our Top 10 things to do with kids in Long Beach.
• Why MSC Cruise Ships Are Great for Kids
• Additional Royal Caribbean Kid-Friendly Features
• Royal Caribbean Wonder of the Seas

Although there are a lot of activities for kids on a cruise, it’s a good idea to bring a few small toys to keep your child busy in the cabin or even on the airplane. St. Maarten packs plenty into a small space, including two cultural influences, Dutch and French, as well as superb beaches and a surprisingly lush interior. Alaska is all about pristine nature and wildlife encounters and is the perfect setting to encourage kids to turn away from their phones and to look at their surroundings instead. Spot bears foraging on beaches, or bald eagles perched in the trees. Activities here, hiking aside, include thrill-packed ziplining, bouncing over hanging bridges, horseback riding, and even coffee tasting at one of the plantations.

VACATION WITH THE FAMILY

If you're after fun on dry land (or at least when you're in port), MSC runs a Family Explorer program, which melds education with fun shore excursions that are designed to be interactive for the whole family. Dubbed Camp Discovery, Princess Cruises kids' clubs include The Treehouse for children aged 3 to 7, The Lodge for ages 8 to 12 and The Beach House for ages 13 to 17. While all ships have parent-child play areas and care for babies 6 months to 3 years, only NCL Escape offers drop-off, extra-fee childcare for very small children in the Guppies Nursery. The two-story Splash Academies on Norwegian Escape, Breakaway and Getaway are the line's largest kids clubs at sea, home to high-tech games, a circus school and a small cinema. Onboard the ships, plenty of family cabins and loft suites mean room for the family to spread out. There's even a Royal Family cabin that sleeps eight, and Symphony of the Seas, Spectrum of the Seas and Wonder of the Seas’ Ultimate Family Suite with a two-deck slide, LEGO wall and games aplenty.

Here are our Top 10 things to do with kids in Long Beach.

Its handful of family-oriented ships feature well-equipped and age-appropriate kids’ clubs, a range of family cabins and family-friendly dining options. There are sports activities like archery, football, basketball and dedicated splash pools. It’s easy to see why the new Disney Wish makes the grade as one of the best cruises for kids and their magic-loving parents. Before setting sail with Mickey and friends, be sure to consult this essential cruise packing list.

Mother accused of leaving children alone for days while going on cruise appears in court - WLBT

Mother accused of leaving children alone for days while going on cruise appears in court.

Posted: Wed, 17 Apr 2024 21:11:00 GMT [source]

Why MSC Cruise Ships Are Great for Kids

Relax on white-sand beaches, and soak up the warm caribbean sun while your young one naps in the soothing shade of an umbrella. At playa mia grand national park, miniature pirate ships and sand-castle slides invite children of all ages to dip their toes in the shallow waters and adventure through the colorful water structures. For a culturally enriching experience, head to x-caret eco-archeological park where kids can gawk at prowling jaguars and vibrant parakeets amidst the lush habitats. From the coral reef aquarium and bird sanctuary to the museum and mayan ruins, navigating the park is effortless with stroller rentals, making your time on land enjoyable for all. The cruise lines and recommended ships that follow are our top picks for family cruises. We tend to recommend cruise lines' newer ships, because the facilities have been designed for families with kids from the outset and have more space for fun activities such as water parks, ropes courses and rock-climbing walls.

Don’t sweat the details — they’re all taken care of so you can focus on making lifelong family memories.

Excellent Broadway-style shows in the evenings will keep the older crowd engaged, while parades and ice skating shows will "wow" the whole family. If you’re going on a Caribbean, Bermuda or other warm weather cruise, sand toys are a great item to pack for beach days and shore excursions. Carnival Cruise Line is famous for their “Fun for All” slogan, which focuses on less-stuffy cruising no matter your bank account balance.

Additional Royal Caribbean Kid-Friendly Features

Securing reservations and purchasing packages before you sail lets you score the best savings available anywhere. In partnership with Discovery™, Princess has developed engaging new youth programming and wonder-filled centers designed for our youngest guests. Uniquely themed centers host engaging activities specially designed to help them play, huddle, create and discover. For a kid-friendly Alaska cruise, families on select Alaska sailings can embark on a search for Bigfoot (like the TV show "Finding Bigfoot") or participate in a crab-sorting challenge (inspired by "Deadliest Catch").

MSC Cruises' MSC Seascape is a floating megaresort with something for everyone, making its sailings some of the best cruises for kids. The ship stands out from its sisters because of its Robotron amusement park-style ride. Three riders at a time buckle into seating attached to a robotic arm, which then twists and turns to fly the riders over the ship and sea. Disney Wish has four kids clubs divided by age, but the main Oceaneer Club for 3- to 12-year-olds has an all-new and exciting grand entrance. Kids get to enter the club by slide — and once inside, can explore the club's spaces themed to "Star Wars," fairy tales, Marvel and Disney Imagineers. If they're bored and hate the food options, they will loudly and repeatedly express their displeasure.

Royal Caribbean Wonder of the Seas

While other ships sail the Seine and Rhine rivers, AmaLea travels the Danube through Germany, Austria, Slovakia and Hungary. Adventures by Disney makes the most of your time with shore excursions planned to entertain kids and adults, with options for supervised kid activities while parents head out on more grown-up tours. Your family might meet farm animals in Hungary, play hide-and-seek in a palace's labyrinth maze in Austria and hang around in a treetop playground in Germany. Water babies will make a break for the Pirates Cove Aquapark, with slides, a splash zone and a rope bridge. Other kids might spend their parents' money on more virtual fun, indulging in F1 race car simulators, VR motorcycle racing, a 4D movie theater and a video arcade.

Texas mom arrested after cruise: Lakesha Williams' bond unchanged; accused of leaving 2 kids home alone while she vacationed - KTRK-TV

Texas mom arrested after cruise: Lakesha Williams' bond unchanged; accused of leaving 2 kids home alone while she vacationed.

Posted: Mon, 15 Apr 2024 20:56:20 GMT [source]

Kid-Friendly Cruises on Royal Caribbean International

Family-friendly vacation destinations are always on the itinerary when you sail with Royal Caribbean®. From thrill-topping island hopping to exploring the Last Frontier, max memories like never before onboard the best family cruise ships in the world. A separate baby care area is for the youngest up to toddlers, while Miniclub offers plenty of Lego action and safe-for-kids climbing options (ages 3 to 6). The Juniors Club, for ages 7 to 11, also features plenty of Lego-themed activities plus game shows, video game competitions, and arts and crafts. The kids' clubs are outfitted with foosball, air hockey and even Skee-Ball. Teen cruisers can choose from sports tournaments, themed parties, dance classes and late-night movies.

Younger guests will enjoy special menus, and hands on cooking experiences. Activities will be found both onboard and ashore including Venetian mask making, treasure hunts, gondola rowing, ghost walks, cable car rides and visiting the famed Lipizzaner stallions. There are enough activities to go around for everyone, whether parents, toddlers or teens.

All-hours pizza and ice cream will keep the whole family fueled up for the interactive "Family Feud Live" show. For Christmas, there are festive decorations; caroling and singalongs; Catholic Mass and interdenominational services; and a special visit from Santa Claus. During each night of Hanukkah, a celebration and candle lighting is held for Jewish guests, and latkes are served daily for lunch in the Lido Market.

Princess does the cooking and cleaning so you can spend more time focusing on what matters most. No matter which MSC cruise ship you choose -- from MSC Armonia to MSC Seaside -- kids will have a full slate of things to keep them busy thanks to modern, fun spaces for all age groups. Royal and Regal Princess have outdoor play areas with a jungle gym for kids ages 3 to 7, and another for teens with a teens-only hot tub and space for outdoor parties. Norwegian Escape offers one of the largest ropes courses at sea, as well as one of the largest water parks at sea. We love that kids can experience finger sandwiches and cakes at the children’s afternoon tea -- and there’s no shortage of pizza and complimentary ice cream onboard.

In short, Disney family cruises are excellent choices for families and leave little room for boredom for everyone. It’s a stunning waterfront resort situated across the harbor from Downtown Long Beach that blend’s Southern California culture and Latin American vibes. Love that they have games throughout the resort for kids to play with.

Packing some reusable water bottles for your family vacation is a great idea. This way, you can bring water off of the cruise ship and you won’t have to purchase water bottles when you are onboard the ship. For the lido deck and pool, beach or shore excursions, water shoes are a necessary cruise essential for children.

Virgin Voyages cruise passenger dies after falling from balcony on ship near Miami

Table Of Content

• Watch: Take a look inside the 'Scarlet Lady,' Virgin's first adults-only cruise ship sailing to the Caribbean in 2020
• Virgin Voyages passenger dies after falling from cruise ship balcony
• Reporting The Death
• Local
• Virgin cruise passenger falls from balcony and later dies

For the family, the repatriation process involves significant coordination with local authorities to ensure that a death certificate is issued and recognized by the deceased’s home country. Repatriating a body is a complex and costly procedure, often necessitating assistance from embassies and requiring comprehensive travel insurance to manage potential expenses. Regardless of the location of the cruise, the death has to be reported to local authorities.

Watch: Take a look inside the 'Scarlet Lady,' Virgin's first adults-only cruise ship sailing to the Caribbean in 2020

The repatriation process varies significantly based on local laws and the ship’s itinerary​. It is possible to take some cruises from the US without a passport but in an event like this, you would need a passport to disembark at the port and fly home. If you didn’t have one you’d have to get an emergency passport and this definitely isn’t a stress needed at this time. It may also be hard to get an emergency passport in some ports, especially those which are smaller and may not necessarily have forms and documents in English.

Virgin Voyages passenger dies after falling from cruise ship balcony

The body’s disembarkation is generally carried out early in the morning to maintain respect and minimize the impact on the cruise experience for other passengers. Cruise ships have facilities and protocols for dealing with deaths on board. Most deaths result from natural causes, though accidents, suicides, and murder can occur. If the cruise is from the US this will be reported to the US coast guard. The team will conduct their interviews and investigations similarly to how they would on land, they may look at CCTV, question other passengers, and analyze the crime scene. The seriousness of the crime and if there is a person responsible all affect how fast it will be investigated.

Reporting The Death

Between 2009 and 2019, there were 292 serious injuries to passengers or crew members on cruise ships and 126 minor injuries, according to statistics compiled for Cruise Lines International Association by consulting firm G.P. The passenger, whose identity has not been revealed, was on a Virgin Voyages cruise ship on Sunday. The boat had left Miami and was heading to Roatán, Honduras, when they fell, a Virgin Voyages spokesperson says in a statement shared with PEOPLE.

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The vlogger shared that some passengers decided to leave the ship and that others were "shaky" after the incident. They add that the ship "was immediately redirected back to Miami, where the team are working closely with local officials." The ship returned to Miami early Monday morning but has since resumed its voyage with slight changes to the itinerary.

"On Sunday, shortly after departure there was a medical emergency involving one of our passengers," the statement from Virgin Voyages read. When someone dies on a cruise ship, crew members follow meticulous procedures to handle the process respectfully and carefully. The ship’s medical team confirms the death and immediately informs the captain and necessary port authorities.

Spencer Aronfeld, an attorney who sues cruise lines and posts cruise content on TikTok, recorded a video about the death. The biggest concern many loved ones face is how to bring the body home from the ship for burial. "We are deeply saddened by this loss of life and our hearts and thoughts are with this person’s loved ones," the Virgin Voyages spokesperson said. The passenger also struck another person while falling to the deck, though the second traveller was not seriously injured, according to a statement from a Virgin Voyages spokesperson. Following the incident, the cruise ship was immediately redirected back to Miami. It has since departed again to resume the cruise with some changes to the planned itinerary.

Another passenger, who was touring with P&O's Brittania cruise ship, died while snorkeling in St. Kitts in March, per Yahoo News. The passenger died while snorkeling on Mystery Island, an uninhabited islet in Vanuatu, according to a report by the local news outlet 7News, citing a passenger on board. A passenger on a Virgin Voyages cruise has died after falling off their balcony shortly after the ship set off. A YouTuber who was on the cruise shared video of announcements that were made to passengers on board, including informing them that the ship was turning around at about 11 p.m. A passenger on a Virgin Voyages cruise ship died over the weekend after a fall from the ship's balcony, landing on a lower deck, and colliding with another person.

How Travel Insurance Helps

Welcome to High Seas Cruising, your resource for exploring the exciting world of cruise ship travel. We provide expert advice, insightful reviews, and comprehensive guides to help seasoned and novice cruisers create their ideal sea journeys. Whether you desire adventure, luxury, or exploration, High Seas Cruising is your compass to unforgettable cruise vacations. The Ultimate World Cruise has piqued the interest of a corner of TikTok, with some users comparing the voyage to a reality TV show experience. Users have pointed out that with so much time at sea, much can happen, including relationships, fights, pregnancy and deaths.

The company did not confirm that it was the first death during the voyage, which set sail in December. Excluding suicides, the leading causes of passenger deaths were shown to be unspecified natural causes, cardiac incidents and falling overboard or onto lower decks. "Yesterday evening shortly after departure there was a medical emergency involving one of our passengers," says the spokesperson. "Care Team members are trained to deal with grieving people, but they are not grief counselors," the Carnival spokesperson said. They'll drive the deceased person's travel companions to a hotel if they choose to disembark the ship and even stay with them until they can return home. "On Sunday, shortly after departure there was a medical emergency involving one of our passengers," the cruise line company said in an emailed statement.

The cruise ship has since set sail again, though the trip itinerary has been revised. The vessel will no longer dock in Roatán and will instead head for Cozumel, Mexico. A Virgin Voyages spokesperson told the outlet the route shift is due to inclement weather, and doesn’t have anything to do with the passenger’s death.

The ship has since resumed its sailing with an adjusted itinerary, including a missed port of call in Roatan. "This passenger went over their balcony onto a lower deck, and despite receiving immediate medical attention, has passed away," a Virgin spokesperson said in an emailed statement. "We are deeply saddened by this loss of life and our hearts and thoughts are with this person's loved ones."

There was a passenger on the lower deck where the person fell, but they were not seriously injured in the accident. The accident happened shortly after the ship, Valiant Lady, had left Miami on Sunday. Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. A photo published by Fox News showed several balconies on the cruise barricaded with yellow tape. Another photo showed what appears to be a blue tent set up behind a grey partition and a uniformed person standing nearby. The spokesperson declined to release further details, saying it wants to protect the privacy of those involved.