I am mom to an active 10 year old boy. When he was younger, we tried all of the usual vacation spots: beaches, resorts, theme parks. Most of the time, I felt like I needed a vacation when we returned home! I knew there had to be a vacation that we would both enjoy that would include some rest for mom.
The answer is cruising. Today’s cruise ships are equipped to meet the needs of all ages and are the ideal way for a single parent to travel with children. Port excursions can be arranged through the cruise line so that it is not necessary to plan activities in a foreign place on your own. Don’t limit your thinking to the Caribbean. Wonderful cruise options can be found in Europe, Alaska, and other more exotic locations.
Youth programs provide an opportunity for kids to interact with peers and burn off some energy. While the kids are having fun, mom can spend some time at the spa, in a class, or just relaxing by the pool. Most cruise lines have many options for age-specific activities, late-night youth parties, and even in-room babysitting. Organized programs cover a wide range of activities including scavenger hunts, theme parties, parades, and movie nights. Many ships have dedicated space for the tween/teen crowd to hang out with their friends.
The newest ships have been built with fun in mind and are not limited to pools and basketball courts. Your ship may have a rock-climbing wall, a surf-pool, or even an ice skating rink! So many choices that it might be difficult to do it all.
Even the pickiest eaters can enjoy dining on the ship whether in the dining room or more casual venues. Crewmembers are accustomed to special requests of all kinds and are happy to serve double orders of chicken tenders and keep the glass of chocolate milk filled all week.
There are so many choices, that it can be difficult to decide which is the best cruise for you and your family. It is easy to research the options. There are many online communities where you can ask questions and learn from other travelers’ experiences. I like to visit cruisecritic.com, but other sites might work for you.
We just finished our third cruise. Numbers four and five are already booked.
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