Travelling with your grandchildren can be a rewarding experience. By the same token though if you’re not properly prepared it can be quite a trying experience. In many ways that’s why cruising is such a great option for family holidays.
With everything taken care of a lot of the problems that normally come with travelling with children simply don’t exist. In case you need a little more convincing, here’s the answers to five of the most common questions about cruising with grandchildren.
1. Will our grandkids get bored? Cruise lines are becoming increasingly family friendly and incorporating a range of activities all the kiddies will enjoy. Some cruise lines offer kids clubs which are dedicated spaces with camp-like programming, others have activities like scavenger hunts, cooking classes and sports tournaments.
2. Will our grandchildren be able to eat the meals? On bigger cruise ships most menus have a kids menu that caters to children’s tastes and buffet usually has a range of kid-friendly options that will have your grandchildren happy enough.
3. Can grandkids bring their portable game devices aboard? Most cruise lines are more than accommodating when it comes to things like portable video game players, tablets, e-book readers and computers. There are generally also game systems set up in kids clubs for your children to enjoy.
4. Will my grandchildren be safe in common areas? Generally yes, but it’s also important to be responsible. Consider cruise ships like mini-floating cities carrying thousands of people you do not know at any one time. So it stands to reason that you’re doing yourself a huge favour by taking the general precautions that you’d take elsewhere.
5. Is it worth taking my grandchildren on a cruise? Of course it is! Travel is the only purchase in life that makes you richer, as they say, and instilling a thirst for travel in your grandchildren is a gift that sees their possibilities expand. And cruising really is one of the safest, most convenient ways to show your grandchildren the world.
Images: Getty
This article first appeared on Over60.