Royal Holiday

Family cruises have become incredibly popular in the last several years as cruise lines have advertised so many affordable vacation packages. Between the holiday season, spring break, and summer time, there are plenty of opportunities during the year for a family to get away from it all and enjoy the resort-style fun that a cruise ship has to offer.

Before booking an ocean voyage, savvy cruisers consider each ship individually to make sure it really fits their family’s ideal vacation style and expectations. Here are a few things to think about when planning a cruise for the whole family.

Kids’ Entertainment

While most ships offer programs for children and teens, some go beyond the basics. Some ships pay special attention to family groups, and provide evening kids’ programs in addition to daytime activities, live shows that appeal especially to youngsters, or special club areas where younger passengers can mingle.

Babies and Small Children

Parents should understand policies concerning very young travelers before booking. For example, cruise ships generally have a minimum passenger age, typically somewhere between twelve weeks and six months. Likewise, some ships restrict young children’s participation in certain programs or may page parents to change diapers. On the other hand, some ships cater specifically to younger cruisers, and provide full nursery care, toy exchanges, in-cabin babysitting, and other helpful services.

Eating

The largest classes of modern ships offer a huge range of dining options. Usually at least one or two of those will have a menu, atmosphere, and serving hours suitable for even the pickiest eaters. Still, it’s a good idea to check out a ship’s eating selections before boarding, to avoid a week of complaints about the food.

Family Fun

Most ships offer children’s play areas as well as quiet places for parents to relax on their own. However, it’s also important to make sure there are things for the family to do as a group, such as suitable shows, dining establishments, or sports and activity centers.

Excursions

Different ports of call offer very different onshore experiences, some of which may be more suitable for families than others. Many parents might opt for a vacation that includes a stop at a private island resort, which will often have many planned activities hosted by the cruise line itself, such as horseback riding or swimming with dolphins. These highly organized onshore excursions are often easier for a family to manage without having to worry about navigating an unfamiliar city on their own.

Almost everybody—whether a cruiser or not—instantly recognizes the theme to The Love Boat, one of the most popular romantic sitcoms of all time. On November 5th, the cast of the famous television show reunited for a highly anticipated one-hour appearance on CBS’s daytime talk show, The Talk.

Hosts chatted with six of the regulars from the iconic sitcom: Gavin MacLeod (Captain Stubing), Jill Whelan (Vicki Stubing), Bernie Kopell (Doc Bricker), Lauren Tewes (Julie McCoy), Ted Lange (Isaac Washington), and Fred Grandy (Gopher Smith). Frequent guest star Charo also made a surprise appearance. The actors reminisced about the many interpersonal relations and conflicts behind the scenes, as well as their excitement at the unexpected success of the beloved sitcom.

The Love Boat debuted in 1977. Despite being panned by critics, the show proved incredibly popular and ran for 10 years. The show had a unique format that interwove several story lines during a single one-hour episode, and was known for attracting guest appearances from top actors of the day, including Florence Henderson and Janet Jackson. The Love Boat spun off several made-for-TV movies during its run, as well as a second series in the late 1990s.

Interestingly, while The Love Boat was mainly filmed on a Hollywood set, the story took place on the real cruise ship featured in the opening credits: the Pacific Princess. Owned and operated by a Royal Holiday cruise line affiliate, Princess Cruises, the Pacific Princess became one of the most widely recognized ships in the world. As The Love Boat, she has likely introduced millions of people to the concept of cruise vacationing.

The original Pacific Princess—now 43 years old—had a capacity of 640 passengers and 350 crew. She left Princess Cruises in 2002, was operated by a few other companies, and now rests in Turkey awaiting breaking. Fortunately, with the purchase of a newer ship in 2003, Princess Cruises kept the tradition alive by rechristening the new 680-passenger ship with the same name, so that cruisers today can still sail aboard the Pacific Princess, daughter of The Love Boat.

While different people enjoy cruises for different reasons, every traveler looks forward to a restful ocean voyage, full of fun and free of worries. To be assured of a good trip, every experienced traveler knows to plan ahead—and cruises are no exception. A little preparation goes a long way toward avoiding stress that might ruin a perfect vacation, so here are a few things to consider well before arriving at the dock.

Verify Travel Documents

It’s not fun, but the most important part of a cruise is the paperwork. Passengers should verify that the info on their boarding pass is correct as soon as they receive it. They are also responsible for having the right passport and necessary visas for their destinations. Fortunately, cruise companies and travel agencies have experts who can help with these details.

Plan Activities

Because cruise ship activities, restaurants, and venues can get booked up, it is a good idea to look over the ship’s schedule and make reservations for any appealing activities. Most ships are pretty forgiving about changing these kinds of plans, so there is generally little to lose by booking a spectacular show, elegant meal, or once-in-a-lifetime shore excursion in advance.

Pack the Right Clothes

Of course, every traveler needs leisure wear—swim suits, sandals, sun hats, shorts, and so on—to enjoy all the outdoor activities aboard the ship and at ports of call. Many ships, however, also have dress codes at certain times or in certain eating or entertainment venues. Packing a couple “smart casual” outfits and a formal ensemble is usually a good idea. Of course, passengers should also pack for the destination: a Caribbean beach requires very different clothes than a tour of Alaskan glaciers.

Pack Toiletries and Health Items

Items like a favorite shampoo, specific perfumes, over-the-counter medications, feminine hygiene products, and the like can be difficult to acquire on a cruise, so passengers should pack what they need. Likewise, running out of a prescription can quickly turn a good vacation bad.

Budget for Extra Expenses

While a cruise is one of the most affordable types of vacation around, there are additional expenses beyond the cost of the ticket. These include tips for cabin stewards and waiters, and cover charges for certain clubs, restaurants, and venues. Alcohol usually is charged separately, as are organized shore excursions and incidentals bought in shops on board or in port.

Save Space for Souvenirs

Of course, the best way to spend a little extra cash is to buy souvenirs and gifts. Savvy cruise ship passengers know to pack a duffle or foldable bag in their luggage, so they have plenty of extra space to take all their vacation memorabilia back home.