In spite of the economic downturn, the cruise industry continues to grow.
According to Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), nearly 13.5 million people took a cruise vacation in 2009, 76% of whom were Americans and Canadians.
In a January 20, 2010 CLIA press release, "The State of the Cruise Industry in 2010: Confident and Offering New Ships, Innovations and Exceptional Value," CLIA President and CEO Terry L. Dale said, “Cruise vacations are perceived by virtually all consumers as very high value when those consumers are seeking value above all else. Statistically, cruising exceeds traveler expectations and first-timers and past cruisers keep coming back. Everyone needs the time and space to relax and revitalize. Nothing makes that easier than a cruise.”
Cruising is Family Fun
Think about it. What other type of vacation includes accommodations, dining, entertainment, activities, recreation and a children’s camp, plus visits to several islands or cities, all for one price?
That’s why cruise ships percolate with parents vacationing with their children and multi-generational families getting together for a reunion. If vacationing children are happy, their vacationing parents will be happy. To make a family cruise the ideal getaway experience, cruise ships ensure that parents enjoy quality time with their kids and that they can all seek out their own fun.
For adults, the incentive may be the ship’s live entertainment, the pool deck’s “dive-in” movies or pampering treatments in the spa. For teens, it may be the disco that's just for them. For children, it’s everything from swimming pools with corkscrew-slides to camp activities. For entire families, it may be the rock climbing wall, the miniature golf, the ice-skating rink and the all-inclusive dining venues.
Princess Cruises Offer Fun for Kids
"Our onboard passenger experience is designed to offer many inventive programs to engage passengers of all ages,” said Jan Swartz, Princess Cruises' executive vice president, in a February 25, 2009 press release, "Princess Cruises Collaborates with Crafts Publisher Klutz to Offer Fun New Arts Program for Kids.”
Practicing that philosophy, Princess collaborated with Klutz, a publisher of activity books for children, to provide arts and crafts projects for kids and their families while onboard. Projects include creating fuzzy masterpieces with Velvet Art, making Thumb Doodle thumbprint art and building personal storybooks.
Princess offers Science on the Seas activities, a Jr. CHEF@ Sea program, Yoga for Kids, disco nights, a Youth and Teen Lecture Series (fashion, life lessons, etc.) and Princess’ Adventures Ashore programs.
Carnival Cruise Lines' Children's and Teens Camp
For good reason, Carnival Cruise Lines expects the number of children sailing on Carnival ships to reach 650,000 by the end of 2010.
“We take ‘fun’ very seriously and the Fun Ships' numerous kid-friendly amenities, enthusiastic youth counselors and spacious state-of-the-art facilities provide the ultimate family vacation,” said Carnival's President and CEO Gerry Cahill in a December 1, 2009 press release, "Carnival Anticipates Record Camp Carnival Participation".
To prove that, Carnival created a Circle “C” Teen Program with activities like dance parties, make your own pizza, waterslide races and special shore excursions like river tubing in Belize and a dolphins experience encounter.
For younger Carnival passengers, there are EduCruise activities such as making a volcano out of paper, discussing the stars and planets and learning about ocean turtles. Aboard Carnival Dream, whose home port is Port Canaveral, Florida, the WaterWorks aqua park’s water slides make a big splash with kids, and the entire family can enjoy outdoor laser shows.
Royal Caribbean's and Holland America's Ships for Multi-generational Activities
On Royal Caribbean International's ships, Oasis of the Seas and the forthcoming Allure of the Seas, the largest cruise ships at sea, the carousel, Adventure Ocean and Youth Zone neighborhoods and ice skating shows put the Wow! factor into family cruising. Allure of the Seas will show first-run 3-D movies.
On Holland America Line’s ships, kids and teens can learn the joy of cooking in the Culinary Arts Center activity program and join the camp, Club HAL. Teens have their own private lounge and a teens-only sun deck area.
Cruises Can be Great Vacation Value
With all the amenities and activities available on a cruise ship, adults and children can enjoy quality time together and still have time to enjoy their separate interests. According to CLIA, travel agents are reporting continued growth in family cruising and extended family cruising. Why not? For the value, and the memories, it’s the ideal family vacation.
Roberta Sandler - Roberta Sandler has written more than 1,000 articles that have appeared in scores of magazines and newspapers including Miami Herald, ...
