Great Ideas For Family Summer Vacations

Cruises Offer Something For Children Of All Ages

By Cynthia J. Drake | Published on August 16, 2023

With summer approaching, nearing the end of the daily school routine, you can almost sense the impending arrival of your kids' boredom. There are only so many bike rides, trips to the pool and video games your children can play before summer fades into a kind of predictable monotony, and you begin to hear that familiar "I'm bored" chant ... prompting you to start researching great ideas for family summer vacations. Of course, you'll need something that will entertain the whole gang. Enter the family cruise, one of the best summer family vacations you'll ever take.

Proven to shake up your routine and fill your family's quality time quotient, a cruise tops the list of great ideas for family summer vacations for good reason. On a cruise ship, you'll find activities for all ages, as well as spaces designed to appeal to parents. Best of all, cruises are not only some of the best places for family travel, they're affordable destinations for families on a budget, too. Read on for some of our top tips for how to travel with kids this summer and make this one of your best family summer vacations ever.

The Best Choice For Your Budget

When you're looking for great ideas for family summer vacations, a cruise is an excellent choice for many families in terms of the variety of options for sightseeing and activities — and you'll find as you research that there are various routes to choose from and sailings of different lengths, as well.

First, you'll want to find the right itinerary that works for your family. Select an itinerary that works for your schedule based on the length of cruise you're looking for, your budget, any ports you'd like to visit and the amenities available onboard the ship and in port.

Royal Caribbean® offers three- and four-night family cruises to Mexico, the Caribbean and the Bahamas (including our private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay®), or longer cruises of up to 13 nights. You can also consider summer cruises to Alaska, the Mediterranean and many other exciting destinations worldwide.

Shorter cruises can work well if your family is new to cruising and wants to try it out. Longer itineraries are ideal for those who want to fully escape and explore a new destination. These cruises can be among some of the most epic trips for kids.

Right Ship, Right Room

You'll want to be mindful of choosing the right ship for your summer vacation. Review your ship choices based on your family's interests and vacation preferences. Larger cruise ships, for example, are loaded with more bells and whistles, providing almost any activity you can dream of right onboard — and a few you may never even have considered. (Ice skating, anyone?) Also, be sure to take a look at the dining options and the shows offered onboard, as these vary from ship to ship as well, even within a fleet.

Once you pick a ship and an itinerary, you need to pick a cabin. The right room can make your family's summer vacation even more enjoyable. You'll find options from simple interior staterooms to suites with balconies, but booking early ensures the best selection.

Once you've selected and booked your summer family cruise, most of the work is over, and the fun begins. Now that you've decided on your cruise, it's time to start planning what you'll do on your cruise. This is a great opportunity to get the whole family involved and take ownership of some aspect of the vacation. Spend some time exploring your chosen cruise ship's deck plans and amenities. Have your kids make a list of their must-do activities onboard — waterslides? rock climbing? bumper cars? — so you can prioritize those once you get on the ship. Once you book your cruise, make reservations as soon as they're available.

The Cool Places For Kids

Great ideas for family summer vacations start with making sure your kids will have enough to do while at sea. Luckily, we offer Royal Babies and Tots℠ Nursery for little ones for 6 to 36 months and Adventure Ocean^® for kids ages 3 to 11. Theses specialty spaces have daily programming that's tailored to kids by age bracket. Traveling with older kids? You'll also find a lounge for tweens and teens onboard. As you plan your summer vacation, looking through photos and watching videos of some of the games and activities with your children is sure to get them excited.

Make sure you register your children on the first day you board your ship. You'll have the opportunity to tour these spaces during the sailing's first-day open house, the only time that parents are allowed to see the spaces, and you can set up your child's access at the same time. Throughout the cruise, you'll be able to drop off your child during the designated times that the club is open and pick them up on your schedule. A daily guide outlines which activities are available, and these vary throughout the cruise to keep kids interested.

Your child will likely learn new games and meet new friends and you'll get some time to relax. Plan ahead so you can enjoy some kid-free activities, too, during these times. This is your vacation, too, after all so consider hitting the spa for a massage or facial, scheduling a fitness class, or booking that wine tasting.

In the evening, consider visiting the buffet with your kids prior to dropping them off at Adventure Ocean^®. Then, the grown ups can relax and have a dinner date. Late-night care options are also available at Adventure Ocean^®, for couples who want to see a show or grab a drink, though fees may apply.

Next Stop: Adventure

Packing Tips For Your Cruise

As you plan your trip. keep in mind the types of activities and excursions you have planned so you can make a packing list that includes the necessary clothing and gear for each day. Older kids can get involved with the packing and be responsible for selecting daily outfits and any special must-bring items. For families planning to fly or drive to their cruise, it's a big bonus that you only unpack once, and you don't have to lug bags from place to place.

There are some must-have items that are always necessary for warm-weather cruises, including sunscreen, hats, sunglasses, swimsuits (with rash guard options if you or your children are particularly sensitive to the sun), water shoes, sandals, and good walking shoes if you plan to explore.

A refillable water bottle to stay hydrated while onshore is also recommended, along with chargers for cell phones and other electronics and portable battery packs to keep your phone charged while exploring on shore.

Is your family into relaxing multi-course formal dining experiences, or do you prefer casual and fast-casual eateries? That decision can help guide what you'll bring to wear for your evening meals. Plan on stashing more dressy outfits in your luggage if you expect to visit the main dining room and specialty restaurants (plus outfits for formal nights). If you prefer to only eat at the buffet, shorts and jeans are just fine.

And remember that if your gang plans to take advantage of adventurous activities (such as rock climbing or ziplining), you'll want to bring close-toed shoes and extra pairs of socks. Going ice skating onboard your ship in the Caribbean or Mexico? You might not have planned to bring long pants and shirts, so add those to your packing list if that's a must-do activity for you.