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Cruising

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Cruise ships become floating resorts for family reunions
 
From Travel agent magazine, By Susan J. Young

Whether a small family of 10 or a large group of 100, a cruise ship may be the best place for reunion central. Family reunion clients seek accommodations they can use as a base for dining, sightseeing and socializing together. They want good children's programs, entertainment and activities. But they also want to make sure  everyone in the group has personal time to pursue their own interests.
Most cruise lines will help agents plan family reunion cruises including special events, sightseeing arrangements and dining reservations. Following is a sampling of options.

JUST FOR US

For the ultimate private family reunion, relatives might pool their resources and charter their own ship. Most lines, both big and small, will set up full ship charters, allowing for maximum flexibility without a rigid, fixed pace, plus amenities and itineraries can be customized. For example, SeaDream Yacht Club operates two mega-yachts, SeaDream I and II, perfect for chartering.

 
Luxury lines such as Crystal Cruises,  Seabourn Cruise Line, Silversea Cruises, and Windstar Cruises also offer full-ship charters and a range of accommodations.

For Radisson Seven Seas Cruises, interest remains high for family travel on Tahiti and Alaska journeys. The line recently introduced a new children's educational program aboard the Paul Gauguin featuring "Ambassadors of the Environment" from Jean-Michel Cousteau's Ocean Futures Society. In addition, the Paul Gauguin now boasts 28 triples in categories C, D and E, to entice families aboard.

 
 
   

While small ships offer intimacy and a private ship experience, large ships offer a wealth of amenities. Carnival Cruise Lines estimates it welcomed somewhere between 5,000 and 7,000 family reunion groups last year.

Cunard Line has definitely seen a lot of multi-generational travel onboard Queen Mary 2. For 2005, Cunard is doubling the number of transatlantic crossings. 

Costa Cruises offers promotions include special seniors discounts, kids travel for $199, kids travel for free, and friends and families rates on multiple cabin purchases.

Disney Cruise Line offers a special package at $29 per person, and each family member received a personalized Disney Cruise Line T-shirt and a commemorative certificate, plus each stateroom receives a group photo and leather portfolio frame. 

Royal Caribbean International launched its Royal Reunions program to cater to those interested in family travel. There are two package options for groups with eight cabins or more. For $50 per person, a package will include at least two private rock-wall climbing sessions as well as personalized door decorations, cake, activities and more. For $100 per person, clients get an additional deluxe photo package, a scavenger hunt, VIP in-room amenities and a reunion trivia challenge.

Holland America Line just launched its new family reunion program, which is available to families booking five or more staterooms on any cruise. Features include special group pricing, unlimited soft drinks throughout the cruise, a family photo per stateroom, a choice of dinner for the entire family in Pinnacle Grill, or free rentals of snorkel gear, swim mats and banana boat rides for all family members on Half Moon Cay, Holland America's private island in the Bahamas. For families booking 10 or more staterooms, the line offers a head-of-the-family reward - a complimentary upgrade from an outside stateroom to a veranda. 
 

 

 Other Small Expedition Cruises

And don’t forget about "learning expedition cruises" where there are no special kids activities onboard , but are family friendy, casual, informal and present naturalists onboard. These cruises have specially popular with families: Temptress Cruises with Costa Rica and Belize programs and Special Expeditions with range of destinations all over the world.

Read Costa Rica Family Temptress Trip Report

 

Summary

Cruise Line

Age Limit
for child
discount

Baby
Sitting
Available?

Escorted
Shore
Tours?
Teen Disco
or center?
Youth center
or playroom?
Youth
Councelors?
Cruise West

11

no

no

no

no

Bergen Line.

11

no

no

no

yes

no

Carnival Cruise Line

12

yes

no

some

yes

yes

Celebrity Cruises

12

yes

no

some

yes

yes

Costa  Cruise Line

varies

some

no

yes

yes

yes

Crystal Cruises

varies

yes

no

some

some

no

Cunard Line

12

some

no

some

some

no

Disney  Cruise Line

17

yes

some

yes

yes

yes

First European Cruises

17

yes

no

no

yes

yes

Holland American Line

varies

some

some

some

some

yes

Viking River Cruises of Europe

13

no

no

no

no

no

Mediterranean Shipping  Cruises

12

some

no

some

some

some

Norwegian Cruise Line

12

yes

no

yes

yes

yes

Orient Lines

12

no

no

no

no

no

Princess Cruises

no

some

no

yes

yes

yes

Radisson Seven Seas Cruises

no

no

no

no

no

no

Royal Caribbean Int.

no

yes

yes

yes

yes

yes

Royal Olympic  Cruises

12

some

no

some

some

some

Seabourn Cruise Line

no

no

no

no

no

no

Silversea Cruises

no

no

no

no

no

no

Special Expeditions Cruises

no

no

no

no

no

no

Star Clippers

no

no

no

no

no

no

Swan Hellenic

no

no

no

yes

no

no

Windjammer Barefoot Cruises 12 some some no no some

Cruise Specials

This page is continuously updated. Many more cruises/cruise lines are available. If you don't see cruise which interests you,  email us

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