3 Tips For Choosing The Perfect Family Cruise
Written By: Shamika Sanders
Long gone are the days when the thought of a cruise sounded like nothing more than being trapped on an outdated boat with limited amenities for days. Cruising has much evolved since then and have become one-stop-shops for family fun. From top-of-the line liners, elevated dining experiences, on-board entertainment and the splendor of docking in various locations, consider a cruise while the kids are out of school this summer.
Cruise ships these days come fully decked out (pun intended) with family fun all-in-one. And with an influx of Black families flocking to the allure of cruises – planning it is even simple-- you and your little ones will be in good company.
We spoke to Jasmine Ramnarine – influencer, travel agent and creator of the 100k + Facebook group Melanin At Sea – who shared the tips to planning your next cruise with ease and the benefits of taking your family out on the sea.
Tip 1: It’s Easy
If you’ve ever traveled with children before, you’re well aware of the challenges that arise. According to Jasmine, cruises make traveling as a unit “easy.”
“You get on a cruise, you don't have to worry about like dragging your kids through the streets, pushing a stroller, going here, going there. Everything is on a ship. And then when you get off, if you wanna get off at the port, you can go explore. You can book an excursion and you can come right back to the ship. It was just seamless.”
Tip 2: Book Directly On The Cruise Website
One of the benefits of booking a cruise is getting the most bang for your buck. Many cruise lines offer major incentives when you book directly on their website.
“I always say do just go directly through the cruise website,” says Jasmine. “The first page is going to show you promotions they have going on right now. And just go from there and say, each cruise's website has the, each crew's web, each cruise line has their own website so they can go and check out.”
Tip 3: Don’t Splurge On The Room
When it comes to booking your room, Jasmine recommends saving money by booking a cheaper room verses one with a balcony. Choosing a room without a balcony will give you more space for your family. And bathroom options. Because multitasking as a parent is a necessity.
“Everyone initially thinks you need a balcony cabin. Of the 40+ cruises that I've been on, I prefer a ocean view cabin because you get a little bit more space. An ocean view room is a nice size. And let's say you're taking a Carnival ship, depending on the class of ship, they may have split bathrooms,” she explained. “Being a family of four, my partner Richard could be taking a shower in the standup and I could be giving the girls a quick bath in the other room.”
A cruising master tip Jasmine also shared was, book connecting rooms to allow for more space, and moments of privacy.
“You could do a connecting cabin,” she said. “I would book a cabin with one daughter in my room. Richard would book a cabin with the other daughter in the room and it will have connecting interior cabins. So it's like you have this big huge room. The girls have their own space. So do the parents.”
Ultimately Jasmine says put the money you saved towards a drink package or specialty restaurant on the ship.
Happy Cruising!