Out to sea

A cruising holiday offers amazing experiences, fun and variety for the whole family. With the convenience of unpacking once, they deliver outstanding value for money for families as everything is paid up front.

Is bigger better?

The ships just keep getting bigger and bigger so the big question to be answered “is big better?” Each family has different expectations and needs of their holiday. Today’s state-of-the-art cruise ships offer something for everyone. With rock climbing walls; ice-skating rinks; roller blade tracks; swimming pools; hot tubs; exercise facilities; movie theatres; Internet cafes; sports bars; libraries; video arcades; kids programs; spa services, shopping; gambling; cooking classes; enrichment seminars; guest lecturers; computer classes; yoga and more, there is plenty to keep the whole family entertained while cruising the oceans of the world. Others prefer small intimate ships which discover small ports allowing families the opportunity to mix with the locals including the wildlife and are far more educational.

Choosing a big ship

The Allure of the Seas cruise ship is operated by Royal Caribbean Line and holds the current distinction of being the world’s largest passenger ship ever constructed weighing in at a massive 225,000 tonnes. A Royal Caribbean International® cruise is an adventure for all ages offering delicious dining, spacious accommodations, Broadway-style entertainment, Adventure Ocean® youth program and the most innovative ships on the high seas for one great price. Climb the signature rock-wall, hang-ten on the FlowRider®, play a round of mini-golf, or glide around the ice-skating rink - all without spending another dime.

A family favourite is the Carnival ship line operating out of Alaska, Europe, Caribbean and the Mexican Riviera. The new Carnival Conquest, for example, dedicates 4,200 square feet of its indoor space for kids, while the Carnival Pride offers family-friendly activities on its private island. Your home away from home is a ship that’s about the length of three football fields, with every square inch packed with things to do, see, taste and try.

Another great option amongst the big ships is the Holland America cruise line. On Holland America ships they provide a wide variety of exciting youth and teen friendly activities with facilities for guests aged 3 to 17. With supervised fun for younger guests, the entire family can have the cruise vacation of their dreams. They have a fleet of over 14 ships sailing the world and operate out of Australia over the summer months.
And then there’s small...

Discover Fiji with Captain Cook Cruises

Fiji Cruises offering tropical beauty and diversity. Why choose one of the Fiji Island resorts when there are over 300 islands to discover? There’s a Fiji Cruise adventure for the whole family - learn to dive Fiji, swim in the blue lagoon, discover ancient limestone caves, snorkel spectacular coral reefs, visit traditional villages and meet the locals. When snorkelling or diving Fiji you may even come face to face with a majestic manta ray.

There’s more to Vietnam than motor cycle’s and shopping, a Halong Bay Cruise is an exciting and fun experience for families. Not all junks are family friendly and choosing the right junk is crucial to ensure safety for children.

Halong Bay is a picturesque easy 3 hour drive from Hanoi and covers an area of 1,500 square km’s. With more than a thousand limestone peaks rising up from its crystalline emerald waters this area is rightly viewed as one of the natural wonders of Vietnam and is one of five World Heritage-listed sites. A two-day one night cruise on board Paradise Cruises gives your family the chance to enjoy the bay on a traditional junk. Here you can swim in the clear waters, wake to morning Tai Chi on deck, cruise through the caves, relax on deck and enjoy fabulous cuisine on the bay. There is also the option of exploring some of the bay’s most secluded lagoons using the fleet of modern kayaks for some unforgettable scenery only accessible by kayak. All the while you will be looked after by a dedicated and attentive crew. The cabins have panoramic views and offer connecting cabins and suites suitable for families.

The Celebratory Cruise

More and more families are turning to a cruise holiday as a great way to bring the entire family together to celebrate a milestone anniversary or special event. Whether it’s a 50th Anniversary or a Wedding Party for 100 guests, cruise lines will go out of their way to welcome your group with special group rates, private cocktail parties, group photos, and more. A cruise ship is the ultimate place to host your family reunion and offers tremendous value as they are virtually all-inclusive holidays. They appeal to kids, grandkids, uni-age young adults, Mums, Dads, Aunts, Uncles, Grandmas and Grandpas.

Forget dealing with the sleeping arrangements as cruise ships have a number of different types of staterooms for any budget including Suites, Balcony Staterooms, Oceanview Staterooms, and Interior Cabins. Each family can choose which type of stateroom best fits their budget. Imagine dining in the resturant, sleeping in your cabin, waking and looking out your window to the cliffs of Santorini Greece, watching a whale in the Inside Pasage of Alaska, having breakfast with Mickey Mouse on board Disney Cruise Lines or diving off the back of the boat in the blue waters of Fiji all from the comfort of your ship or boat!.

Cruises can take the stress off the family budget, as the one price includes accommodation, all meals, activities, kids programs and entertainment.