Cruises: Family Friendly Travel The Right Way

by erin on May 4, 2010

Cruises provide a wonderful opportunity for a family to explore new horizons and to get away for a little bit. Many prefer cruises over airplanes and road trips, and it’s easy to see why. Cruises are convenient, completely customizable, and are always trying to help you and your family to relax, have fun, and unwind. All you need to do is apply for your passport and you are good to sail.

Cruise travel holds many perks that are not as readily available for other forms of travel. Many cruise ships have very strict safety guidelines and a team of 24-hour security personnel. A woman can stay out late with her friends and walk home without any qualms. A stroll along the deck at midnight harbors no fear, and a woman can explore anywhere at anytime in safety, something that is not always the case in hotels or airports. Parents do not have to worry about their children because supervised activities are always available, day and night.

Cruise activities are a lot more extensive and geared more towards individual interests. There is something for everyone in the family, from arts and crafts for kids to salsa lessons for adults, to movies and nightclubs. A fairly new quality of cruises is the diversity of restaurants geared towards all sorts of audiences, whether you want a romantic night out with your significant other or a fun night out with the kids. These qualities make cruising a completely personalized vacation.

Passport prices are going up, so for many, the cost of a vacation ends up being to much, especially for large families. With the breach of the $100 point, the cost of a passport can ultimately discourage a family from taking a much needed get away. However, there is another option. The passport card, first created on July 14, 2008, is a cheaper, more family friendly way to travel, especially for cruise vacations. At only $30, it ends up being a fraction of the price of a regular passport, but comes with very similar benefits. A passport card can be used for land or sea travel between the United States and Mexico, Canada, Bermuda, and the Caribbean, allowing for a variety of travel opportunities.

One of the undeniable perks of cruising is it’s one-stop shopping set up. One price includes lodging, food, sightseeing, and transportation. Vacations can be overwhelming when trying to plan out hotels and flights and rental cars, especially if it’s in a different country with different currency. This trouble has the potential to discourage a family from going on a much needed vacation, but with cruising, you pay one price then hop on board.

Sometimes you just need to get away. A cruise is the symbol of convenience, all you need is a passport or passport card and a sense of adventure, and you are ready. Swim with dolphins, see a beautiful Caribbean sunset, or just sunbathe on deck, whatever you want to do is there, and the way to get there is easy for you and your family. Just apply for a passport, put on your bikini, and set sail.

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