Category: Cruise

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Our Cruise with Barbie

Travel writer Tracey Davies recalls a memorable trip with Royal Caribbean International.

Why go?

My 11-year-old son Angus took some persuading when I first asked him to accompany me on Royal Caribbean International’s Barbie Premier Experience cruise out of Ford Lauderdale, Florida. Eventuallyhe relented. ‘You won’t tell my friends, though, will you?’ he asked.

The two of us had never been on a cruise before, and we had no idea what to expect – though I was sure the colour pink would feature heavily. It did. But though Angus bowed out of a Tiara and Teacups party because it was ‘too girlie’, he did enjoy a cupcake-decorating class.

The route: The ship called in at three ports during our seven days at sea. Labadee, a beach resort in Haiti, was where we took our first swim in the Caribbean. Then we had a full day ashore in Jamaica and another beach day in Cozumel, Mexico. Angus has never had so much fun. And me? Well, there was always the cocktail bar.

Activities

It’s not all about Barbie – despite the branding, doll-themed events only make up a small part of the voyage. And Angus and I really loved what he termed the ‘other stuff’. Facilities were great: four pools, a kids’ waterpark, two surf simulators, a mini-golf course and even a zip wire. And the Adventure Ocean is a fantastic kids’ zone with toys, games, and as many activities as even the most energetic pre-teen can handle.

The lowdown

Price: Seven-night cruises from £1,378 for adults; £1,152 for kids, including flights (based on four sharing an inside stateroom on a 1 December departure from Fort Lauderdale on Allure of the Seas). The Barbie Premier Experience, £224 per child (aged up to 11), is available on all Royal Caribbean International Cruises of five nights or more. To book, contact Royal Caribbean International on 0844 493 2061. 

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Get Away with P&O Cruises

Alice Weightman puts her scepticism to one side and discovers you don’t have to be a stereotype to enjoy a cruise.

Our cruise video

Why go?

I have to confess, in the past the idea of a cruise may have conjured images of silver surfers playing dominoes and 18-30’s making the most of the all-inclusive booze. Seeing as I fit into neither categories I wasn’t convinced a cruise was for me. But, while hunting for a holiday during half term that meant the kids and I could hang out together, while giving them a bit of space and freedom to play in a safe environment, I found a cruise ticked all the boxes. 

Despite that, I still wasn’t sure what to expect from the three-night trip on the Ventura from Southampton to Bruges and Guernsey that I booked with P&O. The kids, Zac, seven, and Aimirah, nine, on the other hand, were certain they were cruising people and spent the entire week before jittering with excitement at the thought of a holiday onboard a ship the size of the Titanic. 

Within an hour and a half of leaving London, we had arrived at Ocean Terminal in Southampton, our car parked by a valet, our bags delivered to our room and us on board. The holiday had just started and I was already shaking off any preconceptions I had – there wasn’t a beer bong or pair of denchers in sight. 

Activities

The ship had all you could need for a family weekend; four swimming pools, five restaurants, a kids’ club (with a separate play area for under twos), a spa, gym and plenty of evening entertainment.

Blessed with great weather, the majority of the ship flocked to the poolsand while some of them did get a little lively, we split our time between the quiet family areas and adult-only LA style infinity pool. 

With two stops during the weekend, if you need some time on land there is ample opportunity and as Bruges is known as the Venice of the north, you’d be hard pushed not to enjoy wandering around it’s museums and weekend markets. The kids loved the horse and carriage ride over the cobbled streets and boat ride along the canals, not to mention tucking into waffles dripping in Belgian chocolate. 

 

Kids’ Club: The kids’ clubs  is designed for children to pop in and out over the weekend, and there was enough to keep them occupied during that time, any longer and I felt they may have got bored. But the intention was for me to spend some time with the kids so they just ducked in and out as they pleased, which suited us all perfectly. 

 

Food: No matter how fussy an eater your child is, they’ll never go hungry on the ship, thanks to the (almost) 24-hour buffet loaded with healthy fresh food, as well as enough sweets and treats to keep Augustus Gloop satisfied.

For an extra £5 you can upgrade to one of the fine-dining restaurants, such as The White Room, an Italian created by Marco Pierre White, which is very good value for money. There’s also a Spanish tapas restaurant and East, which serves Oriental food. 

 

The verdict: By the end of the trip I was a cruise convert. I definitely saw the benefits. Everything was really easy and relaxing. We didn’t have to navigate airports or face long transfers. The children loved it – especially the evening family entertainmentand I found time to actually read a book. 

The lowdown

Accommodation: We had a deluxe suite, which was compact but functional, with a sofa bed for the children. Balloons, jelly beans and chocolates were waiting for the kids, while there were two bottles of fizz on ice for me. This certainly set the tone for the rest of the weekend. 

Cruise breaks, three nights, £309pp:

P&O Cruises is offering a three-night Cruise break on Azura (A407) from £309 per adult and £154 per child (children aged 16 and under) for a Vantage Fare. Departing April 4, 2014, the price includes an inside cabin with upper beds, all meals, and entertainment. Departing from and returning to Southampton, ports of call are Zeebrugge for Bruges. 

Fly-Med, seven nights, £1,049pp:

A seven-night fly-Med on Ventura costs from £1,049 per adult and £699 per child (children aged 16 and under) for a Vantage Fare. Departing 16 July 2014, the price includes flights from the UK, an inside cabin with upper beds, all meals, and entertainment. Departing from and returning to Southampton, ports of call are Kotor, Corfu, Rome and Ajaccio. 

 

To book: Visit pocruises.co.uk or call 0843 373 0111. 

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Cruise

Sail to the Stars

Sail to the stars

New US fly-cruises mean you can mix time at sea with days in big US theme parks, says Phil Davies.

Why go?

Combining a cruise with a visit to either Walt Disney World, Universal or one of Orlando’s many jaw-dropping attractions continues to be one of my big ambitions. And the pester power currently being exercised by my son and daughter – aged eight and 11 – means a trip of this nature is almost inevitable. 

The cruise: The Davies family did go on a whistle-stop tour of Walt Disney World as part of a Disney Cruise Line sailing last summer, but I’d be taking the Mickey if I told you that we did any more than scratch the surface. Theme parks can now be tied in to seven-day cruises – either to the eastern or western Caribbean – from Port Canaveral on Florida’s Space Coast, which is only an hour’s drive from Orlando. 

Royal Caribbean International offers packages that combine the best of land and sea, and include hotel and shipboard accommodation, as well as multi-day passes to Universal Studios Florida and Universal’s Islands of Adventure.

Activities

What my kids love about this idea is that the theme-park experience doesn’t end when you get back on board ship. In fact, it’s more like attending a theme park that happens to stop off at beautiful destinations. DreamWorks characters such as Alex the Lion, Po the Dragon Warrior, and Shrek and Fiona sail with you on a series of new Royal Caribbean International cruises. And activities include character breakfasts, parades and themed shows. A newly installed oversized video screen overlooking the main pool deck shows the latest DreamWorks movies.

The ship: The theme-park vibe can also be felt on the line’s Freedom of the Seas – which comes with an onboard FlowRider surf simulator, cantilevered whirlpools, the H2O Zone kids aqua park, and a four-bedroom, four-bathroom Presidential Family Suite that can accommodate up to 14 people.

One of the most popular cruise-and-stay options is to take a three- or four-night break at the theme parks and then head off to sea for a seven-night taste of the Caribbean with all food, entertainment and childcare included in the price.

The lowdown

Packages: Several cruise lines, including Carnival Cruise Lines, Disney Cruise Line and Norwegian Cruise Line, have made families their focus this season, and offer similar opportunities to mix and match fun ashore with fun at sea. Speaking as the father of two cruise-loving youngsters begging to be taken on a theme park-packed holiday, this option looks to be a no-brainer.

Price: Four night pre-cruise stay at the Hard Rock Hotel at Universal Studios and a seven-night Eastern Caribbean cruise on Freedom of the Seas, from £1,516 for adults; from £1,319 for children, including flights (based on an inside cabin for two adults and two children for a sailing on 17 November, 2013). 

More information: Contact Royal Caribbean International (0844 493 4005).

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Caribbean Cruises with Carnival

Flying to Miami, visiting the biggest island amongst the Turks and Caicos Islands, through the Dominican Republic, Curacao and Cuba, as well as days at sea, here’s how to see the beautiful Caribbean. Penny Alexander took her husband and two children, Gylan, 6, and Lily, 8, aboard the Carnival Breeze to sail around the southern Caribbean. How would they cope with eight days at sea and, most importantly, who would have the most fun?

FRIDAY: AND WE’RE OFF

Penny, 37: Here we are in Miami after our flight from the UK, watching films and munching Love Hearts courtesy of Virgin Atlantic. We dragged the flagging kids through passport control on their Trunkis. But spirits are high as tomorrow we board an eight-day cruise to Grand Turk, the Dominican Republic, Curacao
and Aruba. We can’t wait!

Gylan, 6: We were going where pirates sailed. I love pirates.

Lily, 8: I love palm trees.

SATURDAY SAIL AWAY FROM MIAMI

Penny: After a blissful night in a Miami hotel, breakfast and a dip in the outdoor pool surrounded by palm trees and watched over by soaring buzzards, we were feeling truly alive and ready for our late-morning transfer to Carnival Breeze. On board, we shifted intoholiday mood instantly. There was a sail-away party. A cocktail is obligatory as you watch each port dramatically reveal itself before
your eyes.

Lily: Miami had loads of skyscrapers and palm trees. Gylan spotted a pirate boat. Daddy kept pointing out all the houses he wanted to buy.

Penny: Cruise ship bedrooms are a lot like those display units at Ikea where they fit an entire house into a large box and make it function perfectly – our luggage soon vanished into cupboards. We are staying in an ocean room with a generous double bed, plus three bunks and two bathrooms.

 

FOR BOOK YOUR CARNIVAL CRUISE CALL 0845 351 0556 OR VISIT CARNIVAL.CO.UK

SUNDAY SEA DAY

Penny: After a leisurely arrival day we had the whole of Sunday at sea. Plenty of time to check out the onboard entertainment options.

Lily: Gylan cheated at mini golf, we made up our own rules to shuffleboard and learned how to play giant chess. Daddy did the rope walk while we waved from the table football. Mummy watched me disappear down a water slide off the side of the shipbut Daddy met me at the bottom. Then I did it five more times.

Gylan: The WaterWorks had sprays and water pistols. I liked dragging Daddy under the bucket of water.

Lily: The Camp Carnival leaders were fun and friendly, like the babysitter we had in Cornwall that Mummy wouldn’t let us bring home. It was bright and full of new toys and crafts.

Gylan: I liked the video games.

Penny: The food in the onboard restaurants was included in the price, exceeded all expectations and was incredibly flexible.

Lily: When I wasn’t too busy in Camp Carnival, I ate with my family in the restaurant. There was a kids’ menu so we didn’t have to eat weird stuff like Mummy’s vegetarian options, Caribbean food or Daddy’s alligator. In the Lido you could choose anything you wanted; mountains of fruit and cake and salad – not like school dinners where you just get given a plate.

Gylan: I liked making my own burgers with Daddy at Guy’s and the waiter making rabbits out of serviettes.

Penny: Rik and I had some wonderful child-free meals in the restaurant while the kids made friends in Camp Carnival. For a small supplement, we ate in the more intimate setting of the JiJi Asian Kitchen and the Steakhouse, giving us time to
reflect. We also relaxed on Serenity, the child-free deck.

 

MONDAY IN GRAND TURK

Penny: We embarked at Grand Turk at 7am, our earliest start, but absolutely achievable with room-service breakfast and a siesta afterwards. First stop, Governor’s Beach and the FlowRider, a surf simulator.

Gylan: The kids won the FlowRider!

Penny: Next stop, a magical experience at the Grand Turk Indigenous Horse Shelter.

Lily: We went horse riding along the seashore; the horses took us inright up to our tummies. I was a bit scared, but my horse Titi did all the steering.

Penny: Then a 10-minute boat trip from the port to Gibbs Cay, a truly unspoilt beach, where we stroked and kissed a ray.

Lily: Rays feel really soft. They wanted to play – they didn’t try to swim away at all. Until Mummy kissed one.

 

TUESDAY IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

Penny: We opted for a restaurant breakfast overlooking the sea. The kids wanted ‘dippy eggs’ and we quite fancied being leisurely.

Lily: The best bit of the Dominican Republic was the Cave of Wonders. The guide told me what the 1,000-year-old cave paintings meant.

Gylan: I liked shouting and pretending to be a caveman.

Lily: Then we met iguanas, which come from the Dominican Republic. They made us giggle. I didn’t know they could climb trees.

Gylan: And fight and pull stupid faces at each other.

Penny: Then back to the ship via wonderful slices of Dominican life from the coach window, smiling people, babies on mums’ knees on motorbikes, and sugar cane being transported by train.

 

WEDNESDAY IN CURACAO

Penny: We arrived at Curacao at 2.30pm on Wednesday, perfect timing for a lie-in, swim and Lido lunch, followed by an afternoon at Cabana Beach.

Lily: We built sandcastles with coral turrets. Lazy Mummy and Daddy lay on beds in straw huts. Back at the ship we begged to go to Camp Carnival for the party.

Gylan: And Mummy and Daddy went on a date. Yuk.

Penny: Curacao was the only time we left the kids on board – they wanted to see friends and party. We were confident they were in expert hands; the childcare was really high quality. Curacao oozes romance – fairy-lit bridges over the river and stunning Dutch buildings. Down a cobbled street, we ate at a restaurant with a terrace overlooking the sea and the bright lights of Carnival Breeze.

Later that evening, back on the ship, we picked up the sleeping kids, snuggled under fleece blankets, and carried them back to their bunks.

 

THURSDAY IN ARUBA

Penny: Aruba is stunningly beautiful, you can see why The Beach Boys list it as the first real island to escape to, in their song about lovers running off to the fictitious Caribbean island, Kokomo. ‘Aruba, Jamaica, ooh I want to take ya. Bermuda, Bahama, come on pretty mama.’

We disembarked Carnival Breeze and joined an organised tour on an Atlantis submarine. A shuttle vessel, Sub Seeker, took us on a short ride out to sea. On the way to the submarine, we looked for flamingos but were very happy to settle for pelicans. The Sub Seeker stopped abruptly in the middle of the sea.

‘Come on in,’ called the Atlantis submarine crew. ‘It’s like climbing in the playground!’ The kids were down the hatch of the submarine in seconds.

Lily: We played fish bingo.

Gylan: We saw a barracuda making little fish clean his teeth and a pirate shipwreck. I told everyone a story about pirates kicking sharks’ butts.

Lily: Then we got on a crazy rainbow bus with funny music and no glass in the windows.

Penny: Banana buses ferry cruisers around Aruba; the smiling driver and reggae music instantly put us in a fantastic mood. Aruba unfolded out of the window, stunningly beautiful.

We stopped at Eagle Beach to swim and collect shells and fossils, then lay watching palm trees sway in the breeze. Paradise.

Next, a catamaran trip. There is nothing like the feeling of dangling your feet over the front of a speeding catamaran. Having seen the ocean from the submarine, I felt suddenly braver.

Lily: Mummy snorkelled! We watched fish with Daddy through the catamaran’s net. I saw a big leopard-print fish.

 

FRIDAY AND SATURDAY AT SEA

Penny: Our cruise finished with two blissful days at sea. Highlights were the Jacuzzi, spa and mocktails served in pineapples. We watched the ship’s dentist/chef ice-carving a very intricate horse. Many of the ship’s staff have dual roles, as well as secret talents. His attention to detail was impressive; it was good to know you would be in expert hands in a dental emergency.

 

SUNDAY IN MIAMI

Penny: Our final day was spent in Miami, eating ice-cream, shopping in Bayside Marina and feasting our eyes on the skyscrapers from the people mover, before boarding an evening flight to London.

 

THE FAMILY VERDICT

Taking a cruise made adventurous sightseeing and activities an absolute breeze. Looking at our progress on the map was exciting; waking up somewhere new gave our sightseeing momentum. Our floating, family-friendly hotel was both a familiar base and truly relaxing holiday in itself. We loved the homeliness of our room, freshly-made beds, the kids’ teddy bears snuggled up beside a new towel-animal friend, and chocolates.

Taking a cruise fully catered to the whole family’s needs – it was a lovely, relaxing way to see the world unfold together.

PRICE:

Carnival offers an eight-night Exotic Southern Caribbean Cruise from £1,519 for a family of four, cruise only (Miami, Aruba, Curacao, Grand Turk and Miami) including all meals, youth programmes and onboard activities.

Return flights to Miami are extra.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON CARNIVAL CRUISES CALL 0845 351 0556 OR VISIT CARNIVAL.CO.UK

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Carry on Cruising

The number of cruise passengers is set to increase again this year. Phil Davies investigates why so many people are stepping onboard.

What’s new?

Boosted by the introduction of new and refurbished ships, this market is expected to increase by more than two per cent to 1.76 million in 2013. Newsworthy upgrades include Carnival Cruise Lines’s Carnival Destiny, which re-emerged in the summer after a £100 million transformation under the new name of Carnival Sunshine and P&O Cruises’s family-friendly superliner Ventura, which now comes complete with a Glass House wine bar, an adults-only chill-out zone and 18 cabins for single passengers.

Keep an eye out, too, for perhaps the most eagerly awaited launch of 2014 – Royal Caribbean International’sQuantum of the Seas, which is due to enter service next November. The ultimate floating pleasure palace, it will set sail with bumper cars, an observation pod swinging 200ft above the ocean surface and its own sky-diving simulator.

Where to cruise?

The knock-on benefit of this increase in passenger numbers is that we can expect more ports of call – and more places in which to join cruises in the growth area of the Far East, Morocco, Antarctica, Iceland and the Galapagos Islands.

River cruising continues to grow in popularity, and an increasing number of companies are ensuring that activities for children are laid on during the school summer holidays, as well as pre- and post-cruise land-based itineraries that tie in with holidays afloat. This makes it easy to book a beach hotel on the Med or visit a Florida theme park alongside a cruise.

Ships are also longer in port, which means that passengers can really get under the skin of the destinations they are visiting.

Cruise packages

Royal Caribbean International: The Mediterranean is the sea to be seen on next summer as an expanded range of fly-cruises is to become available in the region. One of the highlights will be the first European appearance of Royal Caribbean International’s Oasis of the Seas – the world’s largest cruise ship. The 6,400-passenger vessel will run a short series of Mediterranean cruises in autumn 2014.

 

Disney Cruise Line: This cruise line is returning to the Mediterranean next summer with its refurbished Disney Magic, and will be offering a range of four- to 12-night cruises from Barcelona and Venice.

 

P&O Cruises: Revamped superliner Ventura will be taking passengers from Malaga, Spain, Venice and Savona in Italy. Between March and October, the ship will be running seven- and 14-night itineraries around the Greek Islands, Croatia’s Dalmatian coast, the French Riviera and some of Italy’s most iconic cities.

 

Pullmantur: The Spanish line is making dramatic changes in order to attract more British families in 2014. The company, which is sold by Major Travel in the UK has always allowed under-17s sharing a cabin with their parents to cruise free of charge, paying only port taxes of around £169 for a seven-night Mediterranean cruise. And now the offer is being extended to single parents, so one or two children travelling with an adult will be able to benefit

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A Short Cruise to Bruges

Phil Davies cruises with P&O Cruises on a short cruise to Bruges, an alternative family weekend break to the UK.

Why go?

Instead of the usual short UK break in the school holidays, my wife, two children Hal (8) and Tilly (11), and my mother in law opted for a multi-generational long weekend on P&O Cruises’ newly refitted superliner Ventura, travelling from Southampton to Belgium.

Given the ship’s vast onboard facilities, weather doesn’t have to be a concern either.

As it turned out, the Saturday of the late May bank holiday weekend was unusually serene as Ventura sailed out along Southampton and past the Isle of Wight.

We had an overnight sail to Zeebrugge, where we would spend a day chocolate and beer shopping, moules and fritesmunching in Bruges.

Activities

Activities: Hal had researched the ship extensively in preparation for our two-night taster cruise and discovered that one of the four main pools has a retractable roof to allow for swimming rain or shine.

The main deck was for swimming, al fresco snacks and sailaway champagne. Tilly and Hal were in their element splashing around in the various pools and hot-tubs.

Bruges was almost a side-show to the myriad of activities and entertainment available to us and the 3,000 other passengers.

With a full spa, extensive gym and an adults-only chill-out zone on deck, there are plenty of stress-relieving options for grown ups to indulge in on Ventura.

 

Kids club: Children were kept amused at the four age-related supervised clubs – Toybox, Jumping Jacks, The Den and Decibels – strategically positioned at the opposite end of the vast vessel.

 

Food: In the evening there are 11 bars to choose from and endless dining options including two vast buffets, three formal dining rooms and an al fresco pizza place.

Early children’s supper is provided, with toddlers getting a surprise visit from Noddy, and then being returned to their clubs for evening activities to leave parents free for casual drinks and dinner.

Pay a supplement of £30 each on this short cruise (the price reduces the longer the voyage) and you have the option to visit the more luxury restaurants on board. We tried Marco Pierre White’s stylish White Room.

For £25, you can also sample a mix of Asian cuisine created by Michelin-starred maestro Atul Kochhar.

The other alternative dining choice is The Glasshouse, a favourite with wine lovers overseen by TV wine expert Olly Smith. Here you can sample some highly recommended and unusual wine by the glass.

After dinner, the ship offers night-time shows including tribute singers, energetic main stage productions, karaoke, multiple discos and live bands.

Who’s it good for? Short cruises such as this are aimed at first timers and those looking for an alternative weekend break to the Continent, so test the water with your family before heading off on a longer cruise.

 

Book this holiday now with P&O Cruises.

The lowdown

P&O Cruises offers a two night break on Ventura from Southampton to Zeebrugge in Bruges departing on 29 June 2013 or 13 September 2013; from £229 per person all inclusive.

If you’re planning next year’s holiday, you can also take Ventura’s sister ship Azura to Belgium from Southampton departing on May 10, 2014; from £199 per person sharing an inside cabin. Prices start at £279 per person for a cabin with a balcony.

Fancy visiting Rome and Venice on a cruise? Take an Italian adventure with Crystal Cruises.

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Worldwide Cruise Destinations

CRUISE DESTINATIONS: ALL THE WORLD’S A STAGE

A cruise is the perfect excuse to see the globe’s finest cultural sights, says Phil Davies

Why go? 

Those with a desire to expand their cultural horizons as well as their geographical ones will find themselves right at home on a cruise ship. Many lines offer itineraries with an experimental and educational bias across the globe.

 

Where to? 

Spain: Barcelona is a favourite starting point for fly-cruises, and most lines offer the chance to add on hotel stays either pre- or post-cruise. It’s well worth extending your break by a night or two. Spain’s second city is home to Gaudí’s extraordinary Sagrada Familia, the Museum of Contemporary Art and the 98,000-seat Camp Nou, home of the trophy-laden Barcelona FC.

Italy: The San Siro stadium in Milan (home to both AC Milan and Inter) is another must-see for football fans and can be combined with a shopping spree to the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, a viewing of Da Vinci’s Last Supper and a night at the opera at La Scala. Norwegian Cruise Line runs two- to eight-day pre-cruises in Italy, which – as well as Milan – take in cultural highlights such as Rome, Florence, Pisa and Venice.

Remaining in Italy, MSC Cruises is one of the many companies to offer excursions from Naples to Pompeii. Its guided archaeological walking tour (from £45 per adult; from £32 per child) allows passengers to gain an insight into how the Ancient Romans lived.

Russia: The cities of the Baltic have become increasingly popular – and many lines now include a stay in St Petersburg to give passengers time to take in the Hermitage Museum, the Yusupov Palace and Catherine the Great’s Palace. A 14-night sailing on P&O Cruises’ child-friendly vessel Aurora next July covers this Russian gem as well as Stockholm, Copenhagen and medieval Tallinn.

Alaska: Celebrity Cruises takes Alaska excursions to new heights with a helicopter tour of the vast Mendenhall Glacier from the town of Juneau. A 30-minute flight over rainforests, alpine ridges and mountain peaks is followed by a trek on the icy surface led by a knowledgeable glacier guide. 

Holland America Line is latching onto the growing desire for in-depth excursions by creating an On Location initiative to provide passengers with information about customs, the way of life, off-the-beaten-track locations and insight from locals at several of its port stops.

 

The lowdown? 

Book: Celebrity Cruises (0845 456 0523); Holland America Line (0843 374 2300); MSC Cruises (0844 561 1955);Norwegian Cruise Line (0845 201 8900); P&O Cruises (0843 373 0111).

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Family Traveller Takes a Cruise with P&O

Andrew Dent takes a cruise with P&O Cruises

Andrew Dent takes a cruise with P&O cruises and tells us all about the stay and all things to do as a family whilst onboard. Watch the highlights of their stay including the the places they visited, the kids entertainment, choices of restaurants and spa treatments for the adults.
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Daniel Roche Takes a Cruise for Family Traveller

Ever wondered what your teenager thinks when they take a holiday? Witty Outnumbered star Daniel Roche shows us what he got up to onboard a P&O Cruise to Ventura with his family and a friend.

See a family holiday from a teenagers point of view with Daniel Roche showing us around onboard a P&O Cruise as it sets off around the mediterranean. Daniel and his friend tell us what there is to do onboard and tells us about the cities they’ve visited on their journey. The P&O cruise certainly seems to take the grumpy out of these teenagers!

 

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Royal Caribbean Cruise

As we cruised the Caribbean with Royal Caribbean Cruises, we talked to Martin Rissley, Hotel Director of Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas, about cruising on the ship, the facilities on board, and the best routes for families…

LET’S CUT TO THE CHASE –IS CRUISING REALLY A FAMILY HOLIDAY? ISN’T IT FOR THE OLDER GENERATION?

Martin: Cruising had a reputation of being somewhat boring, exclusive, and expensive –but this has categorically changed. The Oasis of the Seas is very family orientated, though. The entertainment and dining options are all created with the family in mind –we have matinee shows every day for example and each of the specialty dining options has a kid’s menu and are firmly welcome at any sitting.

This ship has everything a kid would want to do. To name but a few: flow riders, two climbing walls, a basketball court, table tennis, ice skating, kids clubs (up to age 17), swimming pools, shows. Then you add in the shore excursions when you get to a destination, and it is an incredibly active and fun holiday for the whole family.

 

TELL US ABOUT THE KID’S CLUB FACILITIES ON BOARD:

Martin: The Adventure Ocean program has a full program for ages 3-11 – it’s quite possible for lots of families to be involved in activities during a cruise. All the staff have Education Degrees and the aim is to foster friendship and education as well as fun.

The late Night Party Zone is a favourite with both kids and parents –the kids can stay late in the Adventure Ocean Club whilst the parents enjoy the many dining and entertainment options on board. Of course, it is a families’ personal preference as to whether they stay together or spend time in the Adventure Ocean area.

 

HAVE YOU SEEN AN INCREASE IN MULTI-GENERATIONAL GROUPS?

Martin: Absolutely yes, the three-generation group is now pretty commonplace. We are well set up for this with several hundred inter-connecting rooms. Grandparents will often have a quiet lunch together while the family goes on shore for an excursion, then the entire party gets together for a dinner and a show in the evening.

 

VALUE IS THE KEY DRIVER FOR OUR READERS – IS THE CRUISE A GOOD VALUE HOLIDAY? YOU CAN SPEND A LOT ON BOARD BEFORE YOU REALIZE IT…

Martin: You can quite comfortably not spend anything on board and stick to the dining packages and activities that are free for all. None of our shows have any cover charges. Even our specialty dining options are great value –the most expensive option in our steak restaurant is $35 per person – that would be more like $125 in a London restaurant and three times more expensive in a hotel.

DO YOU RECOMMEND THE CARIBBEAN OR EUROPE FOR UK FAMILIES WANTING TO EXPERIENCE A CRUISE?

Leaving directly from UK and cruising in Europe is great for first time cruisers, as there’s no need to worry about what to pack as there are no airline restrictions. But the Caribbean is really great. Yes, the flight is longer (8.5 hours to Miami) but the holiday as a whole is more exotic. People forget that the Caribbean is full of history and there is a lot for the kids to learn as well as do on board.

WHAT’S THE BEST THING TO DO ON THIS ITINERARY?

Martin: On this cruise we visit Mexico and an ‘absolute must’ is the Mayan ruins at Chichen Itza. It is a long day (10 hours) but the travel is part of the experience and the Mayan ruins are incredible. Chichen Itza is one of the most important archaeological sites on the Amercian continent and is one of the New 7 Wonders of the World. The whole civilization is fascinating and kids will find it really interesting.

WE ARE IN HAITI TODAY –HOW HAVE THINGS BEEN SINCE THE EARTHQUAKE?

Martin: Haiti was an improvised country before the earthquake so it was devastating for the community when it happened. However, Royal Caribbean continued to visit – we are a large part of the economy here, as we built the port here in Labadee in partnership with the Haitian Government. During the aftermath of the earthquake we regularly supplied dozens of pallets of supplies including water, clothing and food. We did this in a low-key waybut it was important for us to be helping.

HOW IS THE SAFETY AND MEDICAL SUPPORT ON OASIS OF THE SEAS?

Martin: We have a full-blown hospital on board. Including crew members there is a whole ship of people so we need to be ready for any eventuality. The hospital has nine full-time staff and we can often react quicker and better than an on-shore hotel or destination could. Your kids couldn’t be safer.

 

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE TYPE OF FAMILY HOLIDAY OF YOUR OWN (EXCLUDING CRUISING!)?

Martin: We love doing road trips, (maybe not surprising for a man who spends his life at sea). We travel to North America, with the kids packed in the car without ever having a plan but to just drive.