A Great Family Vacation

My wife and I just returned from a week’s vacation with our children and grandchildren……11 persons in all.  It wasn’t a unique trip, one that we had done two other times before, but the experience reinforced our belief that cruising is one of the best family trips you can take.  We have 5 grandchildren, a 17-year old, a 13-year old, two 10-year olds, and a 6-year old, and all of them now, after three cruises under their belt, are experienced cruisers. You can turn them loose on any ship and they can find their room.

We cruised on Royal Caribbean Cruise Line’s Navigator of the Seas out of Galveston.  We had reserved 4 balcony rooms next door to each other, and after arriving to our rooms, requested that our stateroom attendant  open up the balcony room dividers so we all had access through the balconies to each others rooms.

Now, why do we like family cruise vacations?  Well, first we lay down a couple of guidelines.  Primarily, we ask that everyone will meet for dinner each night.  No electronic devices are allowed at the dinner table.  We encourage that each age group do their own thing on the ship, but only if they want to. We also encourage them to go to the entertainment offered each night in the main theatre.

Another reason that we like it is that all the meals are included in the price of the cruise, and after seeing our 17-year old grandson eat dinner each night, I can assure you that the cruise line lost money on that individual.  He not only ordered, but ate, at least 3 appetizers each night, 2-3 entrees each night, and at least 5 desserts.  Then he would clean others plates if they had any leftovers.  If I would have had to paid at a local restaurant for each dinner, just for him would have been over $200 each night. 

Our table waiters also catered to the younger children, realizing after the first night that they really liked the chocolate brownie with ice cream so they had that ready for them each night.  In addition, when one of them did not like what they ordered, they quickly substituted something else to their liking.  Everyone left the dinner table with their hunger fully satisfied.

The particular ports we visited on this cruise were ideally suited to the fancy of swimmers and beach lovers.  Cozumel, Belize, and Roatan, Honduras are great locations to snorkel, scuba, or tan, and thankfully on this week, the weather fully cooperated.

Prices are higher during the summer and at holiday times.  Booking early is also advantageous for the best prices.   Our cruise, booked about 8 months in advance averaged around $1000 a person for a balcony room.  Off season, early booking would be around $200 less.  Then, of course, if you had 4 persons in a room, the third and fourth persons cost is discounted, so that the average per person is greatly reduced.  The experienced travel counselors at The Travel Factory have been selling cruises for nearly 40 years, so give us a call for some free help in planning the best vacation ever.  We are at 698-1421 or toll-free 800-760-4040.