1. P&O Cruises
P&O Cruises’ large family-friendly ships, Azura and Ventura – to be joined next year by Britannia sailing out of Southampton – are ideal for families. Children of all ages are well-catered for with kids’ clubs, activities and entertainment day and night, all free of charge.
Parents and grandparents are looked after with spa treatments, child-free deck space, .ne dining, stage productions, bands and headline acts at night.
A night nursery is available for children under five and there’s slumber time for five- to eight-year-olds, where children are fully supervised until late at night, allowing both parents and grandparents to enjoy evenings together.
Route: Genoa to Venice
Price: A seven-night fly-cruise from Genoa to Venice on Ventura costs from £1,399 per adult and £1,189 per child for four adults and two children in a family suite, including fights from Birmingham, London or Manchester.
More info: pocruises.co.uk
2. Celebrity Cruises
There’s an ultra-modern vibe about Celebrity Equinox that will appeal to adults and children alike. The premium cruise line mixes supervised events for children with cool cocktail bars, fine dining and spa sessions for parents and grandparents.
The latest Apple technology is on board in the Celebrity iLounge while half an acre of grass on the top deck gives a country-club feel and the chance to eat a picnic or play croquet.
Price: A 14-night Mediterranean fly-cruise from Barcelona on Celebrity Equinox costs £5,755 for a family of four and £3,838 for two additional adults, including flights from London and an overnight stay in Venice.
More info: celebritycruises.co.uk
3. Crystal Cruises
The Baltic region is becoming one of the world’s most popular cruise destinations and it’s easy to see why due to the depth of cultural experiences available.
A multi-city tour by ship takes in the best of Scandinavia minus the hassle of booking separate flights and hotels.
If travelling in understated luxury floats your boat then Crystal Cruises is worth investigating for its all inclusive pricing and facilities which attract well-heeled family groups from around the world complete with their children and grandchildren.
Family-friendly shore excursions on a 10-night sailing on Crystal Symphony include a tour of Stockholm by land and water, a chocolate-making workshop in Tallinn, a Helsinki Archipelago cruise, a performance of Swan Lake at the Alexandrinsky Theatre in St Petersburg and a visit to the Blue Planet Aquarium in Copenhagen.
Parents and grandparents can indulge in formal afternoon teas, dine in style in famed Japanese chef Nobu Matsuhisa’s Silk Road restaurant or Italian dining room Prego, catch a recently-released film in a full scale cinema, learn to play piano, bridge or paddle tennis.
The line’s two ships offer spacious accommodation including connecting cabins as well as supervised children’s activities for those aged 3 to 17 during school holidays such as arts and crafts, sushi-making,
If travelling in understated luxury floats your boat then Crystal Cruises is worth investigating for its all inclusive pricing and facilities which attract well-heeled family groups from around the world complete with their children and grandchildren.
Family-friendly shore excursions on a 10-night sailing on Crystal Symphony include a tour of Stockholm by land and water, a chocolate-making workshop in Tallinn, a Helsinki Archipelago cruise, a performance of Swan Lake at the Alexandrinsky Theatre in St Petersburg and a visit to the Blue Planet Aquarium in Copenhagen.
Parents and grandparents can indulge in formal afternoon teas, dine in style in famed Japanese chef Nobu Matsuhisa’s Silk Road restaurant or Italian dining room Prego, catch a recently-released film in a full scale cinema, learn to play piano, bridge or paddle tennis.
The line’s two ships offer spacious accommodation including connecting cabins as well as supervised children’s activities for those aged 3 to 17 during school holidays such as arts and crafts, sushi-making, Sony PlayStation 2, Nintendo Wii and Xbox 360 games. A library offers a selection of children’s books and videos for in-cabin viewing.
Babysitting is available in cabins for younger ones. Fees are $10 per hour for one child, $15 per hour for two children and $20 per hour for three children. Teens can participate in late night pool parties and discos.
Route: Stockholm to Dover
Price: A 10-night Baltic Reflections cruise from Stockholm to Dover via Tallinn, Helsinki, St Petersburg (two nights) and Copenhagen on Crystal Symphony on August 7 costs a total of £4,530 for a family of two adults and one child sharing a cabin including flights from London, gratuities, all meals, soft drinks and most alcoholic drinks.
More info: www.crystalcruises.co.uk
Phone: 020 7399 7601
4. Hapag-Lloyd Cruises
Golfing for kids and teens is now available on the German company’s newest ship Europa 2, designed to make the sport accessible to all the family.
With on-board equipment designed for children, even younger passengers between the ages of 6 and 10 can take their first swing at golf on a trial weekend with the golf pro.
Hapag-Lloyd Cruises’ family cruise mascot Cap’n Knopf helps encourage children to take a swing at golf while parents and grandparents can book personal hour-long sessions with the on board PGA golf professional.
The ship comes equipped with two golf simulators, one of which features integrated video analysis to assess every stroke in terms of speed, length, angle of flight and line of flight. This allows the pro to give a guest detailed critiques for the next drive.
Europa 2 is about as family-friendly an ultra-luxury cruise ship can be with dedicated suites, babysitting and free travel for those aged up to 11.
The seven family suites on board consist of two separate living areas linked by a connecting door and a common veranda. Families with children under the age of three receive a free baby welcome package. Baby monitors and ‘portacribs’ can also be provided free of charge while babysitters can be booked as a special service.
The ship, which entered service last year, offers childcare for toddles aged from two years old. Trained carers are responsible for a tailored programmes covering three different age groups.
Qualified nursery nurses look after two and three-year olds in the Button Club, including baby cots and changing tables, A Steiff Kuschel lounge can also be found here, designed by the toymaker as part of an exclusive co-operation with the cruise line.
Children from 4 to 11 years of age can join the Kids Club with a library, theatre, research laboratory, climbing wall and games consoles such as the Sony Playstation and Nintendo Wii. Games and activities such as treasure hunts are also regularly organised on board.
The Teens Club caters for those aged between 11 and 15 with table football, iPods, a chill-out area, PCs with internet access and games consoles. Supervisors also organise activities such as introductory trips to the spa.
Special family trips on days ashore are also available.
Price: A seven-night sailing from Valletta in Malta to Venice in a family apartment costs £4,790 per person cruise-only with children up to 11 free of charge based on an August 16 departure. For extended families, the adult cost for an additional suite starts at £3,280pp.
Route: Valletta in Malta to Venice
More info: www.hl-cruises.com
Phone: +49 (0) 40 3001 4580 (English-speaking hotline)
5. Hurtigruten
Kayaking through pristine Arctic waters, whale watching, exploring the Lofoten Islands by horse or taking a rib-boat safari through the world’s strongest tidal current – just some of the multi-generational summer adventures available when travelling on the working ships of Norwegian line Hurtigruten.
The company’s vessels travel at leisurely pace up and down the coastline of Norway from Bergen in the south to Kirkenes in the far north calling at 34 ports along the way, most never visited by the larger cruise vessels.
There is no dressing for dinner and no fighting for the captain’s table – this sailing is about the wide range of experiences Norway has to offer the while family.
The ships offer a culinary journey along the coast offering menus developed using seasonal delicacies of the regions visited.
A host of excursions appealing to all age groups are available along the seven-day voyage, from wilderness adventures and husky rides to snowmobiling trips, Viking feasts and stays in a snow hotel.
Winter is a special time to explore the wild and untamed Norwegian scenery, not least because there is the opportunity to hunt for the Northern lights. Travelling by ship, away from the light pollution often found on land, provides one of the best chances to experience this colourful light show as it changes from light green to dark purple across the Arctic sky.
On-board activities include the Arctic Circle ceremony on deck for those who are sailing into the Arctic waters for the first time. With everyone gathered on deck, the Ship’s Captain and ‘Neptune’ will be on hand to pour ice down the backs of those brave enough to volunteer.
Route: Bergen to Kirkenes
Price: Children under 15 years old typically receive a 25% discount off adult voyage-only prices and there is no charge for infants of three years and under. However, Hurtigruten is currently offering free places for children, when sharing a four berth cabin with at least one adult.
The ‘Classic Voyage North’ over Christmas, departing from Bergen on December 20 and arriving in Kirkenes on December 27, costs a total of £1,620 for two adults and two children sharing a four berth outside cabin on full board basis. A two-berth inside cabin on the same voyage starts at £884 per person, or a total of £1,768.
International flights and transfers are available for an additional £395 per person.
More info: www.hurtigruten.co.uk
Phone: 0844 448 7601
6. MSC
Adults and children alike can be kept engaged and entertained at the same time on a range of excursions laid on in the Mediterranean by Italian line MSC Cruises.
These range from an Monte Cristo tour from Marseille to a behind the scenes look at Barcelona’s Camp Nou stadium – the largest football arena in Europe.
The opportunity to learn about the Count of Monte Cristo comes in the form of a boat trip to the island of Château d’If off the French coast. The 19th century French author Alexandre Dumas brought literary fame to the castle when used it as a setting for his adventure novel, the Count of Monte Cristo. The tour concludes with time on the beach at nearby Frioul island. Excursion prices start at £49 for adults and £35 for children.
The Camp Nou trip starts with a sightseeing tour past Gaudi’s Sagrada Família and up Montjuich Hill in the Catalan capital before arriving at the stadium. Here there is the chance to get a feel for what it must be like to play for one of the top teams in Europe in front of almost 100,000 fans. Prices start at £45 for adults and
£32 for children.
For the more adventurous, the line runs a Jeep tour in Sicily along old military roads once used to defend the island and the Straits of Messina, stopping at 19th century forts along the way. Prices start at £79 for adults and £55 for children aged 8 and over.
Those keen on archaeology can visit the remains of Pompeii, the town completely buried by lava, rubble and ash during an eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79. It then lay hidden and preserved under tons of volcanic ash for almost 1,700 years before being accidentally rediscovered in the mid-18th century and then subsequently being excavated. Prices start at £45 for adults and £32 for children.
The side-trips are available as part of a seven-night Mediterranean fly-cruise on MSC Splendida from Genoa calling at Messina, La Goulette in Tunisia, Barcelona and Marseille.
On board activities include a 4D cinema, Formula 1 simulator, Broadway-style theatre shows, dance lessons, a sports bar, gym, casino, shopping, spa; four swimming pools; mini-bowling and five kids clubs catering for children from babies to teenagers.
Route: Mediterranean fly-cruise round trip from Genoa
Price: Accommodation for a family of four in a balcony cabin includes a double bed and pull-out beds for children at a cost of £2,606 cruise only, based on an August 3 departure. A separate balcony cabin for two costs from £1,099pp.
More info: www.msccruises.co.uk
Phone: 0203 426 3010.
7. Norwegian Cruise Line
The ship is very much the destination when multi-generational families travel on Norwegian Cruise Line’s newest ship Norwegian Getaway from its base in Miami.
Everything onboard is tailored to be family friendly, from the range of accommodation available, such as inter-connecting and family cabins and suites, through to the flexible dining choices.
Leading entertainment brand Nickelodeon is on board and includes a variety of interactive experiences, along with the opportunity to meet SpongeBob SquarePants, Patrick Star, Dora the Explorer and Diego.
Popular with all ages, the giant ship’s three-story Sports Complex features the Aqua Park with five water slides, two swimming pools and one of the largest multi-level elevated ropes course at sea that includes more than 40 different elements, including a zip wire.
Parents and grandparents cab enjoy late night entertainment such as a musical production of Legally Blonde while children aged three to 12 are looked after in the supervised kids club between 10pm and 1am each evening as well as at various times when the ship is in port.
US celebrity Chef Geoffrey Zakarian has created three dining options on the ship in addition to 25 other places to eat on board.
The ship’s Waterfront area features al fresco bars and restaurants food and drink while other facilities while a fireworks display from the deck takes place on every cruise.
Route: Caribbean fly-cruise roundtrip from Miami
Price: A nine-night eastern Caribbeanfly-cruise on Norwegian Getaway from Miami on August 22 starts at £1,392 per person based on two people sharing an inside cabin including return flights from London. The ship calls at St Maarten, St Thomas and Nassau in the Bahamas.
More info: www.ncl.co.uk
Phone: 0845 201 8900
8. Princess Cruises
This stylish American line – think classy Manhattan hotel with all the trimmings – runs a series of cruises from Southampton each summer.
A broad range of activities is available to appeal to all ages.
Grandparents can enjoy lawn bowls, trivia quizzes and ballroom dancing while parents can participate in spa talks, target practice, margarita making or wine tasting. The supervised kids’ and teens’ club activities are suitable for children aged three to 17.
Route: Various from Southampton
Price: A 14-night Mediterranean cruise on Emerald Princess from Southampton costs from £9,094 for four adults and two children in an interconnecting family suite.
More info: princess.com
9. Royal Caribbean International
Royal Caribbean’s new 4,180-passenger ships, Quantum of the Seas and Anthem of the Seas, will have family suites with separate bathroom and bedrooms for all. They will also have facilities never seen before on a ship, including a sky-diving simulator, bumper cars, a roller skating rink and a London Eye-style capsule that will extend 300ft above sea level to give 360-degree views over the vessel.
Price: A seven-night Bahamas fly-cruise on Quantum of the Seas from Cape Liberty in New Jersey costs from £2,270 per adult and £1,500 per child, for four adults and two children sharing a junior suite, including flights from London.
More info: royalcaribbean.co.uk