Imagine a holiday where your whole family will always be happy, entertained and well-fed, with minimal effort on your part (and minimal budget checking!)
Where you can always know where your kids are, even if you’re lounging poolside with an afternoon cocktail. Where you can wake up in the morning with the knowledge that every element of your holiday is tailored to you and your family, whether you’ve got tempestuous teens or teething toddlers, bookworms or basketball stars.
Enter the cruise holiday that takes luxe to a whole new level.
Royal Caribbean is known for its all-inclusive, family-friendly luxury cruise holidays, looking after your every need, from activities suitable for all ages, food for the fussiest of eaters, and pools for lounging, splashing, relaxing, exercising and more. Whether you’re a cruise regular or novice, you’d be hard pressed to beat the newly renovated and renewed Independence of the Seas for the holiday that ‘has it all’.
Discover the Mediterranean, Canary Islands and Caribbean on one of their many itineraries. Hailed as the “UK’s favourite ship”, The Independence of the Seas (fondly known as The Indy) sets sail from Southampton (or Fort Lauderdale, Florida, if you happen to be in that part of the world) and heads to a plethora of incredible destinations, meaning that you can look forward to landing in your dream on-shore destination, enjoying every second of the journey on the way.
One of the trickiest parts of any family holiday is trying to please everybody in your family – including yourself! – which is why Royal Caribbean cruises are so popular. Knowing that every meal is looked after (even if your kids get hungry at 10.30am when you have no snacks planned) is a big weight of every parent’s mind.
Need an early poolside dinner? Head to Fish and Ships for some classic British seaside grub, or treat yourself to a gourmet dinner where kids are more than welcome at one of the many sit down restaurants. We personally recommend Izumi Hibachi & Sushi for world class sushi and a truly theatrical teppanyaki experience From outrageously extravagant ice cream sundaes to healthy and wholesome fruit salads on your stateroom balcony, you’ll never go hungry.
Food aside, the activities are what set The Indy apart. After a day spent poolside – watching the kids get soaked in Splashaway Bay and zipping down spiraling slides for hours, or catching some waves yourself by trying your hand at surfing at Flowrider – you can dry-off and use any leftover energy at the glow-in-the-dark Laser Tag game or innovative Sky Pad. Bounce over craters or compete in zero-gravity games on this brand-new bungee trampoline experience. Make sure you have a go too; it’s an experience you won’t forget.
Used up all of your physical energy? Rev up your intellect and challenge yourself to the onboard escape room Puzzle Break. Work together to solve the clues and free your team from The Observatory before your time runs out. It’s the fun activity with team building and learning sneakily built in.
To balance the overindulgence, head to a fitness class, the on-board gym or Sports Court for a game of basketball, football or dodgeball. There’s even a running track if you’re serious about your morning run routine.
Time for some time away from the kids? Let little ones aged 18-months to 11 years loose in one of their kids’ clubs whilst you head to the spa, adults-only solarium or on-shore to explore, safe in the knowledge that they are in safe hands, taking part in age-appropriate activities and making new friends.
Don’t worry if you have fussy teenagers that refuse to take part in anything ‘too childish’; Royal Caribbean have you covered. They know that your not-so-little one is just a few steps away from being a grown-up and deserves a holiday all of their own. Adventure Ocean® holidays for teens give them the freedom to do whatever they like. They can pick from a range of activities and events, or they can hang out in teen-only spaces, hosting everything from rock climbing and BBQs, to pool parties and movie nights. There are separate groups for 12-14 and 15-17 year olds to ensure they’re with peers; they’ll barely notice that they’re in a kids club at all.
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