travelwith3bubs

Travel Tips, Family Friendly Holidays and Life in Hong Kong

Category: Cruising

  • Spend Less on Disney Cruise Line – 5 Must Do Tips

    Spend Less on Disney Cruise Line – 5 Must Do Tips

    spend less money
    Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

    You have decided to bite the bullet and take the best family cruise line. Now you want to know how to spend less than an arm and a leg.

    Hopefully you are not planning to go for another 18 months because that is the first tip!

    Early booking is key to spending less

    The first day the cruise is released for sale is the day you should be booking. The price is the cheapest on Day 1 so you will spend less if you book on this day. But you will need to decide before this date which cruise you will take and your preferred stateroom.

    Specialist cruise agent

    To book on Day 1 you need a good agent who knows all your details and requirements. They can advise you when new cruise itineraries are released. They can then put holds on your stateroom as soon as the cruise opens.

    Spend less with On Board Credit

    Another reason for using a specialist Disney cruise agent is for their onboard credit offers. You may need to shop around to see who can offer the best deal. Onboard credit feels like someone has given you a lovely gift!

    Spend less by booking your own Excursions

    Like all cruise lines, ship excursions tend to be more expensive than booking private operators directly. Some people prefer to book through the ship as it is easy – just a click on the app. Cruise lines also claim that you will not be left behind if your excursion is late returning.

    I always prefer to do my own research and book private guides as much as possible. Small groups (usually just our family) rather than a bus load is much more conducive to sightseeing. Logistically it takes time herding a bus load of passengers at every monument and photo stop. And we won’t even mention how long it takes for everyone on the bus to go to the loo!

    Choosing your Stateroom

    My policy is choose the cheapest room you can handle! If you don’t think you can handle an inside stateroom then go for an ocean view. Need outdoor space, upgrade to a balcony. If you prefer the finer things or really need more space then splurge on concierge. The more you can rough it though, the more you will save!

    I have sailed concierge and personally I do not think it is worth the extra. I much rather put the difference towards excursions or premium dining.

    Disney Cruise Line really is the best for families with younger children. It is definitely the most expensive when compared to similar cruise lines. You will make wonderful memories and it will all be worth it. Obviously if you can spend less the happier you will be!

    Happy cruising

    Shareen

    Logo
    Logo

  • Journeys of a lifetime – why we love cruising with kids

    Journeys of a lifetime – why we love cruising with kids

    There are so many positives why we love cruising with our kids that many people do not consider. The stunning destinations, easy excursions and plethora of entertainment usually come to mind but there are a host of others. Here are 5 often overlooked reasons why we love cruising with kids.

    Disney cruise line. Ultimate family cruise line

    5 Often Overlooked Reasons Why We Love Cruising With Kids

    1. Multiple cruising destinations – kids can see more of the World

    Most cruises cover several destinations. Mediterranean cruises we took with our kids included Greece, Malta, Turkey, France, Italy and Spain.

    Another interesting cruise we took with our kids was the Baltics which included Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Russia and Estonia.

    One of our favourite cruises was the British Isles covering England, Scotland and Ireland followed by Iceland, Norway and Sweden.

    Travelling to several destinations in one holiday would be so much more difficult if not by cruise ship.

    Navigating a host of airports and taxis is another headache one can avoid.

    Visiting several cities and only unpacking and packing once is also a luxury only available to those on cruise ships.

    2. Educational for kids – learning as you’re cruising

    Cruising to different ports is also educational, particularly in Europe.

    Port days for our kids have included

    • visiting the beaches in the Normandy landings of World War II in France
    • strolling through the Hermitage, the world’s largest and most prestigious museum in St Petersburg
    • wandering the Long Room in the Old Library of Trinity College, Dublin
    • exploring the Churchill War Rooms in London – the secret underground headquarters during World War II
    • appreciating the ancient exhibits at the Acropolis Museum in Athens

    and many more!

    Of course many of these attractions were of no interest to our children. Knowing they would later be back on the boat, in kids club and with their new friends made it easier. Learn some new things and later you can go back to the boat!

    3. Kids Entertainment included – love all the activities onboard

    Most family friendly cruise lines have brilliant shows and activities throughout the day. If you don’t want to lie by the pool there are always other things to do.

    From basketball courts to mini golf and ropes courses. Dodgems to skydiving. Depending on the cruise ship there are a host of daily activities on offer.

    4. Food kids love

    Cruise ships are well known for their enormous buffets and people stuffing their bellies till they pop. But one must appreciate how amazing it is to have a daily spread of food that children will happily eat.

    Removing the stress of having to research every family friendly restaurant in a city near your hotel is a godsend.

    5. Cruise Accommodation

    Doing research on hotels can be exhausting. The number of hours spent reading countless conflicting reviews and comparing prices requires a holiday in itself!

    With cruising you just need to decide whether your wallet can manage a stateroom or suite. If not a suite, then choose whether you want an inside, ocean view or balcony and you’re done!

    This is a great thing to love about cruising. You know exactly what you’re getting.

    So there you have it. Some of the reasons why we love cruising with kids and why it makes for a brilliant holiday!

    Thanks for reading and happy cruising. You won’t be disappointed.

    If you want to find out which cruise line I rate the very best for families see The Ultimate Cruise Line for families with kids.

    Shareen

  • The Ultimate Cruise Line for families with kids

    The Ultimate Cruise Line for families with kids

    If you don’t want to scroll to the end – here is the ultimate cruise line for families with kids. Disney Cruise Line.


    To say our family love cruising is an understatement. We took our first family cruise on Disney Cruise Line to Alaska when our youngest was 9 months old. Although he was too young to remember his first cruise (where he won Jack Jack’s Diaper Dash!), his siblings loved it and still remember it fondly.

    Baby Disney cruise line passenger

    We continued cruising with Disney every Summer until he turned 8. Amazing destinations included the Baltics, Scandinavia, the British Isles and the Mediterranean.

    Then it was 2020 and the world turned to custard. But let’s not dwell on that!

    5 reasons why Disney is the Ultimate Cruise Line for kids.

    Why is Disney the Ultimate Cruise Line for kids? Because everything is catered to children!

    • Reason 1 – They will not starve as there are always things they will like at the buffet.
    • Reason 2 – The musical productions are such top quality that the kids will be riveted.
    • Reason 3 – Bathtubs in most staterooms make bathing young children so much easier than fixed shower heads.
    • Reason 4 – Excursions booked through the ship offer many child friendly options.
    • Reason 5 (and the top one in my book) – the Kids Clubs beat all other cruise lines hands down. The decor, technology and activities for kids of all age groups is next level awesome!

    There are adult only areas including pools and bars and there are many passengers who travel Disney without children. I do believe though that the best bang for your buck is when you take kids.

    There are other great cruise lines without the Disney price tag (which is double or triple similar itineraries). I would definitely switch when the kids are older but if you have children under 12 don’t bother looking elsewhere. This is the Ultimate Cruise Line.

    But don’t despair. There are ways to make the Disney Cruise Line holiday less expensive. Check out my blog Spend Less on Disney Cruise Line – 5 Must Do Tips!

    Thanks for reading and happy cruising!

    Shareen

    Logo

error: Content is protected !!