Imagine being able to wake up in a new destination each day and exploring your surroundings in a different city or country for a week. Unpack your belongings once and discover new adventures each day. Cruising the open seas offers a different type of vacation experience and can be a great option for family travel, especially when kids sail free! Explore the many adventures for young and old on a cruise ship as she heads into the open waters. Endless entertainment, fine dining or all-you-can-eat buffet and quick service meals, kids clubs, adult only areas, pampering spas and offshore excursions with something new every day!

Many cruises offer a similar experience to all-inclusive resorts in the Caribbean, but on a ship! If your family is looking for something new or tired of the all-inclusive resort experience, maybe it’s time to try the open seas to experience a cruise vacation.

Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines offers a Kids Sail Free promotion on select sailings where kids under the age of 12 can sail free on cruises sailing four nights or longer. Promotions will run throughout the year so check regularly for sailings that offer the kids sail free promotion. Exclusive to Royal Caribbean is the DreamWorks Experience. Meet with characters from Shrek, Madagascar, Kung Fu Panda and How to Train your Dragon and enjoy fun family-themed activities, scavenger hunts, character meals and unlimited DreamWorks movies. Combine it with a Land and Sea package for a 3-4 night cruise vacation followed by a 3-4 night vacation package to Universal Orlando Resort for a fantastic vacation!

 

Allure of the Seas at port in Nassua, Bahamas

Allure of the Seas at port in Nassau, Bahamas
Photo Credit: Royal Caribbean

 

Norwegian Cruise Line also offers third and fourth passenger discounts throughout the year. Right now, book a cruise on select 2017/2018 sailings and your 3rd and 4th passengers staying in your stateroom stay for free! The Norwegian Getaway and Breakaway offer arcade games, onboard bowling, dinner theatre with acrobats and magicians including circus school experiences with Cirque Dreams. With their Spectacular Splash Sale, travellers can choose up to five free offers with Free at Sea, including free unlimited open, free speciality dining, shore excursion credits, free wifi package and extra guests sail free.

Norwegian Sun

Norwegian Sun

MSC Cruises is a European-based cruise line that also offers many kids sail free promotions to encourage families to cruise together depending on the time of year and sail dates. Children 11 and under at time of sailing sail for free when sharing a stateroom with two full fare paying adults but will be responsible for paying the taxes and port duties. Children ages 12 to 17 can also sail for free during low and mid-season only but will still be required to pay the taxes and port duties. They will be charged full fare during high season.

Disney Cruise Line has been voted the number one cruise line for families by Cruise Critic. They are the only cruise line that does not offer an onboard casino, thereby strengthening their commitment to family-friendly entertainment onboard and promoting family quality time on your cruise vacation. Though there are not very many consumer discounts for Disney cruises, booking early when sail dates first released will ensure travellers get the best possible price and cabin choices. Sometimes they do offer cruise specials, such as the Canadian Resident’s offer of 25% OFF prevailing rates for select cruises.

AquaDuck Water Coaster

Ride the AquaDuck and be swept away on the exhilarating flume ride that features twists, turns, drops, acceleration and river rapids.  (Matt Stroshane, photographer)

If you haven’t considered a cruise vacation for your next holiday, I encourage you to reach out and find out why. Because once you’ve been on a cruise vacation, you will wonder why you didn’t go on one sooner!