
Writing from our balcony deck while the kids are happily secured away in the kid’s club on our 12-day transatlantic cruise has me thinking… why haven’t we done this sooner? This may be our new favorite vacation!
We are seasoned travelers who have traveled over a million miles together as a family of seven. I’ll be upfront that cruises are not my favorite way to see the world. These moving cities have a lot of environmental grey areas for me with their massive buffets and questionable sewage practices (where does it all go and when?!), but I must say we really enjoy them for a relaxing vacation.
Lots of families steer clear of massive cruise ships for a variety of reasons.. Cabin fever, the crowds (which can be intense at times), the overly touristy feelings in port. I’ve felt all of these feelings and more, but we’ve found a new niche that we have fallen in love with: the transatlantic cruise.
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We took our first cruise with our entire family when our youngest was only 10 months old. She slept on a homemade bed in our closet. It wasn’t a leisurely vacation, but no vacation is easy with five young children 10 and younger. What we loved was the mix of vacations all in one!
We could pay for some babysitting for little Grace in the baby club (this was a Royal Caribbean cruise) and get some adult time. We were able to split time with the kids and get some one-on-one time with the older kids at shows or on-board activities. We had some great family time at the beach in a port in Mexico. It was like several vacations in one!
Not unlike an all-inclusive resort with young kids, cruise ships can offer families various experiences. My tip is this: don’t scrimp on the cheapest cruise, or you will likely hate them forever.
Chris and I did a cheap, bargain cruise for just the two of us and didn’t love it. We were at the bottom of the boat in a room where we could barely do anything besides lying on the bed and watching TV. It was crowded, and the crowd wasn’t our vibe. Lots of partying, drinking, and we even witnessed a couple getting down and dirty in the ocean right in front of everyone else on the beach!
On our second cruise (and first with kids), we splurged. We hooked up with a great travel agent that specializes in cruises (we only use a travel agent for cruises at this point), and she introduced us to a “kids sail free” deal on a suite with concierge service. Having five young kids, we felt this was a screaming deal we couldn’t pass on!
We did an Aqua Suite on a Royal Caribbean cruise to Mexico and absolutely loved it. The Magic Genie Service knocked our socks off. We had specialty access to avoid most crowds, we had free room services with an amazing deck to eat on with our young kids, we came back from port to fresh cupcakes, fruit platters, and drinks waiting for those hungry mouths right in our room, and more.
Our Magic Genie even picked up our older kids once when we were running late and brought them to our room (I’m pretty sure this is against standard practice, but you get to know your Magic Genie really well, and they make magic happen).
This new cruise experience was unlike any other. A huge city hotel at our disposal, with quality shows and entertainment, and zero packing and re-packing? Yes, please.
Since then, we’ve done four more cruises, some with that wonderful Magic Genie and others without, and we’ve found our new sweet spot. We’ve learned the kids care very little for the port cities, and we think it’s a terrible way to see a new place, too.
However, getting off the boat for a few hours to explore or booking a GetYourGuide tour in the port city can offer a really fun experience. The kids love the boat itself with built-in friends and entertainment in the kids club, and mom and dad get some serious relaxation time during those kids club sessions.
Cruise ships’ massive size prevents them from going anywhere without a large enough port and prevents them from doing maintenance in some parts of the world (like Europe). Cruise ships are generally built and spend their winter seasons in the Caribbean but move around the world for summer seasons. They have two repositioning sailings per year, and this is when you get to travel from one continent to another!
Called repositioning or transatlantic cruises, these cruise voyages book out well in advance. We booked ours more than a year in advance, and I’ve looked at one 8 months in advance only to find it sold out of connecting rooms. They are a bit of a specialty cruise that you need to tap into.
These sailings can sell out well in advance, and you’ll need to pay attention to the itinerary. We still work as we travel (not independently wealthy over here), and we have to plan carefully for all those days of not being able to work! As small business owners, this can be tricky. However, we timed ours over the Thanksgiving holiday when work shuts down for two days anyway, and we lucked out to find a transatlantic cruise at the same time.
These sailings are not flexible, and you are at the mercy of the cruise ship. However, if you are currently world schooling, you can find your tribe! I just saw on a Facebook Worldschooling page that next month over 140 worldschoolers are taking a cruise from Florida to Europe all together!
There is a lot to love about these repositioning itineraries:
Planning can save the days when it comes to a long cruise like this. Some things to consider include:
So much is taken care of for you on a cruise! My mom brain is constantly thinking about the things I normally do, but then I realize I really can relax and not worry about them.
I tackle cruise packing much differently than a regular vacation. Several onboard activities and formal nights mean I pack things I normally wouldn’t for one of our travel trips. While cabins are not overly large on a cruise ship, rooms are generally built to handle your luggage well. You can store bags under beds, in closets, etc.
I made a separate post for my Cruise Packing List With Kids, which includes an easy printable, but I’ll include some extra tips:
Cruising offers its own type of experience and subculture. We met some new friends on the cruise that were completing their ninth cruise of the year! They were disappointed to only have seven booked next year. The retired crowd especially can be serial cruisers going nearly every month or more. However, it’s not limited to only the older generations. Full-time travel families also love cruising, especially transatlantic-type cruising as a way of transportation. Our kids made friends with another teenager belonging to a young family that was on her 30th cruise in just 13 years!
We found some fun traditions on our transatlantic cruise I wasn’t aware existed before! Consider joining in on the fun if you explore the world this way:
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Transatlantic cruising with kids has been an unforgettable adventure for our family of seven. From the endless activities on board to the chance to disconnect and unwind while the kids are entertained, this type of cruise offers a rare blend of relaxation and quality family time. While it’s not without its quirks (hello, laundry!), the unique rhythm of at-sea days and the unbeatable value make it an experience we’d happily repeat. Whether you’re a seasoned cruiser or considering your first voyage, a transatlantic cruise might just be the perfect fit for your family too. Don’t forget to pack those devil knots—er, I mean, stretchy pants!
Have you ever taken a transatlantic cruise with kids? Share your tips or questions in the comments below!
Happy Travels,
Leslie
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