I am not the all-inclusive resort type. I like to slow travel and immerse myself in the culture of a new place. I often visit the same locations over an over because they begin to have elements that feel like home to me. One such place, for me, is Playa del Carmen, Mexico.
There are other locations that I know I will only visit once, but even those, I prefer to get as much of a feel for the nature, the culture, and the life as I can. So, it might seem confusing that I also love traveling via transatlantic cruise with kids.
Cruises are just floating resorts, right?
Well, Yes and no…
Yes, in the way that they offer all-inclusive travel and only glimpses at the places they visit. You can't really get off-the-beaten path when you only have 8-10 hours in each port. An argument could be made for a cruise as a way for checking out a place before deciding to spend more time there, a sampler platter of possible destinations, but I much prefer going to a place and setting up camp for a while before moving on. This makes most closed-loop cruises pointless to me.
What I really like, what gets me excited, are the routes that take me from point A to point B. I use my cruising time as a mode of transportation. When given the option of a 24-hour travel day with three flights and two layovers or a 14-day transatlantic cruise with kids, I will take the cruise anytime.
I love them so much, that I am halfway through ANOTHER transatlantic cruise with kids.
This is my third time to cross the ocean on a transatlantic cruise with kids. The first time, I was broke, and I found a sweet deal on the Norwegian Epic. I cashed in my tax return for a one way-ticket for myself, my son and his dad from Ft. Lauderdale to Barcelona. The second time, my son and I took the more luxe Queen Mary II from London to New York City in the same route as my ancestors when they immigrated to the United States. This time, I am taking my three bio kids back across the waters to Europe.
Each time, I learn more tips and tricks for taking a transatlantic cruise with kids. Things I would do differently the next time. Be sure to check out my updated list of transatlantic cruise hacks.
These are my top ten reasons why I love traveling via transatlantic cruise with kids:
1. Comfort and Convenience
I'm a soft life, slow travel, cozy queen. Some of my favorite things are freshly laundered bathrobes, clean bed linens, reading a good book, and sitting on a deck chair with the warm sun on my face. This basically sums up 80% of my time on a transatlantic cruise with kids. We hit the buffet or restaurant and return to our verandah room complete with a private balcony, throw the curtains open and read for hours or marathon our favorite family shows together. I downloaded all of Young Sheldon before boarding, so my kids and I have snuggled up tight and cozy to watch it for a while every day.
It is more convenient than flying. It just is. Even if you have to fly to the port, that is a quick nonstop, and then you step on the boat, unpack and kick your feet up.
2. All-inclusive Food and Board
The food is typically pretty decent on cruises. I won't sit here and say it's the best – or healthiest – I've ever had, but it is better than most all-inclusive resorts I've been to. I've heard people gain seven pounds on an average cruise, which would be around 4-5 days, and I can't really speak to that as fact or not, but what I can say is that there is definitely a way to go way overboard with food, and many ways to do it better.
My kids have gone a little crazy with the pasta, bread, and dessert bar. On the other hand, there are plenty of options for a variety of diets on board.
I eat keto, mostly carnivore, and I have had no trouble finding options for myself on these cruises. They have everything from roasted and cured meats, to cheeses and egg stations. They don't even bat an eye when I ask for my eggs to be cooked in butter rather than oil. You absolutely do have to advocate for yourself though. If you need something specific, don't be afraid to ask for it.
The two main options for dining are the buffets and the dining halls. The buffets tend to have pretty extensive hours and the dining halls are more limited but the food is nicer and the experience feels more high-end. They are a favorite with the older cruisers who want a chance to dress up and socialize. My four-year-old is a bit of a wildling, so we tried the restaurant once, and that was once too much for her.
The speciality restaurants also offer non-complimentary options for a more restaurant-like vibe, from sushi bars to steakhouses.
3. Forced Relaxation
Forced relaxation? Sounds like an oxymoron, right? Not on a transatlantic cruise. Picture this: sea breezes, endless horizons, and a ship rocking you gently, as long as you don't get sea-sickness! It's not just a journey; it's an opportunity for the whole family to unwind, recharge, and embrace the art of doing absolutely nothing.
Is it weird that my favorite days are not the days at port, but the days at sea? There is something magical about days upon days surrounded in blue. Blue skies, blue water, everywhere. A friend asked me before I left on this cruise what I was most looking forward to, and I said, without hesitation, “the sea days.”
She looked baffled. “I don't think I've ever asked someone what they are most looking forward to on a trip and they told me ‘the transportation' before,” she said.
4. Quality Time Together
Okay, so this is one of the best aspects of a transatlantic cruise with kids, if you can let go and just enjoy. This can be harder for some than it is for others. Like I said, I love to relax, but I do also love to accomplish things. Checking boxes off lists, for example, is a special delight of mine. I often say that productivity is one of my favorite qualities in a person, and shopping for office supplies is my favorite.
But… when you are staying in under 200 sqft with your kids, you just have to accept that there will not be much time for all of that. There is a time and a place for productivity, and this just might not be that time.
This is a chance to strengthen those family ties, soaking up your moments together, all while crossing the vast Atlantic.
5. Services & Entertainment
A transatlantic cruise with kids brings you a smorgasbord of entertainment options. Live shows, movie nights, and themed parties – all designed to keep your little ones (and you) entertained from sunrise to sunset. No need to plan; just dive into the onboard excitement!
My kids especially love the kids' club and the pools. Well, my girls do. My son has no use for the teen club. What he does love is the board game and puzzle room. We brought our own stack of board games (of course), mostly Tiny Epic but also Bonanza and One Deck Dungeon to play together. He even borrowed Gloomhaven: Buttons & Bugs from his stepdad to play solo. The board game room is a nice quiet spot for gaming with excellent lighting, comfortable chairs and a really nice energy. It is also on the top deck and features interactive maps, which my son used to plan our route when we disembark in Europe, and long-range binoculars for whale and dolphin watching.
I also can't lie and say that I don't like having my room clean when I come back from breakfast every morning, or the turn down service in the evening. It's nice. Really, really nice.
6. No Jet-lag
One of the perks of a transatlantic cruise with kids is bidding farewell to those pesky time zone adjustments. I am not saying it's a piece of cake, but shifting one hour every other day or so is a much better way of doing it than all at once if you ask me. You are notified of the upcoming time change the night before with a little card left on your bed or in your mail slot.
As long as you are good about adhering to the new time and keeping with a reasonable bedtime, you really shouldn't feel the time change the way you would after a long flight and an eight hour time change. Instead, go at a leisurely pace as you glide across the ocean. It's the ultimate in relaxed travel – no need to rush, just enjoy the journey without the fatigue of battling jet-lagged little ones.
7. Cost Effective
Believe it or not, a transatlantic cruise can be your family's cost-effective escape. With meals, accommodation, and entertainment bundled up in one neat package, budgeting becomes much easier. When I compared the cost of flights, hotels, meals out at groceries, it was actually cheaper to cruise across the ocean than to fly and stay in an Airbnb or hotel somewhere.
There are a few things to keep in mind when considering this from a financial standpoint though. Number one, do not forget about the service charges. These are gratuities added to your bill at the end of your ride per person per cabin. On the cruise I am currently on, the service charges are $17 per person per day, so in a cabin of four people, that is $68 per day! You can change this amount as it is optional, but I would not recommend doing that.
The other thing that comes to mind is that there are a lot of little extras that will add up if you aren't careful and you might want to budget for them. My daily breve (latte made with half and half) runs me $5.75 for example, and the water bottle my son drank on the first night was $7.00.
A transatlantic cruise with kids CAN be very cost effective IF you keep any eye on the extras and learn when not to swipe that extra handy pre-loaded room key.
8. Educational Opportunities
I tend to oppose the word “vacation” because it implies a break from the ordinary. In my life, travel is part of our everyday. Most people see vacation as a hiatus from school or work while, for worldschoolers, unschoolers, life learners, it is precisely the opposite. We learn from life and the world around us, a voyage across the ocean is no different.
A transatlantic cruise with kids opens up a world of learning for the whole family. The stops are a great way to learn, but we gain just as much from our sea days as we do from our port days. We watch for sea life – we've seen whales, dolphins and flying fish in the past 48 hours, we have long discussions about the places we are going to visit and our plans for the journey, and talk to people to gain their perspectives as well.
From exploring new cultures in different ports to onboard activities designed for young minds, it's a journey that seamlessly blends education with adventure. Life is learning, and learning is the adventure!
9. Multigenerational Travel
I think it would be pretty safe to say that the median age on this ship is roughly 72-75. We are in the minority for sure. Most families with kids are restricted by work and school, but prioritizing a freedom-focused life has allowed us to escape these constructs that are realities for so many.
With only 13 kids on the entire boat, we stick out like a sore thumb, but it is a great learning experience for all of us. Going on a transatlantic cruise with kids means they will be interacting with people of all ages, and learning from each interaction.
Another way that multigenerational travel works is when families travel together. Grandparents, parents, kids, all finding their own outlets and ways to enjoy the boat. I love the fitness center, my kids the board game room and kids' club, and I know their grandparents would find peace and quiet in the library or have fun catching a show on one of the ships' stages.
10. Adventures and Exploration
Seeking a family adventure? Want to experience the soft life, the slow travel way? Do yourself a favor, and consider a transatlantic cruise. Unleash the explorer in your kiddos as you hop between ports, discovering new cultures and landscapes. Teach them to navigate the boat, and talk to people of all ages and cultures.
It's not a vacation; it's a hands-on, immersive journey on which the whole family will make memories to last a lifetime.
For additional tips and my take on this current boat:
Head over to my YouTube Channel or check out Vacations to Go to book your own transatlantic cruise with kids!