Cruise Travel: How to Keep Kids Entertained on Sea Days
Cruise travel is a wonderful way to see the world and can be a fantastic vacation option for families. It offers the opportunity to see a whole range of different destinations and experience new things almost every day, without having to go through the bother of packing and unpacking constantly.
However, a family cruise vacation does present certain challenges for younger kids, particularly when it comes to sea days.
Sea days are entire days spent at sea when the ship is sailing between ports. While adults might enjoy watching the stunning Alaskan landscapes from the deck of a cruise ship, or just relaxing and enjoying the time off, kids can find sea days boring.
Luckily, modern cruise ships are packed with amazing amenities, exciting experiences, and fun activities and things to do, with a load of options designed specifically for kids. So if you are planning your next family vacation on the ocean waves, here are a few ideas of how to keep your kids entertained during sea days.
Kid-Friendly Pools and Water Parks
One of the best things about cruise ships is that they are like floating luxury resorts. They come equipped with all the amenities you would expect from an all-inclusive hotel, including a great selection of kid-friendly pools, waterparks, waterslides, splash zones, and lazy rivers. These are absolutely perfect for kids to spend sea days enjoying themselves without the need to disembark.
Kids’ Clubs and Youth Programs
Cruise ships tend to be extremely family-friendly and most ships offer complimentary kids’ clubs and youth programs. Not only are these a great way to keep your kids entertained when there’s not much else going on, but they also give parents the chance to relax and enjoy themselves on their own terms, without having to be on duty all the time!
Onboard Entertainment and Shows
Cruise ships are famous for the quality of their entertainment and regularly boast an impressive program of spectacular shows, concerts, and live performances. And this isn’t just for parents and adults – much of the onboard entertainment in the venues around a cruise ship is specifically designed or at the very least suitable for kids. From Broadway-style musicals and close-up magic shows to family-friendly comedy or blockbuster movies, watching entertainment and shows onboard is a great way to spend sea days.
Sports and Adventure Activities
For more adventurous, active kids, cruise ships can seem a little stifling, and the prospect of a day at sea cooped up without activity or exercise might be concerning. Luckily, most shops boast a wide variety of sports and adventure activities, from rock climbing walls and mini-golf courses to racket sports courts and surf simulators. You might even find basketball courts or football pitches, with friendly matches organized by the ship’s entertainers.
Not only is this a great way to stay active and keep boredom at bay, but it is also an opportunity to make a few new friends at the same time!
Arcade, Virtual Reality Zones and their Favorite Shows
Of course, not all entertainment has to take place outside, or even in the real world! Modern cruise ships offer a wealth of high-tech entertainment on board, from arcade games to virtual reality, which are a brilliant way for kids to pass the time. Whether it is trying their hand at old-school pinball or the latest video games, this is a superb way to keep kids entertained on sea days.
You could even arrange a “down time” where your kids can enjoy their favorite shows on the streaming website of your liking taking advantage of the cruise’s WiFi connection to find some alone time with your partner.
Days spent at sea rather than in port don’t have to be dull, and keeping kids entertained shouldn’t be a daunting task. Modern cruise ships are full of exciting entertainment options so your children will be stimulated and taken care of every minute of every day!
