For multi-generational families, choosing a holiday that offers something for everyone to enjoy can be a difficult task. Parents may be thinking about the cultural insights, fabulous beaches, and delicious food available on board; while the children may be daunted by the prospect of spending time away from land for a period of time. But a cruise can offer a range of facilities and amenities to ensure all family members are fully entertained and refreshed throughout their holiday and, perhaps most importantly, it offers great value for money. Our five-step guide provides a compact list of ideas and pointers to put across to potential clients.
Try to pick an itinerary with plenty of port calls and plenty of time to fully appreciate each destination. This should even be at the top of your agenda, as you want to ensure you are visiting places that the whole family can enjoy. Obviously, a transatlantic cruise for the family may be a bad idea – due to the fact that they will have to spend a considerable amount of time on board. Choose between the Mediterranean and Caribbean; both of which offer seasonal warmth, an array of beautiful destinations, and short bursts of time at sea.
Depending on what your clients may want to do or expect to see during their cruise, emphasis should be placed on booking excursions which offer something for everyone. Parents may want to stroll at a leisurely pace and soak up local landmarks and culture, while younger members of the family may fancy something active. With this in mind, pre-booking excursions may be the way to go.
Excursions often blend these two factors together to ensure everyone is happy. For example, you can experience the glistening coastline of Santorini as part of a kayak tour; or you could head on a nature trail and spot moose, bear, monkeys, dolphins and much more within their natural habitats.
Hearing the dreaded “I’m bored…” is a major concern for many families heading on holiday. Remember that, although your clients will be spending a lot of time on shore, the ship is where you will be spending time together in the evenings, mornings and at meal times. Royal Caribbean is perhaps one of the most family-friendly cruise lines in operation. Recent additions to the Royal Caribbean fleet have seen the introduction of amenities that include bumper cars, water slides, surfing simulators, skydiving simulators, ice skating, basketball courts, climbing walls, and much more.
Many lines also put a lot of emphasis into the children’s clubs, which are split into a number of age-respective groups. Disney Cruise Line even offer a pick-up service after dinner, allowing couples to enjoy the evening – safe in the knowledge that their children are having the time of their lives.
While it is important that children enjoy their holiday, parents also need time to enjoy their holiday on their own. Children’s clubs offer parents the peace of mind to be able to enjoy time together, and many ships have plenty of adult-only areas. Whether parents are looking to sample gourmet delights, watch a glittering theatrical performance, or simply enjoy a drink or two in the lounge – children’s clubs and amenities offer plenty of respite.
Cruising is one of the most affordable holiday options – providing the opportunity to experience a number of beautiful destinations over a short period of time from the comfort of a floating holiday resort. If you love cruising and are considering a franchise business opportunity, why not consider becoming a cruise specialist with GoCruise Franchise? To find out more, contact us via the number above or complete an Online Enquiry Form.
