14 Tips On How to Plan A Ship Cruise with Family

(Last Updated On: March 1, 2023)

Many people ponder over the question of how to plan a ship cruise, and if it is in one day. Other ways to take a cruise trip have some benefits when you properly follow some steps to find an answer to how to plan a ship cruise. When you take a cruise, you are entertained online, both while sailing and out on a number of ports.

The sheer quantity of cruise alternatives and the multiple decision-making processes involved in choosing one might easily overwhelm a first-time sailor. This article explains in detail how to choose and organize a cruise that is ideal for your family.

You must make a number of important choices. Learn more about each one’s components and specifics by reading on. If you want to get the most out of your ship cruise, you must plan. By doing this in advance, you can ensure that you get the accommodation you want on the ship and the land you need to get the activities you need.

How to Plan A Ship Cruise with or without family

1. Travel Agent

Nowadays, you can save money and effectively organize practically all of your family vacations online with the help of sites like Orbitz, Tripadvisor, and Expedia. But when organizing a cruise holiday, think about working with a travel agency.

The short version is that there’s a good reason why more than 70% of cruisers book their excursions through a cruise specialist. Booking a cruise on your own without an agent’s help won’t save you any time or money, unlike some of your other family trips.

Also, you could pass up on certain promotional benefits that might enhance the worth of your vacation. As well as passing up the chance to benefit from later fare reductions and specials.

2. Decide the timing

Determine when you want to sail while planning a cruise. When planning a trip, deciding when you want to sail can help you focus your selections. Certain regions of the world have highly seasonal cruising.

As a result, the variety of possibilities accessible to you will be influenced if you are constrained to a specific time window (for example, you are restricted to a certain time of year due to school/holiday schedule) and/or if you have your heart set on visiting certain destinations.

3. Find local

If you do not already have a passport and would like to book a cruise anywhere outside of the United States, it is advisable to travel to the US territories such as Passport Ricoh and the Virgin Islands as well.

You can get a passport through your local post office and at passport offices across the country.

4. Choose Your Port of Departure

Several departure ports have been developed by cruise companies all around the country. As a result, there are many alternatives available to you while planning a cruise. This may be quite significant when it comes to planning your cruise budget.

When you select a cruise that departs from a place close to home that is drivable, you may save a lot of money on your trip. or choose a port that can be accessed by a low-cost airline. Instead, you might plan a few extra vacation days around a departure city that is further away.

5. Compare itineraries

Check websites and compare itineraries for several cruise companies. Don’t just look at the price, though this may be one of the reasons for your final decision.

Different cruise companies offer different activities on board, some of which may be less kid-friendly than other cruise lines.

6. Choose the length of your cruise

How long do you have left to take a vacation? Is there a way around the school calendar? The basic 7-day schedule is a nice place to start.

Seven days may be long enough to see a few ports, have a few sea days, and learn enough about cruising as a holiday. There are also possibilities for three and four-day cruises if you are hesitant to go on this new adventure.

Also, when considering possible itineraries, keep an eye out for “overnights” in port as well as the ratio of port days to sea days. There are many things to adore about sea days in addition to the actual ports that are visited, whether they are appealing or not.

An “overnight” stopover in port may also be included on some itineraries. This allows you to continue having a place to sleep while still having the chance to explore more of the city and its surroundings.

7. Choose a cabin wisely

Decide what type of room you want and save room on your chosen cruise line website. When planning a trip, the type of accommodation you select might have the most influence on your budget.

A family doing the same trip on the same ship in an inner cabin will most certainly pay thousands less than one taking the same itinerary in a balcony room or suite.

The degree of comfort for your family might be significantly impacted by the cruise stateroom you choose. In addition, you should think about the size of your traveling group and whether you need direct access to fresh air (needs at least a balcony) or access to natural light (internal rooms have no windows).

Typical accommodation options include a single room for just one person, a double for two people, and a family cabin and suite, both suitable for four people or more.

Save money by choosing a cabin with no sea view. If you want to spend more, look for an ocean view or porch cabin.

Ask cruise lines about the policy of upgrades, and also ask if any promotions will get you a shipping credit on board.

8. Set A Budget For Your Vacation

Obviously, choosing which cruise to take depends heavily on how much money you have to spend on a family holiday. Here are some basic tactics to think about while planning a trip in order to stretch your cruise holiday money as far as possible. Check out our article on the Best Ways To Stretch Your Family Cruise Money for more money-saving advice.

Your departure port should be your first priority if your budget is constrained or not very flexible. A day’s trip or less away port could be worth visiting by car. The savings on hotels and travel should be significant.

9. Plan your transportation

Plan your transportation to the port city from where the cruise leaves. Many cruise lines allow you to book flights while booking your cruise, giving you an easy way to book your entire trip.

However, airline fares may not be as low as you can get if you book your airline separately. Find flight rates at Port City via airport websites.

10. Booking early

Booking early—nine to twelve months or more in advance—will help you find the greatest rates. These are the most affordable prices, and you may still take advantage of any further price reductions or special offers that take place later in the year.

A good time to consider possibilities is during the “Wave Season,” which lasts from January through March. Cruise lines promote their most competitive deals for the following year around this time.

11. Select an older ship

Look into selecting an older ship for your cruise trip. Older ships typically provide considerably more affordable cruises than whatever new ship the cruise firm has just added to its fleet. These older ships can provide fantastic value since they have frequently been renovated or updated.

12. Cruise line off-on tour

As you make your decision, save your spot for the cruise line off-on tour. The spots are often limited, and some can sell travel itineraries.

If you don’t want to take part in paid trips by cruise line, plan your own coastal activities, including reservations at port city restaurants and buying tickets at museums or other attractions.

13. Examine travel insurance carefully

There will be a deadline after which you won’t be able to make any more changes without incurring significant financial penalties, regardless of whether you book a non-refundable trip or one that offers some flexibility when you’re arranging a cruise.

In the months leading up to a trip, a variety of life events may occur or problems may arise. Given the relative cost, it makes sense to have travel insurance when you book a cruise.

While planning a cruise, keep in mind that not all insurance is made equal and you do not always have to buy from the cruise line. The options that the cruise line provides might not always be the ideal ones for you.

14. Decide on a cruise company and ship

While planning a cruise, you should pay close attention to any limits on the ages of passengers if you are a family traveling with infants or toddlers. Different lines and itineraries are subject to varying limitations.

For all itineraries, certain cruise companies require children to be at least 12 months old; on other itineraries, they permit infants as young as 6 months.

In general, cruises with lengthy itineraries and plenty of sea days will have stricter age requirements. A lesser limitation is more likely to be included in a normal Caribbean itinerary.

Final thought

When you’ve made your cruise reservation, get ready for an exciting trip! But regardless of the cruise you choose to take, you will still need to make a few more choices that will significantly affect your trip and how much money you actually spend.

In this sense, choosing which shore excursions to take is among the most important choices. Choosing which onboard products, such as drink packages, to purchase.