Family Cruises!
Ray Goldenberg
I received this press release from the Cruise Lines International
Association (CLIA) and thought it may be of interest. If you have
missed any of my news' postings, they are archived on my web site.
Best regards,
Ray
LIGHTHOUSE TRAVEL
800-719-9917 or 805-566-3905
http://www.lighthousetravel.com
NEW YORK NY, March 30
Don't look now, but in just a few weeks school is out for the summer.
As families scramble to organize their summer vacations, more are
opting for a cruise as the solution.
Cruise lines expect to carry more than half a million guests under the
age of 18 this year, and the industry has geared its facilities and
programs to accommodate these young sailors and to enthrall their
parents ... and grandparents ... as well.
All the member companies of the Cruise Line Coalition, an information
bureau formed by Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) and the
International Council of Cruise Lines (ICCL), welcome children age 12
and over, and the vast majority are geared for children of all ages.
Fifteen lines offer reduced rates for kids (and most carry infants for
free); 16 offer babysitting services; 17 have cribs available for
little ones, and 21 feature family cabins that can accommodate three
or four persons.
Special activities abound for children. Of course, the all-time
favorites, such as arts and craft classes, movies, games and contests
and cartoons, are offered by nearly all cruise lines. But some offer
the unexpected as well, such as escorted shore excursions, foreign
language classes, swimming pools just for kids, snorkeling
instruction, volleyball, basketball and other fun stuff.
Well aware that two-income households have complicated the
vacation-planning process, cruise lines have made it easy -- and
affordable -- for families to vacation at sea, and have thus helped
define a niche in the travel market.
There are itineraries geared to any family's schedule, from short
cruises of three to five days (perfect for weekend getaways) to
week-long and longer voyages. Virtually all ships have special
children's menus loaded with classic, kid-friendly dishes (macaroni
and cheese, hot dogs, hamburgers and French fries) that can supplement
selections from the main menu for the more sophisticated junior
gastronomes onboard. Many cruise lines feature special children's
clubs and most have child and teen counselors on staff.
``These reduced fares, plus the fact that all food, transportation and
activities are included in the cost of a cruise, makes a cruise one of
the best vacation values for budget-conscious families,'' said James
G. Godsman, president of CLIA, who points out that families are one of
the fastest growing categories of cruise vacation prospects.
Generally speaking, activities are designed with specific age groups
in mind, and emphasize education as well as fun.
To learn more about special family activities and fares, visit CLIA's
website, http://www.cruising.org, or meet with a cruise counselor at a
CLIA-affiliated agency. To find one, use the Cruise Expert Locator on
CLIA's website, or check the local yellow pages listings.
The Cruise Line Coalition is an information bureau formed by Cruise
Lines International Association (CLIA), a North American-based
marketing and training organization representing 23 cruise lines and
nearly 20,000 affiliated travel agencies, and the International
Council of Cruise Lines (ICCL), a Washington-based trade association
representing 16 cruise lines in the North American market and more
than 65 cruise industry suppliers.