Europe with Your Family

Planning a family vacation? Not sure where to go? Well don’t mark Europe off your list of potential destinations. It’s a common misconception that traveling to Europe with the kids is a daunting task. And it’s easy to see why many people feel this way. Ten hour flights, different hotels every night and days of exotic foreign food are enough to make any kid just a little cranky. Throw in a Dad who has to lug the suitcases and a Mom who watches her wallet shrinking, it's no wonder that an excursion to SeaWorld might be preferable.

But traveling to Europe with your family can be easy…and dare I say it…fun! Cruises are a great way to see several European destinations without the hassle of a typical land tour. With the introduction of new European itineraries from some of the more family friendly cruise lines such as Carnival and Royal Caribbean, you and your family can take a trip that they’ll remember forever.

The pros
You get to stay in the same place every night! No packing and unpacking, long bus or train rides or uncertainty. After exploring the port, it’s back to your ship and all the comforts of home. Your picky eaters will get to enjoy those American classics they love, making dinner time that much easier. And let’s not forget that all your meals on board are included in every cruise you take, easing "Euro menu sticker shock". Somewhere, ashore tonight, there is a family paying $30 per person for fish and chips!

Children's programs for all age ranges and babysitting services allow travelers time to mingle with their peers and make new friends, plus offers the adults some time alone.
There are also occasional days at sea to recuperate and rest your weary feet. Touring different cities day after day can become tiresome for the little ones so it’s nice to have time to enjoy all the amenities of the ship and rest up

And let’s not forget the greatest "pro" of them all…You’re in Europe!!! Most ports in Europe are steeped in history and beauty and will make your vacation educational as well as fun. I know, education may not be a big selling point to the kids while planning, but there is something exciting about actually getting to see all the places your kids have only read about in school. Cruise lines offer many different types of shore excursions at each port so it’s a breeze to pick some that will satisfy even the toughest critic in your bunch!

The Cons
There’s no way around it. Until technology catches up with our imaginations, you will have to take a plane to get to your departure port. But modern technology has made these trips a little easier. Personal TVs, portable DVD players, i-pods and the like all help to entertain you and the kids. While flying business class for the whole group may be a tad expensive, foreign flag airlines tend to offer a bit more legroom in the back because their planes are used for virtually 100% international travel. Book flights early and be sure to check your airlines web site to make sure your seats are away from the lavatories and galleys. A good web site to check out "best seats" is www.SeatGuru.com It may also be a good idea to book an overnight flight so that you will be more inclined to sleep for a large portion of the journey.
The second con is that you don’t get to spend all long days in some ports. Most stops are from 8 to 10 hours in each city. This may not give you and your family enough time to see every single sight in the port. It’s best to think of these kinds of cruises like an appetizer sampler at your favorite restaurant. You’ll get to have the best of the choices, but you may have to come back a couple times if you want to try the whole menu.

So while you’re planning your next family trip, take a look at the many Europe cruises available. They’re an easy, exciting and relatively affordable way to take your family to new destinations around the world!