This business was originally Making Memories With Mill, and is now just Memories With Mill. The focus of this blog and Peggy’s travel planning services is family travel. Here to answer the questions of where to go and how to even start planning a trip.
When I talk to people about family vacations, the first thing that comes to mind is budget. Here is when I am quick to suggest a cruise. After my honeymoon cruise on Royal Caribbean in 2023, I realized how cruising is now the thing to do in family travel.
Want to travel with the grandparents, parents, and kids in one trip? Take a cruise. Want to have a vacation with activities planned for kids AND planned activities for the adults? Take a cruise. Want to have a family vacation where the grandparents can be with the little ones while the parents have a date night at a nicer restaurant? Take a cruise.
Most cruise lines include dining in the price of the cruise fare so there are very few extra restaurants you have to pay for as an add on. Live in the South? Escape the cost of flights and drive to a port out of the Florida coast. Live in the Northeast? There are multiple cruise ports in Baltimore, New York City (or New Jersey), and Boston. Live in the West Coast? Both Seattle, Los Angeles, and San Diego have cruise ports.
Above is a picture of a family eating together in a Main Dining Hall on Royal Caribbean’s Independence of the Seas. Most of the Royal Caribbean ships has a 3 story Main Dining Hall with a different menu each day of the cruise, with each menu having its own theme. Although I have only been on a couple Royal Caribbean ships, I am eager to try other ships like Norwegian or Disney Cruises.
To sum it all up, cruises are a very family friendly way to spend a vacation. Whether your little kids are 3 or 13, there is something to do for everyone on a cruise. Adults can go to the casino or steak house restaurant while kids can go on the waterslide-like roller coaster or ice skating in the indoor ice rink. Most cruise lines now have a childcare program with certified childcare counselors on staff for ages 6 months -17.
Top 5 Cruise Lines for Kids & Families:
- Royal Caribbean
- Disney Cruise Lines
- Norwegian Cruise Line
- Carnival
- MSC Cruises
If you want the most budget friendly, go for Carnival. If you want the cruise with the most thrills and adventure, go for Royal. If you want the most flexible itineraries for your cruise, then pick Norwegian. If your kid is a huge Disney fan of any sort (think princesses or Marvel superheroes), then go with a Disney Cruise. MSC Cruises frequently has kids sail free deals, if you are looking for that promotion.
As you can see below, when you enter a cruise ship it feels huge. But then you realize you are standing in a floating city, and there won’t possibly be enough time to do everything on one trip.
Want to price out your options? Compare your budget for a land vs cruise vacation? Contact Peggy at memorieswithmill@gmail.com or fill out the form on the Contact Us page to get in touch with Peggy today. Let the fun planning begin!
Memories With Mill Travel 
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