People often think that cruises are only for older generations, but in fact they’re actually the ideal holidays for families. Not only are cruises safe environments for the kids to run wild (MSC offers a security bracelet system for kids), but they also provide them with an enriching holiday experience, visiting a number of different destinations, each with their own unique culture, as well as enjoying a multitude of experiences on board.
MSC Cruises were in fact launched as a family-owned company, so they understand the difficulties families can go through when booking a holiday to suit everyone. Often what mum and dad want to do won’t match the fun that the kids want to have!
Fortunately, with an MSC cruise there are activities available for kids (and grown-ups!) of every age on board to enjoy during those days and evenings at sea:
Kids clubs
On board MSC cruises are five kids clubs – one for every age group: Baby Club (under 3 years); Mini Club (3-6 years); Junior Club (7-11 years); Young Club (12-14 years) and Teen Club (15-17 years). These will engage your kids in activities suitable for their age group and keep them occupied with games, arts crafts, dance parties and more, allowing them to have a bit of independence from their parents, and parents to have a bit of downtime. These clubs will engage them with others their age so they can make friendships on board, and they may even get a chance to learn some of the history of the destinations you’ll be visiting.
Pools & waterparks
Every MSC ship has its own pool area with dedicated kids’ areas, meaning they can swim safely. Many also have their own waterparks and splash zone areas which, as we all know, kids will be obsessed with! If you get a chance to travel on board the MSC Preziosa, they’ll be lucky enough to try out the longest waterslide at sea: the 120m long Vertigo.
Day time activities
If your itinerary has a day at sea and you’re worried the kids will get bored, you need worry no more. Every ship in MSC’s fleet has a vast range of day time activities to participate in, including sports games and tournaments, from football and basketball to minigolf and shuffleboard, so that every activity level will be covered; dance contests; Wii/Xbox/PS3 games and challenges; and even exclusive hair salons and beauty treatments for teens in the MSC Aurea Spa.
Night time fun
When day turns to night, the teens can be kept busy with exclusive events that have been especially designed to be both fun and safe, including the MSC Flashmob, a Teens White Party and a formal Prom night, among others. For the younger kids, the Radio MSC Generation has nightly video and music requests, and there are cinemas and theatres on board to keep them occupied.
Dining
In addition to all the other fun activities, MSC also have ones that tie into dining for kids. Options like Fun Time Dinner, Happy Dinners and Kids around the Clock mean that they can be flexible for families and provide food that kids will love.