As a former anti-cruise goer, I am happy to report that the last (and first!) cruise my family took was a great success. We enjoyed seeing different parts of the world, the variety of entertainment and daily activities, the international staff and the fact that everyone found something to do. Our days were full of sunshine, sitting by the pool, riding the waterslide and spending quality time together. There was also plenty for my special needs child to appreciate. My cynicism was squashed and it was decided that cruises for us a family work.

So this year when we decided it was time for another cruising trip, we decided on Carnival Cruise Line’s Freedom, one of their older lines that has been renovated, and sails to three ports in the Western Caribbean. We would be cruising out of Texas, a state we had not visited and were curious what the trip in total would be like. (You can find out about the Texas portion here on the blog.)

Filled with wonder, we all set out on our trip during the final weeks of summertime. The kids were curious if the food, movies, video games and waterslides would live up to their expectations. My husband hoped he would be able to relax on the ship and really utilize his time off work. And me? I hoped I’d find some solace, see a few beautiful places in the world, stay healthy and come home with new memories. Full of pre-conceptions about cruising and Carnival, in general, we set out on our seven-day journey.

Finding Solace

As a mom, I can promise other mothers that they will enjoy cruising for one simple reason: the opportunity to truly chill. Once on board, a steward tends to your stateroom a few times a day, refreshing towels, making beds and picking your kids’ clothes up off the floor. Someone else makes all the meals for you – there is neither menu planning nor any cleaning up after dinner. You don’t have to be anywhere; there is neither schedule nor routine. I really liked our stateroom. The layout allowed us to spread out and not feel cramped. The balcony required several sittings a day to enjoy the ocean view.

However, during the day I found getting quiet time a slight challenge. The only pool my kids were allowed to swim in was very crowded. They weren’t gravitating toward the kid’s club. While I looked forward to our destination days, I found sail days more of a struggle. With the kids declaring boredom, which I can’t understand, I found more of a need than usual to find my own space.

But I managed to find my groove and I found my solace. On sail days, I had a small breakfast in the room (We loved the complimentary room service), and then headed to the gym, where I worked out and sat in the steam room and sauna with a good book (thanks to Jojo Moyes). I spent ample time at the Serenity Pool, the adult only pool, getting sunwhere my kids were allowed to sit. I went for walks on the 3^rd floor deck, read the top deck and hibernated in the room when necessary. At night, I loved watching the Playlist Productions perform, sitting at the piano bar and watched Dive In films at the pool like Into the Woods, The Hunger Games, and Fault In Our Stars – complete with popcorn and a blanket.

Staying Healthy

Carnival is like any other cruise line, offering many options for cuisine. In addition to the buffet on the Lido Deck and the Posh and Chic restaurants, they have the Steakhouse, Guy’s Burger Joint and the Blue Iguana Cantina. The amount of food can be overwhelming, but it’s quite possible to eat healthy while cruising. I used such strategies as taking smaller portions, drinking a lot of water, avoiding fried food and dressings and the like.

I also tried to resist temptations, but it’s really hard with everyone around you eating a hamburger and fries in the middle of the afternoon (fortunately, I’m a vegetarian!). I let myself indulge once daily, generally at night for dessert, but quite often I ordered fruit, sorbet or simply tasted my family’s selections. After a few days, I actually gave in to my willpower a little bit and began to eat more than I’d planned, but you only live once. When the kids were hungry, they got frozen yogurt on the deck and avoided fried foods, but they indulged, too.

Date Night

The one night my husband and I went out alone for dinner to the Sun King Steakhouse, I definitely let myself indulge. For a $35 surcharge, you get an appetizer, entrée and dessert. The restaurant is elegant; the meal first –rate. Appetizers include escargots bourguignonne, grilled portobello mushroom, beef carpaccio, ahi tuna tartar, jumbo shrimp cocktail, New England crab cake, lobster bisque with vintage cognac, and baked onion soup.  The entrees consist of broiled prime New York strip loin steak (14 oz.), grilled prime cowboy steak (18 oz.), spice-rubbed prime rib eye steak (18 oz.), broiled filet mignon (9 oz.), surf & turf (Maine lobster tail and 4 oz. filet mignon), broiled lobster tail, broiled rosemary infused chicken, grilled lamb chops, Maine lobster ravioli, and grilled fillet of fish from the market. The meal was delicious and it was definitely nice to get dressed up and have adult conversation for an evening.

Saving Money

Carnival Cruise Line is a budget cruise line, and is known for that but is good value. Prices start at $189 per person for interior staterooms during their five-day cruises. Freedom, has been renovated and has completely overhauled its kids’ program, entertainment, waterslide, spa and restaurants.

But despite the low cost, once you’re on the ship, it’s important to control everyone’s expenses by limiting what they are allowed to spend. I used strategies, which really cut our bill down — like having the kids drink water rather than order anything other than what’s free (lemonade, iced tea, coffee and water). I didn’t give them access to an expense account on their sail cards; everything had to be requested through us. We didn’t book our excursions on the boat; rather we booked them in advance online or at the port. We tipped at our own discretion, rather than let the ship add automatic tips onto our bill. Most importantly, I talked to my family before we left so that everyone was in agreement about what we would spend so that it was understood and adhered to. While more money may have been spent on cocktails and video games than I would have liked, overall our bill was far lower than I hoped.

Overall

By the end of the cruise, I found myself enjoying it more than I thought I would. The offshore bits were really lovely and my kids had experiences that were truly unique and special – like parasailing in Mexico, jet skiing in Honduras and snorkeling in Belize. We fell in love with our wait staff in the dining room – they were a trio from the Philippines, all with families back home. They told us a bit about their lives and we were riveted by their “performance” every other night, when the entire wait staff danced around the dining room. My husband actually celebrated his birthday during the cruise, and it was a lovely, memorable way to celebrate.

I was able to find my solace and respite from the crowds and my kids, despite not going to the kid’s club, had a ball and found what they liked doing on the ship.

Disclosure: My family and I were guests of Carnival and most of her expenses were covered. However, all of her opinions expressed are her own.

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Flickr: Thomas Quine

(This article originally appeared on MiniTime and then Yahoo Travel. I am thrilled to share it with you!)

At first glance, cruising appears to be an affordable family vacation option, but it’s important to be aware that cruise lines make the majority of their money from passengers after the ship’s departure. To avoid a big bill at the end of your voyage, we have six tips to help you save money on your next family cruise vacation:

Plan Ahead

Not only is booking your cruise well ahead of time worth while, but it’s also important to purchase any extras ahead of time as well. This includes meal plans, drink packages, spa treatments and specialty restaurants. Think carefully before buying things like drink packages. Wine is provided free of charge at dinner, and you can easily drink water during the day. Do you and your kids really need to drink soda all day? Another tip is to take a short cruise. Two weeks on a ship will really cost you, but seven days can be more manageable budget-wise.

Kids Travel for Less

Right now if you head over to MSC’s website, you’ll see that you can book a 7 –day Caribbean cruise for $299 a person. But, keep in mind that kids 11 and under sail MSC free and kids 12-17 sail at a reduced rate.

Utilize Kids’ Resources

Buying a teen card for your child will control their spending as it cuts off at a limit. This comes in handy in the video game room. It also instills a sense of responsibility, allowing them to order their own drinks whilst knowing that they have a cap. Childcare is generally free, so make every effort to use it. The kids will have more fun than they will with you, anyway.

Live Sparingly and Disconnect

Wifi is costly, ($30 an hour) but it’s free in many restaurants on port stops so you an easily bypass buying a plan. Besides, it’s healthier for you to disconnect and spend quality time with your family. Try to also pack just enough clothes so you can avoid doing laundry on the ship and carry your bags on the plane, avoiding check-in fees. Use the gym – classes are extra and they add up.

Be Self-Sufficient

Don’t rely on the cruise staff for everything. Book your excursions off the ship. They are 3-4 times more expensive onboard. You can book local tours and taxis for a fraction of the price and have just as good a time.

Teach Your Kids Willpower

Explain to your children that they don’t need another Shirley Temple or ice-cream cone. The free cruise buffets offer plenty of options to carry everyone through the day and satisfy every kind of craving.

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The Escapism Factor: What We Like About MSC  However, after just 1 or 2 days on the ship, we were both converts, realizing the escapism factor that cruise traveling offers and it’s not something to be taken for granted. Traveling on the MSC Divina on our first family cruise was really special and sheer luck as our first venture out onto the high seas for many reasons. For one thing, the Divina is a new ship and a spectacular one visually.  It offers the best of cutting-edge technology, the glamour of golden age sea travel (there are photographic reminders all over the ship) and a full itinerary. MSC’s story began 300 years ago in Sorrento and the line maintains their legacy. Their mantra is literally that good food is a way of life and that following your heart is just as important as following your head. Life should be measured in moments, not minutes. Hence, my family savored our time on the ship, and the warm staff helped in our quest to have an authentic cruise experience.

Another reason we favored this ship is that MSC is a European line. It derives from Italy, and there are so many Italian touches on board – from the staff to the foot to entertainment. From Italian opera to learning the language to espressos to a gelato bar to wine tastings, the ship exudes Italian culture and heritage. Saying that, the entire staff is around the world, and I think, for that reason, they aren’t pushy. No one pushed us to book excursions on board or purchase anything from the shops. The service was nothing but attentive and courteous. There was also a lot of focus on safety and hygiene. In addition to constant hand washing (there are Purell containers all over the ship and you’re asked to wash often). there was a safety drill as soon as we got on board and obvious efforts to keep us safe at all times. The ship is also very clean and its staff make every effort to keep it that way 24 hours a day. The food is also exceptional for a cruise ship, although you have to remember this was my first cruising experience. It was hard to believe the chefs were preparing for over 4,000 passengers a day. There was a nice variety of healthy options, an issue of great importance to me, and our meals weren’t rushed. Once on board, we were reminded that we were on holiday and that there was no rush. That included long, savory meals.

We truly savored the variety of entertainment and daily activities. The night time performances were outstanding. Every night after dinner we were treated to a night of acrobatics, music and dance. By day, we were all doing our thing – whether it was lounging by the pool or jive dancing.  The options were creative and fun and often there was more than one activity at a time that I wanted to participate in, but we refused to follow a schedule and went with the flow during our entire seven days on the ship. Where We Slept: Our Stateroom We were given a perfectly sized stateroom for four persons with a balcony overlooking the sea. The room consisted of a double bed, a pull-out sofa, a TV and bathroom. While it wasn’t easy keeping it tidy with two kids, our room attendant cleaned it twice a day – replacing our towels, making our beds and tidying up our belongings. The mini bar was refreshed daily. After a long day out in the sun, sitting out on the balcony watching the view of the sea felt just right.

Where We Ate I had a bit of a misconception about cruise food before getting on the Divina. I envisioned one long buffet after another, so I was pleasantly surprised to find not only restaurants that served sit down meals for lunch and dinner as part of our package, but also specialty restaurants that offer a change of pace from the normal cruise food. These weren’t included in the cruise package but were nice diversions from the set meals.

At the beginning of the cruise, I tried to best to rein in what my family ate and encouraged healthy choices. I won’t say I gave up but I did become less rigid. We agreed on having one sweet option a day and to lay off sugar drinks. I encouraged high protein dinners, as well, but I refused to cramp anyone’s style and gave into the fact that it was only seven days and completely surreal. Who eats like that in real life? Why not enjoy ourselves? However, I will add that for people watching their weight, the menus did list alternative options so it is possible not to overeat on a cruise. Also, when you’re not eating, try to exercise as much as you can – walk up stairs every chance you get – get your body moving to work off some of the calories. Buffet breakfast is served from 6:30-10am and offers just about everything you and your family could want. It was definitely the most crowded meal of the day, as it’s the only place to go in the morning, but the room is huge and it was always possible to find seating with a view of the ocean by the window, or we could take our morning coffee and meal out on the deck to get some air. There were more options for lunch. If you’re into buffets, the Buffet Calumet and Manituris is open all afternoon. We were pleased to find an ethnic section and traditional offerings, as well as a full salad bar. For more controlled portions and refinery with a sit down meal, we went to the Villa Rossa. Seating times were more limited (12-2), but when time is of no issue, it is well worth it. The food during this meal was not dissimilar to the evening meals.

We had a reserved table each night at 6pm. Two waiters were assigned to our table, both from Indonesia and both very well mannered and attentive. The boat has a dress code in the evening – no jeans or shorts. As a mom who works and has to get food on the table regularly, it was a treat to have full sit-down meals with polite service. I can’t say the food was extraordinary, but most of it was quite good. We always had an option of fish, meat or pasta, and always a vegetarian option, which I appreciated. Wine and beer was included with evening meals.

The Divina hosts Eataly Steakhouse, which we were happy to experience during a date night without our children.  The popular Turin-based chain was founded by Oscar Farinette in 2007 and opened in the U.S. in 2010 in partnership with celebrity chefs Marion Batali and Lidia and Joe Bastianich. Eataly now has 16 locations around the world. It’s an upscale Italian culinary experience and we were treated with exceptional wine, exquisite fish and steak, the best salads on the ship and out of this world cannoli for dessert.  The décor is simple yet elegant. White tablecloth, white flowers, wooden floor, exposed brick walls. The bread is served in paper bags to keep it warm with olive oil for dipping it into. I’m going to elaborate on this experience in a future post. The meal was just that good. Eataly serves their homemade pizza with individual toppings all day – either in the restaurant or via room service. It’s not the pizza you can get from the buffet – it’s gourmet and it’s sublime and worth the extra fee.

Nearby is La Cantina de Bacco, a wine bar associated with Eataly, that has an extensive menu produced by an association of leading Italian winemakers committed to producing high-quality wines using only sustainable farming practices. The menu offers bottles from famous wineries including Fontana Fredda and Mirafiore.  The cruise offers “The Winemaker Experience” where you can create your own custom bottle of wine and purchase anywhere from 1, 2, 3, or 12 bottles of wine or simply participate in the Boutique Winery Tasting. We sat at the wine bar one afternoon and sampled a few Italian wines and  a few appetizers offered free of charge with a tasting. Our Daily Program

Each night we received a full agenda for the next day and were able to check off our planned activities. There was an entertainment team who led everything and was seen all over the ship all day and night who led these activities. My daughter enjoyed arts & crafts and spent several hours each day designing a tee shirt, making a decorative box and paper flowers. My husband likes to dance and took classes daily including tango, jive and waltz. We took Italian lessons. We went shuffle boarding and joined in ping pong tournaments. I took yoga classes daily (for a small fee) in the gym and took morning walks on the top deck. There are trivia games, aerobic classes, water balloon tosses and so much more. We could be busy…or do nothing.

After dinner, we danced (with the kids in tow). We drank cocktails in the jazz bar. We went to the shows. One night there was an Elton John tribute, another night karaoke. We drank tea in the lounge and listened to a Russian trio playing classical music. It was a true break from reality. Excursions at Island Stops

The boat stopped three times. We spent a whole day in St. Martin, 1/2 a day in the British Virgin Islands and a whole day on a private island called Great Stirrups Bay in the Bahamas. We booked our tours off the ship for a fraction of what was charged on board ($20-$25 a person) and got a full taste of each island. We shopped in the markets, soaked up the sun on paradisiacal beaches and met the locals. Great Stirrups Bay was quite a special day as it’s a private island shared by the cruise line with Norwegian. Our shop brought off food for lunch, their entertainment crew, bar drinks and equipment to enjoy the sea. We snorkeled all day and saw the most brilliant, colorful fish. It created quite a memory for all of us. What to Expect as a Family 

MSC is one of the newer cruise lines, and my hunch is that they are still figuring out kids’ activities. The good news is that they offer a full kids’ club that is open most of the day. Mine were hesitant to join, mainly out of fear they would miss out on what we were doing but also because they worried about being on the older side. Their age group ran from 7-11 and my daughter is right at the tail end of the spectrum. But when they finally went in on our 3rd day, they enjoyed themselves somewhat. Though they were courted with Wii game, arts and crafts and other fun activities, my kids wanted to be out on the deck with us. However, my kids are old enough to roam around on their own. The ship offers a water slide and several game rooms. We purchased a “Teen Card” when we boarded to control their spending in these areas, which was a brilliant idea. We put a cap of $30 on each card and they couldn’t spend beyond that amount. I have a feeling that MSC will keep improving their selection of activities for kids as time progresses so that parents have more alone time but I think they are more than on their way.

Getting Down to Basics: COST (w/ Ideas for Saving Money on the Cruise Ship) Right now if you head over to MSC’s web site, you’ll see that you can book the cruise for $299 a person for a 7 day Caribbean cruise. That is for an interior room with no balcony or view of the water. Or you can get a stateroom with a balcony for $599. We even met people on the ship who booked the cruise for $199 for the week, plus taxes. Booking prices have never been cheaper, and you have to wonder what MSC prices are going to do to the rest of the cruising industry

However, despite these low booking prices, you need to be careful with all the extra fees that you can incur onboard. It’s definitely important to do your research before boarding so you know how to book drink cards, teen cards and anything else you can purchase in advance to cut down costs. A few dollars here and there does add up. Gym classes cost extra, as do excursions, video games, shopping on board, and you can easily rack up quite a bill. While on board, I came up with a short list of how to save money on a family cruise – I’m sure there even more ways and I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments.

– Wifi is costly ($30 an hour) but free in many restaurants on port stops so you can easily bypass purchasing a plan.

– Buy a teen card to control your kid’s spending – the can use it anywhere on the ship. We purchased cards for $30 each and it cut them off at their limit.

– Book excursions off the ship. They are 3-4 times more onboard. You can local tours and taxis for a fraction of the price and have just as good a time.

– Shop on the last ship on the last day of the cruise (if you must shop). Prices are slashed. – Drink H2O or stick to meal plans, or purchase a drink plan, but don’t just go ordering drinks all day. Wine is given with meals in the evening so you can drink your liquor then.

– Use the gym – classes are costly.

– Take advantage of child care – it’s free and the kids will have more fun than they will with you (if you can get them there!).

Disclosure: I was provided with complimentary cruise fare and a special package to review the boat’s services with my family However, all opinions are my own.

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Last Sunday we were invited by Conde’ Naste Traveler to spend a day on the new Norwegian Breakaway. I was immediately intrigued as my kids have never been on a cruise and I was eager to teach them more about the whole cruising phenomenon   They have long lusted over the idea of going on one, so why not spend a day showing them what it’s about? Nothing wrong with that.

Getting to the pier was easy.  The ship was docked at pier 88, right around West 57th Street and 12th Avenue and there was easy parking access right there.  At fist sight, we were all knocked out by the size of the ship, which holds 4,000 passengers. Personally, I liked the Peter Max art on the outside. There are pieces of NYC inspiration all over this newly designed vessel, from murals to pastries to an exercise class inspired by the Rockettes to Broadway-inspired performances. Plus, upon departure, you have fantastic views of NYC from all sides. The ship sails from NYC to Bermuda or the Bahamas.

First we were led to the dining room and served a meal fit for a King, accompanied by performers from the ship’s entertainment line-up. From Nickelodeon to Second City to a Cirque Du Soleil inspired group called Cirque Dreams, we got a good look at what the ship has to offer at night. I was thrilled to see a performance from Rocks of Ages, which I caught in NYC a few years back, and my husband liked the short bit of jazz music that was played for us. When the Nickeloden actors came out and slimed a fellow audience member, my kids’ eyes and ears perked up. You can read more about the kids who was picked to be slimed here and find out just how slimy the slimy was. I also grew up watching kids get slimed on Nickelodeon and used to work for the cable network, so this act had an element of nostalgia for me, as well.  With full stomachs, our adventures continued around the ship as we walked around to check everything out.

All my kids had to do was spot the new Aqua Park & Sports Complex to know the Norwegian Breakaway was a ship after their own hearts.  The ship is the only cruise ship in the world with five multi-story water slides.  Its accompanying Sports Complex offers three levels of adventure for all ages, including the largest ropes course at sea and the Plank, which extends 8 feet over the side of the ship. My kids were mesmerized and kind of upset that mom hadn’t brought their swimwear and found the experience incredibly tempting as we had a finite number of hours we were allowed to stay on board.

Still, they found it all very exciting to be walking around a cruise ship amongst the rest of a very large group set to sail to the Bahamas later that day.  We walked across the deck and saw the Splash Academy, a huge two-story facility for kids ages 6 months to age 12, and a mini golf course to boot.  I secretly dreamt about staying on board as stow-aways so my kids could enjoy the kid’s club and my husband and I could drift off to the adult areas, sipping cocktails and staying in hot pools all afternoon.

Maybe another time. No, definitely another time, it’s my kids’s new resolution to go on a cruise and sail the seas.  After all that temptation, can you blame them?

It’s nice to know that we can pack our bags, head to midtown and jump on a cruise ship that sails to the Caribbean, with all the amenities we could ever need.

To book a cruise on Norwegian Breakaway, call 1.888.NCLCRUISE, contact your travel professional, or visit Breakaway.NCL.com

Disclosure: I was invited as a guest to explore the ship with my family and was not compensated for this post.

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If you’re like me at this stage of my life, I look for trips that will satisfy every member of my family. My kids are really young, and I know they won’t be forever. While my husband and I are into crazy globe-trotting adventures where we bring them to fantastic places that are on our list of destinations we’ve yet to visit, I have to admit that we’re also into rest and relaxation. Last week I wrote about our newly discovered passion for all-inclusive resorts which have huge affordability and child-friendliness factors. In addition, every now and then, we just need a break from the juggling. Between managing our own work schedules and hobbies, the kid’s schedules, the domestics, all of our extra-curricular activities, doctor’s appointments and everything else that comes with being a parent, sometimes you need to choose a vacation that will truly cater to your need to relax. A cruise is one of these types of vacations.

A cruise vacation has all the ingredients of a family vacation. According to Bob Sehlinger, one of the authors of The Unofficial Guide to Cruises, cruises continue to be the a great family travel option for the following reasons:

1. Cruises are one of the best bargains in travel.

2. The major lines (RCCL, Princess, Norwiegan) have all dramatically upgraded their children’s program and child care options.

3. Children’s programs and child care allow parents as much “adult time” as they want.

4. Many ships, like Disney Cruise Line’s, have a special part of the ship set aside for each age group including teens.

5. Cruising is a perfect and easy way to introduce children to foreign lands and cultures.

As stated above, cruising is exceedingly affordable. All meals and entertainment are included in the cruise fare. If you’re a family of four, you can fit two adults and two kids into almost any standard cabin. You’ll have to pay to get to Florida or to the designated port of departure, but other than that, your expenses will be low if you keep all the extras down (like excursions, extra food, gifts).

It’s easy to book a cruise, and discountcruises.com is a good example of a site that offers discounted cruise packages for the entire family. It’s best to plan in advance and grab the specials as soon as you catch them. A friend of mine says that the rates are even better during the school year. He took his kids out of school during the last month of the school year after he found a superb rate on the Disney Mediterranean Cruise. A week into the cruise, the sales staff slipped a note under the door of his room. Basically, the boat was below capacity, and they offered him a fantastic rate of about $300 each to stay for another week. My friend said that the offer was so good, it was irresistible.

Kids often sail free or at 50% off the total price of a full-paid ticket. I scoured the Internet and found a hand full of cruise deals where kids sail free this year or next:

Costa Sailings (Dubai, Caribbean, Caribbean)

Two kids ages 17 and under sail free when sailing with 2 adults paying full adult Early Booking Fare; fare varies by sailing.

MSC Cruises (Caribbean, Mediterranean, U.S. & Canada)

Kids 17 and under sail free during to Europe, Caribbean, Canada/New England. For all other cruises, kids 11 and under sail free. Kids sail free offer applies to children sailing as 3rd/4th occupants in same stateroom with two adults (some restrictions may apply).

Norwegian Cruise Lines (NCL)

Kids age 17 and under can sail free or for a reduced rate on most cruises, when traveling with 2 full-fare guests in the same stateroom. Government taxes and fees not included.

Mexicana River Cruise

Children ages 17 and under traveling with 2 full-fare guests in the same stateroom sail free on a 10-Night Mexican Riviera cruise on April 17th, 2011.

The Disney Wonder

From Jan. 23rd through March 20th, 2011, kids ages 17 and younger sail free on the seven-day trips to Mexico when traveling with two full-fare guests in the same stateroom.

As for being family friendly, all the major cruise lines have amenities for children: kid’s clubs, huge on-board youth areas, age-appropriate activities, hangout spots, kid’s entertainment and video arcades. Many ships now offer family cabins—either suites with master bedrooms and additional rooms with bunk beds or large staterooms with pull-out couches or pullout beds—as well as family-friendly dining.

The Nickelodeon Cruise is the latest kid’s cruise to come about it’s part of the Norwegian Cruise Line. I know I’ll be investigating that as a trip for my own family soon, before they outgrow cruises that are catered just to kids.

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post, however the views and opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

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