Family Friendly Cruise Destinations

Mummy says… I have been on a few cruises over the years both with and without my children. Pickle has never cruised though, and I want to rectify that as soon as possible! I have been looking at family friendly cruise destinations that we could explore, and here are my top five….

There are so many cruise destinations to choose from, and so many cruise companies that it is a bit of a minefield knowing how to choose the right one for you. Booking through a dedicated cruise company such as Bolsover is the perfect solution. I booked my Mediterranean cruise through them a few years ago, and my parents who cruise fairly regularly always use Bolsover too.

So, here are my top five family friendly cruise destinations, I have asked some of my blogging friends for their recommendations too:

1. Madeira. A beautiful island basking in sunshine virtually all year round. We took a bus trip with the most breath taking views of the port and the ship, and did the famous Monte Toboggan –  sliding in a wicker basket mounted on wooden runners downhill for 2 km. It is great fun for all the family! Luke was also super impressed that Cristiano Ronaldo was born here, and love the football shop at the bottom!
2. Tenerife. Mount Tiedi. The children were very excited to see a real volcano, which when we visited in March was topped with snow. We chose a tour which took us to fabulous view points to see the volcano.
3. Vigo. A traditional Spanish fishing town, they have an amazing festival ‘The Reconquest of Vigo’ held on 28 March and it is well worth visiting then if you can.
4. Barcelona. Zena from Zena’s Suitcase recommends Barcelona as a perfect destination for a family cruise holiday because it ticks so many boxes. There is a beautiful beach if you want to spend your time there by the sea, but there is also plenty to explore too. Brimming with Spanish culture you could enjoy a tapas run together or explore the famous Sagrada Familia, but you will need to book a cruise excursion to guarantee access.
5. Lanzarote. Lisa Jane from CruisingKids says ‘Lanzarote is renown for great beaches and year-round sunshine. It’s also a cruise port which offers fun and unique attractions for all ages. For a guaranteed memorable day ashore I recommend you ditch the beach (as tempting as it might be!) and head to Timanfaya National Park to get up close to some of the islands 300 volcanoes. Don’t miss the chance to ride camels through volcano dunes, eat food cooked on the natural heat of the earth and drive through the lava fields.’

To be honest, most cruise destinations have something to offer families, I have chosen the above because my older children have the best memories of visiting Madeira, Tenerife and Vigo. They were aged 7, 10 and 13. The other destinations are recommended by a couple of my travel blogger friends.

Of course the best thing about the cruises we have been on were the ships. The facilities for children and families, the entertainment and the all inclusive food makes it the perfect choice for an unforgettable family holiday. I have cruised with Thomsons, P&O, NCL and Royal Caribbean and would recommend them all. I have also visited MSC and Princess cruise ships which are awesome too.

Have you cruised before? If so, where are your favourite family friendly cruise destinations?