Cruise: Cruise Vacations Offer Incredible Value for Today’s Families

DISNEYCruise Vacations Offer Incredible Value for Today’s Families By Paloma Villaverde de RicoToday’s savvy and very busy families—whether you’re booking a family of four or a skip-gen group—want value out of their vacation and aren’t willing to settle for a ho-hum trip. You’ve got to make sure their travels are jam-packed with all the bells and whistles the annual family vacation deserves. Step in cruises, which, according to the four cruise line executives we spoke with, will not only meet your family clients’ expectations but will over-deliver. “The value cruising offers is unmatched to a land-based vacation,” says John Chernesky, sr. v.p. of North America sales, Norwegian Cruise Line. “Our travel advisors do a tremendous job of showcasing to their clients how a cruise offers incredible value for their customers, both in terms of their time and money.” Adds Adolfo Perez, sr. v.p. of global sales & trade marketing, Carnival Cruise Line, “Cruising is a great way to bring the family together with minimal planning,” with Koreen McNutt, sr. v.p. of sales & trade engagement and commercial sales officer, MSC Cruises, noting that “cruising is an attractive option for families, with something to entertain all ages under one roof. A cruise is also an incredible value when you look at what families are paying per day. It’s way less than most land-based vacations when you compare accommodations, food and beverage, entertainment and transportation costs. Another benefit is the convenience. Once families embark on a cruise, they can visit different destinations and only have to unpack once.” And when it comes to discovering new destinations, cruises deliver, with Sharon Siskie, sr. v.p. and general manager for Disney Cruise Line, telling Recommend that, “There are so many reasons to choose a cruise vacation.... A cruise provides families a hassle-free way to explore the natural beauty and diverse cultures of the exciting destinations we visit.” CARNIVAL FAMILYCarnival Cruise LineRight now, Carnival is in an “exciting period of growth,” says Perez. Carnival’s newest ship, Carnival Venezia, began sailing out of New York City’s Manhattan Cruise Terminal in June. The Carnival Jubilee is set to debut in December in Galveston, Texas, and Carnival Firenze will begin sailing from Long Beach, California, in May 2024. “The possibilities for fun are endless,” says Perez. “Families can sail together on a fun and affordable vacation at sea, from a variety of U.S. homeports, and visit a host of beautiful destinations. “Days can be spent relaxing by the pool at the Serenity Adult-Only Retreat or racing down water slides at Carnival WaterWorks aqua park.” He also points to the line’s Playlist Production, its Punchliner Comedy Club, Family Feud Live! on board Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration and SportSquare, where families can play mini golf and basketball. For the little ones, Carnival’s newest Excel Class ship, Carnival Celebration, introduced an expanded youth program in 2022, with such unique activities as the Turtles Program for guests under age 2, Dr. Seuss Bookville and the new Space Cruisers program, part of a partnership with Kennedy Space Center. And of course, who can forget that it’s Carnival that introduced the first roller coaster at sea—BOLT: Ultimate Sea Coaster, on board Mardi Gras. Booking Opportunity: The line has opened its 2025-26 deployment with new sailings from Galveston available for booking. Four-, 5-, 6-, 7- and 8-day sailings on Carnival Breeze, Carnival Dream and Carnival Jubilee are available for sale with sailings through April 2026.Disney Cruise Line Next year will see Disney Cruise Line’s sixth ship and its second Wish Class vessel set sail—Disney Treasure, whose stern will be adorned with Peter Pan and Captain Hook character sculptures. Meanwhile, Lighthouse Point, the line’s newest Bahamian destination, will debut next June, with passengers aboard the Disney Fantasy being some of the first to discover this beach retreat. As Siskie tells Recommend, “Families experience three vacations in one when sailing with Disney Cruise Line. From the moment they step aboard any of our dazzling ships, guests find themselves immersed in our classic Disney stories and the beloved worlds of Pixar, Marvel and Star Wars. We bring these stories to life in a way that only Disney can through Broadway-style shows, character meet-and-greets, entertaining dining experiences and more. Our ships boast spacious staterooms designed with multigenerational families in mind, a multitude of dining options available day and night, rejuvenating spas and fitness centers, pool areas and much more. And when guests are ready to venture on land, we invite them to explore exciting destinations across Alaska, Europe and the Caribbean, including Disney Castaway Cay, our private island destination in The Bahamas.” DISNEY QUOTE She reminds advisors that Disney Cruise Line knows a thing or two about themed cruises, pointing to its Halloween on the High Seas cruises, packed with haunted tricks and fun-filled treats, and the Very Merrytime cruises, where families can celebrate the holidays at sea with festive decorations and numerous merriments. Disney ships, she notes, are not just for families with little ones. “We welcome families who are excited to embark on a vacation full of character meet-and-greets, imaginative Disney entertainment, thrilling rides on our ships’ water attractions and adventurous experiences at our many ports of call,” Siskie says. “For those looking for a relaxing and tranquil time at sea, all our ships feature a world-class spa, a tranquil adults-only pool area, enlightening food and beverage tastings and shore excursions deeply rooted in local cultures. And for family groups spanning multiple generations and interests, everyone can enjoy spaces and experiences designed just for them while finding plenty of ways to spend quality time together. Simply put, there’s something for every member of every family on a Disney cruise.”Booking Opportunity: The 2024 Halloween on the High Seas sailings, running mid-September to October, and Very Merrytime cruises, from mid-November to December, are open for booking. There are various Halloween sailing options from Port Canaveral aboard Disney Wish and Disney Fantasy as well as departures from Port Everglades on board Disney Magic. For Christmas fun, Disney Cruise Line will have opportunities to sail from two homeports in Florida, as well as a selection of cruises from Galveston. MSCMSC CruisesAs you probably know, MSC Cruises is building a terminal at PortMiami, set to be the largest cruise terminal in North America once completed. Its star attraction? The MSC World America, which will be optimized for North American cruising with new restaurants, bars, public spaces and experiences, and will sail 7-night Caribbean itineraries during her inaugural season starting in April 2025. For more immediate sailing opportunities, McNutt points to 3-night sailings on board MSC Seashore from Port Canaveral, which is “a great option for a multi-generational family,” she says. “Being a shorter cruise makes it perfect for a large family looking for a vacation that fits with everyone’s schedule, with stops at Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve and Nassau,
The Bahamas. “For families looking for a longer vacation full of scenic ports, MSC Meraviglia will begin sailing to Canada and New England this fall from New York City. You can spend up to 11 nights on board…with stops in Newport, Rhode Island; Portland, Maine; Nova Scotia, Canada; and more,” she continues. Recommend the MSC Yacht Club ship-within-a-ship for families looking for an exclusive onboard experience. “It’s a great option for families who want to take advantage of everything our large, resort-style ships have to offer combined with a quiet and luxurious escape,” says McNutt. “Children can enjoy the kids club, while adults relax at the dedicated Yacht Club pool deck or exclusive Top Sail Lounge with its snacks, bar and afternoon tea service. Plus, staying in the Yacht Club gives them a dedicated 24-hour concierge and a butler who can make dinner and show reservations for the entire family, so everyone can spend more quality time together without worrying about scheduling activities and meals.” MSC QUOTE MSC Cruises, says McNutt, offers resort-style ships and “fun-filled itineraries that give your [clients] options no matter what they’re looking for, and that’s true whether they’re wanting to do something with the whole family or catch a little bit of alone time between family outings. We have areas on the ships dedicated to different age groups, which include everything from kids club facilities to adults-only pools. The kids club is separated into different ages including the Mini Club offering activities with LEGO and arts & crafts for kids 3 to 6, the Junior Club with activities like Masterchef at Sea Juniors for 7 to 11-year-olds, and the teen club offering high-tech games and karaoke. So, parents can spend quality time with their kids on an amazing shore excursion and then trust that they’ll be taken care of at the kids club while they go off and relax at the MSC Aurea Spa.”Booking Opportunity: Already available for booking is MSC World America, with itineraries in the Eastern Caribbean—Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic; San Juan, Puerto Rico; and Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, The Bahamas—and the Western Caribbean, with sailings to Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico; Roatan, Honduras and Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve,
The Bahamas. NCL SHIPNorwegian Cruise Line Norwegian Viva, the second ship in the line’s Prima Class, set sail this summer and is heading to Miami this fall for a November christening. The ship will then home port in San Juan, Puerto Rico, for a season of Caribbean voyages from December 2023 through March 2024 with calls to Tortola, British Virgin Islands; St. John’s, Antigua; Bridgetown, Barbados; Castries, St. Lucia; Philipsburg, St. Maarten; and St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands. In 2024, Norwegian Viva will be among 12 NCL ships sailing in Europe at various points in the year, exploring Northern Europe, the Med and the Greek Isles. “With cruising,” says Chernesky, “you get to wake up in a new city everyday while only unpacking once, so it’s the ideal way to tour Europe when traveling with larger, multigenerational families.” And he reminds those clients who are on the fence when it comes to cruising that “cruising is for everyone. At Norwegian Cruise Line, we understand that families traveling together often include a mix of personalities with different interests, so we give our guests the flexibility to completely tailor their dream vacation,” he says. “On our ships, there is truly something for everyone, whether guests are looking to explore a new port each day or stay on board to enjoy all the amenities. For instance, thrill seekers may love the water slides and racetracks while those in the mood for some R&R may prefer to spend their time in the Mandara Spa. No matter how each family chooses to spend their time, the best part of the day is always sitting down to dinner and hearing about all the fun each family member had. “Busy families can find everything they need for their dream vacation right on board and cruising provides the convenience and ease of travel that families often look for,” he adds. He reminds travel advisors that they can book their clients’ flights with Norwegian’s air program and even opt for a pre- or post-cruise stay with its expanded Cruise Tour program. He also advises you look into the Free at Sea promotion, which offers guests free amenities such as open bar packages, WiFi, specialty dining experiences and shore excursion credits. Beyond the onboard offerings, Chernesky points to the 400 destinations worldwide Norwegian sails to, “from the glaciers of Alaska to the cultural marvels of Europe. “Families can discover nearly every corner of the globe in comfort aboard an NCL ship,” he notes. In fact, speaking of Alaska, Chernesky says it’s ideal for families looking for “once-in-a-lifetime experiences.” He adds, “The best way to see all of the natural beauty of the Last Frontier is on a cruise. Guests love our Alaska voyages so much that Norwegian recently expanded its offerings in the destination, so guests have a variety of ships and itineraries to choose from. Every cruise to Alaska with NCL will feature amazing glaciers, but my personal favorite is Glacier Bay. But I like to say—there’s no such thing as a bad glacier!” Booking Opportunity: Norwegian Joy, which will undergo enhancements in January 2024 with new offerings to include a new Thermal Suite in the Mandara Spa and Salon, expanded Vibe Beach Club, 24 new staterooms, redesigned Three-Bedroom The Haven Premier Owner’s Suites and more, will resume sailings post dry dock on Feb. 13, 2024, when she embarks on an 11-day Transatlantic voyage from Southampton, United Kingdom to Miami. In March 2024, the ship will cruise 7-day roundtrip Caribbean voyages from Miami before sailing to Bermuda from New York for summer 2024. Contact InformationCarnival Cruise Line: goccl.com Disney Cruise Line: disneycruise.disney.go.com/travel-agent-loginMSC Cruises: mscbook.comNorwegian Cruise Line: norwegiancentral.ncl.com

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