Family holidays create some of the best memories and finding an option that delivers great value makes them even more enjoyable. Between accommodation, meals, entertainment, transport, and keeping everyone entertained, expenses add up quickly. That’s why more families are choosing cruise holidays and discovering just how much better value they offer compared with traditional land-based trips.
Cruises allow families to explore multiple destinations, enjoy entertainment at any time of the day, and know upfront what their costs will be. If you’re considering your next family getaway, this guide explains why a cruise with Click&Go Holidays – Ireland’s trusted cruise specialists – can be one of the most cost-effective and enjoyable holiday choices.
What Families Really Want from a Holiday
Most families look for the same essentials when planning the perfect break:
- Clear manageable costs and Value for Money
- Activities that are appropriate for their children to enjoy
- Convenience without constant planning
- Flexible dining options
- A safe, comfortable environment
Cruises are specifically designed to deliver all of these. While land holidays can be enjoyable, they often involve more planning, extra expenses, and fewer built-in activities.
Why Cruises Are the Best Option for Families
1. Multiple Destinations for One Price
Cruising lets families experience several destinations in one holiday without long transfers or extra travel planning. The ship sails overnight, so each morning brings a new place to explore. Many cruise lines also offer family-friendly excursions, from beach trips and guided city tours to wildlife and water adventures – making it easy to immerse your family in each stop.
The Mediterranean is the top choice for first-time family cruisers thanks to short flights, great weather, and a wide variety of family-focused ships and itineraries. A close second is the Orlando & Cruise combo, where families enjoy the excitement of Orlando’s theme parks followed by a relaxing Caribbean or Bahamas sailing. It’s the perfect blend of thrill and downtime – all in one great-value holiday.
2. Activities and Entertainment for Every Age Group
Cruise lines such as Royal Caribbean (with surf simulators, zip lines, and ice rinks), MSC Cruises (with waterparks and high-tech entertainment), Norwegian Cruise Line (with go-kart tracks, laser tag, and a Broadway show), and Princess Cruises (with Discovery-inspired activities and Movies Under the Stars) are designed for families. Each ship offers activities you’d never find in a typical land resort.
3. Entertainment That Would Cost Extra on Land
Cruise holidays include world-class entertainment in the fare – experiences that would require separate tickets on a land holiday. Families can enjoy big-production theatre shows, live music, outdoor movies, game shows and themed nights without paying extra. Each cruise line brings its own headline acts: Royal Caribbean stages Broadway favourites such as Grease, MSC Cruises features Cirque-style acrobatics, Norwegian Cruise Line offers hits like Jersey Boys, and Princess Cruises showcases original productions. All included, exceptional value.
4. A Safe, Family-Focused Onboard Environment
Cruise ships provide a secure, purpose-built environment designed with families in mind. Modern ships feature family zones, supervised activity areas, kid-friendly dining spaces, and clearly laid-out decks that makes it easy to navigate together. Children can explore and enjoy age-appropriate areas safely, while parents relax knowing everything is close by and thoughtfully planned. With so many family-focused spaces onboard teams trained to support young guests, cruises offer a reassuring, comfortable setting for parents and an exciting world to explore for kids.
What’s Included in a Cruise Holiday
One of the biggest strengths of booking a cruise with Click&Go Holidays is the exceptional value included in every package. Comparing cruise fares with hotel-only prices isn’t fair, because cruises bundle so much more into one cost.
A typical family cruise includes:
Flights from Ireland
With Click&Go Holidays, your cruise package includes return flights from Ireland, meaning your whole holiday – flights, and the cruise is booked and protected together. This simplifies planning and makes managing your budget far easier.
Accommodation
Your cabin travels with you, giving your family a comfortable space throughout the holiday. Whether you choose an interior room, an ocean-view cabin, a balcony, or a suite, you only unpack once and wake up in a new destination each morning.
All Meals and Snacks
Cruises offer impressive dining variety, from buffets and cafés to dining rooms, grills, dessert stations, pizzerias, and more. Meals and snacks are available throughout the day at no added cost, parents can relax knowing that even the fussiest eaters are covered. If your child doesn’t like what they’ve chosen, you can simply order something else without stress, hesitation or extra charges. It’s the kind of flexibility that makes cruise dining so easy, convenient and great value compared with eating out on traditional land holidays.
Kids and Teens Clubs
Cruise lines such as Royal Caribbean, MSC Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, and Princess Cruises excel in family entertainment. Their expert youth teams tailor activities and dedicated spaces to each age group, from toddlers to teens. Children can enjoy creative workshops, themed parties, gaming lounges, sports and social hangouts designed just for them. With secure age-specific zones and expert supervision included in the price, young cruisers get independence and fun – while parents enjoy well-earned downtime and great value.
Non-Stop Entertainment
Cruise ships offer an incredible range of activities and entertainment that have something for everyone. Families can enjoy waterslides, splash zones, climbing walls, surf simulators, mini-golf, sports courts, arcades, gaming lounges and interactive deck games – all included in the price.
When the sun goes down, the fun continues with West-End style productions, live music, comedy shows, movie nights, themed parties, and acrobatic performances. On a land holiday, these experiences would cost extra, but on a cruise, they’re all part of the journey, giving families exceptional value and endless ways to have fun together.
A Day in the Life on a Cruise Holiday
Cruising creates a natural, relaxed rhythm that families settle into easily. There’s no rushing, no researching activities, and no stressing over transport – everything is right at your fingertips.
Morning: Relaxed Starts and Endless Choice
Most families begin the day with a leisurely breakfast overlooking the sea. Once everyone is fuelled up, it’s the perfect time to hop off the ship and explore the destination of the day. Arriving early means you can enjoy the attractions, beaches, shops and cafes before it gets too busy or too hot.
Whether you’re strolling through a historic town, heading straight for a beach or joining an excursion, mornings are ideal for discovering somewhere new while the UV is not too strong.
Younger children may also start their day at the kids’ club if they prefer onboard fun, while teens might head to early sports sessions or explore the ship with friends. Parents, meanwhile, can enjoy a peaceful coffee on deck or a morning workout before the day fully begins.
Afternoon: Explore or Relax – Your Choice
By early afternoon, many families like to return to the ship before the peak heat and this is where cruise holidays truly shine. With multiple pools, splash parks shaded areas, and endless activities, the ship becomes its own relaxing retreat.
It’s also the ideal window for parents to enjoy some downtown. One adult might take the little ones for a swim or ice cream, while the other escapes to a sun lounger with a book, a cool drink or even a quiet half an hour in the spa. On a cruise it’s easy to strike a balance between together time and those precious small moments of relaxation.
For families staying onboard all day (especially on sea days), the afternoon brings everything from climbing walls and mini golf to shows, games and more – each person gets to choose their perfect pace.
Evening: Entertainment for Everyone
Evenings at sea are a highlight for many families. After dinner whether you visit the buffet, enjoy a relaxed meal in the main dining room, or treat yourselves to a speciality restaurant – everyone can enjoy a mix of entertainment.
Children who loved their daytime clubs often want to head back for evening sessions filled with themed parties, games, or movie nights. Teens usually gravitate to their own lounges or social hubs, giving them a sense of independence in a safe, supervised environment.
With the kids entertained, parents can unwind together. Enjoy a west-end style show, relax with live music in a lounge, sip a drink on the deck, or take a quiet stroll under the stars as the ship glides to its next destination. It’s the perfect blend of family memories and grown-up moments.
Extra Costs to Consider
Cruises offer superb value, but some optional extras, which you can pre-book, can add to your overall holiday experience:
- Premium drinks packages
- Speciality dining
- Gratuities also known as tips (varies by cruise line)
- Shore excursions
- Wi-Fi
Even with these, cruises still deliver better value than many land holidays because so much is included in the base fare.
Final Verdict: Are Cruises Worth It for Families?
For most families, the answer is yes. Cruises deliver exceptional value, unmatched convenience, and a wider range of experiences than most land-based holidays. With meals, entertainment, multi-destination travel, kids’ clubs, and activities all included, cruise holidays offer substantial financial and practical benefits.
If you want a holiday that maximises enjoyment, keeps spending simple, and removes the stress of planning, a family cruise with Click&Go Holidays – Ireland’s leading Cruise Specialists, Rated Excellent on Trustpilot – is one of the smartest choices you can make.
☎️Call our Cruise Specialists on 01-6995250 and start planning your dream cruise holiday today.
