Cruise Mama

Flying - What to Pack in a Carry On

2010-05-12T14:17:00.000-07:00

What I pack in my carry-on has changed over the six years I've been flying with children. In the early days I wheeled one maximum sized carry-on filled with diapers, tiny clothes, snacks and liquids (pre-liquid-ban-days) and of course my computer. I pushed my twin daughters through airports in a dual stroller that also fit more goodies underneath.

Now that my girls are six years old, they pull their own carry-on luggage. Actually they've been pulling a mini-suitcase ever since I gave up the stroller. Barbie suitcases replaced Dora ones and leopard print and floral print suitcases have replaced the Barbie wheelies. Of course, what's in their carry-ons has remained relatively unchanged. They bring a few Barbies, some sort of electronic game, a coloring book and a stuffed toy.

In addition, I also make room for a change of clothes. If we are heading somewhere warm they pack a tank top, skirt and flip flops into their carry-on so they can change just before the airplane lands. A few extra pairs of underwear and socks are also packed for the flight just in case.

Even though the girls have their own carry-on packed full of stuff, my carry-on is still full...my computer, a couple of cameras, the DVD player...and tons of snacks (airplanes don't give much in the way of food any more).

UK Hotel for Kids near Legoland

2010-05-06T09:11:00.000-07:00

The options seemed endless, but in the end I think I made a great choice. Normally I prefer to stay in a Westin, Hilton, or Marriott, so choosing a Holiday Inn is definitely straying from the luxury brands.

We'll be spending two nights at the Holiday Inn near Windsor (UK) before our flight departs to Tenerife and I wanted my six-year old girls to enjoy some age-appropriate attractions. Ok, so Legoland isn't really an attraction but it looks like fun. I know I would hear lots of complaining if I tried to take them to the "real" London sites.

The Holiday Inn is located 7.5 miles from Legoland and promotes their kids eat free program. The hotel also features an indoor pool. Legoland aside, we will also visit Windsor Castle. The girls are looking forward to seeing Queen Elizabeth's dollhouse from when she was a little girl - apparently it's the largest dollhouse in the world. Hopefully my kids don't get any ideas about expanding their own Barbie "village".

Booking Flights for a Cruise

2010-04-24T18:39:00.000-07:00

It's that time again. We're going on another cruise. As much as I love to be on acruise, it's the organizing of flights that I don't enjoy - not to mention the new additions to my credit card.

I scour different airline websites for the best prices but that's not my only interest. When flying with kids there are a few other considerations.

Are your kids early risers? Since mine are not we prefer to fly later rather than earlier. What about time between flights. Remember that little legs don't run as fast as an adult's when it comes to making a tight connection.

I even take a look at the airplane seat configuration (www.seatguru.com) to determine which flight is best for my family. Since I normally travel alone with my two kids, I prefer airplanes that have a three seat configuration by the window rather than only two seats. I also prefer newer planes that have power ports in the seats - great for computers or DVD players.

So now that I've booked the flights.....It's time to book hotels.

Laundry on Cruise Ships

2010-04-18T19:28:00.000-07:00

Cabin location can make a good cruise a great cruise. When travelling with kids, it's funny what our priorities are - laundry facilties being one of them. I love when my hotel room or cruise cabin is closely located to the laundry facilities.

Having six-year olds means lots of laundry, and I refuse to bring five suitcases to house a couple of weeks of clothes. Not. I would rather throw a load of laundry in every couple of days.

Most cruise lines have either coin laundry machines or machines that don't require coins at all (even better). I usually bring a rubbermaid container full of dry detergent (usually the cruise lines DO charge for soap).

I also find that the best time to do laundry is in the morning. Rather than rushing to get off the ship right away, I like to put a load of laundry in when I first wake up. We'll all go for breakfast, then I'll put the laundry into the dryer. By the time we're ready to go ashore, the laundry is dry.

New Cruise Blog

2010-04-12T20:11:00.000-07:00

Ok, so it's been a while (over one year, to be exact) since my last post. I want to change the direction of the way I post. Apart from increasing the frequency, I want to get more personal.

I apologize that I'm still a beginner when it comes to blogging...and I've been trying to figure out the best way to utilize this blog.

Do I want to give cruise industry info? Do I want to share the intricate details of the 40 some odd cruises that our kids and I have been on? Or, do I want to share about what it's like to be the family of a senior officer of a major cruise line?

The answer is all of the above...I hope you enjoy the journey.

Who Will Cruise in 2009?

2009-04-11T15:46:00.000-07:00

Despite a looming recession, vacationers continue to book cruises and cruise lines continue to build new ships. According to Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), the world’s largest cruising association, 13.5 million people will cruise in 2009 (an increase of 2.3 percent over last year). Also in 2009, more than 14 new cruise ships will be launched with innovative facilities such as full-scale water parks, supersized luxurious spas, and spacious children’s facilities.

In addition, a market study conducted by CLIA in 2008, indicated that the industry is positioned well for continued growth. The study discussed that only 20% of Americans have ever cruised. That means a whopping 80% of the American population has never cruised before! The study also discovered that nearly 51 million Americans expressed interest in cruising within the next three years. Add in potential cruisers from Canada and Europe, and there are plenty of cruisers to fill up those new ships.

One of the largest emerging markets of the cruise industry is family travel, with an estimated 1.6 million kids that cruised in 2008. CLIA attributes the high children numbers due to the growth in multi-generational cruise travel.

Check out my articles on trends in the cruising industry:

Best New Cruise Ship Launches For 2009

Newest Trends in Cruise Ship Suites and Cabins

Best Cruise Ships for Families with Children

Spring Break in Fort Lauderdale

2009-04-02T09:15:00.000-07:00

We recently spent our kids’ Spring Break in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. It’s been years since Fort Lauderdale shed its’ college party image since a crack down on public drinking and increased police presence. Unfortunately, with the latest Mexico violence scares, many college kids didn’t go to Cancun this year, and returned to Fort Lauderdale instead. Luckily for us, the increase in college kids didn’t equate to return of the rowdy days that Fort Lauderdale experienced in the past, but one nights stay proved otherwise.

Bad Hotel Experience on Spring Break

I have to admit that the first day of the trip was less than ideal. We had booked into a hotel where we had stayed before. (I won’t mention the name of the hotel yet because I intend to write a letter to the hotel’s manager to express my complaints, first). The hotel didn’t check us in until 6 pm, there was only one elevator working, and the hotel was overrun with kids and no security. I’ve stayed in this hotel in the past for around $225 per night (but not at Spring Break), so I figured that $159 per night was a great promotion price. In addition, the hotel had advertised an internet connection in the rooms, but at the hotel we we’re told we would need to use the lobby. There’s more...but I’ll get into it in a later post. Anyways we ended up leaving the next day – therefore paying for two nights yet only staying for one.

Perfect Hotel for Families on Spring Break

We moved to the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Hotel, for our second night and the remainder of our trip (luckily they had an available room at $239 per night). This stay was like night and day to the previous hotel. Luxurious linens, clean carpet, Jacuzzi tub, separate marble shower, and there was even a mini-kitchen. We were able to go to the Publix grocery store, and stock up on juice, milk, soft drinks, fruit, cereal, etc. We even made Kraft Dinner for the girls one afternoon. The hotel had four elevators, so no waiting. There was a beautiful infinity pool and the beach was just across the street. Add in valet parking which was perfect for the two days of rain that we experienced.

To make matters worse at the first hotel, the guest service was ZERO. The front desk manager did not even take ownership in the fact that the broken elevator was an issue (what would have happened if the only other elevator broke, too? We were on the 10th floor with two five year olds.) Anyways, I will be sending a letter to the hotel manager, and if I don’t like what I hear, I will be sure to use this blog to let everyone know which hotel I am talking about!

Family Hotels in Fort Lauderdale

2009-03-10T18:53:00.000-07:00

Staying in a hotel before a cruise takes the stress out of possible lost luggage and missed connections. But the bottom line is that you won’t be disappointed if you extend your vacation in Fort Lauderdale. Here are some family options.

(Photo courtesy of Fort Lauderdale Tourism)

Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort: Full Size Kitchens

This new hotel offers luxury suites that feature full size modern kitchens, flat screen TVs and high thread count linens. There’s a poolside day damp for kids 14 and under allowing parents to take advantage of the full service spa and beachside cabanas. It’s only 6 miles from the cruise port and 10 miles from the airport. (Low season rates from $169; Hilton.com; 954-414-2222)

Harbor Beach Marriott Resort and Spa: Children’s Playground Nearby
This hotel is conveniently located nearby South Beach Park where there is a children’s beachside playground. Daily activities includes Beachside Buddies for kids which features supervised sports, arts and crafts and time to swim in the large lagoon-style pool. Standard rooms have flat screen TVs and luxurious bedding. In the evening families can enjoy movies poolside. (Low season rates from $199 includes free kids meals; Marriott.com; 954-525-4000)

Bahia Mar Beach Resort: Hotel Skywalk to Beach
Choose to lounge by the heated pool and order lunch from the poolside snack bar, or walk across the hotel skywalk to the beach. The rooms are furnished in a simple but modern style and the hotel’s location is perfectly situated on a water taxi route and is only a short taxi away from the cruise port. (Low season rates from $129 a night; Bahiamar.com, 888-802-2442)

Embassy Suites 17th Street: Park and Cruise Rate
This all suite hotel features spacious two room suites complete with fridge, microwave and dining table, making ordering in convenient. But don’t miss the complimentary cooked-to-order breakfast each morning and a complimentary manager’s reception each evening. Besides a beautiful pool, the hotel is just down the street from the cruise port. (Low season rates from $159 per night. The hotel also offers a Park and Cruise rate for not that much more; embassysuites.com; 954-527-2700)

Air Travel - Making the Most of an Airport

2009-02-28T20:48:00.000-08:00

Even before getting on a plane, the adventure has already begun. Here’s how to survive the time before your flight takes off.

Get to Know Your Airport
Every airport is different, but knowing ahead of time what to expect, may ease the fear of the unknown. Most airports have their own website, and these websites generally have a layout of their terminals. Know which terminal you are flying from. Understand if you have to take a shuttle or train from one terminal to the next. Have an idea where the kids play areas are.

Get Acquainted With Your Gate
After check in, proceed immediately through security since you never know how long this may take. Next I proceed towards my gate, no matter how early I am. On the way there, pick up some food or snack items, and pay attention to where the “family” bathrooms are. These are generally cleaner and definitely bigger, perfect for a stroller, carry ons, and a couple of kids.

Set Up Camp
Although it’s great if your gate is in the same location as the kids’ areas or family bathrooms, usually it doesn’t work out that way. If there’s still plenty of time before your flight, set up camp near a kids area (usually family bathrooms are located near kids’ areas). Then let the kids play, and the time will eventually pass.

Fun Airport Stuff
It is quite amazing how many airports have fun family stuff for kids. Amsterdam airport has a great playroom complete with slide and climber. Toronto airport has some bronze statues that kids like to climb all over. And Detroit airport has mini tables and chairs for coloring......I’ll get to more at a later date.

Air Travel - Surviving a Long Haul Flight

2009-02-25T19:48:00.000-08:00

Although I love to travel, that doesn’t mean I love to fly. Unfortunately flying is the necessary evil to get to where I need to be. Add in children, and I love flying that much more if you know what I mean. The biggest part of making the trip manageable is the mental preparation. Here are a few other tips.

The Right Seats: When booking seats online, don’t worry if you can’t find all seats together, the airline won’t let young kids sit without another family member. Note that bulkhead seats arm rests don’t fold up – uncomfortable for kids trying to sprawl out. Check out seatguru.com for most airline seat configurations.

Food and Snacks: Although long haul flights do serve food, you will want to supplement these meals with snacks of your own. I usually purchase a sandwich or two in the airport as well as a bottle of water and some fruit. Bringing cookies and small cereal boxes is a good idea, too.

What’s In Your Carry On: Even at age four, my girls were wheeling their own Barbie carry-on suitcases. Make sure they have lots of underwear, a change of pants, socks and t-shirts as well, just in case. In addition to toys, they are also responsible for carrying many of their snacks.

Toys and Entertainment – Some newer airplanes (Boeing 777) have video screens on the back of each seat as well as AC power outlets in most arm rests. This is perfect for DVD players and computer games, so batteries don’t go dead after 3 hours. Other than that, make sure you have coloring books, books to read, and some other favorites to pass the time.