Rewarding excellence at school with a cruise to somewhere new and exciting
Every parent likes to see their child do well at school and it is becoming increasingly common for mothers and fathers to take a more active role in their children's education. Motivation is a key factor for many young students and rewarding them for their hard work throughout the school year with a trip offered by someone like Celebrity cruises can make a great holiday for all the family. As well as the obvious reasons for taking a journey by sea - the many activities you can get involved in and the places that you can visit - it is also possible to plan a break where your children can learn about new things in an exciting environment. It does not have to be all hard work for them though, as there are many facilities onboard modern vessels that are designed specifically with children in mind, and are great fun for all age groups. NCL cruises are one of the companies that makes an extra effort with programmes to keep your kids entertained, when they may be at a loose end. A number of other operators also arrange clubs to keep them busy and help them to mix with the other children on the ship. With air travel being so much cheaper these days there are a huge variety of destinations to choose from, so you are sure to be able to find a trip that has something for everyone. A quick search online will give you an idea of the possibilities.
"We went on this cruise on 14 Sept not quite knowing what to expect as first timers. We enjoyed every moment - the cabin was very nice and spotlessly clean, the food lovely (although I ate far too much!), the entertainment absolutely great, especially The Balmoral Show Company, service 1st class with all staff being friendly and pleasant to everyone." - Devon, Watford on 27th Sep 2009 (Fred. Olsen Cruises)
Trips with a special theme
If you want to create your own theme then Cunard cruises are one of the companies operating boats that all have well stocked libraries to help you with this. If you would rather take it easy then there are a number of choices as far as themed trips go. The advantage of booking a holiday that already has an educational theme is that there are usually lectures by visiting experts and activities to reinforce the knowledge taken in during the lectures. There are many different subjects to choose from, from astronomy to music and lots in between. Geography is a natural choice and cruises from Southampton can really help a child get an understanding of the distances involved when travelling to foreign countries. This is something they often miss when flying abroad. Each parent obviously knows their own children better than anybody else and so if you know of a subject that you think your child is having trouble with or is particularly unenthusiastic about, then a holiday that introduces it to them in a more visual and immediate way can help to bring the subject to life for them and enable them to see it from a new angle. Fred Olsen cruises, among others, have some interesting tours that are based around learning about ancient civilisations, a subject that can also be appealing to parents. They cover artistic and cultural aspects of society as well as the political forces that helped to shape the world we now live in.
"We were pleasantly surprised with our deluxe balcony cabin on A deck. We had sufficient wardrobe and drawer space and our 4 suitcases easily fitted under the bed. We had not expected to make much use of the balcony ( Baltic in September! ) but the weather throughout the cruise was excellent and we often sat outside in the sunshine reading, enjoying the view or having a pre-dinner drink." - Hunt, Farnborough on 29th Sep 2009 (P&O Cruises)
Places of educational interest
Whether you decide on a holiday with a theme already incorporated into it, or you would rather plan your own, the places that you visit are of course an integral part of any sea voyage. There are places around Europe that are of obvious interest historically, such as Rome and Athens, to name just two. P&O cruises are one line that you can go with to more far flung locations such as South America, if you think your children would enjoy learning about the rich history and culture of this area with excursions to places like Machu Picchu where you can see the ruins of what is often called The Lost City of the Incas. There are many other locations around the world that almost any child would be truly excited to visit. If they are doing especially well in their studies you may even want to let them choose for themselves. Princess cruises to Asia are another good choice, with countries like Thailand, Japan, Vietnam and China on the itinerary. The Far East has so much to offer in terms of history and culture, as well as the opportunity to have a taste of a completely different lifestyle. If you have a few weeks to spare during summer then an extended tour that takes in Australia, Africa and India as well would make for an unforgettable experience for both you and your children. They will certainly have a lot to tell their friends about on their return to school.
"All staff were extremely courteous and polite. They all displayed a high level of professionalism and were efficient in everything they did. Our stateroom attendants performed their duties to a high standard and our waiters one of whom had been with Cunard over ten years having recently transferred over from QE2 were real friendly professionals." - Wainwright, Wolverhampton on 28th Sep 2009 (Cunard Cruises)
Time to relax and take it easy
Caribbean cruises are one option if you are looking for a destination that combines ample opportunity for fun and relaxation with some learning thrown in as well. Animal and plant life is a natural choice to explore in this region and snorkelling in crystal clear waters to see the exotic marine life that lives around the coral reefs is a marvellous way to increase your knowledge of such things. If your children begin to worry that their forthcoming holiday is going to be all work and no play, it should be easy to put their minds at rest. Large ships operated by Royal Caribbean cruises and other major companies have plenty for them to do when they are finished studying for the day. Water slide parks, giant video game screens and basketball courts are just a few of the facilities to be found on these giant vessels. Most lines also organise group activities for children of various ages, as mentioned earlier in the article. In fact making sure that they do actually spend some of their time away learning about a new subject, or brushing up on one they have already studied, is often more of a problem than finding them fun things to do! MSC cruises are one company that offers you the opportunity to join them in helping less privileged children around the world when you travel with them, through their association with UNICEF. Wherever you choose to go and whoever you choose to travel with, bon voyage!
"Just got back from 14 nights around the med ,what a great ship.This was our 5th cruise and the best, the cabins where larger than on Oriana/Oceana/Ventura or Norwegian Jade. Large balcony and a great cabin steward "Cark" who made towels into animals and left them on our bed after doing the roonm each night." - Knight, Bridgwater on 28th Sep 2009 (Royal Caribbean Cruises)