NCL Cruises

The world’s waiting for you out there and there’s no better place to see it from than the deck of an NCL ship. The Panama Canal, the Caribbean, New England or the Mediterranean are all waiting for you but the two ships that have us dying to go on a holiday are Escape and Jade, both offering fly cruises to the Caribbean and, closer to home, Europe.

These ships are family-friendly in the extreme, with handy tips on their site for how to travel with toddlers or teens – not that we think you’ll need any help once you’re aboard as there are so many things to do before you even get to your planned destinations.

The ships run excellent childcare programmes in the form of Splash Academy and Entourage, for kids aged 6 months-17 years with a range of age appropriate activities, from cool teenage hangouts where they can meet other likeminded teens to cupcake decorating for the youngsters.

You’ll find comedy shows, cinemas, theatre, live acrobatic acts, casinos and plenty of sports to keep you all fit and active as you roam the seas.

The restaurants, bars and cafes on board are numerous, offering a wide variety of dining options from the very casual to the formal. Kids under 3 eat free and 4-12 year olds can order from the complimentary kids’ menu, which has family favourites such as pasta and pizza as well as new culinary experiences – so while you’re travelling the world even the pickiest of eaters can always fall back on something they love.

A cruise is a great way to see the world, there’s no other mode of travel that offers quite as many things to do and see along the way and once you get there and step off the ship, your family can enjoy embarking on a new adventure as you discover new cities delights. It doesn’t have to be a case of ambling along previously unseen shores in the hope of gaining something (although there’s nothing wrong with that) – you can book organised excursions two days before disembarkation and gain the most out of a visit somewhere new.

The accommodation varies according to budget but both ships, indeed all of NCL’s ships have multi room suites or interconnecting state rooms, giving you plenty of space as a family while the most luxurious accommodation, The Haven, is at the top of the ship and gives you a personalised service and privacy, just to make you feel even more pampered.