Trips with children are very special, not only because they create lasting family memories, but also because they offer a great opportunity to strengthen emotional bonds with them, while allowing them new spaces of independence.
Article from CruisesNews magazine, issue 49 – June 2019
Cruising as a family is a trend that is becoming more established each year, according to CLIA reports.
Whether it's parents with children, grandparents with grandchildren, or all three generations together, cruises offer enjoyment and fun for everyone. Grandparents enjoy dancing boleros every night, parents explore every corner of the ports of call, and grandchildren make new friends and explore the ship on their own—but all together, enjoying the food, sharing experiences, discoveries, and anecdotes from each day.
19% of cruise passengers travel with children, and 7% travel with family but without children. These figures demonstrate how the variety of cruise offerings and onboard entertainment caters to all ages. From bingo to rock climbing, salsa classes, or even YouTuber workshops, bus excursions, or electric bike tours, everyone can enjoy the same trip together, choosing the type of leisure they prefer.
Pullmantur Cruises is the natural choice for many cruisers who don't want the hassle of languages, onboard expenses, and enormous ships. And while bilingualism is booming for schoolchildren, the truth is that many children are reluctant to play or socialize in the ship's kids' club if it's full of children who speak other languages. This isn't a problem with Pullmantur, as the vast majority of passengers are Spanish or Latin American, so our children will quickly make new friends on board.
Last year, Pullmantur Cruises launched the new Trotanautas children's program, created in collaboration with psychologists and experts. This program offers a variety of games so that all children, regardless of their abilities, can participate. As soon as they board, children receive their Trotanauta passport, where they record all their accomplishments. Each day, accompanied by counselors, they face a new mission set by Dr. Pull, with the goal of thwarting the misdeeds of the Pastifétido Monster. The missions are spread throughout the day and adapted to each age group. Six characters make up the Trotanautas gang, each representing a human skill, so children can find the Trotanauta they identify with most.
Magic workshops, karaoke, family treasure hunts, escape rooms—there are many activities to enjoy as a family, in addition to excursions in each port with official Spanish-speaking guides, evening shows, and entertainment throughout the ship. If parents wish, children can stay on board as part of the Trotanautas program with the entertainment team while they enjoy their shore excursion.
Another convenience of traveling as a family with Pullmantur Cruises is its All Inclusive, which means you don't have to worry about the children having all the soft drinks they want, and the adults too: soft drinks, water, coffee, beer, wine, mixed drinks and cocktails.
The Ship of a Thousand Bubbles
is a new and modern space with everything you need for a fantastic time. In addition, some activities will take place in other areas of the ship, inaccessible to the rest of the passengers. Access to this space is available in two ways: open access, where children over 7 years old can enter and exit unaccompanied; and closed access, where children up to 11 years old must be accompanied by a family member to enter and exit.
Pullmantur also offers a babysitting service for those off-hours moments or for more personalized attention, but it must be booked 24 hours in advance.
For babies, they must be at least six months old to board, and Pullmantur will provide a crib in the cabin. While you must bring diapers, medication, and anything else you deem necessary for their care and feeding, you can request prepared purees from the ship's kitchen.
Fun for Teenagers:
For young people aged 12 to 17, Pullmantur offers themed parties like the "White Party" and activities such as the "Selfie Marathon" and "Become a YouTuber." At this age, socialization is more important than the games themselves, and in that sense, the freedom to move around the ship and find their favorite spots will delight them. Pullmantur has recently created a new space called "The Factory" where teenagers can play video games, foosball, darts, or learn to DJ with a mixing console.
Activities Grandparents Will Love:
Of course, fun knows no age, and grandparents, or senior passengers, equally enjoy the ports of call and all the ship's facilities. However, there are certain forms of entertainment that this age group particularly enjoys. Gentle exercise classes, crafts, board games, trivia, bingo, group dancing by the pool, boleros and other Latin rhythms in the lounges, and more. Furthermore, being able to communicate with the crew in Spanish provides them with extra peace of mind and makes them feel well taken care of, which is why Pullmantur wins the Cruise Excellence Award for Best Crew year after year.
