Why All-Inclusive Cruising Might Be The Easiest Holiday You’ll Ever Take With Toddlers
Winter getaways are made in the summer, which is exactly what led my husband and me, one hot afternoon, to start plotting a family escape for when the weather cooled.
A Euro summer? Romantic in theory, but cobblestone streets and two still-stumbling toddlers didn’t feel like the easiest pairing. A road trip through rural New Zealand? Undeniably beautiful, but long stretches in the car with two toddlers confined to the back seat didn’t exactly feel like a relaxing escape.
A nine-day cruise through the Vanuatu islands, though? That had promise. Plenty of onboard entertainment for them, opportunities for relaxation for us, and, maybe most importantly, all-inclusive meant they could snack to their heart’s content. It also lined up neatly with the Easter break, meaning we could minimise time off work. It felt like the win-win-win we didn’t even know we were looking for.
Fast forward a few months and Royal Caribbean’s Anthem of the Seas loomed in front of us, docked in Sydney’s Circular Quay. We had handled the dreaded cross-country flight with two under three relatively unscathed, but now we were staring down nine days at sea with no real escape route if things went pear-shaped. As it turns out, cruising with kids is far easier than it sounds.
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A South Pacific itinerary like this strikes a near-perfect balance. A couple of sea days to settle in, a run of island stops across New Caledonia and Vanuatu, then a few more days cruising back to Sydney. It keeps things moving without ever feeling rushed, and leaves plenty of time for onboard activities.
This is where Royal Caribbean really leans in. Think indoor skydiving, bumper cars and arcades, alongside a sprawling pool deck that'll be your homebase on sea days, with indoor and outdoor pools, multiple spas, a splash zone for little ones and a couple of well-placed poolside bars for the adults.
Plus, dedicated kids clubs, split by age group, which offer parents a rare chance to take a few hours for themselves knowing the kids are well looked after. Hit the spa, claim a lounger by the pool, or finish a book uninterrupted.
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We travelled with two toddlers, but realistically, the sweet spot onboard is kids aged five and up. That is when they can properly tap into everything on offer, while younger ones are a little more limited in what they can access.
And then there is the food, where cruising really becomes a game changer for families.
No need to research kid-friendly venues or wander aimlessly in search of somewhere that ticks all the boxes.
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By day, the buffet is an easy win for a quick bite between dips in the pool. Think burgers, fries and other kid-friendly staples alongside a rotating lineup of curries, roast meats and fresh salads. There are also specialty dining spots if you feel like mixing things up, from Italian classics to a retro diner, sushi and a classic steakhouse, although these come at an additional cost.
Come dinner, opt for the main dining room. Choose your seating, settle in and enjoy a three-course meal served to your table. Each night the menu takes inspiration from a different cuisine, from bold Thai flavours to comforting European classics. The flexibility is the real win. Early dinners for tired kids, snacks on demand, and zero stress if someone suddenly decides they only want plain pasta.
My top tip is to book the latest dinner seating. On our cruise, that was 8.30pm. Then claim a spot in the outdoor spas come sundown. As the sun dips over the ocean, you can watch a movie on the big screen as it sets behind it, before heading back to your stateroom to get ready for dinner.
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At the heart of your cruise are the island days, a chance to step off the boat for a change of pace. Depending on your stop, you'll either dock or tender across to mainland. You can keep it simple, stepping off the boat with no plan and simply explore, or pre-book a shore excursion through the boat's crew. Crawl local markets on Mystery Island, devour French pastries in New Caledonia, or simply dip your toes in the water of pristine local beaches.
At Port Vila, don't miss Blue Lagoon. You'll need to organise a driver to get you to the lagoon around 45 minutes drive from where the tender boats comes in, but the payoff is more than worth it. Think a stretch of impossibly clear freshwater framed by tropical greenery, and plenty of platforms and ropes to jump and swing, or simply paddle and float. Head off early in the morning, and be back on boat for lunch and an afternoon reset. A taste of each destination with the pressure of planning every detail.