Awesome Overview
If you want your children to see Europe early in their travel careers, a cruise is absolutely your best choice. A cruise is just so convenient, especially on the port-intensive itineraries available in Europe. Cruising eliminates the hassles and enhances the European visit for both parents and kids, especially when families can use a modern, well-equipped ship like the Brilliance of the Seas as home base during a Mediterranean cruise. After a day touring the cultural capitals of Mediterranean Europe, everybody returns to luxurious lodgings at the pier; the children can blow off a little supervised steam in the evening, and Mom and Dad can catch a rejuvenating cat nap before dinner and a show.
Age Appropriate
This trip may be challenging for children under 10, unless maturity and patience are strong traits. It is a trip for the intellectually curious child who has the fortitude to spend several days exploring historically significant cities. Parents should monitor energy levels carefully, taking advantage of in-port youth programs on the ship as needed. Royal Caribbean’s youth program is divided into age groups for children ages 3 through 17.
Too Much Fun
The destination certainly is special and edifying, but the ship-as-home-base will keep the kids happy and smiling. Brilliance is chock-full of family friendly features, such as the video arcade, Internet cafe, computers loaded with kids’ games and four play stations, all located in the youth rooms. Brilliance also has water slides, miniature golf, and basketball courts. These types of activities are excellent releases after long days of touring.
Best Adventure, or THE attraction
Every port call on this itinerary offers remarkable and memorable attractions, but either at the beginning or the end of your cruise, save time to explore Barcelona, a major cultural center with a fascinating history full of libraries, museums and buildings of interest. In addition to the Picasso Gallery, you’ll want to stroll along Las Ramblas, a wonderfully vibrant part of the city where street vendors and performers vie for your attention or explore the many churches and cathedrals of Barcelona and discover the city’s modernist architecture along Paseo de Gracia.
Keep’em Happy/ No Shuffleboard, Dad!
Moderation will be the key to happiness on this cruise. In other words, don’t turn it into a forced march. Take advantage of the ports you are visiting, but do not feel compelled to sign up for the full-day tour at each one. Instead, use a city guide to make your own plans for at least a couple of days; move at a speed that doesn’t exhaust anyone.
On the ship, do take advantage of gee-whiz features like the rock-climbing wall (kids must be at least 6 to climb). This is a fun and unique workout that everybody can dissect and discuss at dinner, and it doesn’t hurt the youthful ego that children tend to climb better than their heavier parents.
Timing is everything
Brilliance of the Seas home-ports in Barcelona year-round, sailing 12-day roundtrips that provide access to Monte Carlo/Nice, Florence/Pisa, Naples, Rome, Ephesus and either Athens or Venice.
Anchors Aweigh!
Forget the packing and unpacking as well as countless hours on a bus with your nose pressed against the window while trying to admire the landscape of age-old Europe. A cruise is the only way to go in Europe. Your ship serves as your floating hotel from one destination to the next, and best of all, you’ll be spending U.S. dollars on board, cutting the expense of travel in Europe.
