"Family-Perfect" Vacation Planning

CELEBRITY CRUISES & TULLY LUXURY TRAVEL HAVE BIG IDEAS FOR YOUR NEXT MULTI-GENERATIONAL CRUISE VACATION

When travel is such an important part of your life – one of your most treasured and guarded priorities – it’s only natural to want to instill those same values in your children. And unless you’ve got your mind set on a romantic week away, there’s no need to leave the kids at home these days, simply because the travel world has become so increasingly adept at including them.

Cruising, in particular, is an excellent case in point, the perfect multi-generational travel platform, a chance to not only get everybody together – in the Mediterranean, Scandinavia, Alaska, the Caribbean – but also a way to share in the many joys that travel can bring. Going on a cruise is a great way to experience some incredible adventures together as a unit, immersing yourselves in things that will initiate a new family narrative, stories you will tell and re-tell for years.

Celebrity Cruises has that ultimate multi-gen travel experience, a family-perfect way to see the world, relax and unplug, and reconnect with each other. With the new Edge-class ships – and unique design elements like the Magic Carpet, the world’s first floating deck cantilevered off the side of the ship – Celebrity continues to break the mould. And in terms of things to do onboard, the cruise company goes well beyond scavenger hunts and movie nights – even though you’ll find those, too. The family-specific Celebrity Camp at Sea programs for kids and teens does an incredible job of making sure your family enjoys themselves, whether they’re into science, technology, arts, or sports.

Finding something for everyone

The Celebrity Teen Club comes through with teen-oriented events and activities, including sports challenges, silent disco parties, and video game tournaments. Pre-teens also get in on gaming and sports, while those a bit younger are immersed in all things nautical to build on their sea-faring adventure. Of course, there’s a club for the very wee ones, too, who are introduced to activities, songs, and crafts.

Celebrity’s acumen when it comes to family-friendly excursions onshore is also bang-on. Special-interest activities cater to everyone’s interests, encompassing family-focused fun centred on wildlife adventure, watersports and aquatics, arts and culture, cooking classes and more.

Maybe you just want to go to a peaceful beach for the afternoon – Celebrity can arrange that, too. In fact, parents can create their own private adventures, personalized to fit the family dynamic. Small- and large-group exploration fills in the gaps, so you don’t miss out on the highlights of any port of call. Luckily, the expert Travel Designers at Tully Luxury Travel have been practically everywhere in the world, all the better to guide you in the right direction.

Speaking of which, where are you headed? Celebrity’s top family destinations are all over the map – in a good way! If your family is into adventure – flightseeing over glaciers, hiking through the rainforest, whale-spotting on a boat tour, Alaska might be just the ticket. The Galapagos Islands are a wildlife wonderland, filled with fascinating creatures like tortoises, iguanas, sea lions and pink flamingos – things your family has only seen in pictures.

If history, castles, palaces, art museums –and shopping! – are on the to-do list, the boulevards of Europe are great places to bridge the past and present, with a few cultural surprises thrown in. The Caribbean, Hawaii and Bermuda come through with plenty of watersports and simple fun in the sand. Keep in mind that school holidays attract the most families if finding onboard playmates is part of your plan.

Cozying up to The Retreat

Celebrity recently introduced The Retreat: premium all-suites accommodations loaded with features that will make you never want to leave the ship. Benefits include access to a special two-storey sundeck, a private lounge and an elegant private restaurant with signature dishes created by French celebrity Chef Daniel Boulud. The Retreat functions like an upscale luxury resort within the ship itself, your own VIP refuge, with the requisite attendants and concierges, making the exclusivity just a little more special.

The nice part about The Retreat is that it works two ways for families. Grandparents can splurge and enjoy their own private area of the ship, while their children and grandchildren keep to alternate accommodations. As well, smaller families themselves can enjoy a great cruise while being immersed in the privacy of The Retreat, which acts like your own little world.

The Retreat is available on Celebrity Edge series ships the Celebrity Edge, Apex, Beyond and Ascent, as well as the cruise line’s “revolutionized” (i.e. refurbished) ships – the Celebrity Millennium, Summit, Equinox and Silhouette

Whichever ship you choose, The Tully Luxury Travel Designers encourage you to invite all the family members you’re travelling with into the planning process. Engaging everybody in the decision-making makes the end result foolproof and fun. The more input, the more solid the plan, right? Everyone can then look forward to the cruise agenda. Bonus reason: No complaining allowed!