Cruising with Kids, the Cheaper Way

There are so many cruise lines out there that can provide you with all the dining and entertainment you want and need without costing you a small fortune. Norwegian Cruise Line is one of these! They have been around for years, and have set new trends in the cruising industry time and time again. They have the history and now with their new ship, the Norwegian Epic, they have all the glamor.

A family of four could expect to pay approximately $2000 in total for an inside cabin aboard the Epic. This will include most of your meals, entertainment and all of your fun. The ship leaves out of Miami, you can either fly or drive depending on where you live and embark on 8 days of clean, wholesome fun! Besides, the pools, water slides, and bowling alleys, the Epic features one of the best children's entertainment groups ever...Nickelodeon at Sea! They have breakfast with all of the characters, daily meet and greets with such characters as Sponge Bob Squarepants and Patrick Starfish and dance parties with Dora.

Now that the kid's entertainment is squared away, what about the adults? Well, once again, Norwegian excels here too. Not only do they feature a Cirque du Soleil dinner show and an impersonator show famous in Las Vegas called Legends, they have none other than the Blue Man Group onboard! And, it's included in your fare. You simply pick up tickets at the booth onboard, pre-register online, or schedule which show you would like to see on your in cabin television and you can go with the whole family! There is also a casino onboard for guests 18 or older that is open while you're not in port.

And, when the shows are over and you start to get hungry, your options will never cease to amaze. The Epic features 21 restaurants! Seven of which are included in your upfront cost and fourteen do have a small co-pay. The co-pays range from $3 for a sushi roll, to a $10 cover per person in the Italian restaurant to a $25 cover in the French restaurant. One of the nicest features is that all of these restaurants are family friendly, children of all ages are allowed in and are discounted for all of the co-pays. If you're not interested in a specialty restaurant, you still have an array of choices. There is a 24 hour diner style restaurant, two main dining rooms for your more "sit-down" style of dining and of course the wonderful buffet. All of their food is clearly marked in case of any food allergies and most stations at the buffet are made to order. And if none of these are striking your fancy, you have the old stand by room service. It's 24/7 and has a different menu for every time of day. They are quick, diverse and really, who doesn't enjoy eating in bed every now and then.

There are so many other things that make cruising a wonderful way to vacation. You will experience beautiful beaches, exotic ports of call and meet wonderful people. These are just some of the basics to get you started on embarking on a whole new family vacation.

For more information, go to www.ncl.com and start your travel plans today!