Cruise and Me: Our First Family Cruise

Starting Our Adventure: Overnight in Barcelona

One of the best decisions we made was to fly into Barcelona the day before the cruise and stay overnight. Instead of spending embarkation day anxiously checking the time and worrying about delays, we had a relaxed evening in the city and woke up knowing the ship was just a short transfer away. It took a huge amount of pressure off and meant we started the cruise feeling excited rather than stressed. From a personal point of view, I would always recommend arriving at least one night before your sailing. It transforms the whole experience from a dash to the port into the beginning of the holiday.

First Steps On Board: “Wow, This Is A Floating Resort”

Walking onto Voyager of the Seas for the first time felt a bit like stepping into a self‑contained floating resort. The central promenade, with its shops, cafés and bars, had a real buzz about it. The children’s eyes were everywhere at once: “Look at that!”, “Can we go there?”, “What is up there?”

As first‑time cruisers, we were pleasantly surprised at how easy it was to find our way around. The ship felt big enough to be exciting but not so huge that it was overwhelming. For the children, even the smallest details on a cruise feel magical—like the lift mats changing each day. Spotting a new day underfoot turns a simple elevator ride into a fun little discovery, making every journey between decks feel special.

Our Family Cabin: Compact But Clever

We travelled as a family of four and our cabin layout worked really well for us.

My partner and I had the main bed, and the children shared the sofa bed. Each evening, the cabin attendant made up the sofa bed with separate linen for the two of them and, during the day, it was converted back to a sofa.

This simple change made a big difference:

• At night, everyone had a comfortable place to sleep.
• During the day, we had more floor space and seating, which mattered for the very, very short amount of time we actually spent in the cabin when we were not asleep.

It was cosy, functional and ideal for a short break, and it definitely reassured me that a standard family cabin can work perfectly well on a ship like this.

Activities: Where The Children Took Charge

Very quickly, the ship activities became the highlight for the children. They had a few clear favourites that they wanted to repeat again and again.

FlowRider Wave Rider

The FlowRider surf simulator was an instant hit. Watching the children (and a lot of brave grown‑ups) throw themselves into bodyboarding and trying to stay upright was brilliant fun. There was plenty of laughter, a few spectacular wipeouts and a real sense of achievement when they managed to stay on for longer than a few seconds.

Climbing Wall

The climbing wall appealed to their adventurous side. Harnessed and supervised, they loved testing how high they could go and comparing “best attempts”. It gave them a real sense of challenge and kept them active in a really positive way.

Crazy Golf & Sports Court

We spent a lot of time on the crazy golf course and the sports court:

• Crazy golf turned into our family competition, full of gentle teasing and rematches.
• The sports court gave the children space to run around, kick a ball and make new friends.

Water Slides

The waterslides were also a highlight, although a little fresh for April we (as in the children) made good use of them!

• Twisting tube slides and side-by-side racers keep children and adults entertained between port days.
• A perfect way to burn off energy and enjoy time together at sea.
• Ideal for creating those “remember when…” holiday moments on your family cruise.

These outdoor areas made the ship feel like a proper family resort, just with the added bonus of sea views in every direction.

Pools, Hot Tubs & A Brave Dip

We sailed in April, so I suspected the pools might be a little chilly. I was right. My son was determined to try them anyway, took a brave plunge, and then very quickly decided the hot tub was a much better idea. In the end, the hot tubs became our family spot: warm, relaxing and a lovely place to sit and chat about our day while looking out to sea. If you are sailing in the cooler months, it is worth knowing that while the pools can feel fresh, the hot tubs really come into their own.

Food: So Much More Than Burgers And Chips

I had heard a lot about food on cruise ships, but it still managed to impress us. On that first lunchtime, the children headed straight for the familiar comfort choices: burgers, pizza, nuggets and fries, but after that, they began to explore. They quickly realised there was a lot more on offer than they had expected!

Ice cream on tap both in the restaurants and around the ship was also a novelty that was slow to wear off!

Windjammer Buffet

The Windjammer buffet became our go‑to for relaxed meals:

• Huge variety at every sitting, from salads and pastas to curries, stir‑fries and plenty of child‑friendly favourites.
• Perfect when everyone fancied something different or when we just wanted a quick, casual bite.

We loved the fact that the children could try small portions of new things without any pressure. It felt like an easy way to broaden their tastes.

Main Dining Room

Our evenings in the main dining room were a real highlight. The service felt friendly and attentive, and there was a lovely sense of occasion each night. We enjoyed beautifully presented dishes, and there was always something that appealed to each of us, whether we felt like being a bit more adventurous or keeping things simple.

Sitting down together every evening, unhurried, with no cooking or clearing up to worry about, was a real gift. Those mealtimes became a chance to reconnect and listen to the children talk about their favourite parts of the day.

Evening Entertainment: Short But Sweet

For a short cruise, the range of evening entertainment was impressive. Over just three nights, we managed to see:

• Acrobatic performances
• Live bands
• Singers
• Comedians

We never felt at a loose end in the evenings. Instead, we could pick and choose depending on how tired we all were. Some nights we stayed out later enjoying the shows, other nights we kept it simple. There was always something to wander into, and the atmosphere around the ship in the evenings felt friendly and upbeat.

The Skating Rink: A Lesson Learned

One thing we did not manage to try was the ice skating rink. It looked fantastic, and we had every intention of giving it a go, but it proved to be extremely popular and on a 3‑night sailing the sessions filled quickly.

My personal tip for you:

• As soon as you board, check the schedule for the ice rink.
• Decide which sessions you want and plan them in early.

On a longer cruise, you would have more flexibility, but for a short taster, a bit of organisation is key if skating is on your wish list.

A Taste Of Majorca: Wandering Palma

Our itinerary included a stop in Majorca, with time to explore Palma de Mallorca.

We kept it simple, heading off for a gentle walk around the city. Even in a short visit, we managed to soak up a little of its character: the cathedral standing proudly over the waterfront, the narrow streets, the cafés and that unmistakable Mediterranean feel. It was just enough of a taster to remind us how lovely Majorca is and to make us want to return for a longer land‑based holiday another time.

How It Felt As First‑Time Cruisers

Looking back, choosing a 3‑night taster cruise was exactly right for us.

• It felt manageable as a “trial run”.
• We could see how the children responded to ship life.
• We could discover whether we enjoyed the rhythm of cruising.

The answer, in all cases, was yes.

The children absolutely loved the activities and the sense of freedom on board. We loved the combination of great food, entertainment and the ease of only unpacking once. Most of all, we enjoyed spending quality time together, with so much already taken care of for us.

By the time we disembarked in Barcelona, we were no longer asking “Is cruising for us?” but “When can we do this again?”

Could A Family Cruise Work For You Too?

From our own experience, cruising is ideal if you:

• Have children who enjoy being active and trying new things
• Like the idea of having pools, activities, dining and entertainment all in one place
• Want to explore somewhere new without the hassle of constant packing and unpacking

If our story has sparked a little interest in cruising for your own family, I would love to share more about what might suit you, which ships are best for your children’s ages and the little planning tips that can make everything feel smoother.

Contact me to start planning your own family cruise adventure and I will help you find a sailing that fits your family perfectly.