Do something different and go cruising with the kids

 

Cruising has been increasing in popularity in the Netherlands for years, but it is nowhere near the same as our neighboring countries England and Germany. There they have completely discovered cruising and everyone goes; from couples and families with (young) children to the over-50s. In the Netherlands, cruising still has the image that it is only for the elderly. And that's a shame, because cruising is certainly also for families with children.

I had already made cruises for my work, so I know that it is really important that you get good advice on which shipping company suits you and which ship you should go with. Because the rest of the family will join us this time, we choose MSC Cruises. This shipping company was officially founded in 1970 and since then it has grown into the largest private cruise company in the world. The shipping company's sailing area is mainly the Mediterranean Sea and MSC also sails seasonally in Northern Europe, the Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean, South America, South Africa, Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Oman.

Dubai is also a popular cruise destinationDubai is also a popular cruise destination

Cruise Genoa – Barcelona – Marseille – Genoa

We are going for a short 4-day cruise in the Mediterranean, from Genoa in Italy to Barcelona in Spain, then to Marseille in France and back to Genoa. In the early and late season, this is a great way to get acquainted with cruising. In the summer, the route is expanded to an 8-day cruise, which is also a great opportunity to discover even more beautiful cities in Europe.

MSC Splendida

We sail this route with the MSC Splendida, a huge ship of 333 meters that can accommodate more than 3,200 passengers. There are also about 1,350 crew members on board to pamper us completely on this cruise. In the buffet restaurant you can get something to eat and drink for no less than 20 hours a day. Furthermore, there are several other restaurants and bars where you can get something. Some restaurants such as the Santa Fe Tex Mex have an additional cost. We lost about 15 euros per adults and a children's menu is only 5 euros, so that's not too bad. In any case, I advise you not to just linger in the buffet restaurant, the other areas are a lot quieter and of better quality I think. For example, in the morning we went for breakfast in the La Reggia restaurant where we could sit quietly and we also had a delicious dinner in Restaurant Villa Verde, where you can choose from three starters, main courses and desserts.

Restaurant Villa VerdeRestaurant Villa Verde

For those who are not familiar with the principle of cruising: almost all food is included in the price, including in the La Reggia or Villa Verde Restaurant, where a table is reserved for you for the first or second session. You only have to pay extra in the specialty restaurants. Coffee, tea and water is also available 24 hours a day in special places. For example, if you want a cup of cappuccino, this will be credited to the onboard bill, provided you have not purchased a beverage package. There are various drink packages that can be booked in advance or on board.

Genoa

Before boarding the MSC Splendida, we had already been in Genoa for a day. We did this to avoid stress if there were delays and I had never been to this Italian city. This still relatively unknown city is really worth a visit. While wandering around the city, we were greatly surprised by a city park with a beautiful waterfall. Genoa is known for its beautiful palaces and is therefore nicknamed 'La Superba'. But what many people don't know is that the famous explorer Columbus is also a Genoese. The city has a glorious maritime history. In addition, you can enjoy shopping and delicious food. From various points in the city you can see the large cruise ships and you can also just walk to the terminal. We took the taxi because the hotel was a bit further from the harbor.

Waterfall in Genoa City ParkWaterfall in Genoa City Park

Barcelona

Also in the Spanish city of Barcelona, ​​the huge ship can moor quite close to the center. An MSC Cruises bus will be waiting for you to take you to the entrance of the port. From there you can walk to the Ramblas and see the rest of the city with, for example, the hop on hop off bus. In the vicinity of the harbor you will also find the Maremagnum shopping center with shops such as Lefties, Bershka, Desigual, H&M, Lacoste, Ikks, Mango and Pull & Bear. Because I know the city fairly well, since I have lived in the area and the weather was pretty bad, we mainly stayed in and around Maremagnum.

Marseille - MSC Splendida

The next day on board there was the possibility to visit Marseille, but because of the bad weather we mainly used this day to discover the ship. Because you really need a few days for that. every morningAt the end there is a DAILY program waiting for you in the hut, on which you can see what there is to do this day. We were in Marseille at 8:00 AM and everyone had to be back on board by 5:30 PM. Around 10 a.m. it became increasingly quiet on board, which is why these days are ideal to book a massage, for example. I skipped the spa this time, we mainly looked at what is fun for the children on board. Then of course you quickly end up at the swimming pool and the kids' club, which is available for different ages. There is also a special children's area in the buffet restaurant. On board this ship is also an F1 Simulator and 4D Cinema, so children of all ages will have a great time. At the end of the afternoon there is a wine tasting in L`Enoteca where we taste 4 delicious wines, accompanied by some tasty snacks.

Wine tasting L`EnotecaWine tasting L`Enoteca

Next to L'Enoteca is the Mexican restaurant Santa Fe Tex Mex where you can enjoy delicious food in the evening. And afterwards you have all kinds of options to end the evening. You can visit the theatre, where a different show is played every night, or try your luck at the casino. You can also enjoy shopping on board or with your feet off the floor in the disco.

Casino on board MSC SplendidaCasino on board MSC Splendida

Genoa

Once back in Genoa you can easily walk from the ship to the train station or take a taxi to the airport. There is an airport in Genoa with direct flights to Amsterdam with KLM.

My tips in a nutshell:

- Make sure you are in the city from which you depart the day before, so that you can start the cruise relaxed.

- Try out all the dining options on board. You can even order room service and have breakfast brought to the cabin.

- Put some extra tip in your cabin. The base salary on board is not high, most employees rely on tips. And your bed will be made extra beautifully.

- Cruising is fine with (small) children, there is so much to see and do on board and in the places where you stop that they too will have a great holiday.