(Photo courtesy of KolnTourismus GmbH.)
From European river cruises to larger ships heading to the Caribbean, these cruises will have multigenerational families setting sail in no time.
A highlight of the winter season in Europe, Christmas markets are a top site to see in cities from Vienna to Cologne. Your clients can experience this European tradition on an all-inclusive river cruise with Viking River Cruises.
On the 8-day Rhine Getaway, travelers will sail on the Rhine visiting the Marksburg Castle and ruins of Heidelberg Castle; the cathedral in Cologne, Germany; Strasbourg in France; and Holland, all while exploring the Christmas markets. On this itinerary, passengers will visit four countries (Germany, Switzerland, France and the Netherlands) and see six UNESCO World Heritage sites, including the Kinderdijk windmills and the Speyer Cathedral. As for the Christmas markets, travelers will spend time exploring a market in Cologne, Rudesheim and Heidelberg, Germany.
Rates start at $1,856 pp. For more information, visit vikingrivercruises.com.
For a slice of New England culture, recommend American Cruise Lines’ Maine Coast and Harbors cruise. Guests start the journey in Portland and head to Bay Harbor, Castine and Belfast, Camden, Rockland, Boothbay Harbor, and Bath, before returning to Portland.
The 8-day cruise is an introduction to the region with stops at national parks, historic districts, and ports known for their shipbuilding. Travelers will spend time exploring Acadia National Park on a shore excursion and the historic district of Belfast, an area filled with sea captains’ mansions and art galleries.
Call for rates. For more information, visit americancruiselines.com.
For more traditional cruisers, Norwegian Cruise Line’s new Norwegian Breakaway offers plenty for families on board. The ship features a 2-story Splash Academy with a Nickelodeon theme for kids ages 3-12, featuring a cinema, circus school, light-up floor, Wii and PlayStation 3. Meanwhile, teens from 13-17 can hang out in the Entourage area, which features video games, a video jukebox, movies and pizza parties—all in a lounge-type setting. Breakaway also has a nursery for infants ages 6 months to 2 years.
Families can also come together and enjoy three Broadway shows, including Rock of Ages; dine at one of the many restaurants, such as Ocean Blue by Geoffrey Zakarian, celebrity chef and Food Network star Geoffrey Zakarian’s first restaurant at sea; or watch the fireworks show on the second to last night at sea.
The 12-day Southern Caribbean from New York itinerary visits San Juan, Puerto Rico; St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands; Philipsburg, St. Maarten; Castries, St. Lucia; Bridgetown, Barbados; and Basseterre, St. Kitts. Rates start at $1,399 pp. For more information, visit ncl.com.
