There’s a lot to love about a family cruise. But a family cruise where your kids have their best friend along? That is a very specific kind of vacation magic.
On this MSC trip, we traveled with Ally and her parents, which meant the boys had their BFF and the adults had other adults to hang out with. We spent a surprising amount of time with the kids happily playing in one cabin while we crafted or napped in the other.
Exciting vacation content? Maybe not. An excellent vacation? Absolutely.
I love making memories with my kids. I also love when they are happily occupied and nobody needs me to personally provide the entertainment.
A first snorkel—and a perfectly good reason to stay on the boat
One of my favorite moments was watching my big kid try snorkeling for the first time. He was nervous, but he gave it a shot and loved it. Getting to watch that shift from “I’m not sure about this” to “this is amazing” was pretty wonderful.
Nat stayed on the boat, and I appreciated how kind the tour guide was to him, too. There was a viewing window in the bottom, so he still got to see some fish without getting in the water.
Both kids got to enjoy the outing in a way that worked for them. As a parent, that means a lot. Trying something new can be a great experience, but so can having your limits respected and still being included.
Beach days, pool time, and staying put
Ocean Cay continues to be one of my favorite parts of an MSC cruise. It is just such a lovely beach day, and it’s a highlight every time we go. Sometimes you don’t need an elaborate excursion. You need beautiful water and time to enjoy it.
A favorite excursion: the Lucha Libre Mexican Wrestling show. It was every bit at campy and hysterical and wonderful as you’d expect. And tacos and margs afterwards, what’s not to like?!
We also spent some time enjoying the pools at the Costa Maya cruise port. And on another day, the kids and I stayed on the ship for a quiet stretch in the hot tubs while Ally’s parents headed out to explore and shop.
That’s one of the things I love about cruising with another family: you can spend lots of time together without needing identical plans every day. Some people want to shop. Some people want to sit in warm water and do very little. Everyone can have the vacation they came for.
A few little MSC things I appreciated
On this trip, I noticed “mindful pour zero proof option available” on many of the drinks listed on the bar menus. There was also a daily featured cocktail and mocktail, which I really appreciated. It’s nice to see the alcohol-free option get a little attention of its own, the normalization of not drinking, and the mocktails still being fun and interesting instead of “here’s a Coke.”
And, of course, the espresso machines at every bar remain a major selling point for me. Thanks, Italians. You understand some very important things.
Could I go back after Yacht Club?
I’ll admit I was a little worried about this part.
After experiencing MSC’s Yacht Club, had I ruined regular cruising for myself? Would I spend the whole trip missing the quieter spaces and extra convenience?
The answer: I missed some things, and I still had a great vacation.
I definitely missed the quiet Yacht Club pool on sea days. And when we missed our assigned 5 p.m. dinner time once or twice and ended up at the buffet, I missed the ease of Yacht Club’s anytime dining. With kids, that flexibility is a pretty wonderful perk.
But we still had beach days, snorkeling, hot tubs, coffee, friends, and plenty of time to relax.
Yacht Club is a treat. Regular pop is just fine, too.
The unexpected MVP: the paper airplane guy
One of the biggest highlights of the trip came from a man working at the future cruise desk.
He had children back home and, as we discovered, some very impressive paper airplane skills.
The kids were thrilled. They flew their planes for hours while Ally’s parents and I relaxed with drinks. Of all the activities and entertainment available on a cruise ship, a kind person with a few sheets of paper made one of the biggest impressions.
It’s the sort of moment you can’t plan, but it ends up being one of the things you remember most.
Better with a buddy
Traveling with another family added so much to this trip. The boys were thrilled to have their friend along, and that built-in companionship gave the adults a little more room to relax, too.
There were shared adventures, separate plans, cabin hangouts, and stretches where everyone was happily doing very little. We didn’t need to fill every minute. The kids already had one of their favorite people with them.
If you’ve been thinking about taking a trip with your family friends, I’m happy to help you find a good fit—from choosing the cruise to sorting out cabins and coordinating the details.
You bring the BFF. I’ll help with the logistics. And maybe pack a few sheets of paper, just in case.
