Cruise the South Caribbean with Kids - One Family's Story

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This article was written based on a conversation with my friend Kendra Scheerer.  

Cruise through the South Caribbean with kids and teens

We love listening to other family's travel stories about far-out places and breath-taking adventures. 

Think for a moment, what was the last travel story you heard?  Once you heard all about your friend's adventure, I bet your thoughts drifted towards planning your very own next get away.  Am I right?

My mind started spinning when Kendra told me all about her family's thrilling 10 day cruise in the South Caribbean. 

Kendra was excited to share their cruising story here as part of our Rad Family Collective series, which highlights other families' tried and true escapades.  

Reasons to cruise with kids

Cruising with kids offered the Scheerer family a different vacation experience and gave them a chance to see several different island countries in a shorter period of time.  

Kendra and her family relished the all-inclusive entertainment on board, kids club, and formal and informal dining options.  Your kids can try new foods without worrying about the price tag.  What parent wouldn't love that?

Also on board they discovered a huge rock climbing wall, swimming pools, slides, game room, work out room, and a Spa for mom and dad.  I'm already sold.

Jump on board with this family of six as they carved out 10 days in mid-February to shake off the winter blahs.  The Scheerers loved the mix of history and loads of adventure while cruising, as well as meeting people from all over the world.

Cruising from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida to the the southern Caribbean, I know you're dying to know...

Island hopping

Sit back and enjoy this brief photo journal as we follow this sweet family's jaunts around the islands of Antigua, St. Kitts, St. Maarten, Dominica, and Tortola.  Let's go!

Antigua Island - hop on a "D" boat

First stop: Antigua, an island in the West Indies.  Antigua is the main island of the country of Antigua and Barbuda.  

Plan to play on the “D-Boat," an old oil tanker ship turned giant on-the-water jungle gym.  Picture the boat out in the middle of the ocean, complete with a blob, giant slides, rope swings, snorkeling, hot lunch, and more. 

My kids would eat this up.  Learn more and make reservations for D-Boat here.

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Hang out with monkeys on St. Kitts

The bigger of the 2 Caribbean islands that comprise the nation of Saint Kitts and Nevis, St. Kitts is known for its mountains and beaches.   The capital of Basseterre* features Georgian buildings from colonial days, as well as Circus Plaza, the sister to London’s Piccadilly Circus.

In Basseterre, check out the Victorian-style clock tower and hang out with cute lil' monkeys.  It's common for families to have a pet monkey - please don't tell my children!  

*The kids were surprised by the extreme poverty in the city and the horrific history of slave-trading during the 17th and 18th centuries.  Be prepared to process this with your kiddos before and after you go.

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Get blasted on St. Martin | Sint Maarten

St. Martin, part of an overseas French collectivity, shares a Caribbean island with Sint Maarten, part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.  European elegance and island living entwine, and boredom is a four-letter word. 

Maho Beach is a beach on the Dutch side of the Caribbean island of Saint Martin, in the territory of Sint Maarten.  Don't let your head swim!  Just know that Maho Beach is famous for the Princess Juliana International Airport adjacent to the beach. 

The big jets nearly blast you off your feet as the planes literally fly in just above your heads while landing.

Kids. Love. Maho Beach.  

When you're ready for a more peaceful beach, Mullet Bay, is just a 5-10 minute walk from Maho Beach.

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Waterfalls and snorkeling on Dominica

Move over Yellowstone!*  A volcanic island with active features, Dominica is a mountainous Caribbean island nation home to natural hot springs and rainforests.

Check out magical snorkeling through bubbling, warm water coming up from ocean floor vents at Champagne Beach.  The Scheerer kids thought this was awesome!

Swim in Titou Gorge found in Morne Trois Pitons National Park.  This national park is also home to the volcanically heated, steam-covered Boiling Lake, sulphur vents, and the 213 feet (65 meter) high Trafalgar Falls!

*We love Yellowstone too!  Check out our 7 wonderstruck, kid-approved days in Yellowstone.

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Take a bath in Tortola

The largest of the British Virgin Islands, Tortola was the final island stop for Kendra's family.

Norman Island is home to caves where pirates of old have hidden many treasures in the past.  Snorkeling was a huge hit here!  So many colorful fish, it feels like swimming in one giant aquarium.

Kendra regretted that they didn't take time to visit the Baths.  An area of geological formations, The Baths are made up of volcanic formed boulders that have formed natural tidal pools, tunnels, arches, and scenic grottoes opening out to the sea. 

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Thank you Kendra!

We are so grateful Kendra shared her family's cruising story with us!  

Please check out Kendra's Facebook page called My Tribe Travel Consulting.  When she's not homeschooling her four children, she's helping close friends and family plan adventurous vacations just like the Caribbean cruise she shared with us today.  

When it comes to planning family travel, Kendra and her husband Steve have fun picking out the destination together.  Then, Kendra takes off with the rest, with valued input from her kids for adventurous activities.  

Next up for the Scheerers?  They're headed to St. George's Island, Florida where they will rent a vacation home with family.  We love this area of Florida, near Cape San Blas, another favorite for the Scheerers too!*

Have you taken your kids on a cruise?  What advice do you have for other families considering cruising with kids.  We'd love to hear, so please share below!

Except for beach photo and sunset photo from the top collage that were provided courtesy of pixabay.com, all other photographs in this post belong to Kendra Scheerer.  Please write for permission to use any of these photos, thanks!