Digital Detox!

Two-thirds of British families say they sit down together for a family meal almost every day, yet for many, there are uninvited guests at the table.

On average 11.4 million tech devices such as smartphones and tablets to laptops and iPods are brought to family meals.

Almost a quarter of families (22 percent) who bring tech to the table feel they are prevented from having proper conversations with each other at meal times, seriously impacting on what should be quality time together.

For many families, the solution is a digital detox holiday, during which electronic devices are not allowed and there’s no Wi-Fi access or cellular service.

Without digital distractions, families can actually look at each other across the dinner table and converse.  They can create memories that will stick with them longer than an Instagram post will.

This is probably one of the biggest reasons I love a cruise holiday. Yes, the technology is available but only if you want it plus it is very expensive and frustratingly slow.

A cruise ship is one of the few places where you can still see children playing, adults reading or people just have good old-fashioned fun.  At night in the dining room there are no phones and if they are there they are being used to take photos.  Evening activities tend to be socialising at the different bars with new friends or being entertained in the theatre. Children are at kids club or with you.

If facebook needs updating with holiday photos we tend to have a quick coffee at McDonald’s in port using their free wi-fi.

Of course, you can’t spend every last second together, you can’t exist entirely spontaneously during your travels, but not having a solid plan or structure for your cruise can lead to easily avoidable stresses.

By simply planning a family lunch and dinner, letting the kids know that the children’s club starts at 10 am, or that the family swim will begin at 3 pm, you can help your family know what is going on and when and where to be.  The last thing you want is to be chasing family members up and down the deck.  We have a system where we leave a note in the cabin which is updated each time someone moves around the ship.

We always come back from a cruise feeling refreshed and that everyone had an enjoyable time. Why not give it a try.