August is Family Fun Month! Looking for the perfect way to make some vacation memories with your whole crew? We asked Royal Caribbean’s shore excursion experts to recommend the best vacation activities for families. Here are a few of their favorites:
What: Get schooled in the pizza-making tradition. Take a pizza-making lesson in the spot where the delicious pie was invented, then feast on your culinary creation for lunch.
Cool factor: You’ll travel together along the coastline, observing beautiful cliffside villages, then explore the town of Sorrento as a family.
Find it in: Naples, Italy
What: A local artisan shows your family how to make traditional Matryoshka dolls (AKA Russian nesting dolls), then you get the chance to DIY and take your creation home. (For kids aged 4 and up.)
Cool factor: When you’re done with the doll workshop, experience a traditional Russian tea party, where you’ll chow down on sweet and savory treats.
Find it in: St. Petersburg, Russia
What: The thrilling Jetlev, a water-propelled jetpack, lets you and your adrenaline-seeking teens fly over the ocean and soar through the air. Don’t worry, it only looks extreme—it’s easy to learn and you’ll be up in the air within minutes. (Minimum age is 16.)
Cool factor: From your elevated vantage point, you’ll all get an amazing view of the coastline.
Find it in: Oranjestad, Aruba
What: Get your kids excited about Alaskan history, culture and natural wonder: Challenge each other or team up for an epic scavenger hunt through Totem Bight State Park, a former Native campground, and the Tongass Rainforest. You’ll be on the lookout for items that highlight the art and traditions of the natives of southeast Alaska.
Cool factor: You’ll also get to glide across the pristine Lake Harriet Hunt in a 37-foot Native-style canoe. (Kids must weigh at least 40 pounds to safely wear life jackets.)
Find it in: Ketchikan, Alaska
What: Gear up with protective equipment and face off in a paintball session with a twist—gorgeous views of St. Lucia’s tropical mountain landscapes as your backdrop. (Best for kids 8 and up.)
Cool factor: After the game, hike to a nearby beach to enjoy lunch, swim and recount your favorite battlefield stories.
Find it in: Castries, St. Lucia
What: Take a hands-on fighting lesson to experience the art of Roman gladiator combat firsthand and earn a certificate of Roman citizenship.
Cool factor: You’ll get to take a guided walking tour through the Roman Forum and past the Colosseum, where gladiators once battled.
Find it in: Rome, Italy
What: Step back in time with a scenic sailing adventure aboard the Santa Maria, a magnificent replica of Christopher Columbus’ 15th-century ship. Learn the distinguished history and enjoy the spectacular mountains and cliffs of the Madeira coast.
Cool factor: You’ll get to see Cabo Girão, the highest sea cliff in Europe.
Find it in: Madeira (Funchal), Portugal
What: Engage in an adrenaline-pumping laser tag battle against Mayan guards in the middle of the jungle. Defeat anything trying to block your way along an ancient ruin replica-filled path. (For ages 6 and up.)
Cool factor: Admission to Chankanaab Park is included, so you can hang out on the beach, go swimming, or see a sea lion show.
Find it in: Cozumel, Mexico
What: Float in an inner tube down Jamaica’s lush White River, then experience the stunning beauty of Dunn’s River Falls, a 600-foot terraced waterfall. (For kids 5 and up.)
Cool factor: You can even climb the world-famous cascades.
Find it in: Falmouth, Jamaica
What: Take a walking tour of Bruges, including beautiful Market Square and the Provincial Court Building, then visit the Freitmuseum, the world’s only museum dedicated to fries, and taste the national snack.
Cool factor: You’ll learn how and why Belgium makes the world’s best fries and why you should never call them French fries!
Find it in: Brussels (Zeebrugge), Belgium
Getting excited to explore? Great news: If you book between August 14 and 16 for sailings departing on or after September 14, you can get a credit of up to $150 to use for the shore excursion of your choice. Learn more here.
