Boat trip with children: what to check before you book

Children tend to love boats: the spray, the speed, the chance to jump into deep water. They also get hot, hungry and bored faster than adults, and a boat is a small place to be any of those things. A little care when choosing the trip makes the day easy for everyone.

Pick the right length

For young children, shorter is better. Two to three hours with one or two stops is plenty for a first outing. A full day sounds like better value, but the last hours of a long trip are hard on small passengers and on their parents.

Older children and teenagers usually cope well with half a day or more, especially if there is swimming, snorkelling or fishing to break it up.

Private or shared?

A shared tour follows a fixed route and timetable with other guests on board. A private boat is yours: you can leave when the baby has woken up, stay longer where the children are happy and turn back early if someone has had enough.

For families, that flexibility is often worth more than anything else, and because a private boat is priced per boat rather than per person, the difference in cost for four or five people can be smaller than you expect. Each listing says whether it is priced per person or per boat.

What to check in the listing

• Shade. Look for a canopy or a cabin in the photos. Children should not spend hours in direct sun.
• Seating. Proper seats with something to hold on to are better for small children than open deck space.
• A swim ladder. It makes getting back on board much easier.
• A toilet on board, if the trip is longer than a couple of hours. Many small boats do not have one.
• The maximum number of guests. Every person counts, babies included, so give the true number when you book.
• The type of boat. A slower, wider boat is steadier and gentler. A speedboat is exciting but bounces on waves, which is tiring for very young children.

Life jackets

Boats carry life jackets, but check that there are child sizes for your children's ages. An adult jacket does not work on a small child. If you are told there are none in the right size, choose another trip or ask whether you may bring your own.

Questions to ask the owner

You can message the owner before the trip. Good questions are:

• Do you have life jackets for children of these ages?
• Is this route suitable for a child of this age?
• Where do we stop for swimming, and how deep is the water there?
• Can we shorten the trip if the children get tired?
• Is there somewhere to keep a bag dry and food cool?

Tell the owner the children's ages when you book. Skippers who know they have children on board choose calmer routes and gentler stops.

The best family trips have one clear highlight, a swim and a snack, and end while everyone still wants more.

Choose calm water and a calm hour

The Bay of Kotor is sheltered by mountains and usually much calmer than the open sea, which makes it a good first trip. Short routes from Kotor or Perast to the islands keep the ride brief and the views constant.

Mornings are usually calmest and coolest. On summer afternoons a sea breeze often raises a chop on the open coast, so if you are going outside the bay, go early.

Swim stops

Not every stop suits every swimmer. In a sea cave or off a rocky shore the water is deep straight away, and children swim from the boat. A cove with a pebble beach that deepens gradually is easier for those who are still learning. Ask where the stops are.

Armbands or a swim vest, a mask and water shoes for pebbly beaches all earn their place in the bag. An adult should be in the water with any child who is not a strong swimmer, whatever they are wearing.

What to pack

• Sunscreen, hats and a long-sleeved swim top for each child.
• More drinking water than seems necessary, and snacks that survive heat.
• A towel and a dry change of clothes; children get cold quickly after swimming once the boat is moving.
• A light jacket for the ride back.
• Something small to do during the longer stretches.
• Cash in euros, if the trip is paid to the owner on arrival.

If someone gets seasick

Children can be more prone to motion sickness than adults. A light meal beforehand, fresh air, a seat near the middle of the boat and eyes on the horizon all help. If you are considering medication, ask a pharmacist or doctor in advance what is suitable for your child's age.

Tell the skipper if someone feels unwell.

If plans change

Children get ill and plans shift. Check the listing's free-cancellation period before you book, and cancel from your bookings page as soon as you know. If the trip is paid in cash on arrival, cancelling in time costs nothing, and the owner can offer the place to someone else.

You can browse trips and look for private boats and shorter durations to start with.