Kid Cruise – Family Cruises

Take a Kid Cruise - Kids LOVE cruise ships, find out why!

Carnival Fascination

My favorite all time family travel option is a kid cruise and I have been on several. This past New Years' we traveled with our nine year old and my husband’s family. I can honestly say, there was something in it for everyone from age nine to age 70. We all had a wonderful time and my son's first question on our return was "when do we cruise next?”

Most people who would not consider a kid cruise are those that have never cruised before. Once people have been on their first cruise, they will do it again and again. There are a lot of misconceptions about cruising such as it is only for older people and not suited for families, it is too rigid, there is nothing to do, you’ll feel trapped, you’ll get seasick, it’s too expensive! All is these statements are false and could not be further from the truth.

Termendous Value

Kid cruises offer tremendous value, you one price usually includes your meals; accommodations, entertainment and a whole lot more. There is a lot of variety with over 150 ships, 1,800 ports of call and so much to do on board, you could not do it all in one day! The best part is though that you can also choose to do nothing but relax, its all up to you. If you like to be pampered, then a kid cruise is definitely for you, it�s something that is hard to appreciate until you are onboard and are able to experience it yourself.

Afraid of getting Seasick?

As for seasickness, the fear is often groundless when you cruise in the tranquil waters of the Caribbean, Bahamas and Alaska as well as the rivers and canals of the U.S. and Europe. If you are still unsure, there are over-the-counter remedies which work for most people, and procedures you can follow if you do feel queasy. And, if you do happen to hit a storm one of the world's oceans, ships' doctors can administer injections that eliminate all discomfort. Today�s ships are also stabilized to reduce motion.

Enjoy great kids programs

Families love cruising and the cruise lines have responded with some wonderful programs. A lot of ships, especially the bigger lines like Royal Caribbean, Carnival and Disney Cruises

who carry a lot of families, have special places for kids including play areas supervised by youth coordinators and are great options for Family Cruises. They schedule activities for every day of the cruise, including everything from group participation games like Monopoly or sports like basketball, to quieter activities like movie time and story-telling in the afternoon.

Kid cruises have age-specific programs run by a trained, patient, and fun-loving staff; a ship with facilities that can entertain and educate; and plenty of other kids on board to make it all work. Enrolling in any one of these activities is simple, just go to the youth coordinator on duty and he or she will get you into all of the activities of the day. Sometimes they close down for a few hours in the afternoon or early evening so be sure to check the daily schedule and coordinate those times with your parents. For younger kids, babysitting services are often available, but it is necessary to check with the staff on board about the hours of availability.

It's important to realize, however, that not all cruise lines -- not to mention cruise ships and itineraries -- are created equal when it comes to family travel. A couple of key factors you should consider before you find your perfect kid cruise. Cruise lines' newer ships tend to have the biggest, most elaborate kids' centres, in large part because the ships are simply bigger and usually have been designed to incorporate children's areas.

Kid Cruise Programs can vary depending on the Cruise Line but most offer supervised activities broken out by age. Generally, speaking, the more age groupings, the better. Otherwise, you run the risk of having your 8 year old stuck in a group with savvy preteens, for example (or vice versa). Activities vary but almost always include some kind of arts and crafts and games. In some cases ships have special enclosed deck space (with wading pools, water slides, mini-basketball hoops and jungle gyms). Others have computers, science labs, and video games.

Which Itineraries are family oriented?

Not all itineraries are kid-friendly (particularly for pre-13 year olds). If you are planning an exotic trip like Asia, South America, world cruises etc., know that many lines offering such itineraries - even ones geared for families, may have age restrictions, very limited programs and few children's staff on board. In addition, the ratio of staff to kids can vary widely from cruise line to cruise line and even from ship to ship. Know before you go, especially in the case of younger children for your kid cruise. Particular regions, such as Alaska and the Caribbean tend to be more family oriented.

What about dining?

Most now cruises offer alternatives such as more casual dining to the traditional two-seating formal dining ritual which may not be suited to kids, or at least not at every meal. I would recommend the early seating otherwise your kids will be up very late each evening. Around-the-clock room service is available on most lines and can be convenient for some meals.

Best times to go

Popular times for a kid cruise are during school vacation periods. It can be a bit more expensive but you are usually guaranteed more playmates for your kids. Another option is to stick to shorter cruises 3 or 4-day options as well as seven-day trips. The longer the duration, the older the crowd in most cases.

Great family options

Most ships offer family staterooms or connecting rooms. Consider a cabin with a veranda, it offers a nice escape while a young child may be napping or watching cartoons. Inquire in advance of your cruise about availability of equipment, from cribs to strollers. Don't assume diapers and formula will be available on board find out BEFORE boarding the ship.

Bring your kids along on almost any cruise and they'll have the time of their lives. The following cruises excel in all the options discussed above, making them our best choices for kid cruises and Mom and Dad will love them too!

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