Paradise Kathy

Paradise Kathy

Cruise Planning Tips for Big Families

Ready to pack up all the kids and go on that cruise you've always dreamed about? No need to be reluctant. Cruising with the whole clan can be a fantastic experience when it's done right. Fortunately, there are several cruise lines that can fulfill all your family needs. Here are some cruise planning tips for big families.

Nearly all cruise lines now offer a wide variety of fun options for kids of all ages. Babies will be treated like the princes and princesses they are when you select a Royal Caribbean International cruise featuring the Royal Babies program. Your six-to18-month old will delight in all the fun activities specially created by the child development experts at Fisher Price. Even those stoic teens will cut loose and grin from ear to ear with all the fun they'll experience onboard a cruise. Video games, karaoke, rock climbing, water slides… the list goes on. Cruise ships are a kid's paradise.

These inside tips about the different cruise lines should make planning your family vacation a breeze:

Celebrity Cruises

For a fantastic family journey, you can't go wrong with Celebrity's top notch Family Program for children 3-17 years of age. It's important to check with your travel agent or the cruise line ahead of time, as the program isn't available on all cruises. Big bonus: there's no charge for participation in the program.

Upon boarding, kids receive special wristbands to identify them. When children are picked up from the youth center, parents must present their Celebrity-issued identification cards. Youth directors receive intensive training in child development, education and/or recreation, and must have previous experience working with children on cruise lines.

Celebrity's impeccably-trained staff of counselors surrounds your children with fun, safe, caring energy. You can feel completely comfortable knowing your kids are in an environment just as nurturing and protective as you provide at home. Program activities are both whimsical and educational, including games, parties, drama classes, magic lessons and movie time.

Costa Cruise Lines

This is Carnival's Italian cousin. The Costa Kids program is not only a blast, but esoteric, as well. Kids can take cooking lessons and even learn to speak Italian in one of the language classes. How incredible is that? They also offer all the things that kids love, including pizza and ice cream parties, treasure hunts, masquerade bashes and karaoke contests. This is a great way for kids to meet and socialize with children from other countries.

Holland America Line

This line's Club HAL program is a fantastic program for kids 5-17. Tons of fun daily activities, and even a shore excursion limited to kids only. Onboard fun includes stories, arts and crafts, miniature golf, swimming and pizza parties. The shore excursion is a fun jaunt around Half Moon Cay in the Caribbean. Some Alaska trips offer shore excursions for kids, as well. Your children will delight in Alaskan canoe rides, nature hikes and culture lessons. Naturally, all jaunts are supervised by highly trained youth counselors.

One of the things kids love most about HAL: the menu. We all know kids have their own meal preferences, that's why HAL offers them hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken nuggets, pizza and more. Now that's quality dining, kid-style.

Princess Cruises

Widely considered to be among the best cruise lines in the world, the kids program for children 3-17 at Princess is bar none. All the comforts of home, including movies and video games on big-screen TVs, as well as fascinating hands-on activities that teach kids about science and wildlife conservation.

The youth centers are the hub of the fun on these cruise lines, and are complete with arts and crafts stations, pools, jukeboxes and game centers. There's even a private deck for kids, featuring the grand, Whale's Tail Splash Pool. Because teens aren't fond of feeling like kids, there's a special, reserved deck area and pool for them.

Royal Carribean International

This is paradise for active kids. Rock-climbing, surfing, even ice skating. Yes, ice skating. RCI's youth program, Adventure Ocean is reserved for kids age 3-17, but it's so incredible, adults will be clamoring to join, as well.

Youth workers for this free program are degreed professionals who are dedicated to ensuring your family's dream vacation goes without a hitch. Kids receive specialized meals, have their own theme parties, party in their own nightclub, and even have a unique television station with all their favorite programs.
Now that you know about how much fun awaits your children on a cruise, don't you think it's time to book the trip? With so many fun, exciting programs available, it's quite possible your kids will enjoy the cruise even more than you will!