During my two decades of cruising, I’ve learned that family vacations can take one of two tacks: Either they are full-on disasters or they go down as one of the “best vacations ever.” Over the years, I’ve experienced both.

On the full-on disaster side, my wife and I had been a little too ambitious, hauling our daughter, not yet six months old, to Walt Disney World and, only a few months later, across six time zones to England. What were we thinking?

Compare that to the “best vacation ever,” of which there were many, both here at home and abroad. Quite simply, my kids (and yes, your kids too) love to cruise. And why not? After all, where families are concerned, a cruise ship is little more than a floating, self-contained family resort, with all the features and activities that adults and kids could ever wish for.

This site is designed to help you make the best choices for your family cruise vacations. I took the liberty to provide my top ten personal favorites starting with the cruise line that I felt offered the best overall family cruise vacation.

You should know, however, that I had a tough time ranking the cruise lines, I applied no formal methodology. Rather, I relied on my personal experience, input from others, advice from travel agents, and of course, the final word from the experts: kids, and especially my two children.

The rankings, in fact, are not that important. My kids, for example, had a tough time choosing between the many cruises they’ve been on. You won’t go wrong choosing any of these cruises. They are the top ten of several hundreds ships and possible cruises.

Please participate and share your own experiences. In doing so, you help other families like mine and like yours choose their perfect family cruise.

Bon Voyage!

Ralph Grizzle
Editor, The Avid Cruiser & Family Cruise Advisor

Top Ten Family Cruises

1. Disney Cruise Line: Port Canaveral
2. Royal Caribbean’s Freedom Class
3. Carnival’s Caribbean
4. Brilliance of the Seas: Mediterranean Medley
5. Alaska Cruisetours
6. San Diego to Mexico
7. Holland America Line’s Caribbean
8. Norwegian Dawn: Big Apple to Bermuda
9. Costa’s Caribbean
10. America’s Paradise: NCL’s Hawaii

Awesome Overview
NCL America’s Pride of America offers a tasty sampler platter of a Hawaiian vacation, sailing direct from one island to the next. Pride of America’s itinerary eliminate the long days at sea required of non-U.S.-flagged cruise ships.

This makes the Pride of America vacation a fun and convenient exploration of the Hawaiian islands, eliminating the hassle and stress of packing and making connections for the next leg. The ship spends nearly four full days at port on a seven-day itinerary, giving families plenty of time to get off the ship and find something fun to do on the islands.Kids Only!
Comprehensive facilities for kids on board and a destination that is fun and interesting make these seven-night itineraries great for families, even those with young ‘uns. The NCL youth program is broken into four age groups, starting with 2-year-olds. And Pride of America can handle big families, too, in its 12 family suites that can sleep up to eight people.

Too Much Fun
The Mud Buggy Safari / Waterfall Excursion in Kauai is available to children 5 and older, and it’s well worth the money and the muddy mess. Enjoy a guided tour of the mountains, sugarcane fields and stop for a swim in the waterfalls to rinse off before a very nice lunch.
Best Adventure, or THE attraction

Sightseeing on the islands is not complete without a volcano tour, such as The Land of Frozen Fire tour on Hilo. This hiking excursion shows the beauty and the destructive force of lava flows. On Kauai, Blue Hawaiian’s helicopter tours provide spectacular airborne views of the dramatic landscape.

Keep’em Happy/ No Shuffleboard, Dad!
In addition to the youth programs and their age-appropriate activities, these Hawaiian itineraries provide opportunities for amusements and activities that will keep the entire family smiling. Whether you take advantage of hundreds of shore options offered by the cruise line or go off on your own, Hawaii is an American destination that’s easy and rewarding to explore.

When To Go
NCL America offers Hawaiian cruises year-round. The best Hawaiian weather is often found in April, May, September and October, which also happen to be months when tourism is usually not at its peak.

Avoid the Crowds
No matter when you go, consider using one of your port days to rent a car. With reasonable rental car rates, Hawaii is fun to explore on your own.

Can’t Miss
Get a taste of the real Hawai’i with Ho’okipa Aloha, a 45-minute show on the ship with Hawaiian students of hula dance performing as they would in traditional ceremonies.

Best Dining
You’ll have lots of days and evenings on the islands, and with a little research you’ll find some splendid Hawaiian restaurants. On Kauai, Gaylord’s Restaurant is always a favorite. On board, the ship’s East Meets West is a small Asian fusion restaurant that’s perfect for a quiet parents’ night out. There are also separate steak restaurants, Lazy J Texas Steakhouse, and a gourmet French room, Jefferson’s Bistro, that both require reservations and per-person cover charge.

Anchors Aweigh!
It would be hard to imagine a better way to see Hawaii than to cruise on your floating hotel from island to island. With its Freestyle concept that breaks down regimentation, particularly for dining times, NCL offers a relaxed and laid-back way to see America’s paradise.

Awesome Overview
If you want to expose your kids to some international excitement without making them feel like strangers in a strange land, take a look at the Caribbean sailings by Costa Cruises.

Mixing Italian cuisine and style with some elements of Carnival, its sister company, Costa provides a cruise experience that’s distinctly more European to both children and adults without seeming to be a foreign experience.

The European staff celebrates the “Cruising Italian Style” motif with a smiling enthusiasm that is infectious, and unlike most major cruise lines working the Caribbean, Costa provides an international experience that requires a bit more friendly flexibility for American kids. On Caribbean cruises, the passengers will be about 75% American and 25% European. It all makes for a more international experience that all members of the family enjoy.
Age Appropriate
Costa’s youth program is available to children 3 to 17 years old. All Costa ships have a dedicated youth room that is colorful and welcoming. The youth program hours are more European than on other lines, running from 9 a.m. to noon; 2 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Most cruise line youth program hours are the same in the morning as Costa, but in the afternoon and evening they are 2 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 10 p.m.

Too Much Fun
Many elements of the Costa shipboard experience make you feel like you are touring Italy. In the glittering Costa atrium, the piazzas and palaces add to the fun and sense of cultural exploration. For kids, the Costa youth programs are among the best, most entertaining at sea. Most youth counselors on Costa ships speak three or more languages, and while there aren’t quite the high-tech toys and activities that you find on some ships, the youth counselors make every activity a festive event that draws smiles from even the shy kids.

Best Adventure, or THE attraction
One night of every cruise is designated as the popular Toga Party-at-Sea, when passengers show their impromptu ability to create a costume out of a bed sheet. It’s memorable fun.

Keep’em Happy/ No Shuffleboard, Dad!
The cruise staff, called Animators, is among the most active and entertaining at sea, which always helps when traveling with children. For shore excursions, the Canopy Adventure Tour at Roatan, Honduras, makes for an exciting jungle exploration with some elements of adventure.

Timing is everything
Costa sails Caribbean itineraries from Fort Lauderdale each winter.

Avoid the Crowds
Costa schedules its Caribbean season to take advantage of peak U.S. demand, but even when school is in session, Costa’s ships nearly always sail at 100 percent occupancy, even though there may be fewer kids in some seasons. However, for a quiet escape to help you and the kids gear down for a moment, find the Galileo Galilei Library on the Santos deck. Quiet time with a book prepares them for the next round of excitement.

Can’t Miss
Costa’s ships have strong themes. Costa Fortuna’s décor, for example, pays tribute to great Italian ocean liners of yore. In the Michelangelo 1965 Restaurant, a 20-foot long model of the liner Michelangelo is on display. It is believed to be the second largest ship model in the world.

Best Dining
Free hot pizza throughout the day will appeal to the kid in all of us, but for the gourmand within, pony up the $23 per-person charge at Costa’s alternative restaurants — worth every penny.

Anchors Aweigh!
Cruise Italian Style on Costa Cruises in the Caribbean. In a way, you get two great vacations in one: a cruise to the Caribbean and a stroll through Italy. To experience “la dolce vita,” give Costa a shot.

Awesome Overview
With idyllic beaches and a colorful landscape crowned by pastel cottages, Bermuda is perfect for families. This small cluster of North Atlantic islands serves up plenty for families to explore while exuding a British Colonial charm that is safe, orderly, and always polite.

Sailing out of New York City during the spring, summer and fall, Norwegian Dawn’s 7-day itinerary spends three days in Bermuda, providing an optimal balance of beach time and kid-friendly sightseeing. Using the ship as home base, families can come and go as they please and eat when it suits them as part of the Norwegian’s Freestyle Cruising program, which allows guests to choose when and where they enjoy each meal rather than adhering to the ship’s schedule.

Families will appreciate the ship’s roomy (by cruise standards) four-person cabins, and for extended families, many cabins interconnect, a convenience not often found on ships.Age Appropriate
With its great beaches, Bermuda can entertain kids of all ages. On board, Norwegian Dawn offers a huge children’s center, with four separate areas for kids as young as 2 up to 17. Facilities include everything from a toddlers’ nap room to the T-Rex Pool, a Jurassic-themed pool with waterslides and Jacuzzi, all for kids only.

Too Much Fun
In Hamilton, a must-see is the Ocean Discovery Center at the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute, home of one of the world’s finest shell collections. Check out the sunken treasures gallery and the replica bathysphere. Explore what’s beneath the ocean’s surface without ever getting wet on a seven-minute simulated dive.

Best Adventure, or THE attraction
Bermuda is a delightful escape, a place where it’s easy to shift to a slower gear for a few days. But since you’re on vacation, you’ll want to keep the fun flowing. So consider the Restless Native Catamaran Cruise excursion from King’s Wharf. From a spacious and comfortable catamaran, you can snorkel in the shallow waters of a secluded cove or sunbathe in the roomy hammocks.

Keep’em Happy/No Shuffleboard, Dad!
Kids love to laugh, and Norwegian Dawn has a partnership with the Second City improv troupe, with stage performances and onboard workshops, some designed specifically for children, on each sailing from New York.

Timing is everything
Bermuda sits well off the coast of North Carolina, and though the Atlantic gulf stream does moderate the winter climate, this is still a seasonal destination. The Norwegian Dawn sails roundtrip from New York from April through October, and demand will be heaviest June through August.

Avoid the Crowds
Go to the beach. Hire a cab, or if your kids are old enough to ride double, rent scooters – no car rentals on tiny Bermuda. Tourism is less of an emphasis in Bermuda since the emergence of the financial industry, so you don’t have to fight for towel space on the pristine white- and pink-sand beaches. Bermuda is a beautiful destination that is more temperate and less chaotic than Caribbean islands. If you like to bike, pedal along on the Bermuda Railway Trail. Guided tours are offered, or individually, you can do as much, or as little, as you like of the well-maintained 18-mile trail.

Can’t Miss
If your budget allows this extreme extravagance, consider one of Norwegian Dawn’s three-bedroom Garden Villas, with nearly 5,000 square feet of cabin, terrace and open-air private dining. At more than $20,000 per week, though, you might feel guilty leaving the ship to explore Bermuda.

Best Dining
In keeping with Norwegian’s trendsetting Freestyle Dining program, the Dawn offers 12 different restaurants, but Cagney’s Steakhouse, which requires reservations and carries a $20-per-person charge, is particularly popular, particularly for a special night out for mom and dad.

Editor’s Tip: On Bermuda, excellent restaurants also are abundant, but most are expensive, especially when feeding a family. However, NCL offers an “All Ashore Dining Guide,” which features full menus and special discounts exclusively for NCL guests at 36 restaurants throughout the island.

Anchors Aweigh!
Sailing on any vessel from the Manhattan skyline is enough to make a memorable family vacation. Add three days on Bermuda’s sandy beaches and getting there on a ship with multiple restaurants, great kids programs and family friendly staterooms, and you have a sure-fire winner on this family cruise vacation.

Awesome Overview
A bit more upscale and premium than most of the cruise lines that call themselves family friendly, Holland America Line has expanded its youth programs as well as its shipboard facilities for kids.

A byproduct of its multi-million-dollar Signature of Excellence initiative, Holland America Line’s new ships and facilities have noticeably lowered the average age of its passenger list. The growing family contingent, particularly on Caribbean itineraries offered by the more contemporary and somewhat less formal Vista class ships in the Holland America Line fleet, has been an important part of attracting families — and keeping them happy.

The four Vista-class vessels and the line’s new Signature-class vessel boast Holland America’s most comprehensive Club HAL children’s facilities.

Kids Only!
By building bigger and better youth and teen rooms on its ships and by lowering the starting age of the youth program from five years to three, Holland America Line is no longer just for seniors. The line now carries 30 percent to 40 percent more children and teens than it did in the past. Among the features and programs that children and parents appreciate: Teens have their own lounge; a new Port Day program allows parents to place kids in Club HAL from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. while they are off the ship.

Too Much Fun
New programming aboard HAL ships is perfect for kids and families. Each ship now has a “show kitchen,” and kids can attend the demos that include step-by-step instructions by a chef; distribution of recipe cards; and a taste of the final product. At another event, called “Kids in the Kitchen,” children are given edible Playdough and a recipe card to make their own creations. Younger kids really seem to enjoy getting their hands dirty, and learning a bit about cooking.

Best Adventure, or THE attraction
HAL has also reached out to families on Caribbean cruises with its private island, Half Moon Cay, with its family friendly Aqua Park. This fun spot includes many large water “toys” in the shapes of marine animals that kids like to climb on. Older kids can go sailing or horseback riding. Younger kids can participate in Treasure Quest kids’ shore excursion.

Keep’em Happy/No Shuffleboard, Dad!
All Holland America ships feature an Explorations Café. This spot—with dark leather chairs and couches, books, listening stations, coffee shop and catalogue of DVDs to rent (it’s as if Starbucks were to meet Blockbuster) – is a family favorite hang-out where you can browse the internet (browsing the NY Times site is free of charge), play Scrabble after dinner or, in the morning, check e-mail while pacifying a restless youngster with a video game.

Timing is everything
Holland America Line will keep one or more of its ships in the Caribbean during the late fall, winter and early spring, and others will rotate through during the rest of the year.

Avoid the Crowds
The Vista class ships – Zuiderdam, Oosterdam, Noordam and Westerdam – as well as the new Signature Class vessel (Eurodam) are among the largest in the fleet but they carry only 25 percent more passengers, resulting in very generous space ratios and public spaces that rarely seem crowded. You’ll have no trouble finding a quiet nook, but for the ultimate privacy, rent a cabana at the cruise line’s private island, Half Moon Cay.

Can’t Miss
The Pirates of Nassau museum in downtown Nassau is certainly worth an hour-long visit. This small facility doesn’t get much publicity, but kids love its Disney-style presentation, including a very entertaining pirate greeter at the entrance.

Best Dining
Fine food and wine is a particular strength of Holland America Line. The main restaurant, the Vista Dining Room, has floor-to-ceiling windows on three sides, and each level has its own galley, which makes for faster service. The Pinnacle Grill, primarily for adults, but kids are also welcome, serves a memorable if “Not So Classic Baked Alaska,” a mound of flambéed whipped cream covering a healthy portion of Ben & Jerry’s Cherry Garcia. Parents, don’t miss the Pinnacle Filet Mignon, seared at 1600F and delicious.

Anchors Aweigh!
Holland America Line’s ships are great for multi-generational families, where all members of the family — from the grandparents on down to the newborns — travel together. The line’s Vista-class and Signature-class vessels are a big crowd-pleasers for families.

Awesome Overview
You want to take a family cruise, but Florida and the Caribbean seem so been-there, done-that. So why not consider a Mexican Riviera cruise? Begin and end your cruise in San Diego, one of America’s most attractive cities and a great family destination.

The pre- and post-cruise options from the Southern California city are some of the best anywhere, particularly for families because of theme parks like LEGOLAND California and SeaWorld San Diego, the San Diego Zoo, or, for more contemplative pursuits, Balboa Park features beautiful gardens, fascinating museums and gorgeous Spanish Colonial Revival architecture.

And, as a cruise destination, the Mexican Riviera is a fun immersion into Mexican cuisine and culture, with plenty of opportunities for hiking, swimming, shopping and sunbathing.

Just For Kids
The major lines that run regular cuises out of San Diego all have comprehensive programs for kids of all ages. The Mexican ports on these itineraries offer a full range of activities and excursions for any age group and interests. Kids may particularly enjoy opportunities to interact with marine life, in San Diego itself (think Sea World) or at ports along the Mexican coast, where excursions such as “Swim with the Dophins” are offered (in Puerto Vallarta).

Family Friendly
The snorkel tour from Cabo San Lucas takes you out to beautiful Santa Maria Bay, where you will swim in tropical waters with abundant sea life. This is appropriate for children who are strong swimmers. Mazatlan offers Salsa & Salsa excursions, where adults can learn to make a little salsa and then dance a little salsa.

Try This!
From Puerto Vallarta, the Outdoor Experience excursion ranks among the favorite trips and is certain to get everyone’s blood flowing. Highlights include some extended zip-line rides, a speedboat trip across Banderas Bay to a secluded beach, plenty of bouncety-bounce in an open-air truck as you head to the base camp in the Sierra Madre, a ride straight uphill on mules and, after crossing some wobbly bridges, rappelling 100 feet into an ice-cold waterfall. Although perhaps too rugged for the smallest children, what an adventure!

On Your Own
A day at the beach in Puerto Vallarta always works: gentle waves, warm sand and hot sun, with parasailing and banana-boat rides always an option. You might even see some turtles hatching.

When To Go
Cruise lines are transitioning ships through Southern California year-round, so most of the major cruise lines offer cruises from San Diego at some point during the year. But Carnival offers 4- and 5-day quickies as well as seven-day cruises year-round. Holland America Line offers seven-day and longer cruises fall through spring.

Seeking Seclusion?
Find a secluded beach in Cabo, seek out a quiet restaurant in Mazatlan or grab a taxi and do your own walking tour of Puerto Vallarta. These ports are large destinations that offer plenty to explore and enjoy on your own if that’s your preference.

Gotta Do It!
The Bay of Banderas, off Puerto Vallarta, offers snorkeling and dolphin encounters year-round. Humpback whales are regularly sighted in the bay from December through March.

Destination Dining
Try dining ashore in Mazatlan. At Mi Casa, for instance, you can enjoy delicious and authentic treats such as tacos with shredded pork. And while in San Diego, the Old Town district offers countless excellent restaurants of all styles.

Let’s Go!
San Diego may well be the gem in the star-studded itinerary along the Mexican Riviera. Convenient (the airport is minutes away from the cruise terminals) and family friendly, with theme parks, zoos and beautiful beaches, San Diego is a destination in its own right. Add a cruise South of the Border, and it’s a match made in paradise.

Awesome Overview
For jaw-dropping views of marine and land-based wildlife and nature’s most dramatic scenery, an Alaskan cruise is hard to beat. But if at all possible, get off the ship and into the interior.

You can make the most of an Alaskan cruise by combining time at sea with a land portion that provides views of the Alaskan interior. Simply put, not all of Alaska can be seen from a ship. While Glacier Bay National Park can be appreciated from the deck of a cruise ship, for example, Denali National Park must be visited on a cruisetour.

All the major cruise lines offer Alaskan itineraries, but for cruisetours, look to Celebrity Cruises, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises and Royal Caribbean. Each of these cruise lines offers family friendly ships and an excellent selection of cruisetours.Age Appropriate
If your kids are curious about nature and are occasionally interested in or fascinated by wildlife, they are old enough for this cruise. Celebrity, Princess, Royal Caribbean and Holland America have first-rate youth programs should the kids’ enthusiasm for natural beauty occasionally dwindle. If the kids are up to it, families can make the most of an Alaskan cruise on active shore excursions such as kayaking, bicycling and hiking.

Too Much Fun
Ships stopping in Glacier Bay and Hubbard Glacier bring some of nature’s most awesome beauty up close, as passengers experience the thundering echo of a glacier calving a short distance from the ship. You’ll most certainly spot whales and possibly bear. And if you are lucky and don’t mind staying up late, you might get to enjoy one of nature’s most magnificent displays, the Northern Lights, particularly in the shoulder season months, May and September. Fairbanks, visited on cruisetours, is a popular destination for viewing the Northern Lights.

Best Adventure, or THE attraction
The destination is the attraction, which means that you can look forward to a week’s worth of calving glaciers, lobtailing or breaching whales and spectacular mountain vistas. It is impossible to exaggerate how stunningly beautiful all of this is, sure to impress even the most jaded teenager. Cabins with balconies always enhance a cruise, but on an Alaskan cruise, a balcony becomes your family’s own private viewing station. Make the most of your Alaskan cruise: Book a stateroom with a balcony.

Keep’em Happy/No Shuffleboard, Dad!
Alaska is a place where you want to stay up late, even kids who normally bunk down early. The sun sets late, and the sunsets can be stunning. Most kids don’t need to be told that they are seeing something special, and they will quickly become amateur whale watchers, learning to look not for the breaching body but for the blow, which occurs just before the whale expels air, fully surfaces and dives again.

Timing is everything
Alaskan cruises are available from May through September. If you can go earlier or later in the season, you may be able to save some money or at least not compete for your preferred cabin. The sacrifice you make in cruising early or late in the season is the days will not stretch out for 22 hours as they do nearer the summer solstice. One advantage of the shorter days is that the animals typically graze or hunt at dawn or at sunset, increasing your chances of seeing bear and other wildlife. Also, you will want to pack more layers of clothing if you are traveling in May or September.

Avoid the Crowds
Alaska, the Last Frontier, is enormous. At 586,412 square miles, it’s more than twice the size of Texas, with just a fraction of the population. However, if you are just looking for a quiet respite from all the folks on your cruise, lace up your hiking boots and find a trail. They are available at just about all the stops your ship will make, more so on the land portion of your trip.

Can’t Miss
Any number of shore excursions can be categorized as “must see.” Among them, the Misty Fjords trip during the Ketchikan port call might seem expensive for a family at more than $250 each, but most who decide to do it come back raving about the mesmerizing beauty.

In Juneau, the Mendenhall Glacier and wildlife boat trip is less expensive but thoroughly worthwhile, and the Mount Roberts tram is a wonderful afternoon, providing great views of the Juneau harbor and the surrounding mountains.

Best Dining
Find a seafood restaurant in Juneau to enjoy some really and truly fresh seafood or halibut. A couple of consistently popular places are the Twisted Fish Co. or Hangar on the Wharf, which offers waterfront views. Both are easy to get to from your cruise ship.

At Princess Denali lodge, in the area just outside Denali National Park that the locals call “Glitter Gulch,” don’t miss the Seafood Nachos, even better if washed down with an Alaskan Amber.

Anchors Aweigh!
There’s no question that an Alaskan cruise should go at the top of anyone’s “must do” list. Add a cruisetour for the complete package. And with departures primarily from Seattle and Vancouver, Alaskan cruises offer great pre- and post-cruise opportunities in two of North America’s most beautiful cities. Cruise into the wild, then return for a few days of fun in the Pacific Northwest.

Awesome Overview
If you want your children to see Europe early in their travel careers, a cruise is absolutely your best choice. A cruise is just so convenient, especially on the port-intensive itineraries available in Europe. Cruising eliminates the hassles and enhances the European visit for both parents and kids, especially when families can use a modern, well-equipped ship like the Brilliance of the Seas as home base during a Mediterranean cruise. After a day touring the cultural capitals of Mediterranean Europe, everybody returns to luxurious lodgings at the pier; the children can blow off a little supervised steam in the evening, and Mom and Dad can catch a rejuvenating cat nap before dinner and a show.

Age Appropriate
This trip may be challenging for children under 10, unless maturity and patience are strong traits. It is a trip for the intellectually curious child who has the fortitude to spend several days exploring historically significant cities. Parents should monitor energy levels carefully, taking advantage of in-port youth programs on the ship as needed. Royal Caribbean’s youth program is divided into age groups for children ages 3 through 17.

Too Much Fun
The destination certainly is special and edifying, but the ship-as-home-base will keep the kids happy and smiling. Brilliance is chock-full of family friendly features, such as the video arcade, Internet cafe, computers loaded with kids’ games and four play stations, all located in the youth rooms. Brilliance also has water slides, miniature golf, and basketball courts. These types of activities are excellent releases after long days of touring.

Best Adventure, or THE attraction
Every port call on this itinerary offers remarkable and memorable attractions, but either at the beginning or the end of your cruise, save time to explore Barcelona, a major cultural center with a fascinating history full of libraries, museums and buildings of interest. In addition to the Picasso Gallery, you’ll want to stroll along Las Ramblas, a wonderfully vibrant part of the city where street vendors and performers vie for your attention or explore the many churches and cathedrals of Barcelona and discover the city’s modernist architecture along Paseo de Gracia.

Keep’em Happy/ No Shuffleboard, Dad!
Moderation will be the key to happiness on this cruise. In other words, don’t turn it into a forced march. Take advantage of the ports you are visiting, but do not feel compelled to sign up for the full-day tour at each one. Instead, use a city guide to make your own plans for at least a couple of days; move at a speed that doesn’t exhaust anyone.

On the ship, do take advantage of gee-whiz features like the rock-climbing wall (kids must be at least 6 to climb). This is a fun and unique workout that everybody can dissect and discuss at dinner, and it doesn’t hurt the youthful ego that children tend to climb better than their heavier parents.

Timing is everything
Brilliance of the Seas home-ports in Barcelona year-round, sailing 12-day roundtrips that provide access to Monte Carlo/Nice, Florence/Pisa, Naples, Rome, Ephesus and either Athens or Venice.

Anchors Aweigh!
Forget the packing and unpacking as well as countless hours on a bus with your nose pressed against the window while trying to admire the landscape of age-old Europe. A cruise is the only way to go in Europe. Your ship serves as your floating hotel from one destination to the next, and best of all, you’ll be spending U.S. dollars on board, cutting the expense of travel in Europe.

Awesome Overview
Families have voted with their wallets, and Carnival is the clear cruise-line winner for family vacations. Kids obviously love the Fun Ships, judging from the more than half a million who cruise with Carnival each year, and it’s easy to understand why. Carnival’s ships are equipped with enough toys, games, excursions and shipboard programs to keep the fussiest tots or the most cynical teens happy, and Carnival is a consistently excellent value for families.

All of Carnival’s ships are outfitted with comprehensive family friendly facilities, but for a family friendly embarkation, step aboard Carnival Glory, the largest “Fun Ship” ever to sail from Port Canaveral, conveniently situated within driving distance of the Orlando theme parks and well equipped for families.Age Appropriate
No matter the age, Carnival knows how to keep them entertained and happy, and if the kids are willing, Camp Carnival has some “EduCruise” programs that help explain the places the children are visiting and seeing. The teen recreation center, Club O2, houses a large video-game room and dance club, with nonalcoholic specialty drinks, and there are large rooms and play areas for the younger ones, too, as Carnival’s children’s program is set up for kids 2 years and older.

Too Much Fun
No shortage of fun stuff on the Fun Ships. Even the most restless child can rent a GameBoy, if need be. But for simple, yet exhilarating, joy, nothing tops the 214-foot waterslide on the pool deck. You’ll see children make dozens of trips down these slides, their smiles nearly as wide as the slide is long.

Best Adventure, or THE attraction
For tweens and teens, there are discounted shore excursions – from kayaking and cave tubing to mountain biking or swimming with dolphins and stingrays – that are for teens only; they’re supervised by Carnival staff, but parents are not invited. For instance, one such excursion, available on Western Caribbean itineraries, takes the kids out to Stingray City off Grand Cayman, where they can swim with and feed the rays.

Keep’em Happy/No Shuffleboard, Dad!
While there is not shortage of activities for when kids and parents want to go their separate ways, Carnival organizes quite a few activities and contests for families who want to play together. In many of these games, the Dads wind up looking silly, often as the butt of the good-natured jokes of the activity director.

Timing is everything
When do you want to go? The Carnival Glory sails the Caribbean year-round out of Port Canaveral. Summer and school holidays will be particularly busy.

Avoid the Crowds
This is a big ship capable of accommodating nearly 4,000 people. The design and the facilities keep everybody from getting in each other’s way – most of the time. Getting on and off the ship does cause some chafing for those who can’t maintain their patience.

Can’t Miss
Maintaining Carnival’s tradition of Vegas-style revues blending elaborate choreography, big sets and exciting songs, Rock Down Broadway is considered one of the best and most entertaining shows ever produced for a cruise ship, with songs from high-energy productions like Hair, Jesus Christ Superstar, Saturday Night Fever, Footloose, and Rent, enhanced by lasers, pyrotechnics and great choreography.

Best Dining
Kids will love the multitude of choices available all day long, but Mom and Dad will want to spend an evening at the Emerald Room, Glory’s reservations-only supper club. The cost is $30 per person, but Carnival’s alternative restaurants are excellent, with top-notch food and service. Reserve early because the Carnival supper clubs are very popular.

Anchors Aweigh!
Forget what you’ve heard about Carnival. The days of party hearty are long gone. Carnival has had a tough time of shaking that 1970/80s image, but rest assured that today’s Carnival never fails to live up to its brand promise, which is to deliver fun for everyone on board.

Awesome Overview
Kids who love the whiz-bang of the latest technologies will absolutely adore the Freedom-class ships from Royal Caribbean.

Freedom of the Seas, Liberty of the Seas and Independence of the Seas represent state of the cruising art, sure to impress the kid in all of us with a whole host of amenities and features that run from the now-expected-of-Royal Caribbean rock-climbing walls to an interactive water park and two adults-only hot tubs that are cantilevered 12 feet out from the side of the ship for a hot soak with a dramatic view.Just For Kids
With programs for five age groups of kids and teens, Royal Caribbean’s Adventure Ocean, for kids 3 years to 17 years, gets consistently high marks for its family friendly approach. Providing fun learning opportunities about local customs, with some cool science experiments too, Adventure Ocean separates kids by age, with dedicated facilities for each group. Royal Caribbean also offers interactive play time for kids 6 – 36 months.

Family Friendly
It’s nice for the kids to hang out with their own kind, and age group, but Royal Caribbean recognizes that not all families are looking for separation. Activities for kids and parents include karaoke, talent shows, bingo tournaments and the family disco. And there are family friendly competitions on the famous rock wall or the mini-golf course.

Try This!
The FlowRider Surf Park is surf simulator, sort of a perpetual wave where you can try to hang ten. Wipeouts aren’t painful, and the less adventurous can use a body board.

Keep’em Happy/No Shuffleboard, Dad!
Extended versions of popular Voyager-class ships, the Freedom-class ships vessels are the most innovative in the Royal Caribbean fleet of megaliners, and it would take a seriously bad mood to claim that there is nothing to do. And if anyone gets too truculent, ship them off to the full-size boxing ring, where they can get lessons and even do some sparring.

Timing is everything
It’s pretty predictable when the ships will be full of families – just look at the school calendar. The best timing for families has more to do with when you book your cruise than when you go: The early bird definitely gets first crack at the staterooms and sailings that families find most desireable.

Avoid the Crowds
You will be sharing these ships with 4,200 of your best friends, but being twice as large as the biggest ships 10 or 12 years ago, Freedom Class ships provide plenty of elbow room in the vast and plentiful public spaces.

Can’t Miss
An entirely new addition is the H2O Zone—an expansive area fitted with a kids’ pool, water cannons and abstract colorful sculpture fountains that shoot water in entertaining and unpredictable directions, partially controlled by passengers who want to get soaked or start a water war.

Best Dining
For fun family fare, it’s tough to beat Johnny Rockets for a burger, fries and a shake. If you are having too much fun to leave the pool deck, the Solarium pool has a cafe dispensing pizzas, while the self-serve Sprinkles provides frozen yogurt. If looking for a healthier drink options, there is the Squeeze selling various fruit drinks.

Anchors Aweigh!
With a generous number of family friendly staterooms, including suites that can sleep up to 14 people, and adrenaline-pumping features, Royal Caribbean’s Freedom-class is perfect for families who really want to abide the cruise line’s slogan to “get out there!”