These days, with the surfeit of new ships -- each one bigger than, shinier than, more innovative than all the rest -- families have so many choices, it's mind-boggling. Remember the days when ice skating on the seas was a really big deal? Or when you discovered that you could watch movies up on deck? Or when the FlowRider was introduced to worldwide acclaim, allowing surfing lessons in aft pools? Those perks, considered real breakthroughs when they were introduced, have become de rigueur. Now we expect family-friendly ships to have separate clubs for kids and teens, kid-friendly dining, plenty of movie and video game options, and twister waterslides.
With so many fantastic choices available, it's hard to wade through all the options. Although we can, and will, offer our favorites in family cruising, it's ultimately the parents who know their kids the best and who are best-suited to make decisions, based on their family's preferences. While we can't tell you whether your kids prefer active pursuits -- like rock-climbing and skating, video games or water sports -- to napping, or whether they'd rather make new friends with other children on the ship instead of sticking close to their family, we can tell you which general criteria to consider, based on their ages.
Infants and Toddlers: Many cruise lines have minimum ages for cruising -- anywhere from 12 weeks (Disney Cruise Line) to 1 year (some Cunard and Royal Caribbean cruises). Some luxury lines don't encourage children to come onboard at all. Age minimums also vary for babysitting and nursery services, as well as kids' club use -- with or without parents around. Toddlers often need to be potty-trained to play in the onboard swimming pools, including the kiddie splash pools. Only Carnival and Cunard allow kids' club staff members to change diapers. (Some lines, like NCL, give parents beepers to use to notify them when diaper changes are necessary, but they cannot leave the ship while their not-yet-potty-trained children are in the program.)
'Tweens: Most kids' clubs are very adept at pleasing the three- to eight-year-olds with a mix of face-painting, macaroni mosaics, videos and the like, but the 9- to 13-year-olds are harder. Look for clubs that include challenging games and sports activities, sleepovers, parties, movie nights and some activities that are separate for boys and girls. Carnival, for example, has a separate kids' lounge and programming for 12- to 14-year-olds, called Circle C.
Teens: Look for cruise lines or ships that have parent-free teen zones and activities. Your teens may actually enjoy going on family vacations when they know they can have some autonomous, away-from-the-folks time, when they can meet and mingle with others their own age, listen to music and access some of the same electronic toys they enjoy while at home. Be sure to check drinking and casino ages. Some ships and cruise lines (like Holland America and Carnival) allow gambling at 18, while others (like Princess) set the minimum age at 21.
Ready to pack up the kids and go? Here are our favorite family cruises for each cruising region.
Eastern Caribbean: Disney Magic
Why? As sophisticated as today's children are getting, one mention of Mickey, Minnie, Goofy or Tinkerbell still brings looks of awe and wonder to their faces. Yes, Disney characters have that magical ability to transfix kids (even those elusive preteens), and for that reason alone, we heartily endorse Disney cruises. Disney ships also have some of the best standard family staterooms afloat, featuring the unique "bath and a half" concept (where the shower is in a separate room from the toilet and sink). For parents, there are also plenty of adults-only spaces, including Palo Restaurant and an adults-only pool area. And, even though teenagers might not be quite as awestruck by Tea with Alice in Wonderland as the younger set, the Stack parent-free zone is a winner with its soda-and-smoothie bar, overstuffed couches and big-screen TV's.
Itineraries: Most of the cruises on Disney Magic, which leave from Port Canaveral, include St. Thomas, St. Maarten and Disney's fabulous private island, Castaway Cay. On occasional dates, however, St. Croix or the British Virgin Islands' Tortola is substituted for St. Maarten.
Critical Info: Disney's childcare experts in Flounder's Reef will look after babies from 3 months old, but on a limited basis -- a maximum of 10 hours per cruise and with an hourly fee (in other words, just enough time for mom and dad to be alone). Another note: Disney boasts an online service that allows passengers to pre-order baby supplies and have them delivered to their stateroom (provided by Babies Travel Lite). There are over 1,000 brand-name baby products to choose from, including diapers, baby food, infant formula and specialty travel items.
Deserving Alternatives:Carnival Liberty, departing from Miami, is a winner for families with its brand new Penthouse Suites. These cushy digs -- complete with a second bathroom -- give families lots of living space, and a 4,200-square-foot kids' area includes a teen disco, computer lab and arts-and-crafts center. Royal Caribbean's Freedom of the Seas, also from Miami, provides an array of family cabins, including four Royal Family Suites that sleep eight people and a Presidential Family Suite that sleeps 14. An extensive kids' program offers separate activities for five age groups, and there are plenty of active, onboard amenities, such as surfing, ice skating and rock-climbing. For holiday periods, Crystal Serenity is the best of the luxury options with its 14-night Eastern/Southern Caribbean itineraries. Not normally known for its kids' programs, Crystal makes its ships more child-friendly during holidays and summer months and offers enrichment programs and kids' clubs, designed so the entire family can enjoy luxury cruising. It's a good option for multigenerational trips.
Western Caribbean: Royal Caribbean's Freedom of the Seas
Why? It's BIG, with all the amenities a family could possibly want. The cabin selections are fantastic for families of all sizes and budgets (everything from connecting staterooms to the aforementioned family suites), and the mini-golf course, ice skating rink, rock-climbing wall, H2O Zone water park and FlowRider surf park are sure to attract kids of all ages. There are even lively parades through the Royal Promenade shopping area. Although this ship's child-care services don't cater to toddlers, there are Crayola- and Fisher-Price-sponsored programs for parents and kids under the age of 3 to enjoy together. If you're worried that all of this excitement ignores adults' pastoral pursuits, have no fear: The Solarium awaits, with quiet hammocks, peaceful seating areas and two adults-only hot tubs, cantilevered over the ocean.
Critical Info: Tots who want to join their respective age groups in the Adventure Ocean program must be at least 3 years old and toilet trained. Group baby-sitting is offered for a small fee for children at least one year old; in-room sitting is also available on a first-come, first-served basis -- for a fee of $8 to $10 -- and must be confirmed at the purser's desk at least 24 hours prior.
Deserving Alternatives: During the winter months, the brand-new Independence of the Seas offers six-night Western Caribbean itineraries from Ft. Lauderdale. It's identical to Freedom of the Seas and features all of the same family-friendly amenities. We are also very fond of Carnival's Spirit-class ships with their big, elegant, standard cabins (perfect for families on a budget) and public areas with fun and crazy decor. Carnival Legend departs from Tampa on a weekly basis.
Mexican Riviera: NCL's Norwegian Star
Why?Norwegian Star, which leaves from Los Angeles (San Pedro) has two benefits that the other ships doing the "classic seven" (Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan and Cabo San Lucas in seven days) don't offer: Freestyle Dining, great for toddlers and families with independent streaks, and two enormous -- more than 5,000 square feet each -- garden villas. We recommend these spacious accommodations -- which offer three bedrooms, living/dining rooms, private hot tubs, saunas, gardens and concierge/butler services -- to large families with even larger budgets. Be sure to take advantage of the kids' buffet area in the Garden Cafe, which features toddler-sized chairs and tables and toddler-friendly foods.
Critical Info: NCL allows non-potty-trained children as young as 2 into its Kids' Crew, but parents are responsible for diaper-changing. They are given beepers and are notified when it needs to be done; you can't leave the ship, since the beepers don't work ashore.
Deserving Alternatives:Carnival Spirit, which leaves from San Diego, still offers eight-night, exotic Mexican Riviera cruises that include Acapulco and Zihuatanejo. Carnival also allows kids from age 2 into its kids' club. The big difference? Carnival counselors will change diapers. For older kids, we recommend the classy, elegant Sapphire Princess, which does the classic seven from Long Beach (near Los Angeles).
Alaska: Star Princess
Why?Star Princess met our criteria for the perfect family cruise to Alaska. First, we looked for an easy, round-trip itinerary instead of one-way north or south; Star Princess leaves from and returns to Seattle. Second, we wanted a ship that could accommodate all age groups comfortably; Star Princess has programs for everyone, from toddlers to teens. Third, we wanted flexible dining options, which Star Princess offers with its Personal Choice Dining. And, finally, we wanted terrific shore excursions and enrichment programs, both of which are standouts on this ship and itinerary. (Princess even owns and operates many of the shore excursions available.) As an added bonus, Star Princess offers covered swimming pools in case of inclement weather and boasts a wide range of family-friendly cabin choices.
Critical Info: Younger children have age-appropriate Kid Zones -- one for ages 3 to 7 and one for ages 8 to 12. Teens also have their own spaces and activities. The best thing about Star Princess is that there are fee-free, port-day activities, allowing mom and dad a few hours of alone time on some of the more rugged excursions.
Deserving Alternatives:Norwegian Pearl also leaves from Seattle and offers many of the same benefits as Star Princess, including Freestyle Dining and terrific family accommodations. This ship boasts a rock-climbing wall, a four-lane bowling alley and big-screen Wii play in the ship's lobby. Regent Seven Seas' one-way cruises on the all-suite Seven Seas Mariner pamper mom and dad, while kids participate in enrichment programs related to Alaska's unique environment.
Europe & Western Mediterranean: Costa Concordia
Why? This is a big, boisterous ship with tons of play areas for kids of all ages, and it includes the first-ever Formula One racetrack simulator, identical to those used in the training of actual racecar drivers. The Italian-centric ambience is also a real change for children who may not yet have been exposed to different cultures. Since the itinerary is Europe, an immersion of sorts is nice; yet it's still familiar enough not to cause total culture shock. For the adults, Costa Concordia offers its expansive Samsara Spa. We also like that this is a seven-night itinerary, departing from family-friendly Barcelona during most of the year.
Critical Info: The pace onboard Costa Concordia can, at times, feel frenetic, but there are plenty of areas in which you can find respite from the fray. As for kids, they are allowed in Club Squok from age 3 and will be delighted with the different activities -- unique to a non-America-based ship -- which might include tying sailor knots or mime-acting. Teens (ages 12 to 14 and 15 to 17) have their own activities, which include midnight swim parties and graffiti art lessons.
Deserving Alternatives: Other seven-night itineraries out of Barcelona include those offered by Royal Caribbean's Voyager of the Seas, which set the standard for active family fun and remains one of the most family-friendly ships on the seas. For shorter trips out of Barcelona, Voyager's sister, Navigator of the Seas, offers three-, four- and five-night itineraries. For those who want to maximize their time onboard, Norwegian Jade provides several 14-night voyages from Barcelona that include going through the Straits of Gibraltar to Lisbon before returning to Spain. The two-week trips leave plenty of time for testing dining options and competing in a couple of Wii tournaments.
Eastern Mediterranean & Adriatic: Ruby Princess
Why? This brand-new, family-oriented ship alternates its one-way, 12-night journeys between Venice-to-Barcelona and Rome-to-Venice itineraries that visit historic places like Athens, Corfu and Ephesus (Rome/Venice) or Athens, Istanbul and Florence (Barcelona/Venice). The whole family can enjoy Movies Under the Stars in the evenings, and if you want, you have the option of Personal Choice (i.e. "flexible") dining -- great for families with young kids, who can't wait for later dinner seatings. The kids' clubs take kids ages 3 to 17, with special activities arranged for each age group.
Critical Info: The Princess youth programs accept toilet-trained children from age 3. In-cabin babysitting is not available at all, so if you're traveling with a child under 3, you'll be caring for him or her 24/7. Group babysitting is available most nights for a fee of $5 per child, between 7 p.m. and 1 a.m. Princess offers some of the best youth enrichment programs on the seas, bar none; new kids' activities include Wizard's Academy science and magic classes, youth yoga, and arts and crafts projects by Klutz such as building storybooks, making bracelets and creating fuzzy "Velvet Art."
Deserving Alternatives:MSC Cruises' brand-new MSC Poesia is also a great option; it's even more Italian than our pick for Western Mediterranean itineraries and provides a unique cultural experience. Expect round-the-clock activity, including open-air movie showings, performances by magicians and mimes, theme parties and dance classes. We like it because it offers seven-night cruises from Venice to such exotic locales as Olympia, Greece; Izmir and Istanbul, Turkey; Bari, Italy; and Dubrovnik, Croatia.
Northern Europe: Royal Caribbean's Jewel of the Seas
Why? Smaller than the other Royal Caribbean ships we're recommending, the 90,000-ton Jewel of the Seas provides the perfect combination of a more manageable ship with tons of activities. The sprawling Adventure Ocean kids' club has indoor and outdoor areas (including a pool with a slide); science, art and story time programs; and a disco, juice bar and Internet center for teens. Its Baltic cruises sail roundtrip from Harwich, England, so families can combine a trip to the lands of Thor, Catherine the Great and Hans Christian Anderson with a visit to royal Britain.
Critical Info: Unless you are taking all ship-sponsored excursions in St. Petersburg, look into what's involved in obtaining the mandatory visas, and plan accordingly. The Baltic capitals are compelling destinations, so keep an eye on the clock: It stays light most of the time, and it's easy to forget that you might have missed your little one's bed time. Group and in-room babysitting is available for a fee and must be arranged beforehand; these are super-nice options for those who want to experience evening excursions, like a trip to the Russian ballet, without the kids.
Deserving Alternatives: Proving that the Baltic region is a gem, our first alternate choice is Norwegian Jewel, which offers a similar itinerary from Dover, U.K. The biggest differences between these two Jewels is that Norwegian's offers Freestyle Dining, ideal for families with younger children who may not be able to wait for a set dining time. Also, MSC Orchestra has seven-night trips from Copenhagen with a popular "kids sail free" program.
Bahamas (three- to five-Night Cruises): Disney Wonder
Why? We think Disney ships offer a lot of bang for your family's buck. In the three, four or (starting in 2010) five days aboard, you can see first-run movies as they are released, watch stage shows and commune with Disney characters. Plus the kids' facilities (for all ages) are supercalifragilisticexpialidocious. All of the cruises stop at Disney's private retreat, Castaway Cay, and unlike in every other private island option, the ships actually dock instead of tendering. We love the experience on Castaway Cay almost as much as the onboard experience; there's something for everyone, including special, romantic adults-only areas, a ghost ship for the kids to play on and one of the best island barbecues in all of the tropics.
Critical Info: Castaway Cay is also wheelchair-friendly, and Disney has beach wheelchairs available. Kids' club entry starts at age 3. (Limited baby-sitting services are available for children younger than that). Palo, Disney Wonder's adults-only alternative restaurant, is one of the most romantic venues at sea, and the Northern Italian food is nothing short of extraordinary. (Think lobster and mascarpone ravioli, grilled sea scallops with borlotti beans and pancetta, and homemade tiramisu.)
Deserving Alternatives:Norwegian Sky has returned to Miami after a stint as NCL America's Pride of Aloha. It isn't as big as many ships, and it isn't as new, but it's absolutely ideal for those short hops to the Bahamas. Its four-night itineraries include Nassau, Freeport and Great Stirrup Cay -- its own private island; the three-nighters eliminate Freeport. With its bright and colorful decor, Freestyle Dining, terrific kids' club and very reasonable year-round rates, we're sold. Carnival Imagination goes to Nassau overnight on weekend cruises, year-round, from Miami. It was recently refurbished and now sports a kid-friendly water park with slides and sprinklers, an adults-only sun deck area, updated kids' lounges and new, connecting staterooms.
Bahamas (Weeklong Cruises): NCL's Norwegian Gem
Why? Because the newest ship in NCL's young fleet offers an array of choices. We love the range of family-oriented cabin options, from cushy and exclusive courtyard villas to the many connecting standard rooms. The giant-screen Nintendo Wii play, family Karaoke, a four-lane bowling alley and a rock-climbing wall, plus 10 restaurants. Traveling from New York year-round, Norwegian Gem sails seven-night Bahamas and Florida itineraries with stops in Port Canaveral, Nassau, Freeport and Great Stirrup Cay (NCL's private island).
Critical Info: The kids' club, one of the best, has its own splash pool; other swimming options include a family pool, as well as an adults-only pool/hot-tub section. Kids as young as 2 are allowed in the kids' club, even if they are still in diapers, but parents get beeped to change them.
Deserving Alternatives:Carnival Pride moved from its year-round Los Angeles homeport to Baltimore, where it will offer six- and seven-night Bahamas cruises, starting in May 2009. The ship caters to all age groups with a large and well-equipped kids' club, 11 bars and lounges, four pools and five hot tubs.
Hawaii: NCL's Pride of America
Why?Pride of America's roundtrip Honolulu sailings offer a taste of the islands year-round and are much more kid-friendly than the seasonal, 15-night itineraries with 10 days at sea. Pride of America is a smaller, cozier ship with iconic American decor; you can dine under the New York skyline, have drinks in a Chicago-style speakeasy, perform Karaoke in an old-West-style saloon or watch stage shows in a theater that's a salute to Hollywood's Oscars. Most of the staff- and crewmembers are Americans and are fun to talk to, but it's the Hawaiian Islands that create the ambience and atmosphere.
Critical Info: Because of Hawaii's gaming laws, there are no casinos (or even bingo) aboard Pride of America. Children will get a unique introduction to the 50th state with hula lessons, lei-making, activities teaching the history of the islands and Hawaiian music and dance. The kids' club takes children as young as 2, but parents have to be available to change diapers if that's needed.
Deserving Alternatives: We do not recommend taking most kids on 15-night Hawaii cruises, but if you must, choose Golden Princess. A Grand-class ship, Golden Princess has all of the attributes that have made Princess one of our top picks for family cruising.
Canada & New England: Carnival Triumph
Why? This Fun Ship offers cruises of four to nine nights throughout the summer, departing from New York. Carnival Triumph has many family staterooms that sleep five and diverse kids' activities, such as sand art, scavenger hunts and slumber parties. There are even spa treatments geared toward the under-18 set. A 14-hour pizzeria and Coney Island Grill (offering hamburgers, hot dogs and French fries) will please young palates. Free ice cream is available, as well. Adults can enjoy no fewer than seven whirlpools, a giant casino and various bars and lounges. Onshore, families will enjoy walking the Freedom Trail in Boston, whale-watching and dining at clam bakes.
Critical Info: Camp Carnival takes kids as young as 2, and will even change diapers. Babysitting is available for children as young as 4 months; after age 8, kids can go to evening hours at Camp Carnival, for free, until 10 p.m. Babysitting charges are a reasonable $5 per hour for the first child and $3 for each subsequent child in the same family. Pre-teens (ages 12 to 14) now have their own hangout at Circle C.
Deserving Alternatives: A good choice for grandparents traveling with older kids or more independent children is Holland America's Maasdam. Adults will like its traditional ambience, while kids will find some activities geared toward them. The ship sails the New England route all summer. Queen Mary 2 has a couple of short holiday New England cruises from New York -- a great way to sample this iconic and classy ocean liner, which features a planetarium.
And now, a selection of unique, unclassifiable or just-plain-fun picks:
Europe River Cruising: Uniworld's Boutique River Collection
Why?Uniworld's decision to offer a couple of family-friendly cruises (for children 8 years and older) on the rivers of Europe made brilliant sense. There are two nine-night cruises on offer for 2009 -- one from Amsterdam to Basel, along the Rhine, and one along the Seine from Paris. Both are inclusive of excursions, and both offer 50 percent discounts for kids between 8 and 18 years.
Family-Bonding Charters: European Waterways
Why? European Waterways operates small river and canal barges throughout Europe, traveling from Ireland and Scotland to France, and Holland to the lagoons of Venice. Each of the vessels (which accommodate up to 12 people) can be chartered for six-night cruises, and in fact, several of the vessels in France can be chartered for "tandem" cruising. These trips put an entire staff, including an extraordinary chef and an English-speaking guide, at a family's disposal. Excursions and liquor are included, but you can also turn your charter into a theme cruise. Want golf? Fishing? Bicycling? You've got it. We love the experiences that start in London and Paris, and in terms of transportation, they are easiest on families, too.
Sailing Under the Stars: Windstar Cruises' Wind Surf
Why? Small (only 312 guests) and charming, Wind Surf sports five massive sails that make this ship stand out, enthralling kids of every age. There's something magical about being under sail in the Mediterranean or Caribbean, yet the ship is actually quite modern with flat-screen TV's, iPod docks and DVD players in each stateroom. Kids really enjoy the on-ship water sports platform that can be used when the ship is at anchor and conditions are just right; imagine snorkeling right from the ship or taking a water-tricycle out for a spin. The bridge is available to visitors, too, so children can see how the computerized sails are raised, and look at the depth-finder's on-screen imaging. However, there are no kids' clubs or baby-sitting services.
--by Jana Jones, who has also written for Vacation Agent, the U.K.'s Travel Holidays and Ocean Drive Magazine
These days, with the surfeit of new ships -- each one bigger than, shinier than, more innovative than all the rest -- families have so many choices, it's mind-boggling. Remember the days when ice skating on the seas was a really big deal? Or when you discovered that you could watch movies up on deck? Or when the FlowRider was introduced to worldwide acclaim, allowing surfing lessons in aft pools? Those perks, considered real breakthroughs when they were introduced, have become de rigueur. Now we expect family-friendly ships to have separate clubs for kids and teens, kid-friendly dining, plenty of movie and video game options, and twister waterslides.
Infants and Toddlers: Many cruise lines have minimum ages for cruising -- anywhere from 12 weeks (
Why? As sophisticated as today's children are getting, one mention of Mickey, Minnie, Goofy or Tinkerbell still brings looks of awe and wonder to their faces. Yes, Disney characters have that magical ability to transfix kids (even those elusive preteens), and for that reason alone, we heartily endorse Disney cruises. Disney ships also have some of the best standard family staterooms afloat, featuring the unique "bath and a half" concept (where the shower is in a separate room from the toilet and sink). For parents, there are also plenty of adults-only spaces, including Palo Restaurant and an adults-only pool area. And, even though teenagers might not be quite as awestruck by Tea with Alice in Wonderland as the younger set, the Stack parent-free zone is a winner with its soda-and-smoothie bar, overstuffed couches and big-screen TV's.
Why? It's BIG, with all the amenities a family could possibly want. The cabin selections are fantastic for families of all sizes and budgets (everything from connecting staterooms to the aforementioned family suites), and the mini-golf course, ice skating rink, rock-climbing wall, H2O Zone water park and FlowRider surf park are sure to attract kids of all ages. There are even lively parades through the Royal Promenade shopping area. Although this ship's child-care services don't cater to toddlers, there are Crayola- and Fisher-Price-sponsored programs for parents and kids under the age of 3 to enjoy together. If you're worried that all of this excitement ignores adults' pastoral pursuits, have no fear: The Solarium awaits, with quiet hammocks, peaceful seating areas and two adults-only hot tubs, cantilevered over the ocean. 
Why? 
Why? Smaller than the other Royal Caribbean ships we're recommending, the 90,000-ton 
Why? 
