Family Cruises
Family cruises are a popular type of getaway: families love the kids programs for different ages, the teen lounges, and the (nearly) all-inclusive pricing. Some cruises offer stops at a private island; others offer opportunities for great shore excursions.
Family Cruises: Introduction and Tips
Tips about family cruise vacations, and introduction to kids programs and other features.
Find Cheaper Cruises!
Parents who need to pay for three or four or more persons in the family are especially motivated to find cruise deals.
Questions to Ask When Planning a Family Cruise
About,com's Guide for Cruises has advice; see also her article on Most Popular Large Ship Cruise Lines for Families.
Family Cruises: Sample Programs for Preschoolers
It's standard practice for cruise lines to offer extensive kids programs for kids ages three or four and older. Some cruise lines aim to stand out by catering also to younger set. See sample programs for preschoolers, at Royal Caribbean International Cruise Line.
Summary of Cruise Line Kids Programs
This online Family Cruises Guide suggests best cruises for infants, teens, grandkids...
Ten Best Cruises for Families
The upscale Travel+Leisure magazine recommends specific ships (--which can vary significantly, within a cruise line--) and includes some less mainstream cruise lines such as Lindblad and Cunard.
Top Family Cruises
Cruise Critic recommends "Best Family Ships", and includes many details about family cruises.
Cruising with an Infant
Read helpful tips, and suggestions for the best ships when traveling with a baby, at CruisesForFamilies.com.
Best Cruises with Teens
Cruisemates.com has a section on cruises for teens, with articles about features on different ships, and tips by teens who've cruised.
Family Cruises: Europe
The logistics of travel can hardly get easier than on a cruise: your hotel room travels with you. Explore interesting ports in the daytime, then return to the ship where the same beds -- and all your stuff-- await every night.
Caribbean Cruises: Explore Ports on Your Own
Rather than pay for expensive excursions at ports of call, explore on your own. Take a taxi to a beach, a park... this article at Cruisemates.com gives details for shore outings for families on several Caribbean islands.
Nickelodeon Cruises
Nickelodeon has partnered with at least two cruise lines to offer Nick-themed family cruises, with all the usual amenities of cruising plus Nick-themed fun and characters such as SpongeBob SquarePants.
Carnival Cruises: Guest Article
This guest writer sought fun for seven kids with a wide age spread, on a Carnival "Mexico Riviera" Cruise.
Costa Cruises
This family-friendly cruise line offers "Cruising Italian Style", and sails in the Caribbean and the Mediterranean Seas.
More Cruise Lines
About.com's Guide for Cruises covers all the different cruise lines and the latest-and-greatest ships: the "World's Largest Cruise Ship" seems to get built every year. Some of the ever-more lavish facilities are great for families: onboard water parks, for instance.
Family Cruise Shopping Guide
This set of articles at a cruise advice site has practical tips for family cruising including minimum ages for kids' programs, cruise ship safety, tips with toddlers, and choosing a stateroom. Should your family squeeze into one stateroom? Perhaps a better option is to get an "inside" second stateroom across the hall.