Kid-friendly cruise can be a trip of a lifetime

Not all cruises are created equal when it comes to welcoming kids like they’re members of the family. When sailing the high seas with wee ones (ages anywhere from infant to teen), it’s important to choose the right cruise.

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Crystal Cruises has courted families in recent years with such treats as tea parties, dedicated children’s facilities, kid-friendly food, supervised activities on summer and holiday cruises, in-stateroom baby-sitting services, an increased number of third berths and connecting staterooms.

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Disney Cruise Line

Disney Cruise Line treats its small guests to such entertainment as ‘Toy Story - The Musical’ which was presented aboard the Disney Wonder cruise ship.

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Whether it’s with parents, grandparents or other extended family, a cruise with a child can be the trip of a lifetime for both kids and kids at heart.

“Family cruising is one of the strongest growth segments of the industry, and many lines not only market specifically to families, but design their ships and shipboard activities with kids in mind,” said Terry Dale, president and CEO of the Cruise Lines International Association.

MICKEY AT SEA

When it comes to cruising with kids, it’s hard to go wrong with Disney Cruise Line. With Disney long known for great land-based family vacations, Disney Cruise Line has been welcoming children to the waves since 1998.

The line’s two ships continue to improve everything about the experience for both kids and the ones who have paved (and paid) the way. The cabins were designed with families in mind — including more space than the industry average and the only split-bath design (available in most cabins) in the industry.

Other attractions include Broadway-quality stage entertainment (“Toy Story—The Musical” is the largest stage production at sea); a “Pirates in the Caribbean Deck Party”; interaction with Disney characters; dining styles for all ages; youth activity areas for specific age groups; and Castaway Cay, Disney’s award-winning “private island” experience. In addition, Disney is soon expected to announce that it’ll sail to new ports of call.

GO UPSCALE

• Crystal Cruises has specifically courted families and multigenerational travel in recent years with dedicated children’s facilities, kid-friendly food, supervised activities on summer and holiday cruises, in-stateroom baby-sitting services, an increased number of third berths and connecting staterooms. Areas of the ships, Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity, are designed just for kids. The highlight is a state-of-the-art facility called Fantasia, with scheduled activities, board games, huge padded cubes, kiosks with Sony PlayStation and Xbox 360 and large-screen TVs. Teenagers can enjoy the Waves video arcade and the ships’ libraries feature lots of children’s books and videos for in-cabin viewing. The Hollywood Theatre runs recent movies at kid-friendly times.

• Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria include features such as certified British nannies, age-specific activities, a traditional children’s tea and complimentary group baby-sitting until midnight.

• Regent Seven Seas’ Ambassadors of the Environment youth program was created by Jacques Cousteau’s son Jean-Michel and introduces kids to the natural wonders of destinations such as Alaska and Tahiti. Regent features four small luxury cruise ships that roam the world with family-friendly offerings. Kids Sail Free promotions are offered on select dates throughout the year.

THINK SMALL

Small niche ships heading to exotic locales are another excellent option for families-in-the-know.

“Small ships are especially wonderful for families when the activities focus on nature and wildlife,” said Shirley Linde, author and editor of smallshipcruises.com. “What kid can be bored with close-up encounters with whales, seeing monkeys in a rain forest, walking on a glacier or fishing for piranha in the Amazon?”

• Lindblad Expeditions’ itineraries in Alaska, Costa Rica/Nicaragua, Galápagos and Greece feature family programs run by specially skilled staff trained in organizing activities that inspire curiosity in people of all ages.

• Star Clippers’ fleet of three tall-masted ships sails the waters of the Mediterranean, the Far East, Tahiti and the Caribbean, with kid-friendly activities such as knot-tying, ship steering, raising the sails and even climbing the mast. Its flagship, the Royal Clipper, has all the modern amenities — including two Owner’s Suites that adjoin and can accommodate a total of eight.

OTHER OPTIONS

Of course, many other lines welcome children with an array of activities and amenities. Most of the “mainstream” lines have instituted specific programs for different age groups, making it easy for everyone to enjoy a cruise.

• Carnival Cruise Lines’ “Fun Ships” continue to be a family favorite for good reason.

The new Carnival Splendor debuted in Europe with amenities that include the largest play area on any Carnival ship, complete with a splash park, children’s menus, a corkscrew water slide and educational programming geared toward the ship’s itineraries.

After an inaugural European season, the new ship heads to Fort Lauderdale, Fla., in late-November to start a Caribbean program. This will be followed by South American and Mexican Riviera voyages from the West Coast.

• Norwegian Cruise Line is also known for “freestyle” family fun, with lots of flexibility for families traveling with kids. Their shorter three- and four-day sailings are particularly popular as quick getaways from Atlanta. The Norwegian Sky sails year-round out of Miami for the Bahamas and the cruise line’s private island. While adults enjoy the sun and sea, children enjoy extended “Kid’s Crew” hours through various venues and activities (including Nintendo Wii).

• Holland-America Line has instituted many programs targeted specifically at families and family reunions. Those booking eight or more cabins get special group pricing and other perks, the “head of the family” receives a complimentary cabin upgrade. Once on board, the popular “Club HAL” program entertains children ages 3 to 12, while teen offerings target those 13 to 17. The line recently launched a program for kids in the popular Culinary Arts Center to bring the joys of cooking to the younger set.

IF YOU GO

Carnival Cruise Lines: www.carnival.com; 1-800-227-6482 or 305-599-2600

Celebrity: www.celebritycruises.com or www.celebritysolstice.com; 1-800-437-3111 or 305-539-6000

Crystal Cruises: www.crystalcruises.com; 1-888-799-4625 or 310-785-9300

Cunard Line: www.cunard.com; 1-800-728-6273 or 661-753-1000

Disney Cruise Line: www.disneycruise.com ; 1-888-325-2500 or 407-566-7000

Holland-America Line: www.hollandamerica.com ; 1-877-724-5425 or 206-261-3535

Lindblad Expeditions: www.lindblad.com ; 1-800-397-3348 or 212-765-7740

Norwegian Cruise Line: www.ncl.com ; 1-800-327-7030 or 305-436-4000

Regent Seven Seas: www.rssc.com ; 1-800-285-1835 or 402-501-5000

Star Clippers: www.starclippers.com ; 1-800-442-0551 or 305-442-0550