Disney’s Disney Dream: Arguably the best ship at sea for families with young kids, Disney Dream offers the biggest and best children’s facilities, a nursery for kids 3 months to 3 years, separate teen and tween centers, a kids’ pool with waterslide, a toddler-friendly splash zone, and a 765-foot water flume called the AquaDuck (if you can’t view the video above click here) — and those are just the highlights. There are also the best standard family cabins at sea, fantastic family oriented shows and movies, and lots of high-tech magic to make kids go “Oooh!,” plus some secluded adults-only areas to make parents go “Aaah.” You can even pre-order diapers and other baby supplies that’ll be in your cabin when you arrive. A near-identical sister ship, Disney Fantasy, will launch in 2012.

On Disney Cruise Line, the fun is not limited to the ship. Disney owns its own private island, Castaway Cay.

Disney’s Disney Magic & Disney Wonder: Though not quite as amazing as the newer Dream, Disney’s two original ships aren’t far behind, offering an almost identical experience at an only slightly scaled down level. There’s no AquaDuck, but there is different scenery outside, with Magic scheduled to sail from New York and Galveston next year, and Wonder doing Alaska and Mexican Riviera voyages.

Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas & Allure of the Seas: The biggest cruise ships in the world, these two sisters are also the only ones that give Disney’s ships a run for their money in the family category. Each offers a huge open-air family area styled like an old-time boardwalk (there’s even a carousel), 28,700 square feet of kids’ playrooms, a nursery for kids 6 months to 3 years, extensive teen centers with their own outdoor deck, a pool deck with three different pools and a fun water park, a sports deck with surfing simulators and rock-climbing walls, an ice-skating rink, 3-D movies, fun dining options, and more. Courtesy of a deal with DreamWorks Animation, there are also costumed characters like Shrek and the Madagascar penguins, who participate in a parade and other activities throughout each cruise. As with Disney, you can order diapers and other baby supplies and have them ready in your cabin when you arrive. To view the video “A Teen’s View of Allure of the Seas” click here.

Also see Family Cruise Advisor’s Top Ten Family Cruises

Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Epic: NCL’s biggest ship, Epic is also its best for kids, with one of the cruise world’s best waterslides, a splash pool for younger kids, a rock-climbing wall, a trampoline, a 24-foot “spider web”–style climbing cage, a basketball court, a batting cage, a two-story video screen in the atrium that’s great for watching sports; and meet-and-greets by costumed characters from Nickelodeon. The kids’ center offers Wii and Playstation II games, a dance floor, a big-screen TV room full of beanbag chairs; a great play structure with a crawling maze and ball jump. Teens get their own club/hangout, located up a “secret” hideaway staircase. Bonus: Kids under 2 sail free when sharing a cabin with two paying guests.

Royal Caribbean’s Freedom of the Seas & Liberty of the Seas: Once the world’s biggest cruise ships but now also-rans after fleetmates Oasis and Allure, these sister ships offer tons for families, including a huge playroom and video arcade, a teen club, a nursery for kids 6 months to 3 years, puppet shows created by Emmy and Tony Award nominee John Tartaglia, a water park, a surfing simulator, an ice-skating rink, a rock-climbing wall, 3-D movies, a basketball court, and a miniature golf course. For fun enrichment, there are educational programs offered in collaboration with Fisher-Price and Crayola; for kiddie celebrity sightings, there are character parades and photo ops with DreamWorks movie characters; and for sugar highs there are Ben & Jerry’s ice-cream parlors and fresh-baked cupcake shops.

On Carnival Magic, kids and adults alike enjoy the SkyCourse, the first-ever ropes course at sea. Photo courtesy of Carnival Cruise Lines

Carnival’s Carnival Dream & Carnival Magic: These two sister-ships — one already in service (Dream) and the other debuting next month — are Carnival’s best for families with kids, especially kids who love water slides, since they come armed with twin 80-foot racing slides; a 104-foot enclosed spiral slide; and a 303-foot-long, four-deck-high enclosed corkscrew waterslide. There are also kids’, teens’, and tweens’ centers, a basketball court, and a miniature golf course, and Carnival Magic will add a “ropes” course, in which kids (and adults) can strap into a safety harness and work their way along 230 feet of beams, rope bridges, and swinging steps suspended above the top deck.

Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Jewel, Norwegian Jade, Norwegian Pearl & Norwegian Gem: These ships were the most recent generation from NCL before its new Epic, and are just all-around fun vessels. For kids, they offer huge, brightly colored play and crafts area; a big-screen TV room full of beanbag chairs; a huge play structure with a ball jump and crawling maze; a computer room; a video arcade; a teen center; and a small outdoor play area. The buffet restaurant includes an adorable “Kid’s Cafe” section with chairs, tables, and serving stations scaled down to pint size, and with kid-friendly food to match.

Princess’s Caribbean Princess, Crown Princess, Emerald Princess & Ruby Princess: Kid-wise, the best thing about these ships is the fact that their kids’ center includes a large, attached, fenced-in outdoor play area with a splash pool, lots of plastic trikes, a kids’ basketball setup, and kid-size tables and chairs. It’s a great place for energetic kids to work off steam while their parents relax nearby. Inside, the bright, cheerful kids’ centers have toys, games, computer stations, and organized activities. The teen centers have computers, video games, and a dance floor. The line’s “Movies Under the Stars” outdoor movie experience is great for families, with lounge chair seating and free popcorn.

MSC Cruises’ MSC Fantasia & MSC Splendida: Though the children’s programs at Italian line MSC aren’t in the same league as those offered by Disney, Royal Caribbean, and Carnival, it still makes this list for one primary reason: because kids 11 and under sail fare-free when sharing a cabin with two paying guests (though government fees and taxes still apply). The line’s recent ships all have smallish children’s centers with games, arts and crafts supplies, PlayStations, and activities, plus an enclosed outdoor area with a wading pool, play structure, and tube slide. The new Fantasia and Splendida add a 4-D movie theater (with moving seats) and a Formula One racing car simulator.

Click the links below to read full ship reviews of the vessels featured in this article.

Disney Cruise Line

• Disney Magic
• Disney Wonder
• Disney Dream

Our six-week old was much too young to comprehend or appreciate Disney. Plus, she developed colic — a painful, but common, condition among infants that causes abdominal pain and uncontrollable crying (sometimes for the frustrated parents as well!).

My wife and I took turns dining at Restaurant Marrakesh, Epcot’s wonderful Moroccan restaurant. We were hoping for a romantic dinner while our sweet girl slept tableside. No such luck. Our baby girl began wailing before the appetizers appeared, and for the next hour, my wife and I swapped between bites to eat and trying to comfort our crying daughter. A romantic dinner? What were we thinking?

Months later, crossing the Atlantic, our baby slept for the entire flight. Unfortunately, we did not.

We arrived at London’s Gatwick Airport sleepy and tired. Dazed and confused from lack of sleep, we picked up our rental car and drove two hours to the New Forest, near Southampton, where we were to stay overnight in a beautiful hotel. We checked into our room and threw ourselves onto the bed. Baby, however, wanted to play. For the next week, our biological clock was out of sync with daughter’s and what could have been a wonderful trip went down in the books as “never again.”

There is a happy ending to these stories. Our children grew up, and when I wrote this story, we were planning our next family vacation: a four-day cruise on Disney Cruise Line’s Disney Wonder combined with a three-night package at Walt Disney World’s Animal Kingdom Lodge. That one went down as a great vacation. Through the years, we became experts — by making the mistakes of trying to do too much or to do vacations that were inappropriate for our kids’ ages. We dragged our kids from one vacation to the other only to discover what makes a great family vacation –and also what makes a not-so-great one.

My kids on Disney Wonder, with a Carnival Cruise Lines vessel in the background.

Who’s Your Family?

It may seem obvious, but the first step in planning your family vacation is to know who will be traveling with you?

Are you traveling with an infant, or god forbid, infants? If you can still muster the courage after reading about our nightmare vacation with our daughter, then go right ahead. And take some solace: There are vacations that work with infants. The key is to make sure you don’t travel too far. When vacationing with infants and toddlers:

• Stay close to home — no more than, say, a six-hour transit, whether you’re flying or driving.
• Consider vacation venues that offer babysitting or child-watch programs.
• Not all cater to children, and of those that do, not all cater to infants and toddlers. Let’s face it, you and your significant other need a break from baby, and there’s nothing better than being able to get away for a romantic dinner or a hand-in-hand stroll along the beach while knowing your baby is in good hands.

Three’s Company

If you’re traveling with children over the age of three, the playing field becomes a lot larger, because so many vacation venues offer supervised programs for kids. In fact, the programs are so good that you may suffer your first disappointment: Your kids may want nothing to do with you — they’ll want to hang out and play with their peers.

My wife and I quickly got over the initial disappointment of our kids not wanting to clutch at our clothing for the duration of our vacations.

As they grew older, our kids played to their hearts’s content while we relaxed, and everyone got what they came for: a vacation. The trick to the foolproof vacation with children over the age of three:

• Consider vacation venues that offer age-specific programs and activities. Your kids will have more fun hanging out and playing with their peers than they will gnawing at your nerves.
• Make sure your vacation venue has a pool. Any vacation that allows your children to splish and splash is a good vacation.

Traveling With Teens

Teens can be the hardest group to please, I can say from the experience of having once been a teen that they will want nothing to do with dull old dad and mopey old mom. We’re just not hip. How to please them?

• Consider vacations that offer teen-specific venues. Several cruise lines, for example, now feature teen-only bars (for mocktails, of course) and coffee shops.
• Book separate accommodations for your teen. Remember, we’re not hip enough to breathe the same air as our teens much less room with them. Plus, they often spend scads of time in the bathroom, mostly in front of the mirror. If you have need of this facility on your vacation, get a separate room.

Extended Families

There’s one other kind of family vacation: the extended family vacation. This is when grandmother and grandfather –and even aunts and uncles and cousins — come along.

On extended family cruises you can sit down for dinner with your family of six, eight, or a dozen or more, and no one has to worry about who is picking up the check. Go ahead and have that extra plate of lobster. Extended family vacations can be great, but to make sure they go off without a hitch:

• Consider vacation venues that offer something for everyone. The kids may be bored to tears on small luxury ships.
• Don’t try to pile everyone into one room. Sure, you could save money if eight of you were to share an inside stateroom on a cruise ship, but the point of family reunions is to emerge feeling better about one another — not learning more than you care to know about the hygiene habits of family members.

Family Cruising

So now that you know who you’re traveling with, how do you choose the venue? Cruises are great, because cruise ships are self-contained, floating, nearly all-inclusive resorts. Nearly all-inclusive, because most cruise lines do not include the cost of alcohol, shore excursions, and gratuities. What generally is included, however, are children’s programs, all meals, and entertainment.

That is to say that typically you won’t pay a dime extra for your child to participate in the on-board children’s programs. Most cruise lines, however, do charge for baby-sitting, whether it’s in your stateroom or group-babysitting.

Happy Endings For Everyone

My children are now 14 and 15, and I have had some of the best trips of my life with them. I traveled to Alaska with my son, Alex (‘Awesome’ Alaska: The Great Land Through The Eyes Of A Kid), and my daughter Britton and I cruised the Mekong (Cruising The Mekong). I took both of them on Allure of the Seas over Thanksgiving.

Traveling with family, while sometimes challenging, can be exceptionally rewarding. So get out there and enjoy all that this world has to offer – on a cruise, with your family.

Ralph Grizzle
Editor (and father), Family Cruise Advisor

Carnival Magic

Carnival Magic will offer family cruisers plenty of new and exciting features.

My first cruise was in 2000 when my daughter (aged 2) was just old enough to enter Camp Carnival. We choose Carnival Cruise Lines because they had an award-winning children’s program (accepting children in diapers) and the price was right. I never regretted my cruise line choice; in fact, Carnival Cruise Line is one of my favorite cruise lines when traveling with my family.

A lot has happened in the cruise industry since my first cruise. Ships keep morphing into floating resorts and onboard amenities and activities keep getting bigger and better.

Set to debut May 1, 2011, Carnival Magic will offer family cruisers many cruise industry-firsts that will have kids of all ages begging for a vacation at sea.

Topping the list of cruise industry-firsts on Carnival Magic is the ropes course.

Carnival Magic, will have over 19,000 square feet of family oriented spaces inlcuding the first ropes course at sea. Located in the expansive SportsSquare recreation complex, the ropes course, called SkyCourse, will offer adventure-seekers, magnificent views of the sea nearly 150 feet below while strapped in a safety harness and traversing rope bridges, swinging steps and beams.

Those that are not as willing to go full-throttle may choose from a variety of other fun activities in the SportsSquare complex. Families can spend hours playing popular video games on a large plasma screen TV, pumping-iron (think Venice Beach in CA) at the first outdoor weightlifting area on a cruise ship, or playing mini-golf at Carnival’s first two-level miniature golf course.

Rounding out the SportsSquare menu of activities are: the Vita exercise course; a lighted multi-purpose court for basketball, volleyball and soccer; and tables for ping pong and foosball.  With all this action, cruisers are bound to want to cool-off at the WaterWorks aqua park.

WaterWorks aqua park will feature an exhilarating "Twister" spiral water slide

Carnival Magic’s WaterWorks aqua park will feature an exhilarating “Twister” spiral water slide, as well as the new Aqua Play splash park designed for youngsters and their families, featuring a gigantic, 300-gallon “dump bucket.”

It’s not all about the action on the open decks, Carnival Magic offers new and exciting dining venues as well.

The latest Dream-class ship, Carnival Magic will debut new dining venues:  Cucina del Capitano and Red Frog Pub.

Cucina del Capitano, ("The Captain's Kitchen") will offer dinnertime options with made-to-order Italian favorites in comfortable, relaxed surroundings

Cucina del Capitano, (“The Captain’s Kitchen”) will offer dinnertime options with made-to-order Italian favorites in comfortable, relaxed surroundings. Cruisers may dine on hand-made pastas, risotto and fresh-from-the-oven Italian specialties – many served family style. Many of the dishes and recipes were hand-selected by Carnival’s captains. Dinner will carry  a nominal fee. During the day, the space will be utilized as a casual made-to-order pasta bar with items offered on a complimentary basis.

RedFrog Pub will offer a Caribbean island-inspired environment, which will serve snacks and drinks, including ThirstyFrog Red, a private-label draught beer brewed especially for Carnival Magic.

RedFrog Pub will offer a Caribbean island-inspired environment, which will serve snacks and drinks, including ThirstyFrog Red, a private-label draught beer brewed especially for Carnival Magic. There will be seating for 100 in an indoor/outdoor venue. The menu will feature Bahamian conch salad, grouper fingers, firecracker Jamaican chicken wings, as well as other Caribbean inspired fare.

Young cruisers will enjoy the “Fun Ship” treatment when it comes to eating on Carnival Magic. Families can look forward to expanded children’s menus offering a variety of kids’ favorites, as well as a “daily junior special.” The new menus are included on the back page of a fun coloring/activity book.

To be among the first family cruisers to experience Carnival Magic, book a cruise during the inaugural season.

Carnival Magic will operate a series of Mediterranean cruises departing May 1 to mid October, 2011 from Barcelona. After her European cruise season, Carnival Magic will reposition to Galveston, Texas to launch seven-day Caribbean service.

A unique exhibit commemorating the National Aeronautics & Space Administration’s (NASA) Mercury space program and the historic 1962 splashdown of the Friendship 7 capsule off the coast of Grand Turk is now open at the Grand Turk Cruise Center.

“Splashdown Grand Turk” is a 3,500-square-foot attraction celebrating the unique relationship of the American human spaceflight mission and its importance to Grand Turk’s history.

Located on the south side of the Grand Turk Cruise Center, the free exhibit features amazing replicas unique to the Mercury space program, including a scaled 20-foot-tall Atlas rocket and a full-size, three-dimensional replica of astronaut John Glenn in spacesuit, and, of course, a detailed replica of the Friendship 7 capsule, which splashed into the Atlantic in 1962, a few short miles from the island of Grand Turk.

Storyboards at the exhibit depict the accomplishments of the NASA space program and detail the differences in space equipment of yesterday and today while offering an overview of the current space program and future plans.

Opened by Carnival Corporation & plc in 2006, the Grand Turk Cruise Center serves as a gateway to this unique destination and encompasses a state-of-the-art pier and a 14-acre complex offering a variety of shops and restaurants.

The 2011 cruise season will bring 285 ship calls to the Grand Turk Cruise Center carrying approximately 625,000 visitors who will have an opportunity to learn more about Grand Turk’s involvement with the NASA space program.

A smile from a happy cruiser having fun at cooking school

Parents of tweens/teens are always looking for opportunities to engage with their children and to find “cool” activities for the family to enjoy. While a cruise vacation offers plenty of choices when it comes to entertainment, in some cases once onboard it is hard to hang with the kids. New friends, kids clubs, arcades, and endless eating sessions of pizza and soft-serve might leave mom and dad in the dust.

But my 12-year old daughter and I found a good way to spend time together: We participated in a cooking class offered by Chefmakers at Sea, and it was one of the highlights of our cruise on Royal Caribbean’s Liberty of the Seas.

The reason I enjoyed it so much is because I could tell that my daughter was learning and having fun. Plus, I got to spend quality time with her.

Chefmakers at Sea is a cooking school offered on Royal Caribbean’s Freedom of the Seas and Liberty of the Seas. The concept was developed for people who want to take cooking classes but do not have time. The owners of Chefmakers at Sea contract space on Freedom and Liberty to meet the needs of cruisers that want to spend some of their vacation time learning cooking techniques.

Making Beef Wellington

Chefmakers at Sea takes over the front of the Windjammer Cafe in a space called Jade. During our event, we prepared food on stainless steel workstations and cooked on the grill station.

There are a wide variety of programs available. Popular classes include: Knife Skills, All About Chicken, Wine and Dine, Surf and Turf, and Asian Cuisine.

Chefmakers At Sea will accommodate families, and in addition to age-appropriate kids classes, older children, when accompanied by an adult, may attend many of the classes.

When we attended, we had a private group, and the chef helped us create a four-course menu, with wine.

A suggestion for making sure you don’t miss the boat for the cooking class: Stop by the Chefmakers At Sea information desk on the first day of the cruise. The desk is located at the front of Jade in the Windjammer Cafe. Review the class schedule and sign up. The most popular classes sell out, so don’t delay if you see a class that intrigues your inner chef.

Bon Appétit

What a show!

Disney Dream christening ceremony in Port Canaveral

A helicopter delivered a 16-foot oversized bottle of dreams to the bow to commemorate the christening of Disney Cruise Line’s newest ship in the fleet, Disney Dream.

Under sunny skies and with more than 3,000 people in attendance at the Port Canaveral home to Disney Cruise Line‘s cruise empire, Disney Dream was christened.

Port Canaveral gets in on the act, flys a banner over crowd proclaiming “Welcome Home Disney Dream!”

The event was expertly produced combining traditional elements of a ship christening with the magic of Disney. A live webcast on the Disney Cruise Line website allowed fans from all over the world to watch the event. Also, a very active stream on Twitter allowed people to keep up with the non-stop activities. Highlights of Disney Dream christening included:

• Disney Dream godmother Jeniffer Hudson (who sang on the Disney Wonder as a cast member and Oscar winner for her role in Dreamgirls) sang and delivered the christening prayer, “I christen thee Disney Dream. May God bless Her and all who sail on Her.”
• Disney Dream flag ceremony, with Navy band performance.
• An entertainment spectacular featuring fireworks and fanfare.
• Speeches from The Walt Disney World Company executives. Tom Staggs thanked the hundreds of cast members who were waving from the decks in celebration and Bob Iger informed the crowd why they chose the name: “We named our ship the Disney Dream because she was created to make dreams for our guests.”

Make sure to check out the Avid Cruiser Facebook fan page to follow Ralph as he explores Disney Dream.

Can’t get enough? Check out our other Disney Dream stories on Family Cruise Advisor:

• Family Cruising: Disney Dream
• More Disney Dream Coverage From Papenburg, Germany
• Video: Disney Cruise Line Floats Out Disney Dream
• Disney Cruise Line Rate Number 1 By Readers Of Condé Nast Traveler

From Port Canaveral, Florida, Disney Dream will cruise to the Bahamas on rotating 3, 4, and 5-night cruises. All cruises on Disney Dream will visit Disney Cruise Line’s private Bahamian island Castaway Cay.

Adults enjoying the spa . . . aboard Disney Magic. Photo courtesy of Disney Cruise Line

When people think of “Family Cruises,” the word “kids” tends to come to mind. And frankly, that scares a lot of people.  But Family Cruising is no longer the exclusive domain of parents and their children. Instead, it can refer to multiple generations of one family – or several families – cruising together as part of a special occasion.

My first cruise was a family cruise. It was 1998, and I was aboard the Norwegian Wind with my parents and my sister.  We sailed out of Vancouver to Alaska, and my love of cruising was born. Unlike most of the teenagers my age, I was an anomaly: I was perfectly happy to wander the ship, taking photographs with my 35mm camera. My sister was the social one.  With no real formal children’s programs to speak of, my sister made friends and quickly lost herself in the ship – much to my father’s dismay as he trudged the decks looking for her at three in the morning.

Eleven years later, I sailed with my parents again – this time aboard Crown Princess to Norway, Iceland and Northern Ireland.  While some things hadn’t changed (I still ran around taking plenty of pictures), our tastes had matured.  We were looking for a different product than the one we experienced in 1998. And we found it on Princess Cruises.

Therein lies the brilliance of family cruising: In as much as there are plenty of lines catering to mom, dad and the kids, there are an equal number of lines who may not necessarily court the little ones but are a fantastic fit for grown-up families looking for a great cruise vacation.

Choosing the right ship for the perfect family getaway can be a daunting task.  Each has its strengths and weaknesses, but there are a few that shine bright amongst the pack.  In that spirit, we present you with six of our favorite ships: three for families with children, and three geared towards adult families.

FOR FAMILIES WITH KIDS (AND THE YOUNG AT HEART!) Disney Dream – Disney Cruise Line

The brand-new Disney Dream. Photo courtesy of Disney Cruise Line.

It’s tough to beat Disney. They’re so successful at what they do that even couples without kids have been known to travel on the line.  While the price of admission may be higher than many mainstream lines, their onboard product makes up for it in spades, and ensures Mom & Dad have as much fun as the kids. After all, you’re paying for it – shouldn’t you enjoy yourself too?

Can I Be a Kid Again? Disney's Oceaneer Lab aboard Disney Dream offers kids the chance to explore the sea.

Disney Dream is just that – a dream for young and old alike. When she launches next month, she will be the largest ship in the Disney fleet, measuring 1,115 feet in length and carrying some 4,000 happy passengers. The list of amenities is remarkable: kids are kept busy in Disney’s Oceaneer Club, offering them a chance to explore the sea, learn animation, and even stage their own production shows a’la Peter Pan. An interactive mystery game based around the ship’s artwork is also offered, as well as  a new feature for the entire industry: a dedicated spa for teens only called Chill Spa.

While the kids are kept entertained, Mom & Dad are looked after in style. The 16,000-square foot Senses Spa & Salon offers just about every treatment imaginable, while the Pink Champagne Bar serves up bubbly in a unique room made to appear to feature walls of cascading “bubbles.”  The line’s adult-only Paolo Restaurant is also here, along with Remy, featuring French-inspired gourmet cuisine and the option of a private “chef’s table” experience.

We’ll also be the first to admit: it’s tough to not get choked up when the ship’s whistle belts out “When You Wish Upon A Star” at sail away.

Disney Dream sails to the Bahamas on three, four and five-night voyages beginning January 2011. We’re excited already!

Mariner of the Seas – Royal Caribbean International

Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas

“Wait a minute!” I hear you say. “What about Oasis of the Seas?” Oasis and her sister Allure of the Seas are excellent ships for families, but they are so huge they can be overwhelming at times – the oceangoing equivalent of Disneyland. Mariner of the Seas (and her near-sisters Voyager, Explorer, Adventure and Navigator) still offer that “WOW!” factor of big-ship cruising, but on a more manageable scale.

One of Royal Caribbean's famous nightly parades along the Royal Promenade on Mariner of the Seas.

Ships feature a mini-golf course, rock-climbing wall, large pool area, and the famous “Royal Promenade” where nightly parades and entertainment are on offer. Royal Caribbean has entertainment down to a science.  Kids who have never cruised will be spell-bound that all of this is possible on a ship. At the same time, parents will rejoice in several venues just for them, like Chops Steakhouse and Vintages Wine Bar.

Mariner of the Seas and her sisters sail to Bermuda, the Caribbean, Europe, New England, and South America.

MSC Poesia – MSC Cruises

MSC Poesia. Photo courtesy of MSC Cruises

Kids 12 and Under Sail for Free: it’s tough to beat that kind of promotion. Based in Genoa, MSC Cruises boasts a fleet of eleven stunning new ships that are slowly but surely making inroads in the lucrative Caribbean market – and no doubt causing some cruise execs many sleepless nights. In fact, a seven-day Caribbean cruise can be downright affordable for a family of four.  And because the line caters to kids, chances are your little ones will leave you alone for a bit as they run off to play with new-found friends.

MSC Poesia and her sisters have a lot going for them. They’re big, they’re new, and they offer all the amenities you’ve come to expect of mainstream North American lines, like an expansive pool deck, multiple dining options, and even a Princess-style theater screen poolside.

MSC Poesia sails the Eastern and Western Caribbean, and Europe.

FOR FAMILIES WITH GROWN KIDS Crown Princess – Princess Cruises

Crown Princess, shown here in Akureyri, Iceland.

Launched in 2006, Crown Princess ushered in a number of firsts for the line. She was the first to offer the line’s highly-successful Piazza Atrium concept, complete with live performances, music, a cafe and a dedicated wine and sushi bar called Vines. Crown Princess also became the second ship in the fleet to offer Movies Under the Stars: a large LED screen mounted poolside showcasing new releases and special events during the evening hours, complete with comfy deck chairs and popcorn.

Play It Again, Sam: Movies Under the Stars aboard Crown Princess

For families looking for a more grown-up vacation, it’s tough to go wrong with Crown Princess and her sisters, Emerald and Ruby Princess. In addition to a wide array of stateroom choices, many with interior connecting doors, there’s certain to be something for everyone on these 952-foot long vessels. Dedicated spas, a swim-against-the-current pool, a mini-golf course, and a wide array of specialty restaurants (skip lunch if you’re going to Sabatini’s – it’s tremendous!) provide all the benefits of big-ship cruising, but with a more intimate atmosphere.

Crown Princess sails the Caribbean, Europe, and Canada & New England.

Zuiderdam – Holland America Line

Holland America's Zuiderdam

Together with her sisters, Oosterdam, Westerdam, Noordam, Eurodam and the recently-launched  Nieuw Amsterdam, these ships turned Holland America on its head, becoming the first ships in the fleet to truly cater to families of all ages.  While the decor on Zuiderdam is funky and colorful, Eurodam is elegant and tasteful. Each ship has its own distinct personality, but each offers the same features attractive to families looking for a laid-back cruise vacation.

The fantastic Hydrotherapy Pool is an excellent way to unwind after a long day ashore. Pictured here is the Hydro Pool aboard the ms Eurodam. Photo courtesy of Holland America Line.

To start, their spas are some of the best at sea and feature a generous hydrotherapy pool, thermal suite with heated ceramic loungers, and a full-size gym. This generosity extends to her staterooms, many of which are substantially larger than those found on other mainstream lines. Plenty of staterooms connect via interior doors, and balcony partitions on adjoining staterooms can be swung open, allowing families to celebrate on their own extended veranda.

All of this comes with Holland America’s legendary service – some of the best in the mainstream category.

Zuiderdam sails to Alaska, the Caribbean, the Pacific Northwest, and the Panama Canal.

Silver Spirit – Silversea Cruises

Silversea's Flagship, Silver Spirit

If you’re looking for a family reunion, but aren’t willing to compromise on quality, look no further than Silversea’s Silver Spirit.  Included beverages and gratuities means less time worrying about onboard spending and more time enjoying yourselves. And isn’t that what a cruise is supposed to be about?

The ship is beautiful, the service is exacting, the cuisine is tremendous – and yet, there’s not even a hint of pretentiousness onboard. The ship is also incredibly spacious; it’s unlikely you will ever find yourself standing in a line for anything.  With all the amenities of a larger ship, but in a much more human size, Silver Spirit seems catered to families.  Even balcony partitions on most suites swing open to allow rooms to be booked side-by-side.

If you sailed other lines when the kids were little, the time has come to reward yourself.

Silver Spirit sails to Asia, Australia, the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, and the Panama Canal.

No matter where you and your family plan to sail in the coming year, Family Cruise Advisor is here to help.

Making memories

There is no better remedy for combating the short, cold days of winter than planning a family cruise vacation. For some reason, just looking at itineraries and ship diagrams is enough to lift the spirits. But before long what started as a fun search for your next family vacation quickly becomes a nightmare as data-overload sends you over the edge.

To help keep things in balance, Family Cruise Advisor has put together a few tips to help make the cruise buying process a little more user friendly.

Think Value, Not Price

Although price is a good motivator, value is a better indicator that a cruise will be a success.

Consider what is included in the cruise price.

• Does the ship have adequate care for infants? Some ships charge for babysitting infants because they do not have facilities for babies.
• Does the ship offer kids programming for the ages you need?
• Are soft drinks and juice included in the price? Disney Cruise Line has generous soda fountains and juice available around the clock. Other cruise lines do not.

Consider A Slightly Older Ship, But Watch The Size

When looking at price make sure you are comparing apples-to-apples. New ships typically have a higher price tag than slightly older ships.

Although Royal Caribbean International’s new Oasis-class ship Allure of the Seas has a lot of great features, pricing is significantly lower on Liberty of the Seas and her sisters in the Freedom-class. The cruise experience is almost the same: great kids programs, specialty restaurants, surf simulator, rock climbing wall, ice-skating rink, arcade, etc.

Royal Caribbean

Speaking of Royal Caribbean, watch the size of the vessel you select. For example, there are many features that are not available on Monarch of the Seas due to her smaller size. This is an example of too much of a good thing. Savvy shoppers will notice some great cruise fares on Monarch of the Seas, but this ship does not have the bells and whistles found on the larger ships in the fleet.

When to spend money for a cruise on a new ship

Disney Cruise Line’s newest ship Disney Dream is fetching top dollar for a product that is completely different than Disney Magic and Disney Wonder. The updated technology and innovations on Disney Dream are well worth the additional investment in vacation dollars.

Destination

Disney Cruise Line

In most cases when cruising as a family, the ship is the destination. However, families must also consider where the ship sails. Popular family cruise destinations for 2011 are: Europe, Alaska, Mexico, and the Caribbean.

Depending on the age of your children and their tolerance for long flights, a realistic destination will become obvious. I say go for gold and head to Europe. But I am also the same person that took a three-month old baby on an six-hour flight to Hawaii.

Show Me The Money!

A lot of people think that if they wait long enough, cruise lines will offer deep discounts. Although this could be the case, when traveling with a family it is better to plan ahead to avoid disappointment.

Remember that there is little risk to putting down a deposit in advance. In most cases (Disney concierge class suites exempt) deposits are refundable. Final payment is due 90 days before the cruise. Some travel agencies and cruise lines will guarantee the price, which means that if the cruise fare goes down before final payment, you are entitled to getting the lower price.

Family Cruise Basics

• Planning your family cruise
• Age Minimums: The ABCs
• Top Tested Tips for Cruising with Babies and Toddlers
• Family Affair: Cruising with the Whole Crew, Grandpa, Grandma & The Kids
• Choosing A Family Stateroom
• Cruise Ship Kid Programs
• Cruise Ship Safety and Security For Families

Disney Cruise Line’s Disney Dream  has left the building and has begun the transatlantic crossing.

Disney Dream makes her transatlantic journey

Just a few days ago Disney Cruise Line‘s newest ship, Disney Dream left Bremerhaven, Germany on a transatlantic journey to Florida. Disney Dream will greet family cruisers starting January 26, 2011 on her inaugural cruise.

A Disney Cruise is always a great choice for families looking for a touch of elegance with just the right mix of kid-friendly amenities.

Family Cruise Advisor has compiled extensive reports about Disney Dream to help families navigate the many features and amenities on this new ship.

I am excited to see the blending of classic ocean liner design with state-of-the-art technology. Topping off my list of Disney Dream bells-and-whistles are the AquaDuck water coaster and Disney Cruise Line’s new adults-only Remy restaurant.

Disney Dream posts on Family Cruise Advisor:

• An Overview of Disney Dream Highlights Too busy to read everything? This is a great place to discover the highlights of Disney Dream’s one-of-a-kind venues and experiences.
• Disney Dream Youth Programs Everything a parent needs to know about youth programs on Disney Dream. The key to making sure the whole family has fun on a cruise vacation. Disney Cruise Line has one of the best children’s programs at sea. Discover what awaits your young cruiser.
• Dining Options For Family Cruisers on Disney Dream. I appreciate a cruise line that offers a variety of food that appeals to both adults and kids, and I love how Disney Cruise Line staff will dispense ketchup for kids in the shape of Mickey Mouse as well as offering a sophisticated menu for adults in the no-kids zone specialty restaurants. Disney Dream is upping the game a bit in the food service department, especially for adults. For more on how Disney is pleasing parents and palates, read Disney Cruise Line, Michelin-starred Chef Create Perfect Pairing with French-inspired Remy Restaurant On the Disney Dream.
• Entertainment on Disney Dream When you think of Disney, animation, technology and entertainment come to mind. It all comes together on Disney Dream, where entertainment
 includes live musical shows, first-run films, Digital 3-D movies and fun-filled family deck parties, which features the largest fireworks show aboard a cruise ship.

Can’t get enough? Check out our other Disney Dream stories on Family Cruise Advisor:

• Family Cruising: Disney Dream
• More Disney Dream Coverage From Papenburg, Germany
• Video: Disney Cruise Line Floats Out Disney Dream
• Disney Cruise Line Rate Number 1 By Readers Of Condé Nast Traveler

From Port Canaveral, Florida, Disney Dream will cruise to the Bahamas on rotating 3, 4, and 5-night cruises. All cruises on Disney Dream will visit Disney Cruise Line’s private Bahamian island Castaway Cay.

Disney Dream is designed like a transatlantic ocean liner with contemporary details.

Disney Dream is one step closer to greeting guests in Florida now that Meyer Werft officially delivered the new vessel to Disney Cruise Line today in Bremerhaven, Germany.

Construction of Disney Dream started two years ago in Papenburg, Germany. Disney Dream measures 128,000 tons and has 1,250 staterooms with the capacity to accommodate 4,000 passengers. The largest ship in the Disney Cruise Line fleet, Disney Dream has many  innovations  that will allow family cruisers to have the vacation experience of a lifetime. Perhaps my favorite innovation is the AquaDuck water coaster.

Check out the video. This is not just another water slide at sea. The AquaDuck looks really fast and should provide a lot of fun.

Disney Dream will deliver family cruise experiences like no other.

Other noteworthy features on Disney Dream include:  Inside staterooms with virtual views, Enchanted Art that immerses guests in stories, and fine dining at Remy.

The shipboard experience remains focused on the legacy and heritage of The Walt Disney Company’s most valuable assets – master storytelling, world-class entertainment and legendary guest service.

Disney Dream is ready to welcome family cruisers on its maiden voyage, set for January 26, 2011, from Port Canaveral, Florida.

Want to learn more about Disney Dream?

• Disney Dream Youth Programs For Family Cruisers
• Family Cruising: Disney Dream
• Disney Dream Dining Options For Family Cruisers
• Disney Cruise Line Reveals Entertainment on Disney Dream
• Disney Cruise Line, Michelin-starred Chef Create Perfect Pairing with French-inspired Remy Restaurant On the Disney Dream
• More Disney Dream Coverage From Papenburg, Germany
• Video: Disney Cruise Line Floats Out Disney Dream
• Disney Cruise Line From Port Canaveral
• Disney Cruise Line Rate Number 1 By Readers Of Condé Nast Traveler Magazine