Best Family Cruises, Including Camp Carnival and the Disney Cruise Line

Kids and vacation have one thing in common… they’re both about having fun. Of course, parents and kids have different ideas of what’s fun. Parents may find romantic dinners, dancing and laying in the sun the ultimate escape, while kids would rather enjoy marathon play, water slides, and campouts. So if you’re hard-pressed to find an activity that the entire family can enjoy, consider a family cruise!

There are several cruise lines that cater especially to the family. Each has specialized activities for kids of all ages as well as luxury for the parents. Here are some of the best family cruises out there…

Camp Carnival~
Carnival Cruise Lines will have about 100,000 kids on its cruises this year alone. Considered the leader in family cruising, they have created the Camp Carnival program specifically for children ages 2-15. This year-round, fleet-wide program provides daily fun-filled and age-appropriate activities that include supervised “free play” and babysitting service (for a fee.) But it’s not a daycare… the program is designed so that families can enjoy “family quality time” with one another, and yet also gives the children a choice to play with their peers whenever they wish. Each playroom is stocked with toys, puzzles and games for all ages, and each ship is equipped with an electronic game room filled with the latest video games. The youth counselors on board have either a college education (in a related field,) professional childcare experience, or both. Each one of the youth staff is certified in CPR and basic first aid, and has had a thorough background check. The programs are geared to 4 age groups, as follows: 

Toddlers (age 2-5) - Splash pool, fund family games, late night munchies, cartoon time, Little Tykes toys, Learn your Colors, Can you Count, sponge painting, indoor beach parties, Mousercize, pizza pig out, drawing contests, sing-alongs, bingo, face painting, arts and crafts, cookie decorating.