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For many people that have strong family values cruise vacation is perfect opportunity to have good time with their loved ones. Modern lifestyle often demands long working hours along with hectic daily schedule so it’s naturally when vacation time comes families want to enjoy time together. Recent studies show that number of passengers that taking cruises with their family is growing constantly. Result of this is that millions of children have a cruise every year.
Cruise lines are, of course, well aware of this trends and more important well prepared. Extra efforts are made to offer amenities that are organized to make sure boredom is removed from the ships.
It is important to know that not all cruise lines and/or destinations are children friendly, at least not at same level. Here we can only repeat one major rule mentioned in our earlier articles: Get informed before booking! Let your travel agent knows that you want family cruise. Also provide all information’s that may be required such as: number of children, their age.
There is list of considerations when choosing cruise with kids:
 Research does your desired cruise line offer children program and find out details about that. Find out is there age restrictions, additional fees, availability of cribs, strollers etc. Those informations are available at travel agents or companies web sites. This is very important because there are some cruise lines that are just not suited for youngsters. - It is also important to get informed about specific cruise that you are interested in. Exotic destinations may not be recommended for young children for various reasons but two major cruise areas: Caribbean and Alaska are usually very well covered with youth programs.
- Traditional dinning room diner may be potential problem because most of the kids prefer more relaxing dinning atmosphere. So look for alternative dining options such as open sitting pizza parlors and such.
- Go for bigger ships. Mega vessels definitely have more amenities available that can provide hours of fun for youngsters.
- Consider booking conjoined or separate cabins, especially if you travel with teens. This can definitely provide much more space for relaxation and eliminate stress caused by generation difference. Also cabins for kids may come with discounts.
- Make sure that your kids know cabin numbers and all safety instructions that apply on them. Instruct them how to look for help if they get lost.
- Pay attention on your kids behavior on ship. Make sure that they do not disturb other passengers with they youthful activities. This situation often leads to conflict and we do not want conflicts on vacation, right?
- Consult your pediatrician before booking especially if your child is very young.
 When on ship parents and kids can stay together or often separated enjoy different activities. On modern ships endless variety of children activities and facilities are available. Lines employ highly educated youth counselors whose job is to make sure that little ones have great time in safe hands while parents can relax somewhere else completely worry-free. Often those programs have as well as entertaining also educational character.
When comes to choosing cruise line on brand certainly comes to attention: Disney, of course. Well known brand with long tradition in entertainment industry successfully continues to provide magic to children on ships. Enchanting family vacations are brought to perfection on two elegant ships. Children programs are carefully planed into five age groups that take place on 15,000 square feet area filled with state-of-the-art amenities. Counselors have a minimum of two years experience with children in recreational/leisure/education areas along with certified CPR training provided by Disney. When sign in parents are provided with beepers so they can be imiadetly contacted. Adults amenities are also carefully designed to provide best time. Some programs include activities on Half Moon Cay, the line's private tropical island, that has a playground and other kid-friendly facilities.
Three other contemporary lines Royal Caribbean International, Carnival and Princess cruises are welcoming young passengers on many levels. Those companies are in business much longer than Disney Cruises so on some older vessels you still may find lack of kids facilities, but generally the rule is: The newer and bigger is better!
That can also apply for all other cruise companies not mentioned here.New huge ships are so big that they have everything in big sizes: children pools, aqua parks, waterfalls, video games, playgrounds, kids-only restaurants, innovative entertainment and educational programs... its all there.
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