Taking Your Kids On Your First Cruise

By Claudia Chestelson

Call us biased but we think that planning a cruise with the kids is one of the best family unifying, soul enrichment,


bonding and new discovery relationship building for all of you out there! Here's why. On a Cruise you've got a safe, confined, yet vast environment with everything well planned and SPECIFICALLY designed just for you and your children! It can't get much better than that!

Each of your family members have age appropriate endless choices. It was not at all this way a few years ago. Planning a travel across North America with your children was almost unheard of. There were the endless challenges of who was going to care for your children while you were gone plus could you possibly even have a "good time" worrying about the loves of your lives back home? Those courageous parents who did take their children had plenty of challenges undertaking this huge task not to mention the discriminating comments and gazes of fellow travelers. All that has changed 180%. Many major Cruise Lines realized that they were missing a grand productive concept and that was to listen to and make the customer happy. Now your dilemma becomes almost too many incredible choices.

There are SO MANY fun activities for any age child that one could end up not seeing their kids all day! Therefore when deciding on each of your itineraries it could be important to plan travel significant time all together say for instance in a game room or in the pool area for some lovely quality time each day of your cruise.

So let's just examine what we are talking about when we say "endless choices"... Disney is the mother of all fantazmagorical (our word) packages for combo adult and children Cruises. First know that Disney has wisely designated adult-only areas and children-only areas plus plenty of all-family areas to enjoy all together.

If you have little ones ages, 3-4, children can train to be Mouseketeers, practicing their marching, and watch a video clip of the 50's Mouseketeer show opening. And of course, Mickey Mouse himself will come to see how they are doing and lead them in a Mouseketeer march! Children ages, 5-7 can hang out with a colorful Pirate who fills little heads with mesmerizing stories of adventurous buccaneer tales with historical emphasis and if they are lucky, Captain Hook will make a surprise visit and have a chat with his old friend the Pirate!

These age-specific programs are created by Disney's Oceaneer America Club with the added luxury of giving all parents pagers so that everybody will be in touch at all times! If you got teens...they will meet tons of friends at a New York-style coffee house complete with music, games and a huge TV screen. There's even an Internet Cafe primarily for teens 13-17 they will feel they are definitely with their peers speaking their same language! In addition for teens there is a sports equipment area called, "The Glow Jam" with games, and music to listen to. Teens can also experience Karaoke at it's best practicing to become future rock stars and showcasing their talents. All children will get to have photo opportunities with the famous Disney characters roaming around inspiring giggles and so much fun.

You have a little more to think about when bringing an infant. But this can be accomplished very successfully. Disney allows infants, as young as 12 weeks with baby sitting services provided in their nursery. Here are things regarding your baby to think about and discuss with your Travel Cruise Director..getting a crib confirmed... in advance! Discuss also crib bedding, bathing facilities, medical staff, any special needs?...and of course, baby sitters. Some Cruise Lines across North America do not want infants at all and each have their own age limit and their own set of services and policies.

When Cruising with small children visiting a port successfully might be better if you book yourselves into a shore resort where bathroom and eating facilities are conveniently available. From that home base you can take short tours, walks and feel less stressed about food and perhaps a spur of the moment basic some-thing-or-other that you left back on the Ship.

Carnival and Disney seem to be the stars of the kid fantastic fun and care programs, however that is changing as we speak. Norwegian, Celebrity, Holland and Royal Caribbean are also big winners in making the whole family extremely happy and the thing to know (we think of Las Vegas when we say this) the competition keeps driving already spectacular Cruises for children and adults to even greater heights. Each year tops the one before! So don't dream of leaving the kids behind. There's no reason to anymore!

Claudia Chestelson is a "Renaissance Woman" covering the gamut of challenging careers of actress, model, builder- re-modeler, B&B owner in the world famous Napa Valley, Weight-Loss Consultant for Women, and current Netpreneur and Advocate of leisure and vacation..Claudia loves navigating people to the right Cruise including the best Cruise insight and advice at http://www.ourfirstcruise.com (if you are taking your very first Cruise Vacation go to Claudia's web site. Save yourself from all the stressful details.)

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