Great Kid-Friendly Cruise Itineraries

When planning a family vacation, parents come back to a cruise vacation idea again and again.  That's because cruises continue to be one of the all-time best values for families - and they provide a low-stress way to unpack once but travel to several different ports of call.

Cruise lines are generally family friendly, and offer amenities that earn the respect of children everywhere - but not all cruises are created equal.  From rock-climbing walls to cupcake bakeries to off-boat adventures, here are some of the best itineraries for cruising with kids.

1. Alaska's Inside Passage

What Kids Love: Your reluctant students may complain about school from time to time, but the fact remains that kids are inquisitive; they enjoy learning from someone who's passionate about the topic.  Most cruise lines sailing Alaska hire naturalists to give lectures and lead hikes on land and skiff exploration on the water.  Special kid-focused itineraries customize the experience for the younger set.  Kids come away from their Alaska adventure having seen whales, sea lions, walrus, seals, otters, eagles and other native birds, bears, ans so much more.

What Parents Appreciate: Alaska is ideal for the first-time cruisers.  Ships travel along the calm, narrow waters of the Inside Passage and visit places like Juneau, Wrangell, Ketchikan, Tongass National Forest, Tracy  Arm, Glacier Bay, and Endicott Arm.  You would be hard-pressed to get seasick on one of these voyages.

2. Costa Rica

What Kids Love: Costa Rica offers a plethora of activities that kids love, from swimming and snorkeling (while parents relax on the shores of gorgeous palm-fringed beaches) to exploring the rain forest, to getting close to a real volcano (Masaya).  Sailing from port to port also offers amazing whale-watching opportunities, and its not uncommon for kids to see humpback whales breach.

What Parents Appreciate: Costa Rica is ideal for families that want a mix of active adventures(think ziplining or swimming with sea turtles) as well as more sedate activities (like onboard spa treatments and a restful day at sea).

3. Hawaii

What Kids Love: Hawaii enchants kids with its active volcanos, white sandy beaches mixed with gold and black grains, exotic luau-style foods like kaua pig (cooked in an underground pit) and haupia (coconut pudding).  Kids who love animals will be on the lookout for the endangered monk seals as well as dolphins and a variety of whales.

What Parents Appreciate: Hawaii is an incredibly romantic place to visit - even when you're got kids in tow. Topical drinks, walks on the beach, and sunset sails will be the highlights of this Hawaiian Islands sampler.

The cruise line of choice in Hawaii is Norwegian Cruise Line.  The 2138-passenger Pride of America offers 7-night roundtrip voyages  out of Honolulu (Oahu) with call on Kahului in Maui, Kauai, and both Kona and Hilo on the Big Island.  Norwegian recently invested $30 million to renovate and refresh Pride of America, so now's a good time to plan a trip to America's paradise.

4. The Ship As The Destination: Disney Cruise Line

What Kids Love: You can't exclude Disney Cruise Line when talking kid-approved cruises.  The important thing to know about DCL is that your child will enjoy any voyage.  The ports of call will be secondary, in their opinion.  What they will love are the encounters with Mickey, Minnie, and all the characters; fun onboard activities like the Sail-Away Celebration on embarkation day and Pirate Night; and amazing pools and "water coasters" (on Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy).

What Parents Appreciate: Parents are fond of Disney's supervised kids clubs so they can be sure their kids will enjoy their time spent meeting new friends in a safe environment.  Mom and Dad can make appointments at the spa, dine out at the adults-only Palo restaurant, or enjoy the nightclub while the kids play at the youth club.

Traveling with Family in Japan

The adventure of foreign travel becomes even more adventurous when travelling with children.  Between the logistics, safety concerns an simple energy output, it's important to choose destinations that make your trip as safe and easy as possible.  If you leave the English-speaking world, Japan can be one of the best destinations for family travel.  The cultural differences will broaden your kids' horizons, and the country is among the safest in the world.  You can make the most out of your family trip by keeping in mind a few simple tips.


Japan is crime free

So much so that subway graffiti is literally front-page news.  It's also a cash economy, with few ATM machines compared to the US, and fewer vendors who accept credit cards.  You can safely carry cash, and relax your vigilance for for abduction and other predators.


Japan is less safety-conscious

You'll find fewer guard rails, traffic signs and other objects designed to prevent accidental injury than you are accustomed to seeing in North America and Europe.  Use the extra mental energy you have from not watching your wallet to keep a closer eye on your kids when you're near potential hazards.

Navigating in Japan is a challenge

Signs are in kanji - Japanese writing.  Not all street have names, and building numbers are in chronological rather than geographic order.  Plan your routes ahead of time and always carry a map.  It also helps to make a quick sketch of of the key kanji you'll need for your trip - such as city and station names.


Observe a hands-on policy in crowds

Especially on public transportation, it can be easy to lose track of your family in infamous crowds of Tokyo and other Japanese cities.  Keep a hand on each other as you move, especially in situations where you could become separated.


Be ready to talk about sex

Sexual media is commonplace in Japan - in the daily papers, in comic books, in vending machines and on posters.  Most towns have at least one fertility shrine in the form of a giant statue of the male or female sexual organ.  This doesn't have to ruin a trip to the Land of the Rising Sun, but you should prepare to have a conversation about all these images.

Eat a variety

McDonald's and KFC have a strong presence in Japan enough that you might be tempted to buy your kids off with American fast food for your meals.  This would be a mistake.  Instead, try the local food stalls, sushi shops and yakitori restaurants.  Japanese food is some of the most diverse cuisine in the world.  Even if your family doesn't love it, you'll have a story to tell when you get home.


Carry your phrasebook

Most Japanese took a few years of English during school, but few speak the language well enough to really communicate.  You can read phrases from your pocket dictionary, or great phone apps; or use the time-honored trick of pointing to the phrase and letting the helpful locals read for themselves.

A trip to Japan will be a great adventure for your family, and a memory you all can cherish well into their adult years.