Take The Kids On A Cruise? You Bet. Here’s A Few Tips.

By: Peter Shannon

A cruise offers the chance to enter a totally different world and that’s appealing to all ages. So bring the whole family along. Most cruise lines have special children’s rates and provide lot’s of entertainment specifically aimed at youth.

Many cruises have trained personnel whose sole job is to supervise the wide variety of children’s programs. One example is Princess Cruises’ Love Boat Kids program. It includes complete Youth and Teen Centers and a toddler's play area and theatre. The kids can enjoy movies, games, arts & crafts, computers and more.

Teenagers are notoriously difficult to entertain. Being stuck with Mom & Dad for a week is especially hard their mood. Cruise lines such as Disney, Carnival, Princess and others have set up adult-free zones and special “nightclubs” that provide a wide range of activities and a place to hang out with other teens.

Of course, you would expect that a Disney cruise would be geared towards kids. And you are right. They provide a whole array of age-appropriate activities including children under three.

When dining onboard with the family you will normally find that the earlier dinner seating is less formal. There will be more families present so it makes it much easier to get a table with other kids close to your own children’s ages. If you ask, the server may be able to seat your family alone.

Even though many cruises cater to kids, it’s not a good idea to bring small babies. They demand so much attention that you just cannot enjoy the cruise experience.

Children are usually more prone to sea sickness so it’s a good idea to discuss with your doctor what medication to bring.

There are a lot of amenities that are not necessarily obvious like ice, extra blankets, pillows, games, crib or high chair, etc. Just ask your cabin steward what’s available. The crew is more than happy to help you have a pleasant stay.

Stops at ports of call are typically brief. You don’t have to spend your brief visit browsing the same old duty free shops. Do a little research ahead and you can find some interesting local spots for the family to visit such as a museum, zoo or beach.

It’s a good idea to get the kids involved in the activities immediately rather than waiting a day or two. This gets them involved and lets them feel a part of the program. Joining in later they may feel like outsiders and have a more difficult time interacting with the kids who already know the ropes.

Even though the programs are there to be used, don’t forget that this is a family vacation. Be sure to allot plenty of time together. The kids can have a lot of fun with the planned programs but they also need time with Mom & Dad.

Before you book a cruise, be sure to ask a lot of question of your travel agent or the cruise line. Don’t accept vague answers. You want to know exactly what the cruise lines attitude is towards families. Let them know what ages your children are and get specifics on the activities, programs and training of supervisory crew. Choosing the right cruise line and ship can make all the difference in the world.

About the Author:

The author, of this article, Peter Shannon, is the owner of the website http://www.1001-vacation-ideas.com. Here you will find a large collection of vacation and getaway ideas for travelers searchable by theme and location.

Read more articles by: Peter Shannon

Article Source: www.iSnare.com

Family Cruise Vacations - Eight Hidden Costs!

by Terry Timmons

Beware! Cruises are not "all-inclusive"! While family cruise vacations can be the perfect family vacation, most of the cruise lines have policies that, if you are not aware of them, will shatter your vacation budget.

As a general rule, most all of theses policies regard charges or prices for merchandise and services. You need to be conscious of them to keep your family cruise vacations budget from blowing up.

Here are eight that I bring to your attention:

In-Cabin Child Care
You want to go out as a couple and leave your kids in the room? Nearly all of the cruise companies do offer in-cabin babysitting, but generally on a restricted basis and for a charge, usually in the neighborhood around $8 per hour with a two child maximum. Also, there are only a limited amount of babysitters, so it is important that you make reservations for these sitters as soon as possible.

Programs for Kids Under 3
Generally speaking, there are no formal kid's activities for kids under 3 years of age and they generally are prohibited from entering the Kid's Program areas. Much of this has to do with health rules and hygiene, but be aware that you will have to pay for sitters.

Sodas
Almost all of the cruise companies charge for sodas. Most have an "unlimited sodas" card or program available for purchase for those under 18. The cost is generally somewhere around $4.50 to $5.00 per day plus a 15 percent tip. By itself, this alone could blow family cruise vacations budget if you do not know about it.

Children's Activities While the Ship Is In Port
Most of the family cruise vacations companies make you pay for any children's activities services when they are in port. And in many cases, the kids prefer the activities on ship more than what is planned in the ports of call. Yes, the cruise lines know you will get out your wallet to make your kids happy, but it is an added expense that you need to budget for.

Slumber Parties and Afternoon Socials
Many of the cruise lines ask you to pay for afternoon parties and such. For instance, Celebrity charges $6.00 per hour per child for the evening Slumber Party from 10:00 P.M. - 1:00 A.M. daily. The same company charges the same rate for children ages 3-12 years old to participate in their Afternoon Party from 12:00 P.M. - 2:00 P.M. on days in port.

Excursion Tours and Trips
For the parents and adults on board, it is important to know that excursion trips generally have large extra fees to pay if you want to participate. Understand also that most of these tours or trips are very good and worth the price. But use this rule for your family cruise vacations budget: If you get off the ship, be prepared to pay. In some cases, there is a possibility that you could save money if you plan your own tour through a travel agent or a third party tour company while in a port rather than the ones the cruise companies have arranged.

Port Fees and Additional Fees
Also, when booking family cruise vacations, make sure that the total that you are quoted includes all port fees and any additional taxes or fees. Many of these could run as much as the cost of the cruise itself.

Tips
Be prepared to add a 15% tip to just about everything that you eat, drink, or do. Remember that many employees of the cruise lines work for tips, so reward good service with god tips. And budget for that, too.

While these nine items are not terrible, good vacationers need to be aware of these costs associated with a cruise so that they can be managed.

The bottom line is this: If you know about the costs ahead of time, you can budget for them early. You want the memories of your trip to last a lifetime, not the bills paying for it.

For more information on family cruise vacations including specific family cruise line information visit http://www.perfect-family-vacation.com/familycruisevacations.html

About the Author

Terry Timmons is a family man and an avid leisure traveler. Visit http://www.perfect-family-vacation.com/ for his tips on creating lifelong vacation memories for your family.

Snorkeling And Diving In Curacao

by Justin Burch

Home to over 80 miles of pristine coral reef, myriad tropical fish, sponges, sea turtles, seahorses, eels and dolphins, the waters surrounding Curacao beg to be enjoyed and photographed. Besides boasting the clearest water in the Caribbean, with average visibility between 80-140 feet, year-round water temperatures of 78-83°F allow the ocean to be enjoyed regardless of season. Whether you want to snorkel or scuba dive, there are plenty of experienced dive operators providing daily boat trips and tours to all the best locations. From quiet coves with shallow reefs perfect for snorkelers and beginning divers, to coral walls with strong currents for experienced drift divers, there are sites in Curacao for everyone. In addition to being recognized as the best snorkeling and scuba diving location in the Caribbean, Curacao was also named the "3rd Best Destination in the World" by Scuba Diving Magazine. With over 80 unique dive and snorkel sites to be explored, this article will merely scratch the surface of what Curacao has to offer.

Porto Marie is a wonderful site for all levels of divers and snorkelers with a quiet, scenic beach to relax before and after your dive. Currents and swells here are light and the visibility averages 80 feet. Porto Marie offers a unique double reef dive, with a 100-foot wide, 50-foot deep sandy valley separating the inner and outer reefs.

Klein Curacao is a tiny, idyllic island southeast of Curacao. Day trips are available from a number of dive shops and charter companies. The island offers a serene day away from civilization with a long stretch of powdery sand, shallow snorkeling areas, an old scenic lighthouse and the wreck of the Maria Bianca Guidesman tanker resting against the rocks. Additionally, visibility is usually over 100 feet, allowing divers the opportunity to observe sea turtles and dolphins.

The Superior Producer is a fantastic wreck dive located near the Mega Pier where cruise ship passengers disembark for daytrips into Willemstad, the island's capital. The currents are strong here, so the site is limited to experienced divers. Roughly 200 feet long, you'll find this wreck sitting upright on a sand plateau between two reefs in about 100 feet of water. After 27 years beneath the surface, the ship is completely encrusted with tube sponges, cup coral and patches of black coral, producing a colorful garden complete with snails, rays, eels and darting fish. Also, the bridge has recently been opened up and is safe to swim through.

The incredibly popular Tugboat is a wreck that can be enjoyed by snorkelers and divers alike. Sitting upright in just 20 feet of water, the 30-foot vessel is accessible from shore or by boat. After three decades beneath the sea, it is fully encrusted with elaborate formations of brain coral, star coral, sponges and Christmas tree worms. The area is also teeming with such photogenic fish as sergeant majors and parrotfish.

Watamula lies off the coast of a national park at the northwestern corner of the island. The reef starts at 30 feet and runs down to a sandy shelf at 100 feet. Sea turtles favor this area, with a huge resident logger head, the barnacle-encrusted "Crush," regularly spotted resting between 30 and 60 feet.

The Mushroom Forest, regularly cited as one the Caribbean's premier dives, is also located on the sparsely populated northwest side of Curacao. The Forest starts close to shoreline cliffs in 40 feet of water and runs several hundred yards out into the sea, reaching a depth of 60 feet. The site earns its name from the giant mushroom-shaped coral formations sprouting from the seafloor. Formed over many decades as the bottoms of Great Star and Plate Corals were undermined by fish, sponges and clams, some have grown to over ten feet in diameter.

Oswaldo's Drop Off, another of Curacao's celebrated sites, is suitable for all levels of divers with great snorkeling on a shallow terrace. The drop off is only 100 yards from shore with the reef wall starting in 30 feet of water, gradually plunging to a depth of 130 feet. The remains of the Car Pile, an artificial reef created in the 1960s, also rests in this area.

Playa Kalki, also known as Alice in Wonderland, is a fantastic site located on the west side of the island. Sheltered from the wind with minimal surf, this is a great place to rent a diveyak, an inflatable kayak that can hold all your gear.

Playa Jeremi offers a quiet sandy beach with an easy dive entry. The sheltered bay is ideal for beginning divers and snorkelers, with plenty of coral at depths of 3-20 feet. For experienced divers, the outer reef offers a fantastic variety of unspoiled corals and abundant fish populations.

About the Author
This article was written by Justin Burch. Justin writes select pieces about travel in the Caribbean for the Curaçao Marriott Beach Resort & Emerald Casino. - http://marriott.com/property/propertypage/CURMC