Family Cruising Enjoys Wave Of Popularity by Julia Ryan (NAPSA)—Family cruising is enjoying a wave of popularity. There’s good reason. Cruise lines now feature a cornucopia of family Y = fun, including sports, art activi- ties, planetarium shows, disco parties, pizza fests, ice skating, youth Olympics, rock climbing, scavenger hunts, wildlife exploration and much more. Family travel is on an upsurge, according to the Travel Industry Association, with one in four house_. hold trips—or more j than 170.1 million— mes including children Julia Ryan under18. The experts at Travelers Advantage offer these tips and trips for the ultimate family cruise: Family Cruise Tips: Be sure the kids’ programs are operating on the dates of yourtrip. eCheck the size and location of the cabin, and the guardrails on the bunks. eSome ships have cabins that can sleep five; some have adjoining cabins; some give special rates for a second cabin for teens. eCheck required documentation for your children (ID, etc.). eYou never know whenillness might hit your household and change your plans, so check cancellation fees and fees for changing dates. Trip-cancellation insurance may be worth theprice. Family Cruise Trips: Royal Caribbean International There are a number of fun and educational complimentary programs including Adventure Ocean, a program for ages 8 to 12 and teens from 13 to 17 with spe- Yy a . CN — SI V4 (a iS Ap See) Sy e|[ “4 a {| t , & iP? ey, fhOO Y 2) €ia\ [X J (aD CRUISE SHIPS ARE AWASH with fun for kids including sports, art, planetarium shows, rock climb- ing and disco parties. cial meals and play areas. The program has supervised activities for day and night. It includes educational entertainment programs and special menus. Carnival Cruise Lines Carnival will host 525,000 kids this year on its These vessels offer performances by ship tours for kids “Fun Ships.” parties, special entertainers, and teen shore excursions, face painting, scav- enger hunts, talent shows, photography workshops, art classes and waterslides. e Disney Cruise Line As you'd expect, families will find special facilities and activities with Disney Cruise Line,all beautifully executed. There’s an entire deck for kids, with a large staff, age-specific programs, and hands-on activities. Other family-friendly cruise lines include Celebrity Cruises, Holland America Line and Norwegian Cruise Line. e Ms. Ryan is vice president of Travelers Advantage. Learn more at www.travelersadvantage.com or (877) 841-1335.
