Why Family Cruises Are a Shipload of Fun

If someone had asked my 28-year-old self if I’d ever take a cruise, I would have laughed and told them no way, that cruising is merely for the elderly and the unfit. Fast-forward a few years—OK, maybe 13—and I’m now a cruising fool!

My husband and I decided to embark on our first family cruise four years ago, when our children were 3-and-a-half and 2. The kids had already accompanied us on many airplane rides and road trips. They were familiar with airports, shuttle buses and rental cars. They were basically pros at the whole travel thing. Then friends and neighbors started talking about how family-friendly cruises were, and we became curious.

We started researching. We began with Disney Cruises because, well, Disney is the most magical place on earth, right? And I had to admit, the promotions made the ship look pretty damn majestic: Mickey, Minnie, Donald and all those gorgeous princesses would set sail with us. We’d have nonstop access to Disney shows, character-themed restaurants, and food shaped like the Little Mermaid. My kids would freakin’ love this trip! … //READ MORE