Cruises: Family Cruise Vacations – Sunshine, Surfing, Ice Skating, Aqua Parks at Sea. With extraordinary facilities, innovative programs, fabulous entertainment and great vacation deals CLIA cruise lines give parents and children much more than can be imagined. Possibilities include: surfing on the ocean, ice skating in the tropics, aqua parks at sea, ziplining through the rainforest, living history lessons in legendary destinations, PlayStations, Wii games and iPod Nanos. Families are discovering that a family cruise vacation can be an awesome experience.

Onboard surfing pools, ice skating rinks, rock climbing walls, outdoor movies and even bowling alleys are some of the amazing features found on today’s cruises. There is top-quality family entertainment, learning programs geared for almost every age traveler, babysitting and supervised children’s activities from dawn through the evening, and flexible dining, with special menus and in some cases special dining rooms for kids.

These are some of the reasons that members of Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) report that families are one of the fastest growing market segments. One line carries over a half-million kids a year and another has just announced the creation of a Teen Advisory Board to help it create additional innovative children’s programs.

The facilities and programs offered to families on today’s cruise ships are truly amazing. For starters, staying connected has become essential ship technology; many CLIA member ships are equipped to handle Internet, cell phones, video games – in one case a 300-square foot PlayStation screen – and all the latest technology. For older children there are such attractions as Grand Prix simulators featuring some of the world’s most challenging car racing circuits, basketball courts, arcades and golf course simulators. Among the recreational options onshore in port or on a cruise line’s private island are water skiing, banana boats, tubing, wave running, snorkeling, and Sunfish® sailing.

Onboard enrichment programs for children and families range from arts and crafts to a unique marine environment program created by the famed Jean-Michel Cousteau. There are supervised nurseries for the youngest travelers, science labs, age-specific dedicated children’s and teen clubs and, in some cases, “children-only” recreation areas or decks. There are onboard “camps” where children learn to be disc jockeys or Broadway stars or celebrity chefs. And, depending on the itinerary, shore excursions may include special family-oriented sightseeing or recreational activities, visiting historical sites and other options of interest to young travelers ranging from zip-lining in the canopy of tropical rainforests to kayaking in Alaska and elsewhere. But, while these may be reasons enough for choosing a cruise vacation, there are many others that explain the appeal for travelers of all ages, especially when traveling as a family.

CLIA member lines offer cruises ranging in length from three days to several weeks. They sail to all parts of the world with ships large and small. They cross oceans and navigate some of the great rivers of Europe and North America. And, they are great educational and bonding experiences for families. The shipboard experience offers a self-contained, safe and healthy environment in which every member of a family may pursue his or her own interests. While parents are luxuriating at the adults-only pool area or taking cooking or foreign language classes, the kids can be in camp, surfing, hanging out with new friends at the soda bar, watching movies, playing video games or all of the above.

Age specific children’s programs cater to children of all ages – from toddlers to teens. Trained youth counselors keep the kids active and entertained while under a watchful eye. The children interact and make new friends, giving Mom and Dad a chance to relax. Cruise ships offer family-friendly accommodations, in the same stateroom or adjoining rooms, even duplex suites.

Cruises offer inclusive pricing. For the price of the vacation, families are sure to have accommodations, meals and snacks, entertainment, a wealth of onboard activities and use of facilities, and attentive service. Many cruise lines also offer special family pricing. Some cruise lines offer special packages for family groups and one of the hottest trends in cruising today is the growth of multi-generational families cruising together in celebration of family reunions, wedding anniversaries and other special occasions. On a cruise there is no need to worry about travel arrangements, airport hassles, checking hotel reservations; the family arrives at the ship, packs and unpacks only once, the rest of the vacation is total relaxation.

Factored together, all these appealing reasons for families to cruise add up to one most important consideration: value. In industry market research, 96 percent of cruisers report that their vacation offered as good or better value than an alternative vacation. That is a hard act for any other kind of vacation to follow, which explains why 75 percent of cruisers decide to cruise again within three years. While all CLIA cruise members welcome young travelers, the scope of family-related facilities, services and special programs, of course, varies with cruise lines and cruise ships. This is why it is always best to consult with a CLIA travel agent.

About CLIA. The nonprofit Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) is North America’s largest cruise industry organization. CLIA represents the interests of 24 member lines and participates in the regulatory and policy development process while supporting measures that foster a safe, secure and healthy cruise ship environment. CLIA is also engaged in travel agent training, research and marketing communications to promote the value and desirability of cruise vacations and counts as members more than 16,000 travel agencies. For more information on CLIA, the cruise industry, and CLIA-member cruise lines and travel agencies, visit www.cruising.org

Content and images provided by CLIA.org. Top photo taken on a Carnival Cruise and lower photo taken on Norwegian Cruise Line. Copyright 2009.