How to Enjoy a Caribbean Cruise With Children

A family vacation doesn't have to be about lines at the amusement park. Take your family to see the islands of the Caribbean and enjoy your time together. From the 2-year-old to the 82-year-old, a Caribbean cruise offers something for everyone. Follow these steps to enjoy your time at sea.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Enjoying the Cruise

1. Grab activity sheets and maps of the ship when you arrive. You'll need them until you get acclimated.
2. Don't worry about your picky eaters. Most major cruise lines always have a wide variety of food out for the taking. From pizza to sushi, even the pickiest of eaters will find something they like.
3. Leave the little ones in the ship's daycare when the grownups need some adult time. The kids may have so much fun they'll ask to go there again.
4. Swim with docile, almost tame stingrays. It is truly an amazing experience. Feed, hold and kiss them for luck.

Planning

5. Get a valid passport for everyone, including the children. When you travel to the Caribbean from the United States, you must have a valid passport for every member of your family.
6. Leave room in your luggage for the goodies you will bring back from your trip. The cruise lines have wonderful clothing shops, and Caribbean island shopping will leave you awestruck.
7. Board the ship as early as possible so you can get to know your new home for a week. Get there early because the lines to board can be very long.
8. Pick your excursions wisely. Excursions in the Caribbean vary from lying on the beach to hiking up waterfalls, and you can reserve these trips at any time. Decide what the right activity is for your family. Ask about the pros and cons from other passengers on board who have been to those islands before.

Tips & Warnings

• With so much going on all the time, you may want to plan every minute. But on your way to your next activity with your children, take time to cherish the memories that you just made.
• See your doctor and pediatrician for motion sickness remedies that are best for you and your family. Motion sickness is rare, but you don't want it to spoil a wonderful time.