Kids are everywhere -- on cruise ships anyway -- whether you are in the Caribbean, Europe, Alaska or far flung destinations like the Galapagos Islands and even the Arctic.

Cruise Lines International Association reports that some 1.5 million kids now are cruising every year -- more than 1,000 on some sailings. And cruise lines have never done more for them, from featuring hip teen and tween hang-outs with the latest music and video games, to centers for the littlest cruisers (that are better equipped than many preschools) and even nurseries at sea.

The key is choosing the right ship for your family. And -- in the wake of the tragic events off the coast of Italy last weekend -- the safest ship.  Be sure to inquire about their safety protocols and ALWAYS make your own family plans on how and where to meet up on-board in case of an emergency. 

If you plan correctly, cruising can be relatively stress-free. Parents love cruising because they get a lot of bang for their vacation buck-activities, meals and lodging all for one price, including supervised morning-till-night programming for kids, at considerably less than many resorts charge.  

Grandparents are fans because cruises can prove an easy way to get the whole gang on vacation, especially in Alaska and Europe.  

Kids-especially tweens and teens- give ships a thumbs-up because they love the freedom they can have onboard and the chance to make new friends. Kids and parents alike love the major lines' private Caribbean islands, too.

Kids with special needs and severe allergies routinely are accommodated in organized programming.

Another plus: there have never been more ports, from New York to California, eliminating the need for many families to fly. And you can cruise for just a few days or more than a week, checking out beaches or historic sites. Visit the Cruise Lines International Association website for a list of ports. Find online cruise guides complete with deals and specials.

And if you don't want to go on a large ship charter your own boat with a crew or without as we have done several times in Tahiti or the Caribbean.

Here are some great options to consider:

ADVENTURESMITH EXPLORATIONS partners with small capacity, specialty-oriented ships around the world including domestic North American regions as Alaska, British Columbia and Oregon & Washington's Columbia River and far flung locales as Alaska, Baja, Costa Rica, Belize, Ecuador and the Galapagos, Peru, the Arctic, Antarctica and Australia. They can steer you to special family sailings and deals

CARNIVAL carries 670,000 children a year, the most in the industry and six times the number of kids they carried just a dozen years ago. Camp Carnival starts at age two and continues for kids through teen years.

DISNEY CRUISE LINE has raised the bar for creative kids' programming and shore excursions, and a ship design that enables every member of the family-from infants (there is a stand-out nursery to seniors) to have a real vacation-complete with fireworks at sea. Dine and Play" means kids are served dinner in an expedited fashion with youth activities arriving 45 minutes into dinner to escort them to organized activities so parents can linger. Special shore excursions are designed so parents get a break part of the time. Disney offers nursery care starting at 3 months.

Holland America, now carries so many multi generational groups that they have designed a special Family Reunion Program with reduced group rates (if you book eight cabins), free Fountain Soda Cards for everyone, a family photo per cabin and more. The junior foodies in your gang will love the kids and teen Culinary Arts Center with cooking lessons..

MSC Cruises offer innovative itineraries and Kids 17 and under Sail Free on MSC Cruises (always off the early booking rates) when traveling as the third and/or four guests in a stateroom with two adults and get discounts on shore excursions as well.

NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE enables you to cruise with your kids from New York, Boston, Tampa, New Orleans or Venice Each ship has its own children's themed wet and wild fun areas. The line is famous for "free style" cruising which means you eat when and where you want-just be sure to make reservations for the specialty restaurants (20 on the megaship Epic) and be prepared to pay extra to sample them.   

PRINCESS There is music and even yoga for kids and teens along with the regular activities. Families love the private island and family-friendly shore excursions. Be forewarned that on the line's smaller vessels (Pacific Princess, Ocean Princess ) don't have dedicated youth spaces but children's programs operate when 20 or more children ages 3 to 17 are on board.

ROYAL CARIBBEAN Think family vacation - on steroids. Think every kind of food t and entertainment you could want aboard the world's biggest-at least for the moment-ships Oasis and Allure of the Seas. There is even a youth spa. No worries about keeping track of the tweens and teens either as they roam the ship thanks to a sleek new Royal Connect device that looks like a sleek phone that you can rent for roughly $18 a week which allows the kids to call you from a house phone anywhere on the ship (or their own device). Aboard select ships, the Royal Babies and Tots Nursery for toddlers 6-36 months old offer parents a childcare drop-off options in the daytime and evening.. Free-time play also will be offered daily, with a variety of Fisher Price developmental toys in specially-designed programs offered exclusively which parents can also borrow for their cabins.

UNIWORLD RIVER CRUISES (with just 134 people aboard is a different kind of experience for families seeking five-star luxury and the chance to explore new places without the hassle of moving from place to place Tour old-world German villages practicing the German you've learned on board. Visit a Chocolate Factory or Europe's biggest theme park; take a special children's walking tour.  

PS:  Be sure to enter the latest DREAM BIG vacation contest -- a family trip to fun, warm, friendly ARUBA.  Details here. 

       

More deals from TravelScream.com:  

Hawaii Cruise: 13 Days w/Free Grats on Celebrity - $894 Cruise.com 

Caribbean: 63% Off 7-Night Celebrity Cruise - $529 Vacations To Go 

Cancun: All-Inclusive, 4-Diamond Boutique Luxury w/Upgrade - $190 pp/nt The Beloved Hotel 

Bahamas: 71% Off 3 Nights on Norwegian - $189 Vacations to Go