About (2025)

Welcome!

Do you dream of traveling the world with your kids, but aren’t sure where to start? Do you feel overwhelmed by all the choices: where to go, what to see, and how to plan it all? A family cruise makes it easy to cut through the confusion.

After more than 45 cruises, sailing with babies, toddlers, school-age kids, grandparents, and even enjoying adults-only getaways, I’ve navigated nearly every scenario. Now, I want to share my firsthand experience with you. Here you’ll find clear, practical guidance to help you plan adventurous, memorable vacations that your family will love, stress-free every time.

Hi! My name is Elaine, and I am the creator of this website and the author of The Family Cruise Companion’s Guide to Cruising With Kids.

This site is here to cut through the noise and help real families plan cruises without getting lost in endless options or fluffy advice. I share what I’ve learned from dozens of itineraries and countless trial-and-error moments so that you don’t have to start from scratch.
You’ll find practical tips, honest insights, and real-world experience here. Whether you’re just considering your first cruise or you’re planning your fifth with kids in tow, my goal is to help make it easier, less stressful, and more enjoyable.

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From Skeptic to Superfan: How My Cruise Journey Began

My first cruise involved a hijacking–figuratively speaking. My 20-something self had wanted to go to a spa resort, but had been ruthlessly outvoted by my girlfriends. What little I thought I knew about cruising did not inspire confidence that anything resembling fun would be had.

I pictured dark, tiny rooms, long days confined on a boat, bland buffets, awkward shows featuring washed-out lounge singers, and an overall experience that felt overly uniform and uninspired.

I quickly discovered that I had been totally clueless. At the end of 7 days, I gleefully admitted that it had been one of the best vacations I had experienced. Some of what hooked me:

Unpacking once and waking up every day in a new place.
Visiting multiple countries in one trip, without the burden of navigating the logistics in between—no trains, buses, or commuter flights.
The wide range of entertainment and recreation options all within walking distance: casino action, Broadway-style shows, dancing, comedy club, and even outdoor movie options.
The panorama of dining options with menus and venues that could change every night.

Fast-forward 45+ cruises, two kids, and years of balancing parenting, career, and everyday chaos later, and I’m still hooked. Possibly, for the same reasons your family might be. Cruising offers something that can appeal to all of the personalities in your group:

Thrill-seekers? Zip-lines, surf simulators, and competitive laser tag have you covered.
Sun-soakers? Poolside loungers, endless soft-serve, and zero cooking duties.
DIY explorers? Treat the ship as a floating hotel and craft your own port adventures.
Parents craving me-time? Built-in kids’ clubs (often free) buy you a date night.

Cruising lets you unpack once, sample multiple destinations, and stretch every vacation dollar—all while someone else handles dinner. If that sounds like the break you need, download my free Family Cruise Prep & Pack Checklist and start planning a voyage your whole crew will rave about.

A Toddler’s Take on Cruising

When my oldest was two, we booked a cruise to Alaska—partly because of an unbelievable sale (the kind that, sadly, hasn’t happened again). I got plenty of side-eye about taking a toddler to Alaska, but it turned out to be an incredible trip. He was mesmerized by endless acres of spruce trees (“Santa’s Forest,” as he called it), soaring bald eagles, and playful Alaska Malamute puppies we’d randomly meet. On our final night, when I told him we had to leave the ship, his loud, tearful “Why?!” made half the dining room turn around.

Fifteen years later, he doesn’t remember glaciers or whales—but he loves hearing about Baby-Him, who never wanted the cruise to end. (The best family trips aren’t measured in souvenirs, but in the stories they leave behind.)

Thailand Shore Excursion to Elephant Park
Visiting Great Barrier Reef on family cruise vacation
Montevideo, Uruguay

Real Experience, Real Results: 45 Cruises and Counting

Over the years, I’ve sailed on 45 cruises (mostly) with my children, exploring the world one voyage at a time. Most of our trips have been on Royal Caribbean, Disney, Celebrity, Princess, MSC, and NCL.

Our cruise adventures have taken us to nearly every corner of the globe, with itineraries that included:

Europe (Spain, France, Italy, Montenegro, Croatia, Greece ),
Caribbean (including Cuba, Jamaica, Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, Virgin Islands, the Bahamas, Cozumel, St. Martin/St. Maarten, Grenada, Barbados, St. Lucia, Antigua, and Puerto Rico),
South and Central America (Panama, Venezuela, Costa Rica, Argentina, Uruguay, Chile ),
Asia (China, Hong Kong, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, India ),
Australia, New Zealand, the islands of the South Pacific (including Fiji, Vanuatu, and New Caledonia), and
the Middle East (Oman and the UAE).

For us, cruising has been a fun, convenient, and efficient way to see a lot of the world.

Cruising has allowed me to turn my travel aspirations into reality—without the stress, overwhelm, or sky-high price tags that often come with family travel. Every ship, itinerary, and port has added a new chapter to our story—and I want to use all of that firsthand experience to help other families plan their own.

I hope that this forum and the information it provides can help your family enjoy exploring the world of cruise vacations as well. If you’re looking for a place to dive in, try one of these posts: