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About The Family Cruise Companion

Vector cartoon of Family Cruise Companion Elaine M. Warren

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.

Do you dream about traveling the world with your kids, but aren’t quite sure how to pull it off? Do you get discouraged by all of the information overload of where to go, what to see, and how to get there? A family cruise can help you cut through all of that, and this website aims to provide resources and information to help you (with assistance from some valued contributors!).  I want to help parents decide whether a family cruise is a good vacation choice for their family. And, provide information that helps families plan fun cruises free of stress and filled with adventure!

You Can See The World With A Family Cruise

I think that family cruising is the best and most accessible way to travel the world with your kids (and/or grandkids). It is grossly underappreciated!

As a child, my family’s travel experiences were limited; we seldom ventured beyond our state lines and never traveled abroad. It wasn’t until I was 24, when an unexpected opportunity arose, that I got my first passport for a trip to London. This experience ignited a longing for extensive travel, leading me to dream about taking a year or two to explore the world.

Well that multi-year odyssey never happened. But I’ve been able to fulfill those travel aspirations nonetheless.  Through cruising! Seeing different parts of the world one or 2 weeks at a time.

I’ve loved seeing all of the wonders, surprises and new experiences that can be found throughout the world, and I’ve had a fantastic time doing it!   But, the best part so far, is being able to share those experiences with my kids.


Vintage photo of mother, young child, and Dreamworks character Mort on Royal Caribbean ship.
Commemorative photo from Inaugural Season of Allure of the Seas – when Royal Caribbean still had character experiences on board.

A Family Cruise Makes Travel With Kids Easier

Unlike me, both of my children received their first passports before their first birthdays. We have now sailed on dozens of family cruises (30+ & counting).

photo of elephant swinging young boy with its trunk - during family cruise shore excursion
Thailand Shore Excursion to Elephant Park

Although we have sailed on a range of major cruise lines, most of our trips have been on Royal Caribbean, Disney, Celebrity, Princess, and NCL. We have been able to visit much of the globe by cruise ship. 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 very fun, convenient, and efficient way to see lots of the world.

Photo from family cruise ofParent and child returning from snorkeling
Visiting Great Barrier Reef on family cruise vacation

So why do I say cruising is more accessible? Because it is easier.  

Think about how much work goes into planning a 2-week land-based tour of Europe (or anywhere, for that matter).  Picking the cities. Timing. Internal transportation. The logistics of packing and unpacking and hauling your kids over a continent.  

Contrast that with looking at various cruise itineraries and picking one that appeals. And using that as a jumping-off point to see what you want to see. Much of the hard logistic work is covered. And it allows you to maximize your travel time. You focus on the extras and the sweet stuff.

Montevideo, Uruguay

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 pages:

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