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Choosing a family-friendly cruise

By Emily Kaufman, The Travel Mom

With spring break upon us -- and summer on the horizon -- many parents are beginning to plan family vacations.

As Travel Mom, I have the enviable-yet-daunting task of visiting places all over the world in search of the ultimate family destinations. And I must admit that even with all the outstanding places out there, cruising is one of my favorite ways to travel as a family.

The following cruises are some of my personal favorites. Each one has something unique about it and all of them are family friendly:

The Disney Difference: Disney Magic, Disney Wonder

Disney cruises are especially well suited for families traveling with young children.

From the moment you board the ship, you can feel the magic of the Disney product. It is just enough for the kids to be completely at ease, without being overpowering to parents.

There is truly something for every family member to enjoy on board these ships; spa treatments for Mom, ESPN sports bar for dad, and the most comprehensive, age-specific programming at sea for kids.

The unique dining concept has passengers rotating along with their wait staff to different dining rooms every night. There is even an adults-only restaurant called Palo that rivals any big-city eatery.

Disney Cruise Lines offer three-, four- and seven-night sailings.

The Wow Factor: Royal Caribbean's Voyager Class of Ships

Wow, there's an ice skating rink on these ships! Wow, there's a rock-climbing wall towering 160-feet above the sea! Wow, there's a shopping promenade the size of two football fields!

For families traveling with teens, this is the best choice. For grown-ups that like a little indoor action, there is a casino on board as well. These ships are huge, but somehow manage to feel intimate and not crowded.

The Explorer, Adventure, Voyager and the new Navigator sail the Caribbean year round on seven-night voyages. Adventure Ocean has structured activities for kids that last well into the night.

Dining choices range from the elegant formal dining room to burgers at Johnny Rockets.

Freestyle cruising: Norwegian Cruise Lines

Often times when families travel, flexibility is the key to a successful vacation. NCL offers so many choices that it's a terrific option for people who don't like a schedule.

You decide where to dine, what time to dine, who to dine with and how formal or casual you want to be.

The new Norwegian Dawn boasts "family garden villas" that can accommodate large groups and pamper you at sea. This ship visits port throughout the Caribbean year round.

The Norwegian Star sails for seven nights through the Hawaiian Islands and features an authentic flavor with hula, aunties telling stories and lei making.

Service, service, service: Celebrity Cruises

If your family enjoys simple elegance than Celebrity Cruises are probably right for you.

These ships boast a high staff-to-passenger ratio, complete with spa services, tableside cooking and a children's program.

My personal favorite Celebrity sailings are to Alaska because they truly offer plenty of activities for family members of every age. The ships are big but not overpowering and elegantly appointed.

From the moment you board a Celebrity Ship, the ambience is upscale and all about service.

Cruising is one of the best ways for a family to travel together. You unpack just once and get to visit different ports every day. There are activities for every family member with just about any interest. Cruising also offers people the most selection in terms of pricing so it accommodates the needs of every travel budget.

Read more about Emily "Travel Mom" Kaufman and her children's exploits at thetravelmom.com.

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