Today's modern cruise vessels have great play-time facilities for kids and well-organized children's programs for kids of any age. Cruise lines hire professionally-trained youth staff members, who typically have a teaching background.

While the kids are having a great time together, you can do some of the things you find so rewarding on vacation. Parents can relax by the pool, enjoy a good book, watch a movie, attend a cooking demonstration or enjoy the spa. It's all possible on-board a ship.

At the end of the day, the entire family can dine together at dinner or split-up into smaller groups, it's your choice. If parents are more comfortable having children dining in a less formal atmosphere than the adults, many of the youth programs allow the children to dine together as part of the program. So while Mom and Dad enjoy a 5 course meal, the kids can go to a pizza party of their own.

Best of all, parents won't hear "are we there yet?" on this vacation. Kids bored on a cruise ship? NEVER!

Click one of the following links to each cruise line's activities for the following age groups