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Family-friendly Cruising
Having Fun at Sea Together
By Laura Cone
Kayleigh Rowe dances to Barry Manilow's "Bandstand Boogie" as her parents, Jennifer and Lance Rowe, watch her rehearse for a talent show. Without missing a beat, Rowe, 7, taps to the lyrics:
We're goin' hoppin.' We're goin' hoppin' today. Where things are poppin'.
As Carnival's Inspiration cruise ship glides through the Caribbean, youngsters take part in supervised, organized activities through the complimentary onboard Camp Carnival program. The program makes it easy for parents to have alone time on a ship while their children stay active and fit.
"I think it's extremely important for them to stay physically fit," says Jennifer Rowe, who lives in Elkton, Md. "They did a lot of swimming, walking and exercising during the 'Exerseas' program. At home they are in soccer, dance and tennis."
Hot Tip: Share responsibilities by traveling with extended family members or friends who have children, especially if you are traveling with an infant. Most cruise lines charge babysitting fees for children younger than 2. Plus, your older children will have more fun if they can meet new friends and also play with familiar cousins or friends.
Rowe took a five-day cruise from Tampa, Fla., to the Cayman Islands and Cozumel, Mexico, with her husband, daughter and son, Conner, 6. They traveled with another family. "I think it's important for them to bring friends with them," Jennifer Rowe says. "We've had a much easier time by traveling with friends. Three-fourths of the time we were with the children, and the rest of the time they were at Camp Carnival."
Lance Rowe says he suspects his children would have had even more fun on the cruise if they left them in Camp Carnival more often.
