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Family-friendly Cruising
Having Fun at Sea Together
By Laura Cone
Hot Tip: Plan for at least one excursion for the entire family and at least one for just the adults. If you are traveling with friends, be open to splitting up by interest so the women may shop for jewelry, for example, while the men go deep-sea fishing.
Lance Rowe says his family did not go overboard when it came to spending money on the cruise. He did spend 
extra money on excursions such as going to Stingray City in the Cayman Islands. "The kids loved it," he says. "They were a little freaked out at the beginning to have huge stingrays so close but they don't hurt anyone. Yesterday, we were at the beach all day, snorkeling and kayaking. They jumped on a trampoline in the middle of the ocean."
When planning a cruise, it's a good idea to choose one that stops in ports with tours or excursions that appeal to the entire family.
Once onboard the Inspiration, individuals received a shore excursion price list with details such as where the tour departs, the duration, departure time, price per person and age restrictions. Some tours have minimum age requirements, while others exclude pregnant women and people on certain medications.
Nicola Wood, the youth director for the Inspiration, spends her days playing games with small children, overseeing activities and accompanying children to children's dinners. Originally from England, Wood says 
adults may check their Carnival Capers, a daily guide left in their cabin, to find out about everything from music and dancing to activities, food and drink highlights for adults and Camp Carnival activities for children.