THE BEST CRUISE LINES FOR FAMILIES

These days, the idea of cruising of being the sole domain of the 'newly wed and the nearly dead' has been well ans truly thrown overboard. Over the past three decades, a string of fabulous floating resorts have emerged, one after the other. Each one has been brim full of fantastic facilities for families of all ages, to such an extent that cruising has now become a prime holiday of choice for many large, multi generational families.

As a kind of counter point to these, the top end luxury market has seen an explosion in the number of smaller, de luxe cruise ships that emphasise a high quality, almost fully inclusive on board product, where facilities take second place to fabulous food, deft service and large, expansive balcony accommodation. On these ships, very little real effort is made to cater for children at all,

So, what is most likely to best float your metaphorical boat? There's no point in a family with two or three young kids booking onto an expedition ship bound for the Arctic, after all. Fascinating as the trip would be, it's no family jaunt, and there is simply nothing for the little ones to do, anyway.Well worth remembering, esepcially when you consider the often pricey financial outlay such trips command.

British accented lines such as P&O cruises do a wonderful job of offering facilities for toddlers, teens, and parents alike. The downside for some is that the ships only sail from Southampton. On the other hand, with itineraries ranging from two nights to twenty and more, the line offers an almost literal world of choice.

Although some of their American styling still breaks through, both Norwegian and Royal Caribbean also do a marvellous job of catering for families around the clock, and Royal Caribbean in particular has some superb larger cabins that can accommodate up to five people each. 

MSC Cruises are also very family oriented, but it's also worth noting that many of the large extended families that you'll encounter on their Mediterranean cruises will be from across several different nationalities. However, next year sees the addition of a dedicated ship for the UK market, with the arrival in Southampton of the stunning MSC Magnifica.

Furher afield, you'll find fun, frolics and family friendly vibes aboard the ships of Carnival, albeit with a very heavy American style emphasis, and a world of magic afloat on the fantastic floating resorts of Disney Cruise Line. With separate zones for adults, teens and children, these Disney vessels offer fantastic value for money in settings that are almost pure, whimsical theatre.

Whatever your tastes and choice, have fun.