Cruise Tips - Pitstops for Kids

Five reasons to book Alaska small ship cruises

February 9, 2015 By Amy Hagstrom

A year ago, we wrote extensively about our small ship cruise experience with Alaskan Dream Cruises. If you liked what you read (and saw in our small ship cruise review video), now is the perfect time of year to book your summer cruise. However, I realize Alaska small ship cruises are a serious vacation investment. If hikes, kayaking, wildlife viewing and shore excurions are on your list, you’ll get the biggest bang for your buck by booking one of several Alaska small ship cruises.

5 reasons for families to book Alaska small ship cruises:

1. Eco-conservation begins with education.

As outdoor enthusiasts who have done all we can to pass on our love of the wilderness to our kids, we know that nothing makes children respect and value the planet more than a personal relationship with the natural world. On small ship cruises, the emphasis is outward (on the world outside the ship), instead of inward (deck parties and swimming pools). When kids see, hear, and touch the wildlife around them (whether that be while kids are exploring Alaska or the Galapagos), they are changed.

Case in point: the day we disembarked from our Alaskan Dream Cruises small ship cruise, we toured a museum of SE Alaska in Ketchikan. It took my kids about 15 minutes to view the entire facility, so I stopped them at the exit to ask why they’d spent so little time inside.

My oldest replied, “We already saw everything in this museum in ‘real life’ during the cruise, Mom.”

He didn’t realize it, but he’d summed up the reason for booking a small ship cruise. During our nine days on Alaskan Dream Cruises’ Baranof Dream family cruise, we visited Tlingit villages, kayaked amid sea lions, jumped into the frigid water of the Inside Passage, watched glaciers calve, stomped our feet to Norwegian folk dancing, eaten king salmon and crab, seen humpback whales breaching, made native crafts, and the list goes on. The entire time, we were surrounded by multiple expedition leaders (for both adults and youth) who pointed out sights, taught us scientific and cultural facts, showed us which berries to sample off the bushes, found eagles nests and bears fishing for salmon, and helped our kids paint, sew, and carve.

2. The kids will sleep well every night.

A common concern of parents considering a small ship cruise is that there won’t be ‘enough to do’ onboard. According to Wien, Alaskan Dream daily itineraries start at 7 am with breakfast and go strong until bedtime, with the goal of making each vessel ‘a moving summer camp’. The small ship may lack a game room and a climbing wall, but kids are always active, both on and off the ship. Because small ship cruise pricing is inclusive, parents can say ‘yes’ to kids all day long: yes, you can join that kayak tour, yes, explore the marine conservation center, and yes, have another cookie.

3. Small ship cruises have a smaller environmental impact.

Due to their significantly smaller size, impacts of on-board consumption and off-vessel discharge for small ships can be limited to population areas which can handle this additional infrastructure (think 30 passengers instead of 3000). Limited on-board space forces small ship crews to reduce, reuse, and recycle as much as possible, a practice Alaskan Dream and other small ship companies have mastered by necessity.

4. Small ship cruising allows for a local experience aiding a local economy.

In addition to gaining access to smaller, less populated ports of call, small cruise ships such as Alaskan Dream nurture positive working relationships with local tourism departments, attractions, and groups. In the case of Alaskan Dream, owners Bob and Betty Allen are members of the Tlingit Alaska tribe, a relationship that is fostered in their hiring practices, their cultural presentations, and their ports of call. “Native culture is strong in Alaska,” explains Wien. The Allens are highly involved in local communities, helping local causes and assisting to provide tourism dollars.

5. Small ship foster multigenerational bonding.

While many cruise experiences will prompt families to leave their cell phones and electronic devices at home (or at least stowed in their bags), small ships take inclusiveness a step further. General gathering areas for all passengers encourage multigenerational mingling, and activities that may be out of the comfort zone of both father and son, mother and grandmother encourage familial bonding. Kids and parents absorb new information together, and then experience nature together in an unforgettable way.

Alaskan Dream did not sponsor this post.

Other great eco-cruise providers around the world:

AdventureSmith
Ecoventura
Discovery Voyages

Have you taken a small ship cruise? What eco and vacation benefits did you experience?

Why we picked a small ship cruise: Small ship cruise Alaska booking tips for families

October 2, 2013 By Amy Hagstrom

Yes, families can and should book a small ship cruise Alaska!

The day we disembarked from our Alaskan Dream Cruises small ship cruise, we toured a museum of SE Alaska in Ketchikan. It took my kids about 15 minutes to view the entire facility, so I stopped them at the exit to ask why they’d spent so little time inside.

My oldest replied, “We already saw everything in this museum in ‘real life’ during the cruise, Mom.”

A small ship cruise–and especially a small ship cruise with a family-friendly itinerary like Alaskan Dream–allows kids and adults to fully immerse themselves in the place they’ve come to visit. We picked a small cruise ship for the following reasons, all of which proved true during our cruise:

1. We wanted an unique travel experience.

Alaskan Dream Cruises is owned and operated by long-standing Alaskan company Allen Marine. As a Native-owned cruise line, Alaskan Dream–including our ship, the Baranof Dream–could access parts of SE Alaska that other cruise ships, even other small cruise ships, could not. We spent a full day and a half playing in Alaskan Dream-exclusive Hobart Bay, where we watched black bears with their cubs, kayaked calm bays, and explored the wilderness of native-owned land. We were granted access to the Haida community of Kasaan, where we watched a master carver create a canoe and learned about their ancient totems and whaling house, and we were honored by a Tsimshian dance in the reservation at Metlakatla. When we arrived in Ketchikan and shared our itinerary with locals, they all agreed we’d seen an authentic representation of their state.

We believe eco-conservationism begins with experiencing nature.

As outdoor enthusiasts, we knew that by seeing, touching, hearing, smelling, and yes, tasting the wild beauty of SE Alaska, our kids would have a greater respect for the planet, a sentiment reinforced when we spoke with Alaskan Dream VP of sales and marketing Mike Wien. “I can’t imagine a better opportunity for young adults to learn how to be stewards of the environment,” Wien told us, explaining that the eco-conscious attitude that prevails aboard an Alaskan Dream ship teaches basic ecological lessons that carry over.

Small ships also enjoy a smaller carbon footprint than large cruise ships, of course, as limited on-board space forces crews to reduce, reuse, and recycle as much as possible. We observed this practice in action on the Baranof Dream, noticing how every space is used on-board, and every item as a purpose.

We wanted to be responsible travelers.

Smaller cruise ships means smaller ports of call, which is great for both passengers who want to get off the beaten path and for local economies. The Baranof Dream stopped at only two major ports–Juneau and Ketchikan–remaining for the duration of our trip in private bays and small villages. We knew our tourism dollars were going directly to the people who had made the fine crafts we bought and the t-shirts we proudly wore. We knew our presence–under 30 guests–was not taxing the resources of our local hosts.

We wanted a flexible itinerary and ‘outside the box’ service.

With under 30 guest on-board the Baranof Dream and over 20 crew members, we were always well taken care of. More important than the prompt attention however, was the manner in which crew members adapted with the needs (or wants) of the guests. Crew members were jacks and jills of all trades–for instance, our pastry chef could also lead a kayak tour, and our steward taught yoga–and when the kids found berries while on a hike with their youth expedition leader, the bartender was happy to carry on the lesson with a class in smoothie-making. Our boys learned knot tying from the bridge crew and Tlingit crafts from our cultural guide. When an opportunity arises–in our case, to stop last-minute at a dog sled camp–plans were adjusted and schedules were reset.

Booking an Alaskan Dream Cruise: what you need to know:

Book early. Small ships fill up fast, so try to book approximately 9 months before departure if possible. But don’t book without speaking on the phone to your small ship cruise line. In the case of Alaskan Dream, their offices are located on-site in Sitka Alaska, and their office staff can be invaluable in helping you pick the right itinerary for you and your family. An itinerary may be in the works that is as-yet unadvertised, or they may be able to match particular interests with a particular cruise.

Do families need to book on a family cruise itinerary? No, on Alaskan Dream Cruises, kids are welcome on any itinerary. However, kids’ programming is only available on family cruises, and kids are much more likely to have friends their age on board (and that goes for parents, too). One aspect we loved about our family cruise was the relaxed atmosphere and the additional activities that engaged the kids in a tactile way.

Pit Stops for Kids experienced a family small ship cruise as guests of Alaskan Dream Cruises, for the purpose of review. No express opinion was required; we wanted traveling families to know about small ship cruising options!

What’s included on a Disney cruise (and what you’ll pay extra for)

April 12, 2012 By Amy Hagstrom

Before our first Disney Cruise Line experience on the Disney Fantasy, I had no idea what to expect. What I learned: it’s important to know what’s included on a Disney cruise, and what you’ll pay more for.

What’s always included in a Disney Line Cruise:

1. All meals, from you embarkation lunch to your departure breakfast. Remember, there’s no additional charge for ordering extra appetizers or desserts, kids ordering off the adult menus, or room service! (Stay tuned on the latter, however: there are exceptions.)

2. Deck 11 fun. This includes all pools, water slides, splash play areas, miniature golf, basketball, hot tubs, shuffleboard, and ping-pong.

3. Fitness center: While spa treatments on a Disney cruise will set you back, the fitness center is included, and provides a nice environment for exercise, including stretching and yoga space. I really enjoyed running the treadmill in front of the bay of windows overlooking the sea.

4. Soda, coffee, iced tea, and water. An industry first, Disney Cruise Line offers unlimited soda refills in their drink station, as well as coffee, tea, and water. We didn’t feel the need to buy bottled water at all; just bring a refillable water bottle and keep it filled!

5. Castaway Cay. Disembarking and enjoying the beaches, trails, water slides, play areas, Scuttle’s Cove child care, and Cookies 2 BBQ is free at Castaway Cay. (There is a long list of things you’ll pay extra for, however. See below!)

6. Kids’ clubs. All kids’ clubs facilities, with the exception of It’s a Small World Nursery, are included in the cost of your cruise. This refers to: Oceaneer’s Club, Oceaneer’s Lab, Edge, and Vibe. All food and drink served in the clubs comes included as well, with the exception of the make-your-own smoothies bar in Vibe.

7. Onboard entertainment. All evening Broadway style shows, deck parties, poolside movies, and first-run movies in the onboard movie theater come included in the cost of your cruise. (Movie concession snacks, however, have a charge.)

Up next, what you’ll pay extra for on a Disney cruise! Click on the button below to continue!

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Disney cruise line tips (Is a Disney cruise right for your family?)

April 5, 2012 By Amy Hagstrom

Though we’re fans of Disney family travel, we were cruising newbies before we departed for our three-night cruise on the brand new Disney Fantasy. As active family travelers, we worried a cruise would limit our adventurous travel style, feel overcrowded, and be all about the food. Now that we’ve experienced the Disney Fantasy, we’re back with Disney cruise line tips you can put to use!

Disney cruising promises a ‘no stress, no worries’ vacation.

I sailed on the Fantasy for three days at sea as a solo parent with my three school-aged kids. While some vacation destinations would have been stressful to navigate and enjoy without another adult to help out, it was a breeze on a Disney cruise. Two parents traveling with kids will find it just as relaxing. The benefits of an all (or almost all) inclusive vacation cannot be measured in dollar amount, though there are ways to save money. I enjoyed my cruise all the more not having to worry about dining costs, snack costs, soda costs, and entertainment costs at every turn. Everything we needed was at our fingertips, and thanks to the ‘Disney Difference’, the guest service we experienced was unparalleled. From the moment we stepped off our plane and onto a Magical Express bus until the moment we stepped back off of one, Disney took care of the logistics. That was magical.

Families can be as active (or inactive) as they want on a Disney cruise.

I’ll admit it: I had a preconceived idea that cruising was ‘lazy’. The truth is, we ran ourselves ragged (in a good way) on the Disney Fantasy for three full days, and still never got to everything offered onboard (or even close!). On Castaway Cay, we took advantage of the entire window of island time, pursuing activities from 9 am until 4 pm, and still didn’t experience all on offer. A list of the things we did pursue in our four days cruising: swimming, riding the AquaDuck, basketball games, miniature golf, sports simulators, Disney-quality shows, countless kids’ club activities, cooking lessons, snorkeling, bike riding, shuffleboard tournaments, jogging, ping-pong, and game shows. Had we been on a typical seven day cruise, I’m sure this list would have doubled.

Families spend ample time together (and apart) on a Disney cruise.

My kids loved the Oceaneer’s Lab and Club and the Edge (the tween hangout) onboard the Fantasy, but even with them running off every evening to enjoy club activities, we still spent more quality, relaxed time as a family unit than we had on any of our most recent trips. How is that possible? The word ‘quality’: so little of our vacation time on the Fantasy was spent worrying about logistics or in transport, that we were able to enjoy each other and what we were doing together as a family far more readily.

Crowds on a Disney cruise can (mostly) be avoided.

I cannot address crowd control on a Disney cruise completely, as the Fantasy was not full on our sailing. Even so, there were moments it felt too crowded for my kids’ and my tastes; specifically, during deck parties. During the Sailing Away party and Pirate Night activities, my kids had moments when they thought it was too chaotic and too loud. What I hadn’t anticipated, however, was how easy it would be to escape these crowds. Even with foot-stomping, loud music thumping fun only one deck above us, our stateroom was a quiet sanctuary. And if these big parties aren’t your thing (or you just need momentary escape as we did), the other 12+ decks are nearly empty while pool deck events are ongoing. Disney Cruise Line also does a great job of crowd management. The two evening show times are scheduled to work with the two dinner seating times, so that half the ship is eating while the other half is enjoying the entertainment, and vice versa. (And of course, you could opt to skip one or both for some quiet time.) The line for character greetings and the AquaDuck were small to nonexistent, and my kids played round after round of miniature golf without a wait. (Again, our ship was not full.)

Culture and educational experiences can be had on a Disney cruise.

I might have said it wasn’t possible to experience culture and educational opportunities on a Disney cruise, but I already knew better: Disney always goes the extra mile to include rich storytelling and cultural immersion where they can. On a Bahamian cruise, where can they? On Castaway Cay, families can learn about the history of the island (would you believe it was a drug runners’ paradise?) and get a detailed lesson in marine biology during the Stringray excursion. On longer cruises with additional ports, more opportunities arise (though I’d describe most of the available excursions as more ‘adventurous’ than ‘educational’). However, our greatest cultural gift on the Disney Fantasy was completely unexpected: Disney Cruise Line hires a very international Cast Member staff. Our evening servers were from Croatia and the Dominican Republic, and our stateroom host was from Haiti. Just speaking to them about where they’re from and how they view the world they’re traversing in their career was a rich cultural lesson for the kids (and me).

The food on a Disney cruise is…abundant.

And maybe we’re alone in this, but we didn’t love this. We like to feel hungry for a meal, not constantly stuffed! But if you don’t like to overeat, there’s hope: because food is always available, I didn’t feel the need to ‘try everything’ at every meal. And fresh fruit and healthy seafood and veggies were always on offer. And it was nice not to worry about when the kids were going to declare they were ‘starving’ (which usually happens every 15 minutes on a vacation). Still, if you’re a parent (like me) who tries to teach healthy eating, good luck. My kids were enamored with the fact that they could help themselves to ice cream, soda, and pizza at any hour, and it was exhausting to try to limit them. I kept a firm rule of one soda a day, which I kept until the last day (when I caved), but otherwise, I let them eat the treats they wanted. They were certainly burning it off in the pool.

Am I won over?

Yes, and no, and mostly yes. Disney, as always, won me over with the detail and care they put into every aspect of everything they do. At any and every moment on the Fantasy, something surprised, whether it was the smiling kids’ club counselor remembering my son’s name, the detail in the ornate hanging chandelier in the atrium, the whimsy of the Oh La La bar, or the sight of Goofy golfing on the deck mid-afternoon (or the sight of my child spotting Goofy golfing on said deck).

Should a Disney cruise be the only vacation families take?

Definitely not. I believe it’s important for families to experience not only the world, but navigating the world together, whether they start in their home state or across the globe. Despite peppering their excursions with cultural and educational experiences, a Disney cruise will never be a worthy substitute for a trip to a new city, country, or national park or landmark. Nor should it be. Instead, it’s a wonderful escape during which a family’s prime immersion will be in each other and activities they enjoy.

Pit Stops for Kids experienced the Disney Fantasy as working media on its media preview sailing. While we were glad to ‘be their guests’ as they say in Beauty and the Beast, all opinions and first-hand accounts are our own (and always will be on PSFK).

Disney Fantasy photos: Three days at sea and Castaway Cay

April 1, 2012 By Amy Hagstrom

Preparing for your Disney cruise? Enjoy Disney Fantasy photos!

Embarking upon the Disney Fantasy:

Pools and deck spaces on the Disney Fantasy:

Disney Fantasy Oceaneer’s Club and Lab, and tween Edge Club:

Castaway Cay:

Disney Fantasy at night:

(A small sample of) Disney Fantasy character sightings:

Disney Fantasy deluxe family stateroom:

How to prepare for a Disney cruise

March 14, 2012 By Amy Hagstrom

At Pit Stops for Kids, we cover all modes of family travel. However, there’s one major category of family travel we’ve neglected (until now): family cruising. On March 26th, the Pit Stops kids and I will be embarking upon the brand new ship in the Disney Cruise Line, the Disney Fantasy. We’ll be reporting on our experience here and for Expedia.com.

There’s only one problem: we don’t know what the heck we’re doing. We’re complete cruising newbies at Pit Stops for Kids: while we love the open road, cities, and National Parks and wilderness, we’ve yet to tackle the high seas. How do we prepare for something we’ve never experienced?

Learn what to expect.

Preparation is key to any family vacation, so from now until departure day, I’ll be following my own advice and researching our destination(s) extensively. To prepare for our trip, I turned to the same resources I hope you’re all using to plan vacations: family travel bloggers. The Disney Fantasy has yet to embark upon its first public sailing, so I read up on coverage of its sister ship, the Disney Dream. Hip Travel Mama offers a great overview of what to expect on-board from a parent’s perspective, and Ciao Bambino lists their top ten surprises on the ship. Also incredibly helpful are these tips on getting the most out of a Disney cruise. This video of the AquaDuck water roller coaster from The Vacation Gals was enough to get my kids jumping up and down, and for specific questions, I’ve always found the Disney Moms Panel to be a useful resource.

Identify concerns, then be proactive.

We have the following concerns (all of which we’ll be addressing post-cruise, in case you do, too):

1. Will the ship feel too crowded for our tastes?
2. Will Calvin, notorious for losing his lunch in both cars and on planes, suffer from seasickness?
3. Will our outdoor-adventure loving style of travel be stifled on board a ship?
4. Will a large-ship cruise be ‘green’ enough to appease our eco-conscience?

To ensure a good vacation experience, I’ve purchased Sea Bands, researched the Disney Cruise Line green initiatives (more on that to come), and learned as much as I can about any itinerary stops ahead of time (internet connection is notoriously unreliable onboard, so last-minute research may be frustrating). This way, we can get off the ship and explore the way we prefer to.

Lastly, I want help from you!

If you’ve taken a family cruise, please share a tip in the comment section below, on the Pit Stops for Kids Facebook page, or on Twitter @pitstospforkids! I’ll be retweeting one suggestion per day up until the day we embark, and after our trip, I’ll be featuring the top ten reader suggestions in a video on Expedia.com!

Photos courtesy of Disney Cruise Line.

Small ship cruising: you CAN expedition travel with kids

December 2, 2011 By Amy Hagstrom

The following is Part 2 in a two-part series on small ship cruising with AdventureSmith Expeditions’ founder Todd Smith.

Last week, I asked AdventureSmith Expeditions founder Todd Smith to explain the philosophy of small ship cruising, reinforcing my belief that a lasting travel impact is made through personal, intimate experiences with the culture and environs of a destination. But is small ship cruising practical for families with children? The short answer? Yes! AdventureSmith offers dozens of cruises specifically geared to families. For the long answer, including a detailed description of a typical day aboard a small cruise ship with kids, read on!

Pit Stops for Kids: You’re a father yourself: what itinerary do you most recommend for families?

Todd Smith: It really depends on the destination. I like trips that are close to home, choosing destinations in North America to minimize flying time and jet lag for younger travelers. Our five top family destinations are Costa Rica (December-August), Galapagos (year-round), Alaska (May-September), Baja (November-April), and Hawaii (November-April). It is also important to focus on a cruise that has dedicated family departures. Family departures offer specialized programs and meals that are suited for younger travelers and offer the advantage of traveling with other families with kids of similar ages. A few of my favorites for 2012 include departures to the Galapagos aboard the National Geographic Endeavour, Alaska’s Eastern Coves, and Baja, aboard the 22-passenger Safari Quest. Of note: all of these itineraries and more offer significant discounts to child passengers.

PSFK: What can AdventureSmith offer families with babies and toddlers? Or are they better off waiting a few more years?

TS: Some small ships will allow babies and toddlers on board, however we recommend travelers wait until their children are six years old before booking small ship cruises. Small children may or may not be able to participate in off-vessel activities and there are no babysitting facilities to watch kids while parents are away. As an alternative, charters are a great option for families with toddlers and babies. You’ll have a boatload of family to help watch kids and you will not upset any other guests!

PSFK: Paint me a picture of a typical vacation day aboard an AdventureSmith ship. Is there such a thing?

TS: There is a lot of variety, depending on the ship and destination. However, a typical day might transpire as follows: wake up to the announcement from a naturalist that wildlife has been spotted on shore. As the ship slows down to observe, you wake the kids, grab a cup of freshly brewed coffee, and head to the observation deck where early risers and naturalists have gathered to watch the animals. After some time spent observing wildlife, it is announced that breakfast will begin soon.

Return to your cabin to prepare for the day before enjoying a hearty breakfast. Toward the end of breakfast, the naturalists appear again to review the day’s itinerary and activities. They announce a kayaking and/or hiking activity to begin shortly. The ship anchors in a quite cove and travelers begin the morning off-vessel naturalist guided activities.

Mom and son may choose the hiking trip with an exploration of nearby forest and tide pools, while dad and daughter take a guided kayak excursion in search of wildlife. For travelers (grandparents perhaps) not interested in the more active hiking and kayaking options, small craft zodiac excursions are offered. As you return to the ship from morning activities, you are greeted by a smiling crew member with a hot beverage (or in warm destinations, a cool beverage).

Once all groups are back on board the ship pulls anchor and begins cruising. Enjoy a bit of down time to relax, engage with naturalists about your morning activity, or enjoy cruising from the observation deck. The naturalists may offer a impromptu lecture on-board to exchange experiences from the morning activities with an emphasis on getting the kids involved in what they are learning. Lunch is served. After lunch enjoy time cruising and looking for wildlife. This is a great time of families to visit the wheelhouse to speak with the captain, and learn about navigation and the equipment used to steer the ship to its next destination.

Mid-afternoon, the ship reaches another anchorage and afternoon off-vessel activities begin. This afternoon’s paddle excursion is pleasantly interrupted by a crew member delivering fresh baked cookies by zodiac (kids love this). Return to the ship for happy hour and appetizers as the ship again pulls anchor and begins cruising. Before or after dinner, the naturalists invite families to the lounge for a slide presentation, discussion, or game highlighting local culture, wildlife conservation issues, or other interesting topics. Dinner can be a more elegant affair with several choices (always one vegetarian choice and family trips offer kid friendly choices) highlighting local and international fare.

After dinner and desert, the naturalists offer an overview of tomorrow’s itinerary and activities. Relax in the library, play a game with the kids, or stay on deck watching the stars. Get a good night’s sleep in your private cabin as the ship cruises to a new location to do it all over again tomorrow.

Small ship cruising: a travel philosophy that holds water

November 28, 2011 By Amy Hagstrom

The following is the first in a two-part interview with AdventureSmith Explorations founder and president Todd Smith.

In the past decade, cruising has morphed from a dowdy vacation your grandparents took to one of the most popular family options on the travel market. It’s not hard to see the appeal: the ease, all-inclusiveness, and high entertainment value of cruising makes it a tempting choice for families. As founding editor of Pit Stops for Kids, I’ve long said that no type of travel is the wrong type of travel: whatever your family enjoys, the key is to get out there and experience it. However, how you experience it can make all the difference in the world. What most cruising operations offer in fun, they can lack in the ability to provide intimacy with the destination, environment, or culture you traveled to see.

For travel to have its greatest positive impact, access matters, which is why I love the travel philosophy that drives AdventureSmith Explorations, a small ship cruising operation doing big things for family travel. Recently, I was fortunate enough to bend the ear of Todd Smith, AdventureSmith founder and president, to learn more about what makes small ship cruising different than the mega-ship industry standard.

Pit Stops for Kids: You’ve called AdventureSmith the ‘anti-cruising’ option. Tell me about the travel philosophy behind that.

Todd Smith: I have found that standard big ship cruises tend to focus inward, on what is aboard the ship. Large ship cruises boast waterslides, climbing walls, miniature golf, midnight buffets, broadway style entertainment, shopping malls and more. The destination tends to be of secondary importance. Our style of small ship and expedition cruising is the opposite. Our primary focus is outward, on the destination outside the ship. Of course, travelers can expect comfortable cabins, delicious cuisine and a wide range of on board amenities, but most travelers choose a small ship because they want to intimately engage with the destination in an up close and personal way, away from tourist crowds. Cruises aboard small ships offer parents, grandparents, and kids opportunities to experience authentic nature and culture not easily found on other types of tours, in a safe, comfortable and casual environment, as detailed in my blog post comparing big ships, small ships and yacht cruises.

PSFK: AdventureSmith itineraries are highly unique. How would you define ‘adventure cruising’?

TS: The hallmark of adventure cruising is the ability to get off the ship, away from port. This in turn limits the number of travelers. In my experience working aboard small ships for many years, it becomes logistically difficult to achieve effective off-vessel activities on ships with over 150 travelers.

PSFK: Tell me about the various excursions offered on AdventureSmith cruises. How can I ensure I’m selecting off-ship adventures that will be age-appropriate for my kids?

TS: Excursions and activity levels can vary widely by trip. Depending on the region, off-vessel activities may include walking/hiking, kayaking, snorkeling/Scuba diving, paddle boarding, small craft/zodiac excursions, helicopter flightseeing, photography excursions, horseback riding, trekking, cave exploration, overnight camping, dog sledding, and more. Since activities also vary for travelers with kids, the following are my suggestions for various age levels:

For kids under six, I recommend sticking to easy activities where mom and dad can handle restless youngsters for a short period of time. Easy walks, short zodiac or glass bottom boat excursions, and city tours top the list. These activities are also great for older grandparents who are not as agile as they used to be.

For six to eight-year-olds, I recommend the above activities plus longer walks, easy kayaking, swimming, fishing, and photography. Kids this age love to explore the world in a physical way. Don’t be afraid to get them off the boat to experience surroundings up close! Stick to shorter duration (one or two hour) excursions.

8-12-year-olds can endure longer excursions (1-3 hours) featuring the above activities, plus snorkeling, paddle boarding, horseback riding, cave explorations, and even overnight camping. Kids this age become the best friend of naturalist guides. Let them be in front of the group, asking questions and engaging with the trip leaders and other travelers!

Kids over 12 years old are suitable for almost all activities offered aboard small ship cruises, depending on maturity and ability. Let them challenge themselves and they will become confident explorers. Ask them to keep a journal or blog of their experiences to share with classmates or family at home. Buy them guidebooks and identification guides to learn about what they are seeing. Encourage them to learn a few phrases of the local language and set out to engage with locals.

Most small ship cruises offer a variety of activity levels. Our specialty in the small ship cruise marketplace is to match travelers with cruises that fit their interests, ability, and budget. A benefit of AdventureSmith is the ability to speak with an expert who has been on-board and can compare one ship or trip versus another to help match you with your desired activity level.

PSFK: I have active, school-aged kids. One of the draws of mega-cruise ships for families is the abundance of on-ship activities and programs. How does an AdventureSmith ship or yacht compare?

TS: Small ships are quite different in that they don’t have as many on ship activities and diversions. However, this style of travel inherently brings families together through shared experiences in which they learn about the destination, grow personally, and create memories that will last a lifetime. Large ships offer distractions such as supervised play areas, rock climbing walls, and miniature golf that keep the kids occupied, but ultimately separate families. Small ships are inherently designed to bring families together in a safe, comfortable setting.

PSFK: Tell me about the eco-benefits to small ship cruising.

TS: Small ship cruises are eco-friendly for a number of reasons. A small ship is a closed system and inherently low impact. Impacts of on-board consumption (food, hotel supplies etc.) and off-vessel discharge (recycled material, food waste, sewage etc) are generally limited to population areas which can handle this additional infrastructure (but are not overwhelmed by it). Small ships primarily cruise close to shore and are not allowed to discharge waste into the ocean (in most locations), a common practice aboard big ships. Limited on-board space forces small ship crews to reduce, reuse, and recycle as much as possible.

Small ships are often locally owned and operated, keeping passenger payments in the local economy. Local food vendors, fuel suppliers, restaurants, hotels, and transportation services are all used in conjunction with small ship cruises, and small ships often hire local guides and crew, again supporting local economies, and often providing seafaring cultures an alternative to resource extractive industries.

And of course, taking guests ashore in pristine wilderness or among authentic cultures creates a connection between the traveler and the place. Once that connection is established stewardship often follows. We hope that through our trips and conservation programs, travelers will become engaged with conservation and humanitarian issues in the destinations they visit, and in their local community when they return home.

Cruising Options for Families of 5 and More

August 22, 2010 By Amy Hagstrom

: Image via Wikipedia

If your family doesn’t fit the standard travel industry mold of two adults and two children, you’ve probably experienced frustration at one time or another while booking vacations, hotels, and the like. I know I have, and I ‘only’ have three kids!

Cruise lines especially seem to make it difficult (and costly) to book for a family of more than four, but there are tips and tricks for clearing these hurdles and finding the best deal for your larger family.

Hurdle #1: Online reservation systems only offer you expensive suites. Maybe you don’t want the most expensive sleeping option on-board, but as soon as you punch in 3+ kids into a cruise lines’ online system, all economic options are instantly closed to you. I’ve been there. Often, more options are available, but it takes speaking to an actual human being. Pick up the phone and call the booking company or cruise line. In most cases, two adjoining rooms housing 2-3 people are cheaper than one large luxury cabin housing 5+ (plus you gain an extra bathroom). On some ships (rumor has it that Disney Cruise Lines is one), some standard cabins are larger than others (such as if they’re located on the end of a hall or on a corner), and sleep 5 or more at the bargain cabin price. To get these, however, you have to ask for them specifically (or use a travel agent…a good one will know to do so).

Hurdle #2: All cruise lines are not created equal. There’s more than one fish in the sea (pun intended), so keep your options open. Consider booking though a company like discountcruises.com, which works with multiple cruise lines and can therefore offerÂ discount cruises for your family from a larger pool. On their site, you can browse which cruise lines are currently running promotions in which kids cruise free (under age 12), and can read reviews on the best ships for kids.

Hurdle #3: Package deals are not always one-size fits all. Read the fine print on any package deal in which kids cruise, stay, or eat free. (This is especially true for off-ship excursions.) They’re often designed for families of four, and will charge extra for additional children. (We’ve learned this the hard way when booking hotel/theme park combination tickets, for instance.) Ask ahead of time if this will be the case, and get the ‘a la carte’ price for the extra kid or kids. Sometimes it’s worth coughing up the extra dough, but often it’s not, and another package might be better for you. If the deal in question is limited to ‘kids free with participating adult’, consider the price difference if you invite extra adults along (maybe Grandma and Grandpa) to even out the grown-up to kid ratio.

Hurdle #4: Families of 5+ feel alone. Despite the travel industry’s insistence that families only come in packages of four, larger families are rapidly becoming the norm. To get other tips and vacation-planning strategies, check out sites that cater to larger families such as Six Suitcase Travel, where you’ll find lists of hotels, vacation homes, and restaurants that consider big families to be the standard (and charge you accordingly).