Five reasons to book Alaska small ship cruises

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 … [Read more...]

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

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' … [Read more...]

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

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 … [Read more...]

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

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 … [Read more...]

Disney Fantasy photos: Three days at sea and Castaway Cay

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: … [Read more...]

How to prepare for a Disney cruise

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 … [Read more...]

Small ship cruising: you CAN expedition travel with kids

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 … [Read more...]

Small ship cruising: a travel philosophy that holds water

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 … [Read more...]

Cruising Options for Families of 5 and More

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 … [Read more...]