How To Take the Kids With You May 20th, Issue One

oyal Caribbean ships are well-suited for families with young children, thanks to the lines offerings for passengers as young as 6 months. Still, older kids will find plenty of distractions, too, while parents can join group activities or sneak off for some me time in another part of the ship. There is no minimum age requirement for Royal Caribbean trips. Tots: Hands-on activities with roots in social, emotional and physical development are the cornerstone of Aqua Babies, a playgroup for kids between 6 and 18 months. Singing, dancing and the chance to play pirate are just a few of the daily activities at Aqua Tots, for toddlers between 18 months and 3 years old. Parents must be present while their children participate in either program. Babysitting is available in a group setting or in your cabin, for about $10 an hour for one or two children and $15 an hour for three kids. Tykes: Kids between 3 and 5 are welcome at Aquanauts, a playgroup filled with crayon art, storytelling and theme parties. An adventure theater program introduces young ones to the fun of live performance, with workshops and playacting led by Royal Caribbean staff. Meanwhile, children from 6 to 8 can join the Explorers, where science experiments and scavenger hunts make learning fun. Tweens: Royal Caribbeans Voyagers, for ages 9 to 11, enjoy many of the perks of their younger siblings -- arts and crafts, science programs and theater workshops -as well as sports tournaments and dance parties. Teens: Navigators, a group for ages 12 to 14, can enjoy less structured activities and are able to come and

go as they please without a staff members permission. Younger teens can tour the ship, take part in club activities or simply enjoy their own lounge area. Some ships offer a teensonly casino and a snowball fight in the middle of the Caribbean. Even more freedom awaits passengers 15 to 17, who enjoy pool parties, movie nights and earn adventure credits to spend on prizes at the end of the cruise. Troop: The five-star Freedom of the Seas, which offers two alternating seven-day Caribbean cruises from Miami throughout the year, boasts a climbing wall, miniature golf course and an ice-skating rink. Port calls bring a variety of family-friendly activities, too, including nature hikes and historical tours. Sail to Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands or St. Maarten, or to Jamaica, Grand Cayman, Mexicos Yucatan Peninsula and Labadee, Royal Caribbeans private island in Haiti.

a successful family vacation. But entertaining the entire troop -- from the youngest child, hungry for some summer fun, to Mom and Dad, trying to make the most of their time off

How To Take the Kids With You Variety is an essential element of these floating resorts provide nearly

every amenity youll need to enjoy your holiday. Cruises also provide a budget-friendly option for summer fun, because cruise fares include accommodations, food nearly 24 hours a day, and a bevy of shipboard activities in one price thats paid up front. You can even pay for shore excursions before boarding your ship, ensuring fewer out-of-pocket expenses during your vacation. Below, are profiled childrens programs on four cruise lines and five ships bound for the Caribbean this summer. Though individual and group babysitting for small children costs a smalll fee, all other activities are included in your cruise fare. Age-appropriate activities are organized by the following categories: tots, tykes, tweens and teens.

from work -- can be easy, thanks to amenities offered by a number of Caribbean bound cruise ships. Cruises of the Caribbean offer a host of crowd-pleasing sights, from spotless beaches and sparkling seas to intriguing ports of call and engaging cultural events. Modern cruise ships add to the appeal, as

Theres also a fifth category, troop, to highlight specific ships andcruises that the entire family will enjoy. They sail to various ports in the Caribbean, departing from the New York City area, Miami and Galveston, TX, about an hour from Houston.

Cruising Carnival

How Princess Does it

The Royal Treatment

classes, scavenger hunts, PlayStation battles and a series of educational activities, cleverly disguised as contests and games, hosted by Carnival staff. Teens: Circle C, a brand-new program for kids 12 to 14 years old, prefers mix and mingle activities that resemble popular television shows -- Musical Jeopardy, Survivor Challenge and Teen Idol are just a few of the options available. Meanwhile, the discerning (and difficult to please) passenger between 15 and 17 will find a home at Club O2, where card games, karaoke, pool parties and video games are offered.

unior cruisers are treated to a variety of programs with Princess Cruises, with the bulk of services geared toward children from 3 to 17. Dedicated youth and teen centers are packed with arts and crafts tables, video game systems and special snacks, and most are equipped with kids-only splash pools. Select Princess cruises also include edutainment features, with interactive experiments, biology lessons and lectures by park rangers, marine scientists and other experts. The minimum age for most Princess cruises is 6 months, although more exotic sailings such as in South America, Hawaii, the South Pacific and Asia require that children be at least 1 year old.

Tweens: Shockwaves, a club for kids 8 to 12, offers scavenger hunts, sports and evening dance parties. The Junior Chef at Sea program provides cooking classes and easy recipes. Tours of the ships bridge and meetings with the captain are available on select cruises. Teens: Remix, the teen club, gives passengers 13 to 17 a choice: Kick back in front of a big-screen television or mingle with peers in a number of group activities. Dance classes, mocktail parties, talent shows, sports tournaments and casino nights are often on tap.

ith supervised activities for kids 2 and older, Carnival is a popular choice for seafaring families. Family fun ships, as Carnival calls its vessels, are often outfitted with private clubhouses and lounge areas to suit different age groups -- teens looking to escape small siblings, for instance, will find refuge at Club O2, while bored younger children will find a high-energy summer camp built just for them. The minimum age for most Carnival sailings is 6 months, but trans-Atlantic, Hawaiian and South American cruises require a minimum age of 1 year. Tots: Though specific programs arent available for children under 2, Carnival does offer a low-cost babysitting service. Prices start at $6 an hour for one child, plus $4 an hour for each additional sibling. Tykes: The Camp Carnival program provides the bulk of childrens services. Kids from 2 to 5 are treated to finger painting, puppet shows and sing-alongs, and parents can borrow beepers and cell phones for regular updates on their little ones. Kids from 6 to 8, meanwhile, enjoy dance classes, talent shows and portable video game systems. Special lunch menus are provided for picky eaters, with childhood favorites like chicken nuggets and macaroni and cheese. Tweens: Camp Carnival covers the youngest members of this group, with kids 9 to 11 taking part in art

Troop: Families aboard the 4.5-star Carnival Conquest, which sails seven-day Caribbean cruises from Galveston, TX, yearround, have four swimming pools to splash in. They also can choose from a variety of shore excursions, including camel rides in Montego Bay, Jamaica; a swim in Stingray City in Grand Cayman, the largest of the Cayman Islands; and a submarine trip along the coral reefs of Cozumel, Mexico. Meanwhile, the 4.5-star Carnival Valor alternates weekly seven-day Caribbean sailings from Miami. Choose engaging port calls in the Bahamas, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the Netherland Antilles, or alluring destinations in the Caymans, Honduras, Belize and Mexico.

Troop: Passengers aboard the five-star Caribbean Princess, offering nine-day cruises from Brooklyn, Tots: Group babysitting, with rates starting at $5 per NY, through Aug. 15, will sample ports in Puerto hour, caters to children under the age of 3. Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Turks and Caicos and Bermuda. Families can see live entertainment in the Tykes: Princess Pelicans, as passengers from 3 to Princess Theatre, catch a selection of the Movies 7 are known, enjoy pizza, age-appropriate movies Under the Stars program on the giant outdoor and theme parties. Plush animals -- including pintscreen by the pool, or hit the ships miniature golf size versions of Pelican Pete, the youth centers course. Family-friendly fare is available at many mascot -- are handed out as children learn about restaurants, though an outdoor grill serves burgers, animals they might encounter on their vacation. pizza and ice cream for the kids.