Cheap Family Cruises Planning a Vacation Are you planning a vacation with your family this summer?  Tired of going to the beach every year?  Have your children had their fill of Disney® World and the local theme parks?  Why not consider a family cruise?  While in the past cruises were popular among the older crowd, today’s cruise lines cater to adults and children of all ages.  With great rates for families, fun things to keep children occupied while on the open seas, and plenty of activities to keep mom and dad busy, family cruises offer a great alternative for vacationing families.  How to Save When Booking a Cruise It’s always hard to plan a vacation, especially if your family lives on a budget.  Vacations can be very expensive and many times families choose not to go because they are afraid of the cost.  Many believe that a family cruise is beyond their financial means, but that’s not always true.  There are a few things you can do to save money when trying to find the best family cruise. The first thing you should do is book your reservations early.  Booking early will save you from paying any last minute fees.  As the date of the cruise draws closer many cruise lines will increase their prices.  Secondly, book during the off season.  Depending on where you are heading prices from one month to the next may vary greatly.  Rather than planning your family cruise for the most popular time of the year, book an off month.  Not only will you save money but the ship might not be as crowded.  Thirdly, use third party booking sites to plan your cheap family cruises.  Often booking sites like Priceline® (http://www.priceline.com/) or Orbitz® (http://www.orbitz.com/) have even better rates than the individual cruise companies.  Finally, look for packages that include special rates.  Many companies offer family cruise specials but you often have to ask for them.  Top 10 Cheap Family Cruises Carnival® Cruises Carnival® is one of the leading cruise lines in the world with thousands of people traveling each year.  No matter where you are traveling to or how big your family is, you are always welcome.  Carnival® offers great family cruises, some of which are all inclusive and many great activities.  Fun things for children to check out are family karaoke, ice cream eating contests, and scavenger hunts.  Carnival cruise lines include Camp Carnival for age 2 – 11, Circle C for ages 12- 14 which includes video games, and a club suitable for teenagers.  For more information visit: http://www.carnival.com/. Disney® Cruises What kid wouldn’t want to spend a week on a Disney® Cruise?  While other cruise ships cater to children Disney® was designed solely for families and thus offers family cruise specials all year long.  Disney® Cruises offer live shows, character interaction, movies, and much more for families to enjoy.  Families can enjoy taking in a movie while they play in the Goofy Pool area or take in a live show. For more information visit: http://disneycruise.disney.go.com/dcl/ en_US/home/home?name=HomePage.   Princess Cruises® When it comes to booking cruises family ones offered by Princess Cruises® are a great deal.  Those traveling onboard the Tahitian and Pacific Princess have access to the best entertainment of all.  The Kids’ Fun Zone is open to children aged 3 to 12 and includes many educational activities including arts and crafts.  Older kids can hang out in the Teen center where video games and television are popular.  Parents also enjoy Princess Cruises’® team of child care professionals who will keep an eyes on your children while you spend some quality time with your spouse.   For more information visit: http://www.princess.com/.   Norwegian Cruise Lines® Norwegian® offers the best family cruises to destinations such as Alaska, Bermuda, and Hawaii along with many European ports of call.  Families traveling on board can take advantage of great programs designed to help children of all ages enjoy their travels.  Norwegian® has everything from a teen dance club to arts and crafts.  You can even take part in family activities like sporting events and video game challenges. For more information visit: http://www.ncl.com/nclweb/home.html.   Royal Caribbean® Royal Caribbean® has been among the top rated cruise lines for singles and families for years.  Royal Caribbean provides many activities that cannot be found on other cruise lines including rock climbing and onboard surfing lessons.  If you can dream it, Royal Caribbean can make it happen.  While all ships are suitable for families the newer cruise liners such as the Oasis of the Seas offer a youth spa, and ice show, and a disco club for teens.  For more information visit: http://www.royalcaribbean.com/.   Discovery Cruises® Don’t have time for a full seven day or even a four day cruise to a tropical destination?  How about a day cruise with Discovery Cruises®; Discovery Cruises® offers traditional cruises as well as Fun Day Cruises for the whole family.  The best part about cruises offered by Discovery® is that children under the age of 12 can sail and stay for free.  If you are looking for a short getaway this affordable family cruise would be perfect for your family. For more information visit: http://www.discoverycruiseline.com/.   Crystal Cruises® While Crystal Cruises might not be as well known as other cruise lines they do offer budget friendly options for families both large and small.  All children are permitted on the ship but special waivers must be signed for those under six years of age.  Activities include video games, a library, and special menu options.  For more information visit: http://www.crystalcruises.com/.   Celebrity Cruises® Celebrity Cruises® believes that cruises aren’t just for adults and children should be able to enjoy their time on the ship.  With this in mind Celebrity® has designed many family friendly activities including Fun Factory a place for those of all ages.  Activities include video games, karaoke, and much more.  Celebrity® also offers several family cruise specials that are all inclusive. For more information visit: http://www.celebritycruises.com/.   Regent Seven Seas® Regent Seven Seas Cruises® is one of the oldest cruise lines.  Regent® encourages travelers to bring their children and grandchildren along for the ride.  Regent® offers great family discounts for those planning on a reunion.  Family reunion packages are great for large groups and can be purchased through their website.  Instead of a week with your family on the beach why not get out on the ocean? For more information visit: http://www.rssc.com/.   Costa Cruises® Operating cruise ships and ports of call in several countries, Costa Cruises® is one of the larges cruise lines around.  Families are welcome on the Costa® ships and many of the prices are discounted to make the trip more affordable.  Fun things to check out on the Costa® liners are sports tournaments, gaming, and arts and crafts for the whole family to enjoy.  For more information visit: http://www.costacruise.com/B2C/USA/Default.htm.