Ports like Barbados, St. Kitts, St. Martin, and St. Thomas sound heavenly.
The lure of Greek islands, like Mykonos, Naxos, Paros, Santorini, Skiathos, Skopelos, Corfu, Lefkada, Akynthos, and Aegina call with an accent that speaks of flavors and scents both ancient and modern.
The Roman port in Sicily beckons to the island traveler.

Ocean Fronts in Your Own Backyard
Cruising islands closer to home is another option for the American traveler.

Island cruises travel from the southern United States throughout the Caribbean and Mexico.
Southern California is another jumping-off point, with cruises to nearby Catalina Island as well as the Hawaiian Islands.
Another local favorite are Channel Island cruises, as well as cruises out of Washington State through the San Juan Islands. Shore excursions and water sports make every island destination an experience in itself. Often, water skiing, windsurfing, snorkeling, kayaking and excursion boats supplement the opportunities to swim and sun on beautiful shores.

More Exotic Island Cruise Destinations
More exotic island cruises abound.

The western islands of Scotland beckon travelers between the weather-friendly months of March to November.
Other destinations include the warm waters of the Mediterranean, including Greek, Italian, Croatian and Sicilian islands.  Malta is a popular destination as is Cyprus in the beautiful sea.
A dramatic experience off the beaten path awaits travelers who take island cruises to Africa!  Smaller, more intimate cruise ships sail to Southern Africa via Cape Verde, Ascension and St Helens Islands.
Across the Atlantic, island cruises traverse the Tierra de Fuego region and Argentina’s southern tip.  An arctic parka is standard issue on these adventures.
The Galapagos Islands in Ecuador offer another sort of island cruise experience.  Sea turtles and other flora and fauna unique to these islands transport the traveler to another world.
Australia, a huge island in itself, offers its own versions of cruises to local destinations, such as Green Island on the Great Barrier Reef.

Stop struggling with a decision. . . go ahead and say, “yes” to an island cruise.
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• A good value . . .  Since most everything is all-inclusive, you don’t have to worry about carrying your wallet everywhere to pay for drinks, food and activities.
• Food, lodging and activities are all under one roof . . .  You cannot lose your family members because you know they are on board somewhere on the ship.
• Something for everyone aboard the ship . . . Experienced staff make themselves available to help with acclimating you to cruising life, whether you enjoy physical activities or you are the more cerebral sort.
• Great for family reunions . . . Because today’s cruise vaations are more affordable, you could even schedule family reunions with all your relatives.

What to Expect on a Family Cruise

Each person in your family, from the children to the parents, will have different expectations of your family cruise.  

Parents may enjoy the gaming or reading and relaxing by the pool while the kids can enjoy many activities geared especially for them – from arts and crafts to movies and games.  Again, the great thing about family cruises is that most everything is all-inclusive aboard the ship and it almost feels like your own personal luxury liner.

One thing to remember . . .

When booking your family cruise is that not all ships setting sail from your nearest port are created equal.  Some cruise ships specifically tailor programs to children’s tastes and have tons of activities for siblings to participate in.  Other ships may have added programs for families almost as an afterthought.  In other words, they do not specifically cater to families who might have young children.

Bottomline, before you book your family cruise vacation, it’s up to you to do some research to determine the best cruise package for your family trip.

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