Aboard today's modern cruise vessels, there's a major focus upon having activities and facilities for every age group. For Mom there are luxurious spa facilities on many of today's ship. For the kids there are always friends to meet and things to do. For every member of the family, there are a wide variety of things to do.

You can relax knowing that your children are being well taken care of. With a dedicated youth staff, great facilities and lots of other kids, your children are bound to have a dream vacation too.

Shipboard activities for children are both educational and fun. Royal Caribbean has a program called "Mad Science" that allows kids to take part in fun and cool science experiments and activities, like building rockets that they launch when they go the cruise line's private island. Princess has programs designed by the California Science Center and the National Wildlife Federation that focus upon environmental education about the areas they are visiting. Princess's environmental education program in Alaska even won an award from the National Park Service.

Each cruise line's children's program has its own unique flavor, but the standard for shipboard care for kids is quite high. Counselors are typically Education or Physical Education majors in college with training in first aid and CPR. Activities are well planned in advance, with activity programs published in detail. These published program sheets allow parents to see what their kids are doing, allowing the family to plan their daily activities if they choose to do so.

Here's some info on each cruise line's youth programs:

On a Carnival "Fun Ship" one low price covers just about everything including their award-winning Camp Carnival� children's program for ages 2-15. You don't have to worry about all the expenses which add up when traveling with children.

The Camp Program includes specially designed programs for four age groups, evening babysitting (for a nominal fee), specially trained staff, youth playrooms including computers, children's menu and a waterslide and kids wading pool. During the cruise, your kids will have tons of fun exploring their Carnival "Fun Ship", enjoying all kinds of games, parties, talent shows and other fun - all under the friendly supervision of Camp Carnival counselors. This is a family vacation they will never forget!

There is nothing like the Magic and Wonder of a Disney Cruise Line vacation. Adults find excitement and indulgence. Children have the time of their lives. Families unite and everyone makes memories to last a lifetime. There is something special for everyone who boards Disney's grand ships. The ships were designed with separate areas and themed activities for all age groups so everyone has their own kind of magical experience. The best part is when they all meet up again at the end of the day, they're renewed and relaxed with lots of adventures to share!

Of course Disney has designed their ships with family travel in mind. In fact, more than 15,000 square feet of space is dedicated to children's programs. Staterooms are larger than average and have a unique layout that is particularly family friendly. And with ingenious design and a wide variety of activities aboard Disney vessels, there's truly something for everyone. Spas are open to adults, pool facilities for families and play areas open to children. Disney also has fantastic entertainment that includes special production shows that can only be seen aboard a Disney vessel. It's a great mix of multigenerational activities that's uniquely Disney!

NCL's Kid's Crew� is a program of things to do, places to go and kids to meet. It's like recess, only longer.

You can enjoy a massage while they're on a treasure hunt. Play roulette while they're camping out or head for the Chocoholic Buffet� while they're having a pillow fight at a pajama party. Every minute they spend in Kid's Crew� is carefully supervised by a staff of youth counselors from leading universities and organizations. There are circuses, crafts, parades, sports, games, stories and parties. Campouts with flashlights and tents and cooking classes where they can make pizza or pancakes with funny faces. There is T-shirt painting, face painting and poolside root beer floats. Treasure hunts and sand castle competitions on our private island. And even shore excursions designed just for families. Of course we promise we'll give them plenty of time to spend with you, too.

With Royal Caribbean's Adventure Ocean� program, the family vacation concept will never be the same again. If you're a kid, then the Adventure Ocean Youth Program is just for you. Adventure Ocean is a specially designed complimentary program for infants age 6-36 months (must be accompanied by a parent) kids from 3 to 11 and teens from 12 to 17. Age groups for the kids program include 3-5, 6-8, 9-11, 12-14 and 14 to 17. Royal Caribbean ships have great facilities for kids that include separate areas for each age group and a professional staff of youth counselors to make sure there are always fun things to do.

Using what's known as "Edu-tainment", Adventure Ocean blends educational activities, daily itineraries, ports of call, games, individual and team sports, art, performance and a general good time into a unique onboard experience for children, teens and parents. With Adventure Ocean, there are activities for the whole family, plus parents get a bit of free time to themselves. Even on a vacation for the whole family, Royal Caribbean understands that Mom and Dad sometimes need their own time together. The Adventure Ocean will stimulate your kids by day and further entertain them by night with their Late Night Party Zone. And now parents can relax during lunchtime with Adventure Ocean's new Lunch and Play program which provides Adventure Ocean kids with lunch, movies, cartoons and free-play time between noon and 2 p.m. Have younger children and want them cared for in your cabin? The Sitters at Sea program offers professional individualized childcare in your stateroom at a nominal charge (this is arranged onboard via the pursers Desk 24 hours in advance). With Adventure Ocean, kids get some time together to have all kinds of fun. That fun includes special meals, a TV station with programming dedicated to kids and lots of great play areas. Royal Caribbean cruises are designed to bring families closer together and for EVERYONE to have the time of their life!

The goal of the family vacation is simple: find that elusive experience that allows both parents and children to enjoy their favorite activities as well as spend quality time together. Love Boat Kids is Princess' program for children ages three to 17 years. The Fun Zone accommodates kids 3-7 (Princess Pelicans) and kids 8-12 (Shockwaves) and the Remix Teen Center is perfect for the 13-17 year olds.

While youth facilities vary by vessel, children are welcomed with a myriad of games and activities on all Princess ships including arts and crafts, pool games, scavenger hunts, deck parties, bridge and galley tours, afternoon ice cream, videos and cartoons. Teens can enjoy dancing in their own private disco, video games and giant screen TV's, in addition to murder mystery games, theme parties, shipboard Olympics, karaoke and lip sync shows, hip hop dance classes, pizza parties and movie fests, which are supervised by a dedicated staff of youth activity professionals.

The kids program also enables young cruisers to participate in a special environmental program called "Save Our Seas," created by the California Coastal Commission. Throughout the cruise, children will enjoy activities designed to teach them about the oceans and marine life. On Alaska sailings, the National Park Service teaches kids about glaciers, endangered wildlife & other animals native to the region, allowing kids the opportunity to earn their Junior Ranger badge.