Kickin »a cruise to Europe with kids

Children were everywhere – splashing in the pools of the ship, visiting the Colosseum and Pompeii, posing for family photos before dinner.

In Mediterranean cruise on the Disney magic, there were at least 1,000 children on board, more than half of them under 10, many not yet out of the nursery.

"The journey can be so stressful," said Geri Markey of Los Gatos, California, traveling with a 7 and 10 years. "Packing and unpacking, making sure not to forget anything, finding food that you eat. Here, everyone is happy."

Whatever your travel style or budget, there have never been many options for children – from ultra deluxe Crystal, Regent Seven Seas Norwegian Cruise Line, which has three ships in Europe, including Jade, that cruises year-round and is touting a special Nickelodeon-themed cruise from Barcelona scheduled for late July. There is also Royal Caribbean, to undertake its largest season ever with 11 ships sailing in the region, and offers seven MSC ships, 85 itineraries and special offers for kids-cruise-free for children under 12 years sharing a cabin with parents (or grandparents).

The new Magic Carnival also cruises in the Mediterranean – the cruise line's first full-season overseas in three years. If you are looking for a special trip with your adult children – perhaps graduate – or to escape a single parent while children are in the field, Windstar Cruises has deals on their sailing yachts that are almost half-off on the greek travel Isles .

Balancing fun with historyIt easy to understand the appeal. There are only so many Gothic churches, museums placed a child can take. Even adults. No wonder cruise lines are reporting an up-tick in families cruising Europe. Crystal – the only luxury cruise line with dedicated space for children – is now doing triple the number of kids on cruises in Europe, while Royal Caribbean expects to carry more than 24,000 children on his tours abroad, including which begins its new sailing the Adriatic to Venice.

Disney touts special hiking tour for kids. We took a class of pasta in an old Tuscan farmhouse. (If you want to shoot with the mouse, go this year. In 2012, all four ships will be stateside.) Even Uniworld River Cruises reports that the children join their parents and grandparents on routes which may include the Normandy or Prague, while Seadream Yacht Club , which will appeal to couples generally very refined, is marketing its August 3 sailing from Rome to the families, which offer special shore excursions, meals and more.

Aboard a cruise ship you can relax and meet families from all over the world, instead of schlepping from city to city. And after a tiring day of touring, we return to a place where most everyone speaks English and there are great pools, food and family, with the morning-youth activities until the evening, a nice break for mom and dad . "It 's good to get rid of the guys for a while' without feeling guilty," laughed Gilmore aboard the Disney Magic.

You could not leave your 14 years, wandering alone in a European city, or you want, but on board the ship, you can safely have all the freedom she craves – and in good company of his age. "The best part was meeting new people and make new friends," said Jennifer Davidson, 17, run with her aunt and cousin.

Children with special needs – mental, physical, severe food allergies – are also housed. No problem if you encourage children to expand with their food choices and turn up their nose when the dish arrives, the waiter will bring you require something different.

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OnboardYou leave the children can also let the younger cruisers remain on board while visiting the sites. "The cruise is for children, shore excursions for us," said Micah Herrelbrink, who was in the boat with three friends – all wives of U.S. Air Force pilots deployed in Afghanistan – and their 10 children, all under 6 years. "We can focus on ourselves, that we never get to do at home," he said.

The downside? You can not linger as long as you want in a museum or enjoy the atmosphere of a coffee because you have to go back to the ship. Not meet many locals as you might have if you were on tour alone. And you may end up with cranky children on a long hike to the ground.

But this is a small price to pay, families cruise in Europe, they say. Ayman Malek Neoman and Irene, both physicians from Huntington Beach, Calif., were traveling with their four children, from 6 to 12, as Malek parents, brother and sister-in-law. He opted for this trip so far from home because he wanted the children to begin to appreciate that the U.S. is not the center of the universe. But she does not want to fool her and her husband in the process. "This is much easier," he said, watching the kids in the pool, while the ship headed for the door next.

Be warned that the cruise excursions – especially in Europe – can be expensive. That's why seasoned travelers of the family, especially when on tour with the extended family or friends, the book tour of their independent not only save them money, but also give them greater flexibility.

Do not expect children to be fascinated by all the sites of both. Steven Tuck, a professor of classics at Miami University and president of the Virgil Society, which offers all the variety of European tour, suggests "do it for the people, not buildings." Tuck was on board the Disney Magic as the resident historical expert and has traveled extensively with his son, as well as others.

"What we are trying to do is plant a seed so that you want to come back and explore foreign cultures and travel," he said. "You do not want everything I remember is being hot and exhausted."

A parents. Ready to jump into the pool?

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