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With kids about to begin school vacations, many people are wondering if they can still find a good deal on a summer holiday that the whole family can enjoy. And the answer is “yes,” especially if your idea of a good time includes sailing aboard a cruise ship to palm-fringed beaches, ancient ruins and some of the most beautiful natural scenery in the world.

Need some convincing? Here are five reasons why your family fun should take place on water this summer:

1. Good Deals: There are still some very good deals available on cruises to the Caribbean, Mexican Riviera, the Mediterranean, and Alaska.  And kids can stay in the same cabin with you at a reduced rate. All you need to do is decide which type of cruise destination is best suited to your family – beaches and snorkeling; ancient ruins and castles; or glacier climbing and whale watching.

2. Fun for the kids: Most cruise ships have dedicated counselors and organized programs for kids, as well as video game zones, teen discos, and a range of activities that could include rock climbing walls, wave pools, mini-putt golf, basketball, water slides and ice skating. There are also more kids on a cruise during the summer, which means it’s easier to make friends.

3.  Time together, time for yourself: When the ship is at sea, family members can do their own thing but still get together as often as they want including for meals, selected activities and evening entertainment. So when the kids are doing their scavenger hunt, you could be at the spa enjoying a Swedish massage. And you won’t have to worry about them wandering off the premises and getting into trouble.

4. Safely explore destinations as a family:  When you arrive in a port, you’ll have the option of taking a wide variety of shore excursions that are organized by the cruise line and include tour guides. Depending on your destination, these excursions will run the gamut from sightseeing, boating, beaching, train rides, helicopter flights and snorkeling. In fact, one of the best excursions we ever did as a young family was a snorkeling trip off the Caribbean island of St. Thomas.

5. Don’t have to keep sticking a hand in your wallet: Your cruise fare covers your cabin, meals, use of facilities, and entertainment. And food is literally available 24 hours a day, including kid-friendly items like hamburgers, pizza, macaroni, chicken fingers and ice cream. There are also special soft-drink cards that you can purchase on most ships for a one-time flat fee that are a good bargain and make the kids reasonably self-sufficient. And the ship is cash-free because you charge all purchases to your cabin account. So you’ll be able to leave your wallet in the wall safe in your cabin until you go ashore.

So if you’re ready for a great family holiday, maybe it’s time to pick a ship, choose a destination, and start cruising into some fabulous summer fun.

With the end of another school term nearing, many parents are beginning to think about where the family can go for their summer vacation.  It’s never an easy choice, especially when there’s a range of ages and interests to please. And with household budgets being squeezed tighter than ever, parents are looking for vacation options that provide good value for money as well as lots of great memories.

So what’s a family to do?

Based on my experience, there’s nothing that will please everyone more than a family cruise. Over the years, I’ve taken my two girls on 6 cruises to the Caribbean, the Mexican Riviera and the Mediterranean. And we’ll be sailing on our 7^th cruise together when we visit the Greek Islands this summer to celebrate their 19^th and 21^st birthdays.

If you’re ready to be convinced, here are my top five reasons why you’ll be a hero for booking your next vacation at sea:

1. Lots to do. There’s something for people of all ages to enjoy aboard a cruise ship. For example, many modern ships have fabulous swimming pools with water slides and hot tubs. They have outdoor movie theatres, video arcades, basketball courts, mini-golf, and rock climbing walls. And they have night clubs, great restaurants, Las Vegas-style production shows, casinos, and fancy health spas. Our girls used to love the swimming pools, buffet lunches, and outdoor movie theatres; now they prefer the fancy alternative restaurants, the spa treatments and the night life!

2. Great destinations. There are lots of great summer cruise regions to choose from including Alaska, the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, Canada/New England, the Mexican Riviera, Hawaii and the Caribbean. The latter three destinations are great for sun, sand, snorkeling, geography and tropical relaxation, while the former are excellent for culture, history, architecture and shopping. Our girls loved their first Med cruise to Italy so much they asked for another to the Greek Islands and Turkey. They have discovered things about the world that they could never learn in a classroom.

3. Time together, time apart. The family gets quality time together at meals, watching shows or taking land excursions, but the kids can make their own friends and do their own thing on the ship. For younger children, cruise ships have group and/or individual babysitting service so parents can have some quality time to themselves. For kids aged 2 to 18, there’s also the option of joining organized programs with age-appropriate games, activities and events. Disney even has walkie-talkies that parents can use to keep in touch with their kids aboard ship. So it works out to be a great vacation for both parents and kids.

4. Don’t worry, be happy. When the kids leave the cabin without you to explore their floating city at sea, you don’t have to secretly follow them. You know they are safely aboard ship with lots of staff around, lots of safe things to do, and usually other kids their age to do it with. And you don’t have to worry about them being run over, mugged, or getting lost. So once the family is aboard ship, you can relax and let them enjoy themselves!

5. Really good deals. Cruise lines are hurting and have lowered fares to rock bottom. Some are offering two-for-one fares, free air, big discounts or shipboard credits. Others are offering special deals for families like letting kids stay in the same cabin for free, or at reduced rates for 3^rd or 4^th person in the same cabin. For example, NCL is offering a 7-day Alaska cruise starting at just US$909 per person (double occupancy), and just $199 per person for 3^rd and 4^th person. Oceania is offering two-for-one fares on selected sailings with a 50% discount for 3rd and 4^th person per cabin. Regent is letting kids sail for free in the same cabin on select European cruises this summer. And MSC is allowing kids under 17 to sail free as 3rd and 4th passengers on all 2009 sailings. 

So if you’ve been wondering where to vacation this summer, take a serious look at cruising. It’s a choice that’s almost certain to please the whole family, while giving you great value for your vacation dollar and memories that will last a lifetime.