Cruises are a Great to Travel for Families Celebrating Holidays, Graduations or other milestones or just make it a Family Reunion.

Enjoy Christmas at home and New Year’s in the sun! Holland America invites families on leisurely holiday cruises. Teens traveling on HAL cruise ships can enjoy the Loft, a special lounge area for kids 13-17, designed to resemble a New York artist’s studio. The setting includes music and videos, comfortable furniture, Internet access stations, video games and karaoke, big screen TVs and more. Kids will love the secluded passageway that leads upstairs to the Oasis, a teen sundeck featuring a nine-foot waterfall and cooling cave; they can sunbathe during the day and dance under the stars at night to the beat of a state-of-the-art sound system and laser show. HAL also offers a Teen Culinary Arts Center Program where kids can learn about basic cooking techniques, kitchen safety, ingredients and how to follow recipe instructions. Kids up to age 15 can participate in this program, teens 15 and up may participate in the standard classes.

Or, take a quick holiday trip on Disney Cruises , always a popular favorite with families. Disney is offering sailings all throughout the holidays and throughout the year. Ring in the New Year on a cruise. Disney has a reputation for having fantastic amenities for kids, and they don’t disappoint with their teen programs: The Magic offers Ocean Quest, an interactive play space constructed to look like the ship’s bridge- kids 11 to 13 years of age can steer a virtual ship, play videogames, watch television and participate in arts and crafts. The Stack lounge, designed for older teens (ages 14 to 17) is a trendy spot for teens to play videogames, listen to music, surf in the Internet Cafe and enjoy social activities throughout the day. Activities on the ship run into the wee hours…perfect for the teen crowd.

For families looking for an alternative to the traditional reunion, a gathering at sea will surely make a splash with everyone. Following are the top reasons family reunions at sea are more popular than ever:

1. Superior Value – The all-inclusive pricing of cruise vacations includes a family’s accommodations, meals, 24- hour room service, most onboard activities and top entertainment. Groups often receive special amenities. Cruise ships offer families a variety of staterooms to fit any budget and travel needs. Some cabins have been specially designed to sleep four or more guests. Special suites also are available for the disabled and folks who want more room and luxury amenities.

2. Convenient Departure Points – Traveling to board a cruise ship has never been easier. Ships depart from more than 20 ports throughout North America. Today, cruise ships are located within driving distance or a short flight of many U.S. cities, including Miami, Tampa/St. Petersburg, Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York, Galveston, New Orleans, Boston, Los Angeles and Seattle, among others.

3. No Worries – On a family reunion cruise, there is no cooking or cleaning to worry about – just relaxation. Plus, the weather is usually warm and pristine. Once everyone’s bags are unpacked (some lines may offer to do that, too), the ship’s crew does the rest.

4. Floating Fun – There is never a dull moment on a modern cruise ship. Guests enjoy swimming pools and water slides, rock climbing walls, surf riders, ice-skating rinks, roller blade tracks, spa services, kids programs, nightclubs, gambling, shopping, dining, libraries, Internet and video arcades, enrichment seminars and guest lecturers, yoga and plenty more. A highlight for many families is the visit to the cruise lines’ private islands that dot the Caribbean – full of fun and relaxation.

5. Food Galore – There are more food and dining choices on cruise ships than ever before, catering to people of all ages and tastes. Cruise ships still have their formal dining rooms, but most also feature more casual restaurants, grills and poolside dining options – plus 24/7 room service. Specialty restaurants, founded by some of the world’s most famous chefs, also are found on many cruise ships.

6. Spa Sensations – Men and women who want to be truly pampered are invited to enjoy an incredible spa experiences. Cruise ship spa staffs make relaxation and rejuvenation the focus of one’s visit, from the time one’s spa robe is slipped on to the sad moment of leaving the serene and peaceful Eden.

Children’s Programs – For parents who may want a break from their children – and vice versa – most of today’s cruise ships offer plenty of structured and supervised recreational programs for kids ages 3 to 17. In addition, special lounges and nightclubs for tweens and teens abound for the younger generations of families to hang out in supervised settings – no parents allowed