By Christine Koubek

updated 1:14 p.m. ET May 22, 2006

Now that nearly 1 million children are sailing the high seas each year, you can find family-friendly amenities and programs on everything from luxurious ocean liners to low-key tall ships.

As each new ship makes its debut, cruisers can choose among increasingly innovative perks, like onboard nurseries, planetariums, ice-skating rinks, and movies on a giant screen under the stars (or opt for simpler, more basic sailings on smaller ships).

And yet, while most cruise lines are now chock-full of child-friendly fare and comfy cabins, it's the differences (and how they match up to your interests and children's ages) that will determine which ship is the right fit for your family.

Before we get started, we offer a handful of tips you should consider prior to even starting your search for the right ship, whether you are traveling with babies, teens, or kids in between:

• Kids per counselor: Ask about the ratio of kids to counselors and counselor qualifications. Most lines have dedicated youth staff that are college-educated in the field, have professional childcare experience or are former nurses or nannies.
• Pagers: Is it important to you to have a pager while your child is in the youth program? Disney and Princess provide pagers for parents. Other lines have you sign your children in and write down where you expect to be on the ship.
• Screen time: If you have firm rules you'd like followed about television and computer time, ask how much time kids spend parked in front of those massive video walls, about the type of shows shown, and if there are any restrictions when selecting appropriate video games.
• Home port: One of the biggest advantages -- these days -- of family cruising is the industry's embrace of U.S. home ports. Ships are increasingly establishing bases of operation on a seasonal or year-round basis in drive-to ports of call, ranging from San Francisco and San Diego to Galveston, Texas; Mobile, Ala.; Charleston, S.C.; and Baltimore. The best news? The option eliminates both the additional cost and the extra bother of flying to traditional embarkation cities like Miami and Fort Lauderdale.
• Kid season: And there's a caveat to note for the small and/or luxury lines (like Crystal, Regent and Windjammer). Since they offer relatively small children's play areas (if any at all), you'll want to be sure that you're on one of the holiday or other selected sailings where children's activities are in full swing.

What's your idea of family fun? Are you sports enthusiasts? Artsy-craftsy? Do you prefer a vacation with plenty of educational or cultural offerings? Or an outdoorsy voyage on a tall ship where almost every day is spent in port? You'll see as you investigate cruise lines that each one has its own vibe and particular strengths.

For example, Royal Caribbean is a sports lover's cruise paradise complete with full-court basketball, mini-golf, ice-skating and volleyball courts along with health clubs so well-equipped you'll wish you had one like it at home. Princess offers activities with a brainy bent for all ages, from financial workshops and photography classes to interactive science activities where children can study coral reefs and dissect a squid. And on Windjammer, families can partake in a summer-camp-style vacation at sea.

Guide to family cruises What to know before you go Best shore excursions for kids Best cruises for teens Controlling your kids at sea Best staterooms for families

Family time: There are two types of activities to look for in a family cruise. The first: What can we do and enjoy as a family? Carnival offers water slides and craft nights; Disney, a nightly stage show that is entertaining for the whole family. And Royal Caribbean hosts game shows, shipbuilding regattas, and (via its new Fisher Price partnership) music- and art-oriented "play groups" for parents to join with their 6-month-to-3-year-old children.

And the second? What's fun for kids to do with like-minded peers (see below for more detail under "children's programs").

Baby on board? First and foremost, check the minimum age required to sail. It varies from as young as 12 weeks (Disney) to 4 months old (Carnival), to 6 months old (Princess) and even 6 years old (Windjammer).

Disney Cruise Line is hard to beat for babies, offering a full-service Little-Mermaid-themed nursery at sea (for ages 12 weeks - 3 years old) complete with a boatload of toys and special porthole windows for parents to peek at their children (price: $6 per hour for the first child, $5 per hour for the second, minimum of 2 hours). Even if you don't need the nursery, Disney provides parents with everything from Diaper Genies, cribs, and strollers to fresh pureed vegetables delivered right to your cabin.

Another baby-friendly line is Cunard, with a nursery for children age 1 and up. And Carnival and Norwegian offer children under 2 the opportunity to play in the playroom when accompanied by a parent.

In some cases, cruise ships will loan out key baby equipment. Check with the line you choose to see which of the above they provide.

Children's programs: One of the great things about these programs is that your children get to hang out with others their age and do cool kids' stuff for as little as one hour to several hours a day, depending on your family's preferences. It also gives you a chance to hit the gym, attend a cooking class or read a book at an adults-only spa pool for a bit.

MORE FROM FAMILY

Family Section Front

Best learning holidays for kids Have a 'sliming' good time on this cruise Avoid wandering kids at Disneyland — plan ahead The latest gear for pets on the go Pennsylvania for autumn lovers Top 10 kid-friendly museums Theme parks celebrate Halloween 7 camping tips for parents Bid farewell to summer in style High-end pet lodges popular with owners Family Section Front   Add Family headlines to your news reader: