10 Travel Trends: Families Redefining Themselves, Getting More For Less
Trends Report Dec. 1, 2010. As the family market boosts the travel industry's bottom line, expect more free perks and consumer demands for 2011.Trends Report Dec. 1, 2010. As the family market boosts...
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Norwegian Epic, The Big Story At Sea
Here's a case where bigger is better, because the stylish Norwegian Epic, one of the world's largest cruise ships, knows how to deliver heaping portions of family fun.With the launch...
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Royal Caribbean’s Oasis Of The Seas – How It Fared
Our cruise specialist reports on whether size matters on the new Royal Caribbean Oasis of the Seas - the largest cruise ship sailing the seas today.As a family travel specialist, I often preview...
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Smooth Sailing Without Seasickness
Feeling Sick at Sea? FTF's Doc Holiday has tips on how to prevent it, and if that's not possible, how to make it go away quickly so you can enjoy your sea cruise. Onboard, at last!...
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Crystal Cruises And The Smithsonian Sail The Panama Canal
A luxury Crystal Cruise includes the super teaching skills of the Smithsonian Museum staff to offer families at sea a sailor's life of learning.Take one magnificent ship, add a dash of mouthwatering...
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Star Trekker: Zac Brown Band Cruises to Grand Cayman
On September 2, 2010, the Grammy Award-winning Zac Brown Band will be taking the long way to Grand Cayman aboard the Carnival Inspiration. The country music ensemble will depart...
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Bahamas-Bound On The New Disney Dream
Innovative as ever, the Disney Dream sets sail with 4-night Bahamian cruises starting at just $3,500 for a family of four. Wow!Eight decades have passed since Steamboat Willie chugged...
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The Norwegian Gem Sets Sail – My Review
Read about our cruise expert's sneak peak at a brand new ship, Norwegian Gem, in her review of an inaugural "cruise to nowhere."
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The Riches Of France By Barge
For a different kind of "cruise" and an offbeat French experience, consider cruising around France with your family in one of Crown Blue Line's barges. "You could have picked a boat a little...
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Top Cheap Cruise Getaway: Carnival Freedom
Carnival Cruise Lines' Freedom is a winner of FTF's Top 10 (Cheap) Getaways For Family Travelers 2008 award. Hitting the open seas may sound a little too luxurious for the budget-minded family. ...
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Royal Caribbean’s Liberty of the Seas
Royal Caribbean's newest and biggest ship plies the Caribbean Sea and gets a full inspection from FTF's cruise admiral and her kids.I admit it was the promise of on-board surfing that...
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Croatia, Sailing The Dalmatian Coast
Cruising the Croatia coast, where islands are just a few hours' sail apart and harbors welcome overnight boats, is a breeze for all ages. Croatia has long ago been discovered. Since Roman...
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Costa Rica Family Cruising
Exploring this coastline by ship provides a rich South America adventure and learning opportunities, without the hassles of getting around a foreign country. If you're looking for a family adventure...
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Carnival Gets Teens With At-Sea Programs
Carnival Cruise Lines has expanded its program offerings and facilities for that hard-to-please teenage market.Since the millennium, teens have been sought out by the cruise companies, who see...
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The Long View: Coping With Carry-On Regulations
FTF's cruising expert examines carry-on regulations and how family sailors can cope with leaving the liquids and gels behind.I haven't willingly checked a bag in 10 years, even for a weeklong...
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The Long View: Seeing Europe By Sea
FTF's cruise expert weighs in on the benefits of touring Europe by sea in an era of foreign exchange malaise and inflated prices.Back in our great-grandparents’ day, a trip to Europe...
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The Long View: Shore Excursions
FTF's cruise expert examines the whole business of shore excursions, and if your days in port by escort are worth their cost.Just as there are people who cruise and people who don't, a subset...
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Reunions Afloat
Extended Families find fun at sea with a Carnival Cruise Lines sailing up the New England coast to Canada.Everyone talks about how wonderful cruises are for families, but we recently put the concept...
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Exploring Australia: Hawkesbury River Region, New South Wales
The Hawkesbury River
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A Galapagos Eco-Adventure
Seven days in Ecuador's prehistoric landscape, cruising and watching unusual wildlife together with family, may be the ultimate bonding experience. After decades of travel, no other destination...
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Are Luxury Cruises Worth the Big Bucks?
FTF's cruise expert explains why luxury cruises cost so much and why they are sometimes worth every penny.If you've always wanted to wallow in the elegance of a super luxurious cruise, but...
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The Long View: Zipline Excursions – Safe or Scary?
FTF's cruise expert examines "adventure" shore excursions to determine whether they are good value or safe for families.As frequent cruisers know, a ship's optional shore excursions can make...
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Family Cruising: Catching Elusive Savings
FTF's cruise expert shares money-savings tips on with booking value cruises and discounted shore excursions. Cruise discounts and savings are still alive and kicking, but at a slower pace...
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The Long View: Cruising’s Specialty Restaurants
Hear what FTF's cruise expert has to say about what passes for "fine dining" aboard today's major cruise ships.Lately, when I mention cruising to friends and family, the topic of dining...
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Star Trekking: 07-08: 2009: Sail The Sea With Disney Stars
Disney Cruise Line is striving to give your kids what they want with their Disney Channel Summer at Sea Cruises. Many stars from popular Disney Channel shows will be on board the Disney...
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Cruising’s Special Kid-Welcoming Touches
Look with Family Travel Forum's cruise expert through her daughter's eyes to see what can make a family cruise truly special. During our six years of family cruising, we have always been...
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Feeding the Titanic Fever
If the Titanic story interests you, here are a few museums and exhibits around the globe that are dedicated to the notorious ship and its demise.Interest in the Titanic, Britain's "unsinkable"...
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Girlfriends on the Nile: Egypt for R&R
After a few months of work in Baghdad, I was ready for a break and decided to visit Egypt with my friend Tina, who is the Baghdad Bureau Chief for the LA Times, and New York friend...
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Cruising’s Cool for Tiny Travelers
Planning to cruise with a Tiny Traveler? Here's the information you need on babysitting and childcare options.While a cruise vacation is a dream for many families, those with infants and...
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Cruising for a Bruising? You Won’t Find It At Sea
FTF examines cruise kids' programs and offers tips on how to avoid a psychic and financial bruising when planning a floating holiday. Having been a guest on a Royal...
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Cruising Thailand’s Similan Islands
Join a Canadian family of adventurous sailors as they embark on a clipper ship to transit the calm waters between Thailand and Singapore. Thailand is one of our family's favorite vacation destinations,...
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Canalboating Along Florida’s Okeechobee Waterway
A canalboat journey is an ideal multi-generational vacation for the family who likes to earn their keep by navigating and fishing for supper. Only the sound of fish jumping nearby broke the silence...
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Across The Caribbean Aboard Westerdam: A Floating, Family-Friendly Hotel
Have children who want to learn about the world on the ultimate field trip? Holland America cruises can fulfill and exceed that educational requirement. It's winter in the Northern Hemisphere....
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Greek Island Sampler: Cruise Aboard The Cristal
There's no better way to tour the Greek isles and show kids and parents a truly educational, enriching and fun good time than by ship.Children may not be thrilled at the thought of viewing...
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Mexican Riviera Aboard the Golden Princess
Families interested in a taste of Mexican culture, beach time, and not having to worry about packing and unpacking, should try this cruise.(Editor's Note: For the 2008, 2009 and 2010 seasons,...
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Finding The Perfect Family Cruise
Dreaming of a cruise but not sure where to begin? Here are 7 strategies for picking a winner for everyone in your family.Look at this strange sight: the entire family is sitting down for dinner...
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Alaska’s Yukon Territory From Ship To Shore
FTF's contributing editor joins Holland America Lines and learns how to explore Alaska's Yukon Territory by land and sea -- comfortably.One morning in '63 a new boy, Martin, from Dawson...
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Phuket, Thailand Is James Bond Territory
Experience sea canoeing, sailing, and other adventures at this exotic southeast Asian destination. The cave tunnel gets smaller and smaller as we lie flat in the yellow inflatable kayak. "No...
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Hawaii By Sea
Cruising the Hawaiian Islands on NCL's American-flagged ocean liner means never packing and unpacking the kids as you tour around a state made to be seen by sea.Is exploring Hawai'i by sea...
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Pride of America
NCL's newest vessel to ply the Hawaiian Islands gets a full inspection from FTF's admiral and falls short on "aloha-ness."Frankly, cruise ships that ply the Hawaiian Islands have a hard...
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Sweden To Finland: A Ferry Fit For A Cruise
Tired of long flights and train rides? FTF recommends a comfortable ferry tour through Scandinavia. In February 2000, my family toured Scandinavia under the aegis of Norvista...
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From Aswan To Luxor: Egypt Along The Nile
A cruise on the Nile River makes for an exciting - and surprisingly affordable - family trip to Egypt. Here's an account of how history can come alive when you fix in some fun...
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Cruising Australia’s South Pacific
A deluxe family cruise with P&O Lines from Sydney, Australia highlights the pirates' lore and pleasures of the South Pacific.Modern travel can make my head spin. Jump on a plane, whiz into...
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Galapagos Islands Cruise With Lindblad
Play Darwin with your family on an educational, unforgettable trip around the ecologically amazing Galapagos islands with Lindblad Expeditions. We just finished...
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Maximize The Magic Onboard MSC’s Lirica
Thinking of taking a cruise? Check out what makes the MSC Lirica a great choice for an upscale onboard experience for the whole family.Pack lots of fun gear, toss in some chic party clothes, stir...
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Alaska: Cruising In Comfort With Teens
Stunning natural beauty, adventure, ease and a thirst for knowledge about the region await travelers on a fully equipped vessel cruising Alaska.Stepping out on the deck an hour or so after departing...
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Caribbean Princess
FTF's cruise specialist rates a new Caribbean-bound Princess ship to see how well it fares with families. Today’s cruise lines draw rave reviews for appealing to children and even...
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Sailing On The ms Westerdam
Holland America Line now welcomes grandparents, their kids and their kid's kids, and treats them all to a memorable and classy cruise vacation.Holland America Line's ms Westerdam...
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Travel Trends 2006: Cruising’s Up, Cruisers Up
Trends Report, June 1, 2006 The North American cruise industry celebrates rise in passenger numbers and revenues, largely due to multi-generational travel. A recent press conference hosted by the
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Carnival Triumph
Join FTF's cruise expert as she boards the Carnival Triumph for a cruise with tweens and teens up the East coast to Canada.Been to an island destination with the kids lately? If so, you have...
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Aboard Carnival’s Triumph
My family and I sailed on Carnival's Triumph from New York to Halifax last September. The Assistant Chief Cabin Steward Mr....
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