Tips for cruising Europe with your family

The churches and museums aren't going anywhere. Neither are all the historic sites.

They'll be there the next time your children tour Europe. Repeat as a mantra: We don't have to see everything. This trip is going to be fun, not an episode of Survivor.

The last thing you want is to come home so exhausted that you need a vacation from your (expensive) vacation to Europe. Besides, anyone who has ever orchestrated a family sightseeing trip, whether here or abroad, knows that there's just so much culture kids can take in one day, especially when it's hot and crowded. ("Not another cathedral! Let's go swimming!")

"The kids wear out a lot faster than we think they should," warns Illinois grandmother Louise Richter, who has toured Europe with her grandchildren several times and thinks it's best to avoid cramming in too much at once. "Save something for their 21st birthday."

That's exactly why the Richters are among the growing numbers of adults opting to introduce their children and grandchildren to Europe on a cruise. You may not spend as much time in Barcelona or Florence as you'd like, but the upside, said Connecticut mom Diane Auriemma, is the chance to give the kids "a taste" of so many places without having to pack and unpack, switch hotels, navigate transportation from place to place, or try to convince finicky young eaters to sample unfamiliar cuisine. "You'd get off the ship, see what you wanted, and then came back to your same bed at night," Auriemma said.

That can be especially important to traveling kids craving a burger, a pool, and other kids who speak English. On the ship, Auriemma could also give her teens their desired freedom from Mom and Dad. "It wasn't like we were staying in a foreign city and they wanted to go down to the local bar," she said.

Children meet other kids on the ship, and in some cases make lasting friendships. So do parents. The Salveys, who live in Connecticut, and the Millers, who live in Maryland, met while cruising Europe with their teens and have become such good friends that they plan to vacation together again, Bee Miller said.

Another significant plus: With the dollar weak against the euro, a cruise paid in American dollars can be significantly cheaper than a land-based trip. You'll pay roughly $120 to $200 a person per day, cruise experts say, and less for children traveling as the third and fourth occupants of a cabin. (Remember: In Europe, the smaller hotel rooms often won't accommodate four.) Even when you add tips—typically $10 per day per person—that's a pretty good deal when you figure that lodging, all-you-can-eat meals, transportation, and evening entertainment are all included.

No wonder cruise lines report seeing more kids and teens on cruises to Europe and are catering to them with a full roster of supervised activities. For the first time this summer, Disney Cruise Line will be sailing to Europe, touting special shore excursions geared toward children. (Get ready to discover Narni, the Italian village that inspired C.S. Lewis' magical land of Narnia.) Check Disney Cruise Line for special deals on transatlantic voyages.

"The pace of bookings has exceeded our expectations," Disney spokesman Jason Lasecki said.

Even luxury lines like Crystal Cruises may have as many as 100 children onboard a European cruise, often with grandparents leading the way. Royal Caribbean will have six ships in Europe—more than ever before—while Carnival is introducing the 2,974-passenger Freedom in Europe with an itinerary that includes the line's first-ever visits to Greece and Turkey.

Some cruise lines, such as MSC Cruises, are enticing families with kids-cruise-free deals. Others, like Regent Seven Seas, are including free flights on certain dates. Norwegian Cruise Line boasts connecting staterooms and a family booking plan.

Travel websites such as Expedia and Travelocity report an uptick in reservations for European cruises. Travelocity's Amy Ziff said many ships will sell out, so it's essential to book early this season.

Even those who don't especially like cruises are signing on.

"I don't like crowds," said Miami TV cameraman Mike Zimmer. Yet Zimmer is planning to cruise Europe this summer with his wife and two sons, ages 12 and 14, and believes it will be preferable to a conventional European trip. "It will be less stressful," he said.