David Swanson
March 11, 2024
Galápagos marine iguanas pose for the camera. Getty Images
Start ’em young with these activity-packed sailings.
Plenty of cruise lines know how to entice children and teens with video arcades, rock-climbing walls, and play areas snaked with towering waterslides. But some operators take it a step further, dedicating specific voyages to families, with activities and enrichment tailored to young explorers. Here, four family-inspired routes to four corners of the world.
Spy Sea Lions
Operating year-round as a roving base camp in the Galápagos Islands, Lindblad Expeditions’ 96-passenger National Geographic Endeavour II hosts a Global Explorers Program designed for under-18s. On nine-night round-trips from Guayaquil, Ecuador, staff and naturalists match activities to the age level of those on board, engaging young travelers in marine biology, geology, photography, and other fields through snorkeling near sea lions, hiking across ancient lava fields, and close-up views of iconic blue-footed boobies and frigatebirds. The ship’s “open bridge” allows kids of all ages to meet the captain and learn about navigation, and connecting cabins are available for families. Departures: Multiple dates, March 1 through December 27.
Cycle along Europe’s Great Waterways
Active tour company Backroads is beloved for its cycling journeys throughout Europe, but when AmaWaterways’ river ships serve as a base, families unpack once and spend six days riding from one UNESCO World Heritage site to the next. Gentler route options on seven-night sailings aboard various Ama ships are designed for riders ages 7 and up, and bonus activities range from scavenger hunts to kayaking and dessert-making lessons. Danube River trips travel from Prague to Budapest through five countries, and scenic highlights include cycling the vineyards and storybook towns of Austria’s Wachau Valley, biking rail trails through the Bavarian Forest, and a side trip to the Czech Republic’s lollipop of a city, Cesky Krumlov. Or cycle the Rhine River from Basel to Amsterdam, past the Rhine Gorge’s fairy-tale castles and beside the Netherlands’ enchanting canals and windmills. Departures: Multiple dates, May 9 through October 21.
A Weddell seal sighting at Antarctica’s Port Charcot. Justin Weiler
Holiday with Penguins
“Few places promise more discovery than Antarctica,” says Laurence Gosset-Lukaszczyk, Abercrombie & Kent’s director of luxury expedition cruising. The line’s expedition cruise from Ushuaia to the Antarctic Peninsula engages kids ages 7 to 18 with naturalist guides who lead hands-on workshops (divided into two age groups) that explore marine mammal identification, penguin sketching, and wildlife photography. The 18-night cruise, limited to 199 passengers, is chartered with Ponant’s intimate expedition vessel Le Lyrial over the holidays, letting guests ring in the new year from the Southern Ocean. Departure: December 20.
Dive into French Polynesia
Based year-round in Tahiti, Paul Gauguin Cruises’ Moana Explorer program, designed in collaboration with marine education and conservation foundation Te mana o te moana, shows off its South Pacific backyard to families. Children and teens ages 6 to 15 are invited to snorkel in legendary lagoons, hike to volcanic aeries, and design a temporary Polynesian tattoo. Treasure hunts, stargazing, and jewelry-making sessions keep kids immersed in the beauty, nature, and culture of the Society Islands. The 330-passenger Paul Gauguin sails from Tahiti on seven-night voyages through French Polynesia, calling overnight in Bora Bora and Moorea. Departures: Multiple dates, June 22 through August 17.
