Just because parents have really young children doesn't mean they can't go on vacation. These days there are lots of options to choose from, especially in cruise travel.



To make vacation planning easier for busy moms and dads, CruiseCompete.com recently came up with a list of baby-friendly cruise lines.

Well-known for being a family-friendly line, Disney Cruises is one of the best for infants. Their Flounder's Reef Nursery accepts children from as young as 12 weeks old. The counselor ratio is quite small (1:4 for infants), so you can relax and have fun knowing your baby is in safe hands. They have amenities to keep the kids busy, such as baby swings, walkers, books, toys, etc.

Royal Caribbean's "Royal Babies" program is designed for babies 6-18 months. These playgroups include activities like baby gymnastics and musical inspiration. On the newest ship, Oasis of the Seas, they also provide a full-staff nursery with day and night child watch options.

P&O Cruises also offers a comprehensive kids program. The Reef program (ages 2-4) is filled with activities and designed for young children. For more free time, parents can also use the cruise line's supervised night nursery.

Of course, when planning a cruise for the entire family, parents need to think about the baby's comfort level. It's not wise to pick a chilly destination like Alaska or Antarctica when you can go for warmer climates like the Caribbean or Hawaii. When booking your cabins, make sure there are enough amenties (cribs, mini-fridge, blankets) to keep the little ones happy.