Set sail for a fun look at family cruising in Europe

Join @KidTravel and @CruiseRadio as we tackle cruising through Europe with the family.

• Listen to the interview that inspired the chat from Cruise Radio.
• Looking for a guide for what to look for when cruising with teens? Check out Family Travel Networks 12 tips for cruising with a teen

Join us for #CruiseChat on Twitter every Tues. 2pm EST.

Family Cruising

• Planning your family cruise
• Age Minimums: The ABCs
• Top Tested Tips for Cruising with Babies and Toddlers
• Family Affair: Cruising with the Whole Crew, Grandpa, Grandma & The Kids
• Choosing A Family Stateroom
• Cruise Ship Kid Programs
• Cruise Ship Safety and Security For Families

What is unique about family cruising?

What makes a family cruise unique is that the needs of all members of the group should be addressed – with multiple ages it is not “one size fits all” vacation planning.

For example, the ages of the members traveling with the family should weigh into the equation when selecting a  cruise itinerary, cruise duration, and a cruise line. All ships, although they share a lot of similarities, do vary based on size of vessel, onboard amenities and kid-friendliness.

Your VIP invitation to family cruising 411

Join us on Tuesday, August 2nd, 2011 at 2pm EST for #CruiseChat. Bring your European cruise tips, family cruising thinking-caps, and European port knowledge to the Twitter Party.

Do tell

Have you been on a family cruise in Europe? Leave us a comment and tell us what your best tips are.

Underwater tour of Catalina Island’s marine habitat eco adventure

One of the best ways for cruise visitors to experience the complex marine ecosystem found in the waters near Catalina Island, is to take a 45 minute Semi-Subersible “yellow submarine” tour offered by Catalina Adventure Tours.

The Semi-Submersible - "Nautilus" photo by Carrie Finley-Bajak

The “Nautilus” allows for 360 degree viewing.

Passengers board the vessel on Catalina’s Green Pier. The eco-tour is conducted by a knowledgeable and  experienced guide that is an expert on Catalina Island marine life.

Family-friendly staff and tour make this a perfect excursion for kids.

Cruise visitors traveling with children will find this eco-adventure tour to be very family-friendly. Guests will learn about the complex marine environment found in the kelp forests. There is no shortage of fish to be seen during the tour, especially since the vessel is equipped with “torpedo-style” fish feeders (available at an additional cost).

There is no shortage of fish on this tour.

The Nautilus ventures out to Lover’s Cove, where beds of giant swaying kelp protect the colorful Garibaldi (California’s state fish) and many other examples of local Southern California ocean life.

There is a ticket office on the Green Pier, but advance reservations for the tour are recommended.

More posts:

• The Avalon Hotel on Catalina Island
• Catalina Island Family Activities For Cruise Visitors
• Family vacation cruise via the Catalina Flyer to Catalina Island
• Family vacation time on Balboa Island

Stay connected with us on Facebook and  Twitter @CruiseBuzz to keep up with the buzz.

Laguna Coast Wilderness Park

Hike from Boomer Canyon to Laguna Beach

If you have been keeping up with my posts then you know that I am all about the sea and getting to the beach. So when the opportunity to walk from Irvine to Laguna Beach became available, I was all over it.

Off we go. About 8 miles to the sea over the mountain to the beach.

Our climate and geography is very Mediterranean like. The hilltops and slopes remind me of my Disney Cruise Line port of call in Nice, France.

However, the patches of sage, cacti,  Native Valley Grassland and Maritime Chaparral are indicitave of this Orange County geography.

More photos

Made it to Laguna Beach (almost).

A mountain goat in Laguna Beach. Really.

What goes up (and I mean an uphill hike) always comes down.

Trailhead on the Laguna Beach side of the trail.

Let’s roll! Family Vacation takes the spotlight.

Cruise Chat June 28th

Family Vacation takes center stage.

Join Stephanie (@TravelDesigned from TravelDesigned.com) and Cindy (@CindyRichards from TravelingMom.com) and I as we tackle the topic of Family Vacation.

Family travel. CruiseBuzz and littlest-buzz (6.5 yrs old).

We covered a lot of  family vacation topics, for example:

• Family vacation survival tips.
• How to plan a vacation that is a good fit for your family.
• A rundown of popular family vacation options: all-inclusive resorts, cruising, and somewhere in-between.

The Questions:

• Q1: What comes to mind when you think about Family Vacations? #cruisechat #2011FamVaca
• Q2: What’s the one thing you must pack on a family vacation? #cruisechat #2011FamVaca
• Q2: When was your last family vacation? #cruisechat #2011FamVaca
• Q4: Is your family full of risk takers? What is your most adventurous day on a family vacation? #cruisechat #2011FamVaca
• Q 4.5: Bonus Question: Which do you prefer, #cruise, all-inclusive resort, or do it on your own?
• Q5. What is a fun family friendly excursion? #cruisechat #2011FamVaca
• Q6. Post a photo from your family vacation #cruisechat #2011FamVaca
• Q7. Can you survive a family vacation? How? #cruisechat #2011FamVaca

The Stats:

Top 10 by number of impressions

1. vegasbill: 933,856
2. traveldesigned: 514,275
3. cruisebuzz: 484,512
4. only398: 399,519
5. isabellestravel: 132,171
6. cindyrichards: 127,374
7. mcmedia: 104,696
8. rickgriffin: 90,483
9. shipsandtrips: 58,718
10. vikingriver: 50,379

Top 10 by number of tweets

1. traveldesigned: 75
2. cruisebuzz: 49
3. cindyrichards: 46
4. cruisecoaches: 29
5. only398: 27
6. carevacations: 23
7. shipsandtrips: 22
8. vegasbill: 22
9. vikingriver: 21
10. bargeconnection: 20

Top 10 by number of followers 
1. vegasbill: 42,448
2. rickgriffin: 30,161
3. only398: 14,797
4. mcmedia: 13,087
5. 24kmedia: 10,659
6. isabellestravel: 10,167
7. cruisebuzz: 9,888
8. halcruises: 7,825
9. traveldesigned: 6,857
10. itravel2000: 6,237

The Honor Roll:

Thanks to co-host Stephanie (@TravelDesigned from TravelDesigned.com) for helping compile this list. Well done.

• VegasBiLL:   @Kcom Having breakfast with the ‘characters’ is very fun.twitpic.com/23vww1
• CruiseRadio Doug Parker : @BuzzBooth A7. Yeah! Lots of booze and a stash on the balcony.
• CindyRichards:  Q7: YES! I luv our family vacays. Key to do at least 1 thing that pleases each person (incl Mom).
• VikingRiver Viking River Cruises:  A7 COFFEE is key
• Kcom Rebecca Kollaras :  RT @TravelDesigned: Q7 Can you survive a family vacation  How? #cruisechat#2011FamVaca – Si, Mas Margaritas!
• kymri Kymri / Mira Terra:  A6. Meeting horses with my daughter in Ireland bit.ly/kg8jyl
• HALcruises Holland America Line:  A5 Ziplining in Costa Rica, snorkeling w/marine life in the Carib and the Dog Sled & Adventure by Helicopter is among our faves
• MagellanPR Sue Lowry:  I’m there! RT @BargeConnection: A5: And, well the Chocolate Museum in Paris….need I say more?
• BargeConnection Barge Connection:  A5: How about a hot air balloon ride on the Aeuro Paris? This gas balloon is tethered, but it still sails up almost 500 feet
• VegasBiLL Vegas BiLL:  RT @HALcruises: A4 One of HAL’s most fun family excursion is the Stingray Adventure at Half Moon Cay!
• Kcom Rebecca Kollaras:  The resort’s lazy river + Naples Zoo! RT @TravelDesigned: @Kcom What fun places did you visit?
• CindyRichards :  We did a lot of that too. RT @TravelDesigned: @McMedia YOU got to stop?!!! We peed on the side of the road
• McMedia Sandi McKenna:  A4: Risktakers? Most adventurous day for us is whether to use the rest area potty or hold it for another 50 miles
• kymri Kymri / Mira Terra:  Last one was ages 7 to 77 in South Africa! RT @CruiseBuzz: What was the age range for your multigenerational trip?
• Last_Round Hangover Support: A4 sometimes I feel like a family vacation is a risk!
• MadagasCaT: Fully crewed yacht charter around the islands of Madagascar!
• Last_Round Hangover Support:  @Meh! Canoeing down the delaware river…! RT @TravelDesignedQ4 most adventurous day on a family vacation?
• Kcom Rebecca Kollaras: Nope, we’re pool/beach cabana dwellers! Pool boy + bar nearby RT@TravelDesigned: Q4 Is your family risk takers?
• Only398 ? Nam Do ?  A2 @RickGriffin would say bail money!
• hvbabywilltrvl Corinne McDermott : Patience! RT @CindyRichards Q2: What’s the one thing you must pack on a family vacation?
• CindyRichards: A2: I have electronics-addicted teens (and my cell, laptop, camera) so my must-pack item is a power strip. Always.
• shipsandtrips ShipsAndTripsTravel: A1: Family vacations to me are when we ALL go – we like to travel with 3 generations! Cruising, resorts, road trips.