My husband, three children (ages 9, 11 and 15) and I went on the five-day Western Caribbean cruise on the Carnival Ecstasy last summer. We all absolutely loved it, especially the kids, who had the run of the ship!

My children really liked having food and drinks available all the time--and they went often to the 24-hour pizzeria. At Camp Carnival, which is complimentary for passengers, the kids are broken up into age groups, with so many great, age-appropriate activities. Plus, the friendly staff organizes events for the whole family, like build-a-bear workshops, ice cream eating contests and family scavenger hunts. You really can't get bored on a Carnival ship, with a casino, multiple pools, the spa and fitness center, movies, poolside bingo, and duty-free shopping all on board.

For our shore excursions, in Progreso, Mexico, we simply relaxed on the beach and enjoyed margaritas (the grown-ups anyway!) and in Cozumel, we rented a jeep and went exploring on our own. It was a great family trip!