Queen Victoria

Where They Cruise: Canada, Mediterranean, Caribbean, Northern Europe, Transatlantic.

Kids Will Love: Playing dress-up, PlayStation 3, fencing.

This new 2,014-passenger Cunard ship has real British nannies to look after the little ones in the Play Zone Nursery and Children’s Center (for ages 1 to 6), with age-appropriate activities including finger-painting. In a cheery dedicated club space well-equipped with PlayStation 3 systems and a jukebox with popular dance tunes, youth staff keeps older kids (7 to 16) busy with activities including scavenger hunts, ship tours, pizza nights, basketball, and T-shirt painting. Those ages 16 and up can participate in adult shipboard offerings including daily fencing lessons. A large outdoor deck area is reserved for families to sun together. Kids who have taken ballroom dancing will, like the adults, enjoy hitting the ship’s dance floor.

Insider Tip: This ship serves up a formal environment, and kids who are out and about during the three or four formal nights are expected to dress the part; pack the mini ball-gowns and tuxes.

Deal: 12-day Mediterranean cruises from $2,995, May-November. Mediterranean port calls may include Gibraltar, Cannes, Florence/Pisa, Corfu, and Dubrovnik.