How To Put Together Your Passport Pal Journal
Everything you need to know about assembling, printing, and personalizing your Passport Pal journal before you set sail — so it’s ready to go on embarkation day.
Read the Guide →Travel Tips
Travel Tips
Do Kids Pay Gratuities on a Cruise?
Gratuities are charged per guest, kids included, and it adds up faster than families expect. What you owe and what is worth buying.
Travel Tips
The Six-Month Passport Rule for Cruises, Explained
When the six-month rule actually applies, when it does not, and what to do if your renewal is cutting it close.
Travel Tips
Early or Late Dinner Seating With Young Kids?
Early, late or flexible. What each does to bedtime, and the kids club dinner handoff that gets parents an adult evening.
Travel Tips
Family of Five: One Cabin or Two?
Most cabins hold four. Here is what a family of five actually does: connecting rooms, true five-berths, the two-inside trick, and the rule that catches people out.
Travel Tips
Birth Certificate or Passport for Kids on a Cruise?
Children under 16 can often sail on a certified birth certificate. What counts as certified, what gets you turned away, and why a passport is still the safer choice.
Travel Tips
Can a Toddler Who Isn’t Potty Trained Swim on a Cruise?
Swim diapers are barred from every pool and hot tub on board. Where toddlers can actually get in the water, and how to pick a ship that has one.
Destinations
Nohoch Kay Beach Club, Costa Maya
What is included, how far it is from the pier, whether the water suits young kids, and who should pick somewhere else.
Destinations
Is Roatan Safe for Families?
Honduras has a reputation and Roatan is a different conversation. What the picture actually looks like for cruise families.
Destinations
What to Do at CocoCay with Kids
The free tier at Perfect Day is unusually good. What costs nothing, what the Thrill Waterpark adds, and how to plan by age.
Travel Tips
Cruising with a Baby
The minimum age rules that get families denied boarding, what nurseries really offer, and what changes on a port day.
Destinations
Mahahual with Kids
Is the village worth the taxi from the Costa Maya pier? The beach, the boardwalk, what beach clubs cost, and when to just stay at the port.
Journaling
Cruise Scrapbook Ideas
Twenty creative ways to turn cruise photos, ticket stubs and souvenirs into a keepsake your family will actually look at.
Travel Tips
Do Kids Get Bored on Cruises?
An honest answer by age group, plus what actually keeps children engaged across sea days, port days and evenings.
Packing
Kids Cruise Outfits
What to actually pack for your child to wear, broken down by day, evening and formal night, without overpacking.
Journaling
50 Travel Journal Prompts for Kids
Age-organized writing prompts for cruises, road trips and family vacations that turn any trip into a keepsake.
Travel Tips
Cruise Tips for First-Time Families
What to book in advance, how embarkation day actually works, and the mistakes first-timers make that are easy to avoid.
Travel Tips
How To Survive a Cruise With Toddlers
Real talk on nap schedules, swim diapers, port day logistics, and what actually keeps toddlers happy on a cruise ship.
Travel Tips
Cruising With an Autistic Child
How to plan a sensory-friendly cruise vacation — accommodations to request, what to prep in advance, and how to handle port days.
Travel Tips
Avoiding Seasickness on Your Family Cruise
Which remedies actually work, the best cabin locations, and how to handle it if someone still gets sick mid-voyage.
Travel Tips
Dining With Picky Eaters on a Cruise
Why cruise ships are actually one of the easiest places to feed a picky eater — and how to find the options that work for your kid.
Travel Tips
Cruise Ship vs. All-Inclusive Resort for Families
A round-by-round honest comparison — who wins what, and which one is right for your specific family.
Travel Tips
How Much Does a Family Cruise Cost?
The real all-in number for a family cruise in 2026 — base fares, hidden fees, what affects the price, and how to spend less without ruining the trip.
Travel Tips
The First Thing To Do on Your Cruise
The single move most families skip on embarkation day — and why doing it immediately sets the whole trip up for success.
Travel Tips
6 Things Parents Forget to Pack for Their Child’s First Cruise
These aren’t the obvious ones — they’re the items parents kick themselves for leaving at home after their first sailing.
Packing
Packing
Strollers on a Cruise Ship: Bring One or Not?
Cabins are small, ports are cobbled and gangways are steep. When wheels help, when a carrier wins, and what to actually pack.
Packing
Cruise Packing List by Age
What to pack for babies, toddlers, kids, tweens, and teens. What changes at each age and what stays the same.
Packing
What to Pack for a Cozumel Cruise Day
The family checklist for a Cozumel port day, from snorkel gear to pesos and everything in between.
Packing
Ultimate Cruise Packing List for Families
Every category covered — documents, kids’ entertainment, beach gear, medications, and the stuff that’s always missing at the worst time.
Packing
Travel-Size Everything: Toiletries for Cruises
What cruise ships actually provide, what you need to bring, and how to pack toiletries for the whole family without blowing your carry-on.
Packing
What To Pack In Your Cruise Carry-On
Everything your family needs in the carry-on before your checked bags arrive on embarkation day — including the full kids’ bag checklist.
Packing
What to Pack for a Costa Maya Cruise DayNew
The complete Costa Maya packing checklist for families, with separate lists for beach days, ruins visits, and snorkeling excursions.
Packing
Cruise Printables for Kids
Free journals, port day activity packs, and the best printables for keeping kids engaged on sea days and at ports — all in one place.
Journal Tips
Journal Tips
Best Kids Cruise Journals
A comparison of the top cruise journals for kids — what to look for, what’s out there, and why some stand out over others.
Journal Tips
How to Print Your Passport Pal Journal
Everything you need to know about printing your Passport Pal journal at home or at a print shop — paper settings, page sizes, and tips for the best result.
Activities
Activities
Things for Kids to Do on a Cruise Ship
Modern ships are floating theme parks. The full breakdown by age, from kids clubs to waterslides to teen zones.
Activities
Kids Cruise JournalNew
The Passport Pal cruise journal system explained — free base journal, port-specific Port Packs, and everything kids ages 6–12 need to document the whole trip.
Activities
Creative Activities for Sea Days
25 activities that keep kids genuinely engaged between pools and shows — most need zero supplies and all work for different ages.
How to Use the Kids’ Club on a Cruise
What’s actually included, how drop-off works, which cruise lines have the best programs, and how to get your kid excited about going.
What to Do on a Sea Day With Kids
A full sea day itinerary for families — how to plan the day, what to book ahead, and how to keep energy high from morning to evening show.
Destinations
Destinations
Cozumel Mexico Family Cruise Guide
Snorkeling, beach clubs, Mayan ruins, and how to plan the perfect Cozumel port day with kids.
Destinations
Cozumel Snorkeling with Kids
The Mesoamerican Reef is world-class. Where to snorkel, what kids will see, and everything to bring.
Destinations
Cozumel Mayan Ruins with Kids
San Gervasio and mainland ruins made fun for kids. Which ones are worth it on a cruise port day.
Destinations
Do You Need a Passport for a Cruise?
A port-by-port guide covering CocoCay, Cozumel, Grand Cayman, Nassau, and more. Plus the rules for kids and babies.
Destinations
Best Caribbean Cruise Ports for Families
Every major Caribbean cruise port ranked honestly for families — highlights, watch-outs, and Port Pack links for each destination.
Destinations
Things to Do in Jamaica with KidsNew
Dunn’s River Falls, Dolphin Cove, resort day passes and everything families actually love about Jamaica on a cruise port day.
Destinations
Things to Do in Nassau with Kids
Nassau rewards families who plan ahead — here’s what’s actually worth your time with kids, from Atlantis to Cable Beach to swimming pigs in Exuma.
Destinations
Things to Do in St. Thomas with Kids
St. Thomas is the Caribbean with US convenience built in. No international fees, USD everywhere, and Magens Bay waiting 20 minutes from the pier.
Destinations
Things to Do in Cozumel with Kids
The reef, the best beach clubs, and everything families actually need to know for a Cozumel port day with kids.
Destinations
Things to Do in Labadee with Kids
Royal Caribbean’s private resort in Haiti — what’s included, the best activities for families, and how to make the most of your day ashore.
Destinations
Things to Do in Roatan with Kids
Is Roatan safe for families? Yes — and West Bay Beach plus the Sloth Sanctuary make it one of the best port days in the Caribbean.
Destinations
Things to Do in Costa Maya with Kids
Why Costa Maya is the most underrated family port in the Caribbean — free pier pool, calm beaches, and Mayan ruins without the crowds.
Destinations
Why Costa Maya Is the Most Underrated Family Port in the Caribbean
Free pier pool, calm beaches, and Mayan ruins without the crowds — here’s why Costa Maya deserves way more credit than it gets.
Destinations
Best Costa Maya Beach Clubs for FamiliesNew
Honest reviews of Maya Chan, Tropicante, Nohoch Kay, and the free port pool — which one suits your family best.
Destinations
Costa Maya Snorkeling with KidsNew
Is Costa Maya good for snorkeling with kids? Honest answer by age group, best spots, what to bring, and what they’ll actually see.
Destinations
Costa Maya vs. Cozumel for FamiliesNew
Costa Maya vs. Cozumel compared honestly for families — beaches, snorkeling, ruins, crowds, and which port wins for your specific family type.
Things to Do in CocoCay with Kids
Royal Caribbean’s private island — Thrill Waterpark, South Beach, and everything worth doing when you have a day at CocoCay with the family.
Things to Do in Grand Cayman with Kids
Stingray City, Seven Mile Beach, and everything else worth doing when you have a few hours ashore with the family.
Cruise Lines
Cruise Lines
Cruise Ship Babysitting and Nurseries: What It Costs
Under-three childcare is paid, hourly and capacity limited. What actually exists, what it roughly costs, and when to book it.
Cruise Lines
Best Cruise Ships for Toddlers
The ship is your resort for the week. Five features decide whether it works with a two year old, and all five are checkable before you book.
Cruise Lines
Is a Disney Cruise Worth It?
The premium is real and so is the reason for it. What the extra money actually buys, and the families who should book elsewhere.
Cruise Lines
Which Cruise Line Is Best for Your Kids’ Ages?
The answer changes completely between a two year old and a fourteen year old. What matters at each age, and the questions that actually decide it.
Cruise Lines
Cruise Kids Clubs by Age: The Rules Nobody Tells You
Age bands, the potty training gate, mid-cruise birthdays and whether siblings can be kept together. The rules that decide whether the kids club works for you.
Cruise Lines
Is “Kids Sail Free” Actually Free?
The fare is free. The taxes, port fees and gratuities are not. What you actually pay per child, and how to spot a repriced promo.
Cruise Lines
Is Royal Caribbean's Labadee Closed?
Royal Caribbean has suspended all Labadee visits through 2026. What it means for your itinerary and which ports replace it.
Cruise Lines
Royal Caribbean's New Private Beach Clubs
Royal Beach Club Cozumel, Paradise Island Nassau, Perfect Day Mexico, and more. Every new destination replacing Labadee.
Best Cruise Lines for Families with Kids
How Royal Caribbean, Disney, Carnival, Norwegian, and MSC actually compare when you have kids in tow — ranked honestly.
Coming SoonRoyal Caribbean for Families: What to Expect
The most popular cruise line for families — what’s worth booking, what’s overrated, and how to get the most out of your sailing.
Coming SoonDisney Cruise Line vs. Royal Caribbean for Families
The two most-compared family cruise lines — an honest breakdown of price, kids’ programming, ports, and who each one is actually best for.
Coming Soon