Southampton

In the past, I viewed cruises as something for older people who might struggle with mobility—an overpriced way to travel with too many restrictions and a level of organization that takes away the "freedom" one typically feels while traveling. However, with kids now in the family and the concept of "all-inclusive" holidays being the only way to truly relax, we've started looking at cruises differently.

Cruises can be, if you make the right choices, like staying in an all-inclusive hotel that moves, which is much better than being stuck in one place. Plus, it's possibly the easiest way to travel abroad with young children. We booked this luxury cruise from the UK for two weeks, sailing around the Baltic Sea and visiting all the major ports, including the highlight: St. Petersburg. The ship was like a 5-star hotel, spacious enough that it never felt crowded.