I started taking cruises with my kids when they were little. They're perfect for testing their independence and life skills.

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I've been on 20+ cruises, both with and without my kids, who are now teenagers. I think cruises are the best kind of vacation with kids because they require minimal thinking. You get to experience multiple destinations without dealing with driving directions or dragging your luggage in and out of different hotels. You don't have to cook, and the hardest decision you probably have to make is choosing between the buffet and the dining room.