Bring the Kids! Not so long ago, the percentage of couples on most cruise ships was roughly the same as that on Noah's Ark. But times have changed - dramatically. These days, on many cruise ships, you're in for two major surprises: how many more children are on board that even a few years ago, and what a rollicking good time they're having.

That's because more and more time pressed and value conscious families are finding that a cruise vacation offers the perfect fit for everyone's needs. And as ships pile on children's activities, the number of cruising families just keeps climbing. Why? One big reason is the remarkably wide variety of special age-appropriate, well supervised programs many ships have designed for young cruisers, with trained counselors employed to keep their young charges happy and occupied morning to night. There's a lot more going on than the traditional kid's club T-shirt and face painting projects (though those remain perennial favorites).

On ships attuned to family vacations, kids can choose among offerings that range from parents not allowed movies in the ship's cinema to poolside teen "Coke-tail" parties, from breakfasts with famous cartoon characters to Nintendo competitions. Here are some of the other creative programs used to make children feel welcome. • Camp nights, where kids sing around a "campfire," listen to stories and make s'mores (but don't have to sleep in tents). • Cooking classes. • Puppet workshops. • Drama workshops. • Drama clubs. • Lessons in everything from disco dancing and playing the ukulele to astronomy, computers, photography and foreign languages.

With all these choices, kids are sure to find new on board pastimes to love and plenty of new friends to enjoy.

Parents, in the meantime, discover lots of other reasons to love family cruising as well. For on e thing, you're spared the usual logistical hassles that come with organizing a vacation. The planning's as simple as choosing the cruise that best matches your family's interests and budget. Some cruise lines even give your wallet a boost with kids sail free programs. You can book connecting rooms or ask for rollaway beds and cribs. On-board baby sitting services are usually available for a nominal charge.

Other kinds of family cruises reunions, extended family vacations and grandparent grandchild trips are also enjoying a boom in popularity. Many families are discovering that shipboard life gives them time to catch up with each other while allowing every member in the group to choose activities he or she finds personally appealing. Best of all for moms and dads, you'll have time to relax together you might even have a conversation that lasts for more than three minutes while still having loads of opportunities to be close with your children. That is, assuming you can pry them away from all the activities.

Begin planning your Cruise Vacation!