Scoop! Travel Gear Contest

Planning a vacation with the kids this winter? To help you prepare for jetting off, Savvy Traveller is offering Baby Abroad readers the chance to win a World Savvy Traveller Prize Pack, valued at approximately $200, including:

* The LugT Shuttle Bus Weekender Bag from Tilley: A sleek and durable tote, which features a special strap that attaches to luggage handles, as well as separate pockets for easy access to your water bottle, cell phone or digital camera.

* A Tilley stainless steel water bottle: Essential for all those long day trips—not to mention environmentally friendly!

* A clip-on cup holder: Reduces spills and clips on to almost anything, including luggage or a plane's tray table—even in the upright position.

Leave me your favourite family travel destination tip in the comments section here for a chance to win.

Christmas Vacation

Christmas might be over, but it’s never too late or too early to celebrate the holiday spirit! In fact, in Finland, the celebration never ends!

Calling itself the real home of Santa Claus, Finland celebrates Christmas year-round with markets, festivities and other traditions.

Open throughout the year, Santa Claus Village is home to Santa Claus’s office, where visitors can meet Santa and visit his main post office. (Parents can even have cards or letters sent from Santa Claus’ office, stamped with a unique Arctic Circle postmark.)

Also open throughout the year is SantaPark, an underground cave where elves work all year in preparation for Christmas. Guests can bake and decorate gingerbread in the Gingerbread Kitchen, learn elf skills in Elf School, or make Christmas decorations in the Elf Workshop. There’s even a sleigh ride to take guests to the elves’ toy factory where presents for Christmas are made.

Worth a family trip maybe? Definitely if you’re travelling with kids!

For more information, visit Finland at www.visitfinland.com

Family Travel

You know where I stand when it comes to travel with baby (yes, you can!), but in case you think I’m a total anomaly, here are some other experts who agree, and who offer great tips and advice on how to make it happen for you. Bon voyage!

Just Cruising: Part 2

Last week I covered some of the best cruise lines for families travelling with babies, based on a survey by cruise travel specialists at Cruise Complete. Here are the rest of the lines that made the list:

Disney Cruise Line: Already well-known for being a family-friendly line, Disney Cruises is also among the best for infant programs. Flounder’s Reef Nursery accepts children from 12 weeks to 36 months; the counsellor ratio is 1:4 for infants and 1:6 for toddlers. Amenities include: baby swings, walkers, books, toys, games, a television and DVD area. There is also a soft play area and separate nursery with cribs. Parents should expect to carry a pager (attendants do not change diapers) and pay $6.00 per hour for the first child, and $5.00 per hour for each additional child. The minimum age to sail on Disney is 12 weeks old.

Holland America: Holland America does not provide children’s programs or babysitting for children under three, but a limited number of high chairs, booster seats and cribs are available to cruisers at no charge. Parents should expect to reserve these items in advance, at the time of booking. The minimum age to sail on Holland America is 12 months.

Norwegian Caribbean Line: NCL offers youth programs and group babysitting for children ages 2-12, including a FreeStyle Play period where all age groups play together. Group babysitting outside of the complimentary Kid’s Crew program runs $6 per child per hour, and $4 per hour for additional siblings. NCL does not have programs in place for children under age two, and no private babysitting is available. The minimum age to sail on NCL is 6 months.

P&O Cruises: P&O offers a children’s program- The Reef- starting at age two. Splashers, for 2 to 4 year olds, is a day program filled with activities and designed for young children. In the evening, parents can take advantage of the cruise line’s supervised night nursery. Parents should be aware that this service is operated on a first-come, first-serve basis, and infants must be settled and sleeping before they leave. Minimum age to sail on P&O Cruises is 12 months.

Royal Caribbean: Designed for babies 6-18 months, all Royal Caribbean’s ships have incorporated a Royal Babies program into their cruises. These playgroups are 45-minute sessions (parents must accompany the child) that include activities like baby gymnastics and musical inspiration. On the newest ship, Oasis of the Seas, Royal Caribbean also provides a nursery, with child watch options day and night. Children are divided into two age groups within the nursery: Babies (6-17 months) up to and including 1 day less than 18 months, and Tots (18-36 months). Parents should expect to carry a phone, and the charge is $8 per hour, per child. Each session must be a minimum of 1 hour and a maximum of 6 hours. The minimum age to sail is 6 months on most itineraries, but is 12 months on all Transatlantic, Transpacific and Hawaii cruises. Some South American and other cruises are also 12 months, so be sure to check age requirements for your specific cruise.

RSSC: Regent Seven Seas Cruises does not provide formal activities for young children on their sailings, but the line does provide in-suite babysitting services (expect to pay $25 per hour!). The minimum age to sail on Regent Seven Seas Cruises is 6 months.

Just Cruising: Part 1

I’ve never been on a cruise, so I’m no expert on the subject. But I did recently get a very interesting press release on the best cruise lines for families with infants from someone who is—the cruise specialists at Cruise Complete.

(Apparently, most cruise lines have a minimum age for children to sail. And though it ranges from 3 months to 12 years, that depends on the cruise line and is subject to change, so be sure to double-check at the time of booking.)

This list is extensive, so I’ve turned it into a two-parter. You’ll just have to tune in next week for more!

Carnival Cruise Lines: Carnival Cruise Line's Youth Program, Camp Carnival, is designed for 2-11 year olds, but children younger than 2 can play with the toys during designated family play times (parents must be present!). There are babysitting services during limited hours for children younger than two at Camp Carnival; rates are $6 for the first child and $4 for each additional child. Minimum age for sailing is 6 months, with the exceptions of Transatlantic, Hawaii and South American cruises, which are 12 months.

Celebrity Cruises: Celebrity offers private, in-cabin babysitters. A child must be 12 months old to qualify for this service and no more than two children are allowed per babysitter. Parents should expect to make requests for services at least 24 hours in advance. Minimum sailing age on Celebrity Cruises is 6 months, with the exception of Transatlantic, Transpacific, and select South American cruises, where the child must be at least 12 months old. Beginning July 30, 2009, the following cruises are also subject to the 12 month requirement: Celebrity Infinity - January 31, 2010, February 14, 2010, January 30, 2011, and February 13, 2011. Associated cruise tours are also subject to the 12 month minimum age requirement.

Costa: There are no organized activities for children under the age of three, but during the low season/off-peak times families can access the children’s areas. Costa Cruise also provides a group baby-sitting service in their Miniclub (between 11:30pm-1:30am) so that parents may take part in cruise entertainment. Costa also provides, on request, cribs, high chairs, baby bath, bottle warmers and liquidized food. Minimum age to sail on Costa is 6 months.

Crystal: Crystal Cruises does not have a formal program for children under the age of three, but babysitting services are available. Arrangements can be made through the concierge; parents should expect to provide 24 hours notice and pay a nominal charge for babysitting services. The minimum age to sail on Crystal Cruises is 6 months.

Cunard: On Cunard’s ships, the Queen Mary 2 and the Queen Elizabeth 2, parents will find well-equipped nurseries and children’s centres, featuring toys, games and activities. These children’s areas are supervised by nannies and youth staff, but children must be one year old to participate without parents; children under one are welcome with parental supervision. Both ships offer a family pool area, and there is complimentary group child-sitting available in the evenings. Minimum sailing age on Cunard is 6 months on Alaska, Canada/New England, Caribbean, Europe, Mexico, Trans-canal and Australia/New Zealand voyages. All other voyages, including Transatlantic and Transpacific itineraries, require an age of 12 months.