| Issue Date: November 25, 2007
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Cruises that cater to families
Lots of cool activities keep kids "on board."
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If you're planning a family cruise vacation, it pays to choose a ship that suits your kids. Start by looking at kids' programs at sea, and note that Royal Caribbean, Carnival and Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) all group children into narrow age spans, such as 2- to 5-year-olds. Other lines have broader age groupings.
-- Disney cruise ships were designed for families. Their standard cabins are among the largest in the industry, and all have bathtubs, a rarity at sea. Disney accepts kids as young as 3 months in its nursery; most other lines don't take kids until they're 2 or 3 years old.
-- Royal Caribbean's Voyager ships offer rock climbing, ice-skating, miniature golf and Rollerblading. The Freedom ships offer these activities, plus FlowRider, an onboard surf park. For teens, there's a nightclub and lounge.
-- Carnival's ships offer 24-hour pizza and ice cream. Teens can enjoy disco evenings and special shore excursions.
--NCL ships' "freestyle dining" lets you eat when and where you want. A range of cabins and suites is available for all budgets.
-- Some Princess ships offer "Movies Under the Stars" at a poolside cinema. There's a Teen Center, with karaoke, and Adventures Ashore, which offers many excursions that are appropriate for families.
Award-winning travel writer Everett Potter's website is everettpotter.com.
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Avoid gift-card scams
This holiday season, take care in buying gift cards displayed on store counters. Clever thieves can steal the card number and the personal ID number. When you activate the card by purchasing it, the thief uses the information to make online purchases. Later, when the recipient goes to use the card, it rings up empty. To protect yourself, follow these tips from Joe LaRocca, vice president for loss prevention at the National Re-tail Federation.
Buy only gift cards in protective packaging. Or ask the clerk for a card kept behind the counter.
Check the back of the card. Make sure the personal identification number has not been scratched off or tampered with.
Check the card number and PIN on your sales receipt against those on the card. They should match. (Clerks may accidentally give you the wrong card or, in rare cases, hand out a fake and keep the paid one.)
Buy from reputable retailers. Avoid cards that are sold via online auction sites, where the potential for fraud can be high.
Top 2007 gifts*
1. Clothes
2. Gift cards
3. Electronics
*Consumer Reports poll on gift-buying plans for this holiday season
Discover garden blogs
Gardening blogs have grown exponentially in the last few years, so if you know how to navigate the Web, you'll find information on almost every topic. Blog subjects include vegetable, water and urban gardening; some blogs have a regional focus.
Two of my favorites are GardenRant.com, written by four women living in different areas of the country, and GardeningGoneWild.com, a blog I helped to create with a consortium of other gardeners that features a variety of expertise and opinions. These blogs enable you to interact with other fellow gardeners in cyberspace and exchange ideas.
Stress-busters to help beat the frenzy
Set aside time for special rituals or traditions.
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"If people aren't careful, this season is an easy time to get overwhelmed," says Jennifer Payne, M.D., a Johns Hopkins assistant professor of psychiatry. "We all know the holidays are coming and approximately when it will start to get hectic." She offers these tips to help you maintain your calm:
Make a budget and stick to it.
Do what you can ahead of time.
Schedule time on your calendar now for a break from work to catch up on your to-do list or take a "mental health" day. Or set aside time for special rituals or traditions. "If it's important to your family to bake cookies, block time off to do that," Payne says.
Opt to listen to "O Holy Night" instead of, say, "Jingle Bells." It can help relax the mind.
Don't overextend yourself. You don't have to go to every party or do everything every year.
Make a stress-reduction plan. Exercise, don't drink or eat too much, get a massage -- whatever works for you.
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