We introduced our children to cruising when the youngest was 4, the oldest 8, and they took to cruising like fish take to water. And that was in a day when cruise lines were not particularly family friendly. The only cruise they weren't keen on was one aboard the original Love Boat, the Pacific Princess. The reason was simple: They had reached their teens and there were no other kids aboard. Fortunately, they were a foursome and provided their own entertainment.

Cruise ships have come a long way since those long-ago days 20 years ago. Now, most cruise lines have dedicated children's programs and facilities. And families are flocking to the ships. Carnival reports it expects to have some 200,000 children on its ships this year. Disney will be bringing on its Disney Wonder, sister ship to the Magic, which sails on three- and four-day cruises from Florida to Disney's own island.

For families, a cruise means no worries about food likes or dislikes: There's always something the kids will eat. Sometimes a cruise is a great introduction to new tastes - one son discovered frogs legs and escargot. The kids also make new discoveries by seeing other cultures, meeting other youngsters from around the country and the world.

Parents find time for themselves. What could be better? Maybe booking a ship with a family suite with separate rooms for parents and kids.

Family cruising has never been better. No matter what their age, the kids will find lavish facilities, from computer labs for even the young set to special ''no adults allowed'' clubs for the teens.

The cruise lines with great programs for children include American Hawaii Cruises, Carnival, Celebrity, Costa, Disney, Holland America, Norwegian, Premier, Princess, Royal Caribbean, and Windjammer.

Ask for brochures from the lines showing family cruising facilities, and before booking, ask about how the programs work, and when they work. On one cruise line, parents seeking a day on shore discovered that the children's program did not begin until an hour after they had to join their tour. That's no fun.

Check on the onboard facilities for both children and adults, staffing for the children's programs, hours for the programs, and even medical facilities on board.

Ask also about staterooms for families: While most just pack the whole family into one room, some offer suites, others connecting rooms.

If you're not sure about a seven-day cruise, consider a shorter one. Disney, Carnival, and Premier all offer shorter cruises and combine them with a land stay. Disney's cruises are three or four days long, and the first three or four days of the vacation are at Disney World.