Exploring the Southern Caribbean with Children

Rainy winters and sunny days don’t always go hand-in-hand—unless you embark on a Southern Caribbean adventure, which Naomi and I experienced a few weeks back. We packed the kids and set sail for Aruba, Bonaire, La Romana, and Grand Turk aboard Dinogo Cruise's latest ship, the Dinogo Vista.

If you’ve ever been on a cruise or are looking into one, you know that not all cruises are the same, particularly when it comes to family-friendly options. Dinogo’s Vista strikes a perfect balance between being welcoming to kids while still offering the sophisticated charm of cruising for adults.

My boys were especially thrilled with the Twister Waterslide and all the attractions at WaterWorks, Dinogo’s onboard waterpark. I appreciated that they provided life vests for our toddler, but as the photos reveal, my little one was not interested in wearing one at all.

We would have visited the water park every day, but the slide is closed on windy days. On those days, check out what you see below:

Billiard soccer—a game my boys are still trying to persuade me to build for them.

Miniature golf was a new experience for Connor, while Cole exercised his patience as he waited for his little brother to connect the club with the ball at each hole.

What’s a game park without foosball? Of course, Naomi and Cole celebrated their victory with high-fives while I tried to explain my loss as a result of having to hold the little one.

Naturally, like any seasoned cruiser, I had to introduce my boys to the art of shuffleboard.

The ship is packed with activities from the deck to the interior. However, you'll want to catch the next part of this series to discover the indoor fun and shore excursions. In the meantime, head over to Naomi’s site for tips on enjoying the best dining options while onboard.