Your little wannabees can star in their own West End show on Island Cruises (08707 500414 ). Two hours a day supervised activities include treasure hunts and pyjama parties, while teenagers have their own arcade and music area. A seven-night cruise on Mediterranean Spirit costs £1,736 for two adults and two children sharing, departing Gatwick on 19 October.

On Aurora, Oceana and Oriana, P&O Cruises (08453 555333) has youth staff co-ordinating quizzes, deck sports, pool games and discos. Each ship also has an in-cabin baby listening service and a night nursery. Oriana's 'Canaries Capers' - an 11-night cruise departing Southampton on 16 December - costs £3,777 for two adults and two children sharing.

Bingo, pizza parties, storytelling, miniature golf, ping-pong, scavenger hunts, trivia contests - kids are kept busy with Holland America Line (020 7940 4477). There are even 'kids-only' shore excursions to Half Moon Cay (the company's private island in the Bahamas) for an island treasure hunt and beach party. A nine-night Western Caribbean fly-cruise costs £3,996 based on a family of four departing 22 October.

Thomson Cruises (0870 550 2562) has supervised Kids-zone Clubs with a full range of fun activities and entertainment on both its ships - Spirit and Emerald. Seven nights on Thomson Spirit Mediterranean Renaissance, departing Gatwick 30 September, costs £599 per adult based on two sharing, and £149 per child.