Cruising Kids
Thursday, January 11th, 2007Being a kid is all about having fun. Coincidentally, so is vacation. But kids and parents rarely agree on what is fun.
To parents, fancy dinners, late night shows and reading by the pool are fun. Kids have more fun playing games, doing scavenger hunts, and going down waterslides. The good news is that all of these activities occur on a cruise, making a cruise the vacation of choice for today’s families.
Under the supervision of the youth staff, kids can play video games, eat pizza and play in a ball pit, while parents relax and have a fabulous five course meal. It is a parent’s and kid’s dream come true!
Here’s a look into each cruise line’s youth programs :
On a Carnival “Fun Ship” one low price covers just about everything including our award winning Camp Carnival® Carnival Family Photo children’s program for ages 2-15. You don’t have to worry about all the expenses which add up when traveling with children.
The Camp Program includes specially designed programs for four age groups, evening babysitting (for a nominal fee), specially trained staff, youth playrooms including computers, children’s menu and a waterslide and kids wading pool. During the cruise, your kids will have tons of fun exploring their Carnival “Fun Ship”, enjoying all kinds of games, parties, talent shows, and other fun - all under the friendly supervision of Camp Carnival counselors. This is a family vacation they will never forget!
There is nothing like the Magic and Wonder of a Disney Cruise Line vacation. Adults find excitement and indulgence. Children have the time of their lives. Families unite and everyone makes memories to last a lifetime. There is something special for everyone who boards Disney’s grand ships. The ships were designed with separate areas and themed activities for all age groups so everyone has their own kind of magical experience. The best part is when they all meet up again at the end of the day, they’re renewed and relaxed with lots of adventures to share!
Of course Disney has designed their ships with family travel in mind. Photo courtesy of Disney Cruise Line - Disney Cruise Line’s Castaway Cay In fact, more than 15,000 square feet of space is dedicated to children’s programs. Staterooms are larger than average, and have a unique layout that is particularly family friendly. And with ingenious design and a wide variety of activities aboard Disney vessels, there’s truly something for everyone. Spas are open to adults, pool facilities for families and play areas open to children. Disney also has fantastic entertainment that includes special production shows that can only be seen aboard a Disney vessel. It’s a great mix of multigenerational activities that’s uniquely Disney!
NCL’s Kid’s Crewâ„¢ is a program of things to do, places to go and kids to meet. It’s like recess, only longer.
You can enjoy a massage while they’re on a treasure hunt. Play roulette while they’re camping out, or head for the Chocoholic Buffetâ„¢ while they’re having a pillow fight at a pajama party. Every minute they spend in Kid’s Crewâ„¢ is carefully supervised by a staff of youth counselors from leading universities and organizations. There are circuses, crafts, parades, sports, games, stories and parties. Campouts with flashlights and tents, and cooking classes where they can make pizza or pancakes with funny faces. There is T-shirt painting, face painting and poolside root beer floats. Treasure hunts and sand castle competitions on our private island. And even shore excursions designed just for families. Of course we promise we’ll give them plenty of time to spend with you, too.
With Royal Caribbean’s Adventure Ocean program, the “family” vacation concept will never be the same again. If you’re a kid, then the Adventure Ocean Youth Program is just for you. It’s a specially-designed complimentary program for kids from 3 to 12 and teens from 13 to 17. Age groups for the program include 3-5, 5-7, 7-12 and 13 to 17. Photo courtesy Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines Royal Caribbean ships have great facilities for kids that include separate areas for each age group, and a professional staff of youth counselors to make sure there are always fun things to do.
Using what’s known as “Edu-tainment”, Adventure Ocean blends educational activities, daily itineraries, ports of call, games, individual and team sports, art, performance and a general good time into a unique onboard experience for children, teens and parents. With Adventure Ocean, there are activities for the whole family, plus parents get a bit of free time to themselves. By using onboard babysitting services, kids get some time together to have all kinds of fun. That fun includes special meals, a TV station with programming dedicated to kids, and lots of great play areas. Royal Caribbean cruises are designed to bring families closer together and for EVERYONE to have the time of their life!
The goal of the family vacation is simple: find that elusive experience that allows both parents and children to enjoy their favorite activities as well as spend quality time together. Love Boat Kids is Princess’ program for children ages three to 17 years. While youth facilities vary by vessel, children are welcomed with a myriad of games and activities on all Princess ships including arts and crafts, pool games, Photo courtesy Princess Cruises scavenger hunts, deck parties, bridge and galley tours, afternoon ice cream, videos and cartoons.
The Love Boat Kids program also enables youngsters to participate in a special environmental program called “Save Our Seas,” created by the California Coastal Commission and the Center for Marine Conservation. Throughout the cruise, children will enjoy activities designed to teach them about the oceans and marine life. Teens can enjoy dancing in their own private disco, murder mystery games, theme parties, shipboard Olympics, karaoke and lip sync shows, pizza parties and movie fests, and are supervised by a dedicated staff of youth activity professionals.
For more information and family cruises, see familycruises.com. The options seem limitless!
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