Taking a cruise with your kids should be fun, memorable … and somewhat relaxing. But the reality is that kids aren’t very good at sitting around a deck watching the waves go by; relaxing is often the last thing on their minds. Without planning ahead to keep them entertained while at sea – as well as in port – it could seem like you’re not on vacation at all.
Your best bet is to determine ahead what the cruise line offers in the way of kids’ programs, babysitting, ship facilities, entertainment and shore excursions before committing yourself to a trip in which you could find yourself playing cards in your cabin for hours on end or shelling out more cash than anticipated for Internet access or arcade games. Then work up a tentative, flexible schedule before boarding that allows some down time for both you and the kids.
Most cruise lines offer plenty of distractions for kids of all ages. Here’s the skinny on the big ones:
CARNIVAL CRUISE LINE
Camp Carnival Kids Program
Age groups: Toddlers 2-4 years;Juniors 5-8 years;Intermediates 9-12 years;Teens 13-17 years
Hours: 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Fees: All free. (Excursions extra.)
Babysitting: Available fleetwide, 10 p.m. to 2 a.m., approx $5 per hour, discounts for siblings
Facilities: Swimming pools with water slide; wading pool; playrooms; teen club; video game/arcade rooms; outdoor playground; pingpong; basketball; miniature golf (available on some ships).
Specials: Kids’ aerobics classes; karaoke parties; tours of the ships’ bridge and galley; special kids’ menus, teen shore excursions; dating game; teen dance; dance class; pizza pig-out; indoor beach party; photography; talent show.
Contact: carnival.com; 800-227-6482
CELEBRITY CRUISES
X-Club Youth Program
Age groups: Toddler Time (under 3 years old); Ship Mates (ages 3-6); Celebrity Cadets (ages 7-9); Ensigns (ages 10-12); Admiral Ts (ages 13-17)
Hours: Year round from 9 a.m., or half an hour before port arrival.
Fees: Small fee for some activities.
Babysitting: Private in-cabin babysitting upon request. Group babysitting in playroom, 3+, 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. $3 per hour, discount for siblings.
Facilities: Pingpong, basketball, volleyball, swimming pools, videogame/arcade rooms. (Confirm availability when you book your cruise.)
Specials: Special areas of the ship are set aside as “children only,” such as the Shipmates Fun Factory, teen centers and pools. Shore excursion tickets available for children.
Contact: celebrity.com; reservations 800-647-2251; pre-cruise questions and group bookings 800-437-4111
DISNEY CRUISE LINE
Age groups (all activities not available on all cruises): Oceaneer Club (ages 3-4); Oceaneer Club (ages 5-7); Oceaneer Lab (ages 8-9); Oceaneer Lab (ages 10-12); Aloft and The Stack (ages 13-17)
Hours: Planned activities from 9 a.m. to 1 a.m.
Fees: All fees included
Babysitting: Groups, children 12 weeks to 3 years old costs $6 per child per hour, sibling discount, 2-hour minimum required. Nursery open daily from 6 p.m. (check availability).
Facilities: Wide World of Sports Deck featuring basketball and hockey; shuffleboard; pingpong; swimming pools; splash pool; arcade room, nautically themed children’s area, including ship’s “bridge” for kids, on Disney Magic only, for cruises after Oct. 15).
Specials: Disney recommends excursions for children and teens as well as those suitable for every age group.
Contacts: disneycruise.com; 1-888-325-2500
HOLLAND AMERICA
Club HAL
Age groups: Children (ages 5-7); Tweens (ages 8-12); Teens (ages 13-17)
Hours: Varies according to activities and ports of call.
Fees: Included in cost of cruise. Shore excursions extra.
Babysitting: 10 p.m. to 12 p.m., $5 per child per hour.
Facilities: Swimming pools; deck games, tennis/volleyball/basketball courts; shuffleboard; pingpong tables.
Specials: Kid-friendly menus; movie nights. Kids-only shore excursions (Alaska sailings only).
Contact: (hollandamerica.com); Reservations 877-724-5425.
NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE
Kids Crew
Age groups (available on The Norway, Seaward, Dreamward, Windward, Leeward, and the Norwegian Crown): Jr. Sailor (ages 2-5); First Mates (ages 6-9); Navigators (ages 10-12); Teen Club (ages 13-17)
Hours: Sea days 9 a.m. to noon; 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.; 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.. Sea days and port days: 7 p.m..10 p.m.
Fees: Included in cost of cruise
Babysitting: Group sitting 10 p.m. to 1 a.m., $5 per child per hour; discount for siblings. Reservations required.
Facilities (not available on all ships): Children’s pool area; swimming pools; playrooms; hot tubs; basketball/volleyball court; teen club.
Specials: Kids’ menus, kid-friendly shore excursions; interconnecting staterooms on Norwegian Jewel.
Contacts: ncl.com; 800-327-7030
PRINCESS CRUISES
Princess Kids and Off-Limits Teens
Age groups (not available on all ships; check availability): Princess Pelicans (ages 3-7); Princess Pirateers (ages 8-12); Princess Teen Club (ages 13-16)
Hours: Programs run 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. while in port; 9 a.m. to noon and 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. while at sea; 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., depending on the ship.
Fees: Included in price of cruise.
Babysitting: Ages 3-12, $5 per hour per child (not available on all ships) from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Facilities: Swimming pools; basketball courts; shuffleboard; pingpong tables.
Specials: Scholarship at Sea program. In port, Adventures Ashore features a wide range of tours for all ages.
Contacts: princess.com; 800-774-6237
ROYAL CARIBBEAN
Young Adventurers Adventure Ocean
Age groups: Aqua Babies (6-18 months); Aqua Tots (18-36 months); Aquanauts (ages 3-5); Explorers (ages 6-8); Voyagers (ages 9-11); Navigators (ages 12-14); Guests (ages 15-17)
Hours: Vary according to activity, program and cruise schedule. For guests 15-17, activities are scheduled throughout the day and early evening. The Teen Center is open from 10:30 p.m.-2 a.m.
Fees: Included in cost of cruise.
Babysitting: Group sitting ages 3 and up in the Late Night Party Zone, 10 p.m. to 1 a.m., $5 per hour per child.
Facilities: Video game/arcade rooms, pingpong tables, basketball courts (on most ships); shuffleboards; bungee trampolines (on some ships); rock climbing walls; swimming pools; inline skating.
Specials: Adventure Family, onboard activities like ice-skating and karaoke, as well as beach games that are played shoreside, for kids and parents. Kids’ menus; youth dinners; Out Island Activities in port.
Contacts: royalcaribbean.com; 866-562-7625.
— Barbara Ellis
