Kids are often hard to please. If you’re a parent, you are likely to understand this better than anyone else. Vacationing with your kids can be an experience, one which you may not always wish to remember. To prevent boredom and an unhappy child, you are encouraged to select a vacation destination that has your child in mind. Now some parents might think that the ideal place for their kids to vacation is “far away from us.” Many families, however, do enjoy spending time together. But finding a place that both parents and children can enjoy, well that’s where the problems start. When selecting a vacation destination that has a focus on kids, make sure to keep your child’s likes and dislikes in mind. Just because your older child enjoys playing video games, does not mean that your youngest does so keep differences in mind as well. Not only is it important to find a vacation spot that is geared towards kids, it is also important to make sure that your children will enjoy or make use of the available activities and facilities.
One vacation option , for families that often goes unnoticed is aboard a cruise ship. Cruises make wonderful family vacations. Large cruise ships cater to all ages and many offer interesting and educational children’s programs that are all age appropriate. With over 60 cruise lines and almost 300 cruise ships to choose from, selecting the right cruise line for your family is often difficult. For most families, a large ship offers the greatest variety of activities and often provide youth counselors is the ideal choice.
Which is why I have decided to start this list off with the mother of all family cruises. Of course I’m talking about…Disney Cruise Line
If your a Disney family then a Disney Cruise is the perfect choice. As the ships are a lot like a theme park at sea, and are geared towards family cruising. The ships have supervised children’s programs year-round for ages 3 through teens which gives families many ways to play together and separately. With practically an entire deck devoted to kids, there’s non-stop fun each day from 9 a.m. to midnight for five distinct age groups. Kids ages 3 to 7 make magic at Disney’s Oceaneer Club. Kids 8 to 12 explore the universe at Disney’s Oceaneer Lab. Teens enjoy their own private hangout at Aloft, a hip New York-style coffeehouse And with the kids practically begging to join their new friends each day, parents can engage in a little fun of their own, from relaxing in an adult-only pool area, to daily activities like wine-tasting or cooking demonstrations. Here are a few of the fun activities that await your family aboard the Disney Cruise Line.
Oceaneer Club Activities
The counselors at the Oceaneer Club have developed age-specific activities that will keep the kids entertained and educated for hours. And, as an added convenience, parents are given pagers so that you are always within reach. Some examples of the activities to be discovered at the Oceaneer Club are …..
Ages 3-4
* Hat’s Off to Peter Pan: Celebrate everybody’s birthday in Never Land, but keep an eye out for Captain Hook who loves nothing more than breaking up a good party.
* Do-Si-Do with Snow White: Kick up your heels and dance! It’s non-stop fun while kids learn the “Dance of the Seven Dwarfs,” and then perform with a special guest.
Ages 5-7
* Goofy’s PJ Party: Put on your pajamas, slip on your slippers and join Goofy for a night of bedtime fun, games and snacks.
* Flubber: Join Professor Goo and create a squishy green substance that looks like “Flubber” Won’t you just love it when the kids bring home a sample of their creation.
Oceaneer Lab Activities
Ages 8-9
* Celebrate the Journey: Children take to the stage and perform with their Disney’s Oceaneer Lab friends in a magical farewell event that’s held in the Walt Disney Theatre.
* Animation: Kids unlock the secrets of Disney animation as they learn to draw “the mouse that started it all” using classic animation tools and techniques.
* Now a Word from our Sponsor: Youngsters get the chance to be part of the talented cast of producers, directors, and stars in the Disney TV spots. The results are hilarious.
Ages 10-12
* Road Tour: Kids embark on a rockin’ scavenger hunt all over the ship. They’ll decipher clues to reveal the onboard locations. Then, after finding each location, they compete in a musical challenge to earn points and win the game.
* CampOut: Kids go camping in the Great Outdoors – onboard the ship. They’ll pitch a tent, and then gather ’round for 75 minutes of singing, storytelling and games.
* Imagination Hour: Tweens get the chance to make their own TV ad. Disney gives them an object to advertise and it’s up to them to create the storyboard as well as being in charge of filming, acting and directing!
Aloft Lounge Teen Activities
Ages 13-17
Aloft is a place created just for teens. Boasting plush couches, overstuffed chairs, a dance floor, a bar with stools and a mirrored wall, this is a haven where teen cruisers can meet, greet and socialize with people their own ages and get away from mom and dad. The club includes: Multiple flat-screen televisions,Video games,Board games,Music listening stations,DVD players and internet access (for an additional fee). In addition they also host a wide range of fun activities for teen cruisers, appealing to both younger and older teens. Activities include but are not limited to…
Teen Dance Parties: Dance the night away to the hottest pop hits in an exclusive teen-only dance party!
Teen Download: What does your Disney cruise have in store for you? Through the use of the latest media technology such as interactive web pages and videos, interact with other teens and counselors and design your very own dream vacation-filled with activities, games, Port Adventures and down time.
Karaoke: Discover your inner rock star when you take the stage, grab a microphone and sing along with your favorite tunes.
And of course there’s food! Aloft features a full bar that serves a large selection of non-alcoholic beverages, including fruit smoothies and more, for an additional fee. Soda is complimentary as well as hors d’oeuvres and snacks are served throughout the evening. Teens also have the ability to plan their own activities. They’ll meet with the counselors and develop their own schedule of fun things to do throughout the day.
In addition to all of the individual fun the ship hosts a wide variety of family activities as well such as: Live stage shows, Family game shows, First run movies,Deck parties and events,Selected shore excursions and Castaway Cay – Disney’s very own private Carribbean Island where you can take advantage of swimming, snorkling, kayaking or zoom off on the jet skis!
For more on the magic of a Disney Cruise check out their website at www. disneycruise.disney.go.com
Carnival Cruise Lines
Carnival Cruise Lines advertises itself as the “fun ship”, and the cruise line offers a variety of family-friendly amenities. Including onboard scheduled activities, special shore excursions for teens, and even baby sitting (for a fee) for parents with little ones under the age of 2 who need a night away. Boasting more than 100,000 kids aboard its ships this year Carnival is leading the way in family cruising.Camp Carnival is a year-round, fleet-wide program that provides daily fun-filled and age appropriate activities for kids and teens between the ages of 2 and 15 years old. In addition, there’s also supervised “free play” where kids can run amuck (kind of). The play room on each ship comes completely stocked with toys, games, and puzzles as well as an electronic game room filled with all of the latest video games. But Carnival wants parents to know that Camp Carnival is not a “daycare”. The program is designed so that families are able to enjoy “quality family time” together, and yet also have the choice of being with people of their own age, whenever desired. And because every parent wants the best for their children the cruise line has hired youth counselors who are either college-educated in a related field, have professional childcare experience or both. A thorough background check is completed on each and every one of the youth counselors as well as ensuring that each one is fully trained in CPR and basic first aid.
Here are a few examples of the activities available to your family on a Carnival Cruise:
* Toddlers (ages 2-5)
Splash pool, fund family games, late night munchies, cartoon time, little tykes toys, learn your colors, can you count, sponge painting, indoor beach parties, mousercize, pizza pig out, drawing contests, sing-alongs, bingo, face painting, arts and crafts cookie decorating
* Kids (ages 6-8)
Talent show, face painting, cartoon time, indoor fair, sea animals, mousercize, Disney trivia, ice cream sundaes, cookie decorating, button making, puppet show, beach party, outdoor fun and games
* Tweens (ages 9-12)
T-shirt painting, photography, jewelry making, board games, dance class, video tournament, ping pong, talent show, volleyball, show time, scavenger hunts, meet the entertainers back stage, breakfast fun
* Teens (ages 13-15)
Ping pong, pool party, teen dance, dance class, talent show, pizza party, indoor beach party, skin care and hair dressing demonstration, photography
Carnival has many other features that make their ships attractive to kids and their parents.The Staterooms on most Carnival ships are more spacious than on many other cruise lines, and some ships even have adjoining rooms so older kids can enjoy some privacy. There’s even special children’s menu and every ship has a 114-foot-long, 15-foot-high water slide that adventurous kids of all ages love!
Visit www. carnival.com to book your family’s Carnival Cruise.
Royal Caribbean International
Royal Caribbean International has big ships with non-stop activities for kids of ALL ages! Every year, more and more families are sailing with Royal Caribbean. One of the biggest reasons is the Adventure OceanYouth Program which is a complimentary program specially designed to blend educational activities with just plain fun for cruisers ages 3 -17. Every cruise is different. But one thing never changes: your child will get to learn about local customs, do cool science experiments, and make great new friends.All in an environment that parents can feel confident leaving their children with in, because every member of the Adventure Ocean staff holds a college degree in education, recreation,other related field, or has qualified-equivalent experience and they’re all CPR and First Aide certified. So relax – your kids are in good hands. Family vacations will never be the same again. With Adventure Ocean, you can do stuff as a family, plus parents get a little free time to themselves – and kids get some time to have their kind of fun. That includes special kids-only meals, a TV station with programming just for kids, lots of great play areas, even a nightclub for teens. Royal Caribbean cruises are designed to bring families closer together and for EVERYONE to have the time of their life!
Eat, Drink and Be Merry
For the youngest guests, RCI offer a kid’s menu featuring all their favorites: pizza, hamburgers, hot dogs, peanut butter, and mac and cheese. They even have their own beverage programs. The Coca-Cola Program lets kids purchase a fixed-rate card so they can enjoy as many fountain soft drinks as they want and the Adventure Ocean Potion Card lets them get unlimited non-alcoholic mixed drinks and juices for one low price. On selected nights, the youth staff hosts a dinner in one of the ships specialty restaurants. It’s a great opportunity for kids to eat with other kids and for parents to enjoy a meal alone.
Adventure Ocean Credits
All kids who participate in Adventure Ocean will have the opportunity to earn up to three Adventure Ocean credits a day by attending the activities. At the end of the cruise, they can trade in all the points they’ve collected for really cool prizes.
Family Time
The idea of Adventure Family is for kids and their parents to get together and participate in fun onboard activities like ice-skating and karaoke, as well as beach games that are played while shore side. It’s a great way for the entire family to have some fun.
Mom and Dad Time
Even though it’s a vacation for the whole family, Mom and Dad still need quiet time for themselves. That can be during the day, while the kids are at their own Adventure Ocean programs, or at night, while the kids are with the on staff babysitters. Older kids will enjoy the Late Night Party Zone that’s offered from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. in the ship’s youth facilities.
Book your Ocean Adventure at www.royalcaribbean.com
Norwegian Cruise Line
Norwegian’s Kid’s Crew is a program of things to do, places to go and kids to meet. It’s like recess, only longer. Summer camp, only better. Because your children won’t get homesick, but they also won’t be underfoot all day,crying how bored they are. Mom can enjoy a massage while the kiddos are busy on a treasure hunt. Dad can hit the casino while they’re camping out, or both Mom and Dad can head for the Chocoholic Buffet while they’re having a pillow fight at a pajama party.
Every minute your kids spend in Kid’s Crew is carefully supervised by a staff of youth counselors from leading universities and organizations. Prior to coming aboard, they attend a special training course on team and confidence building, communication skills, safety and working with children who have special needs. Together they’ve come up with an impressive bag of tricks for your kids so there’s just no way they’ll be bored on this family vacation!There are circuses (yes I said circuses), crafts, parades, sports, games, stories and parties. On deck campouts with flashlights and tents, and cooking classes where they can make pizza or pancakes with funny faces. There’s T-shirt painting, face painting and poolside root beer floats. Treasure hunts and sand castle competitions on NCI’s private island. And even shore excursions designed just for families. Of course there’s plenty of family activities, too. Shoot some hoops at the basketball court. Take in a magic show or challenge each other to a game of table tennis! In addition to the regularly scheduled hours on days at sea, Kid’s Crew is also available on the first evening of each cruise from 8:00-10:00 p.m. as well as on port days from 3:00 – 5:00 p.m. and 7:30 – 10:00 p.m., providing children with even more occasions to enjoy the creative activities and providing Mom & Dad even more opportunities to enjoy each other!
What’s for dinner?
That’s for you to decide. You can make it a family affair in one of the elegant dining rooms, or have dinner for two while the kids are served up meatballs and spaghetti. There are eight delicious children’s menus to tempt the most finicky eaters. And of course, there’s always peanut butter and jelly on hand for those who are on a strict diet. 🙂
This is the family vacation you’ve been dreaming of. A place where you can unwind while your kids are just winding up. A place where you can all agree on what to do next. As a matter of fact, it’s a toss-up who loves Kid’s Crew more. Because while they’re doing their thing, you’re free to do yours. An aerobics class? Step right up. An intimate dinner at Le Bistro? Follow me please. A few hands of blackjack? You bet. So as you can see, your kids won’t be having all the fun. And since almost everything is included, your kids won’t be constantly pestering you for money. You’ve never had a vacation like this – a family vacation The Norwegian Way.
Join in on the fun at www.ncl.com
Celebrity Cruises
If you’re thinking about a family vacation, a Celebrity cruise is perfect for the entire family. Their award-winning Family Program has something for everyone, from activities to enjoy together to those specially designed for young people. With a combination of family accommodations and shore excursions designed with families in mind. And on the ship’s formal evenings, parents are treated to free babysitting, and counselors take the children to a pizza party for dinner. The four-tiered youth program offers imaginatively created activities that are geared to kids ages 3-17 run by an exceptional staff of warm, caring, highly trained counselors that’s all included in the price of your cruise.
The Celebrity X-Club Youth Program provides kids with entertainment and activities that are well suited for every age group. Each morning a daily program lists the day’s activities, games, parties and more. Special areas are set aside for “kids only” like clubhouses, teen centers, pools and movie theaters. Children can learn more about the world by exploring science and nature or just have fun participating in the wide variety of activities from talent shows to slumber parties. Parents can relax and feel secure about leaving their children under the direct supervision of Celebrity’s youth counselors. Staff members are highly qualified and specially trained in the fields of child psychology, child development, education or recreation. Children between the ages of 3-10 must be signed-in and out by their parents, who must present their boarding pass for identification. To take security one step further, each child is given a special wristband, which is worn for the entire cruise for instant identification. And for those little ones who aren’t yet old enough for the Celebrity X-Club private, in room babysitting is available for a charge for an additional fee.
The Family Cruising Program is available during summer (June through August), Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter sailings but is not available on all sailings, so be sure to check with your travel agent or the cruise line when you book your cruise.
To become a Celebrity cruiser check them out online at www.CelebrityCruises.com
