Cruising For Families

The days when cruise ships were almost exclusively the preserve of the wealthy and elderly are long gone. Nowadays, cruising is a holiday the whole family can enjoy, and the latest generation of cruise ships have children's facilities worthy of any land-based resort.

On the bigger ships, children get their own dedicated play areas, and even their own pools, as well as age-related activities ranging from face painting and quizzes to treasure hunts and talent shows. On some ships there are even night nurseries and slumber parties, so parents can enjoy a romantic evening safe in the knowledge that their children are securely supervised. It is not just the tinies who are catered for; teenagers can get together too with their own discos, games rooms, video arcades and activity clubs. Some cruise lines also organise shore excursions specifically for youngsters, with special beach barbecues and sporting activities.

Which Ship?

Cruising is a vast and varied business, and there are many different types of ship. When seeking a family vacation cruise, the first question to ask yourself is whether you'd enjoy a large, "floating resort" style modern ship, or an older, more traditional vessel.

For the biggest and best children's facilities, the new mega cruise ships are hard to beat.
When booking a family cruise, double check that the offered facilities are still available. Some ships only offer children's programmes during school holidays. Don't regard a children's programme as a licence to forget about the kids for a week or so! Many ships won't accept children under four in a club without a parent along too. And don't book full day shore excursions if you have very young children. Most companies insist at least one parent stays on board during a full day in port, in case a child becomes ill or distressed.

Ship Facilities

• Carnival Cruise Line offer amazing fun for children with Camp Carnival, Circle 'C' and Club O2. Camp Carnival lets kids ages 2-11 have their own space, games, paints, crayons, pool area and everything else that young cruisers love. They have so much fun, they don't even notice they're being supervised. And another plus, from 10 p.m. - 3 a.m. every night they offer great babysitting services. Circle 'C' is the ultimate spot where children ages 12-14 can cruise, chill, and connect to others. Cool activities, awesome facilities and lots of great new friends to add to their text-mail lists. The activities, like games, dance parties, outdoor movies and more, are supervised and created just for them. And finally, Club O2 where teens 15-17 can hangout around the clock. This special space blends friends, music, entertainment, sports and style for a teen-themed cruising experience unlike any other. All supervised events, parties and activities are just for them. This amazing place is full of things to do, people to meet and stories to create.



• Celebrity has American-style Slumber Parties as well as a wide range of age-related activities such as treasure hunts, T-shirt designing, quizzes and contests.



• Holland America Line provide a wide variety of exciting youth and teenager-friendly activities and facilities for guests ages 3 to 17. With supervised fun for their younger guests, the entire family can have the cruise of their dreams. Club HAL® - Kids: Children, ages 3-7, can participate in such activities as storytelling, fabric painting, indoor games, arts and crafts, drawing contests, ice-cream sundae parties, puzzles, bingo, pirate treasure hunts or a farewell pizza party. Club HAL® - Tweens: Ages 8-12 might learn golf putting, have disco parties and theme parties, compete in on-deck sports events, compete in scavenger hunts or simply play Ping-Pong with a friend. The Loft and The Oasis: Teens, ages 13-17 will especially enjoy the teen disco, karaoke sessions, video games, teen sports tournaments, card games, trivia contests, bingo, movies and videos.



• Princess Cruises ' latest ship the Grand Princess, children can enjoy a variety of theme-park-style rides in a 12-man hydraulic simulator, the highlight of the first virtual reality centre at sea. And on Princess Cays, the company's private hideaway in the Bahamas, children can enjoy themselves at Pelican's Perch, a fully supervised play area specially constructed on the theme of a pirate ship.



• NCL offers what you want and what your kids want- good times all around, for all ages, at all times, just the way you like it! There are complimentary activities happening every day- whether your child wants to paint, have a pyjama party or put on a show. Just for our Junior cruisers, we offer splash pools on Norwegian Dawn, Star and Spirit. Each ship has its own children's themed wet and wild fun areas, slides, water squirters, and splash areas far away from mum and dad's main pool area. Norwegian Dawn, Star, Spirit, Jewel, Pride of America, and Pride of Hawaii offer jungle gyms with ball pits and tunnels.



• P&O 's ships, Ventura, Oceana, Oriana and Aurora also offer excellent children's facilities for those who prefer a more British atmosphere. The playrooms are called Peter Pan's, with teenage areas known as Decibels, and are fully staffed and equipped with everything from toys to video machines. P&O run clubs for "tweens" (10-13) and teenagers. There are children's pools on the Aurora and Oriana, and for teenagers, a disco serving non-alcoholic drinks. On both ships children up to five can be left in the supervised night nursery from 6p.m. to 2a.m., and on the Oriana there is an in-cabin baby listening facility.



• Crystal Cruises welcome children aboard their six-rated ships Crystal Harmony and Crystal Symphony. There is a selection of three-berth staterooms; rooms dedicated to children's entertainment with toys and video games; a choice of indoor and outdoor pools; table tennis; and informal dining areas such as burger and ice cream bars. Special children's programmes are arranged if more than 15 children are travelling, and baby-sitting can be arranged.



• Costa Cruises offer excellent facilities for children. More families than ever are realising the ease and enjoyment of family cruising with Costa. The youngest guests and their parents are invited to participate in the Costa Kids Programme. Indeed, some of the best things do come in small packages – and that’s certainly the case with our Costa Kids Programme. From pizza parties and pirate treasure hunts to face painting, masquerades, and even Italian language lessons, supervised activities like these are all in a day’s play for kids lucky enough to cruise with Costa.



• Fred Olsen Cruise Lines welcomes families on board four of the fleet, Braemar, Balmoral, Boudicca and Black Watch, offering a chance to travel with your children, or grandchildren. The family friendly cruises coincide with school holidays - Easter, summer and Christmas. Experienced children's hosts arrange plenty of activities and entertainment and the ships have a children's play room. Excellent discounts are available for children up to 16 years when sharing a cabin with two full-fare paying adults.



• MSC knows your children will enjoy plenty of fun and games, along with other children and our entertainers, who organise different activities everyday.
  The onboard Mini Club is a meeting place for all the children – to play and have fun! You will find sports competitions for children of all ages, swimming pool games (on some ships only), as well as tasty snacks and treasure hunts…your little ones will have ample opportunities to play games with other children! We also have a designated playroom for children.
  Onboard MSC Cruises, your children’s holidays will be fully taken care of, while you relax and enjoy your cruise in total bliss and relaxation!
  MSC Cruises recommends: Great value solutions for children, such as the Teens Card for beverages and soft drinks.
  



• Royal Caribbean International operates four kids clubs on board its fleet under the umbrella name of "Adventure Ocean". Each club is specially formulated for each different age group with activities arranged accordingly. The six Vision-class ships each have two specially designed club rooms, one for younger children and a "teen lounge" area featuring its own disco and juice bar. The company has introduced a new "Adventure Science" programme designed to make education fun, through a blend of science and entertainment. Kids of all ages are involved in making rockets, "Flubber" (slime) and bubbling potions.



• Thomson Cruises are great at putting the fun in to family holidays with activities that’ll entertain the kids all day long. Imaginative, entertaining and completely free of charge, Kidzone is one of the best kids@ clubs out there. It offers junior cruisers aged 3-12 a place to make new friends. Plus as you would expect from Thomson, it’s run by fully qualified staff according to UK legislation. Child prices apply to the age of 16, sharing a cabin with two adults.

If you need any further information please don't hesitate to call our friendly and helpful staff.