The variety of what's available onboard these days is staggering: kids programs are offered for different age groups, with all manner of fun activities, sometimes created with a familiar brand such as Crayola or Fisher-Price. And for teens: photography classes, escorted shore tours youth counselors, discos...
- Check Family Cruising at CruiseCritics.com for suggestions about which line's programs might suit your family.
- See also: Best Family Ships - (kids' programs, facilities, nifty features...)
Meanwhile, Royal Carribbean has a new generation of on-board facilities: water park areas, rock climbing walls, ice skating rinks, mini golf, FlowRider surf simulators, roller blading... Royal Caribbean also has kids programs for many different ages, including teens; kids programs include Crayola art camps, theater activities, Science Adventure, and more. Teens have a lounge supervised with trained staff, plus less-structured activities that could include scratch deejaying, open mic, learn to surf. Some ships have a teen-only night club. Also on certain Royal Caribbean ships: special programs for preschoolers in partnership with Fisher Price (parent + tot both participate.)
Carnival Cruise Line, at a lower budget, is a crowd-pleaser, hosting hundreds of thousands of kids a year. Karaoke parties, entertainers, lots of arts and crafts; kids' pools, giant waterslides; teen makeovers, teen disco... Camp Carnival has morning to night activities for several age groups. Read a review by a mother of seven of her Carnival family cruise.
Norwegian Cruise Lines:
-- is known for "freestyle cruising", i.e. meals can be eaten whenever, and at whatever table, you like. Kids Crew has programs for Junior Sailors (ages 2 to 5), First Mates (ages 6 to 8), Navigators (ages 9 to 12 - Sega and video games, pajama parties, movies, camp-outs), Teens (ages 13 to 17 -pool parties, volleyball and basketball, games, teen disco.)
Booking your Family Cruise
Check tips about deals and promotions. In the past, cruises were almost always sold through agents, but the industry has changed; feel free to shop directly from the cruise line, online or by phone. Also, several online agencies specialize in families:
* Kids' Programs change; always check the cruise line web site for the latest info!
