Cruising With Kids: Programs for Children Overview
Aug 02 '01
The Bottom Line Are you looking for a family vacation? Take a cruise!
Traveling with kids can be an adventure. One of the more popular options these days is taking a family cruise vacation. Most often considered a "good deal" by many, as food, entertainment and accommodations are included in one price, the reality can sometimes be quite different. Your total cost can amount to as much, or even more, as most moderate all-inclusive resorts in the Caribbean. Gratuities, drinks (non-alcoholic and soda) and shore excursions are all extra, and add up quickly. With that said, there are things you can do to lower the overall cost of your vacation (I'll go into that later), and cruises are fast becoming a very popular vacation alternative for families.
All cruise lines offer a reduced rate for the third and fourth person occupying a stateroom. But occasionally, deeply discounted third and fourth person rates are available for as little as $99. I recommend contacting a cruise-only travel agent, familiar with family bookings. Cruise-only agencies generally have better prices and can offer you valuable advice. Disney is by far the most child-friendly of all cruise lines, however Carnival, Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Lines all have excellent kid's programs and do a good job keeping kids of all ages entertained. With the exception of Disney(which is more expensive) all three major cruise line's prices tend to be about the same, give or take $50. All have made recent changes to include alternative dining options and all have made the cruise experience a bit more informal, thus more child-friendly. Which cruise line is right for you and you family depends on what you are looking to do while on vacation. When considering a cruise line, remember the newer the ship, the more you will pay. Newer ships tend to have larger children's areas, kid's pools and a lower kid-to-staff ratio. Cruises in the Caribbean tend to have more families and lots of kids, especially during holiday periods and in the summer. European, Alaska and cruises to more exotic locations tend to have fewer children (which can be a plus).
Carnival
Carnival tends to have the lowest prices, and is very popular with families. The staterooms tend to be somewhat larger than what you see on Royal Caribbean and NCL. The casual dining options and informal atmosphere that prevails seems to have a loyal following among young families. The kid's programs are well organized, however, the best equipped centers are on the Paradise, Triumph and Elation. All ships have international staff, but Carnival has made an effort to hire Americans and Canadians for their kid's programs on all the larger ships. Smaller vessels, such as the Holiday utilize public areas not designated for kids for lack of space and staff is often comprised of non-english speaking staff. All ships offer similar kid's activities, supervision until 10pm most evenings, and kid friendly cuisine. The new menu in the dining room and the food available in the "alternative dining area" (the buffet) includes food similar to what you might find at finer steakhouses. Adults critical of the "quality" find it suits their kids just fine!! Older kids (age 10 and up) seem to enjoy themselves, however, evening entertainment often imitates the adult version of the discos with "mock-tails."
Royal Caribbean
By far, my favorite of the three, however not of my seven year old, because the "food" is so complicated in the dining room. Alternative dining options are available here also, but a more structured cruise experience is what you will find on most Royal Caribbean ships. Staterooms are relatively small, and one has to pay considerably more for larger digs, compared to Carnival and NCL. Overall, their kid's programs get high marks from me; as with Carnival, they utilize a similar format, have good supervision and keep kids 3-9 entertained and very busy. Older kids might find some activities boring. Food quality is better than Carnival.
NCL
NCL does a good job with the kids on their ships, however only the newest ships have adequate kid's rooms, and various public areas are often utilized. Thanks to Freestyle Cruising, open seating at dinner is available. Kid's tend to be well looked after, and occupied. Cabins tend to be on the small side, and unlike Carnival, you'll have to pay more for more space.
Of the three cruise lines I mention here, Carnival has larger and more comfortable staterooms, even in the lower, inside categories. However, both NCL and Royal Caribbean have better food and entertainment, and provide a more upscale cruising experience. Parents traveling with two kids in a room will be more comfortable with Carnival.
I consult for all three cruise lines and have been on a number of cruises with my son, who is now seven. I first took him on a cruise when he was 6 months old. Since that time, he has been on 7 cruises with us. I wish I could say that all of our experiences were positive ones. That's why I am writing this review, primarily focussing on three major cruise lines: Carnival, Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruises.
All three kid's club programs are very similar. They group the kids according to age, schedule both active and quiet times, outdoor activities, swimming and arts and crafts. When my son was a baby, on his first cruise, I utilized the babysitting available on NCL's Seaward most evenings. It actually worked out to be less expensive to bring along a family member as a third or fourth person in the cabin, than to hire someone to watch him in the evenings. However, the babysitter I utilized was the assistant purser, a well educated, twenty-something, who genuinely took an interest in my son's welfare(and mine...I guess it showed all to much I was a new mom). If you utilize babysitting staff in the evening for a child under two, they will come to your stateroom and sit with your (sleeping) child. They charged us $8/hour plus tip, so you can see it can add up. A third person in your cabin often will run you about $200-$300. I brought my 15 year old niece along when he was 2years old. It was nice to have a third person helping out. You just have to remember to lay down the rules and what your expectations are before you set sail.
Once my son was old enough to join an organized group, we had a hard time making him go. It wasn't the program's fault; he was just a little shy. I slowly exposed him to the kid's center and by the end of the cruise, he was reluctant to leave. He still starts out slowly, but by the end of the second day, he's all for it. Most programs provide parents with pagers and offer activities into the evenings. Dropping him off for a pizza/slumber party frees us up to dine and see a show. The kid's staff tends to be young and sometimes inexperienced, but given the transient nature of the program, they do a remarkable job of watching after and taking care of our little ones.
If your children are old enough, I recommend you discuss the option of participating in one of these programs before you leave home, to insure your child feels comfortable with the idea. The following are some suggestions:
1. Book a cruise when kids are IN school. I know I'm not supposed to advocate taking kids out of class, but the reality is that the overall cost of your vacation will be less, the ship will be less crowded, and you child will probably get more individual attention from staff if you travel the non-peak months of Jan-May (excluding March), Sept-early Dec. If your child isn't having chronic attendance problems, missing a week of class won't hurt much in elementary school. Reassure his or her teacher that you will encourage homework while away, and insist on making up any missed work upon your child's return. If your school is inflexible (which most are due to ADA requirements), then you should do what you feel right about doing. The only issue I have about placing kids in cruise daycare during the peak months of travel is that staff have a tendency to be over-worked, the numbers of kids utilizing the program increase and I feel the program suffers overall.
2. Daycare for little ones. I found when my son was between the ages of 3-5, placing him in a cruise daycare program was easy. I can't stress to you how important it is to go when the number of kids in the program are low. The young people working with the kids tend to be well intentioned, but by no means are they teachers. The lower the numbers, the better care your child will receive. Most programs allow for kids to take a nap after lunch. Some ships with Carnival will also provide you with pagers which I found reassuring. Evening care is structured around main seating, so plan accordingly. Some programs offer slumber parties and room is at a minimum, so make sure you're signed up early. Babysitting for younger kids is also available, but the price can be pretty steep. This type of care is not always one-on-one, as I learned when my son was a toddler. But it can come in handy.
3. Activities for older kids. My seven year old considers himself a "big kid" and most of the activities available to 6-10 year olds is well organized and varied. Royal Caribbean has indoor quiet activities and out door pool and deck games, as well as videos and snacks. My son always has a good time, but I try not to put him into these programs every day, all day. Some people do, and I feel so sorry for their kids. My only complaint with these center around the numbers in the groups and the control the young people exert on our kids. Some are very good, but others aren't. There's a lot of pressure placed on these young people to control the kids, keep them occupied and quiet. Sometimes they over react, or worse, don't do enough. I found that especially in the summer, the groups tend to be larger. Cruising is very popular, and demand for kid's activities is high, Most cruise lines understand that to attract families, they have to maintain quality control. Royal Caribbean and Carnival have very good programs, especially on their newer, larger ships. NCL's programs tend to be seasonal, but all ships have limited activities all year round.
4. Teen programs. Kids over the ages of 12 often find themselves board with organized activities. Royal Caribbean includes sports activities in their daily complement of things to do. Carnival has parties and all ships open up the disco where kids can socialize. Depending on your child's interest, most pre-teens and teens enjoy the company of others while on a cruise.
I think cruise vacations are wonderful. It's nice to have time to do the things you want to do, without worrying about the kids. I have found paying a little more for an outside cabin with natural light is worth doing. Getting a separate room for two or more kids is also a good idea, if you can afford it. But having three or four in a room is workable. As I said earlier, Carnival has bigger rooms, with more storage space, even in inside cabins. I personally prefer Royal Caribbean's kid programs over other cruise lines, but I've heard great things, and not so good things about all programs. All three cruise lines offer soda cards for under $20 for a week of unlimited refills. Like I said before, a cruise vacation can be quite expensive, but there are things you can do to cut down on the cost.
Make sure you shop around to get the best price out there. Stick to cruise-only agencies, and try booking your own airfare to save some more. Plan to arrive a day early-it makes for a less hectic start to your vacation. Many hotels offer free transportation to the port and will pick you up at the airport. Doing a little research on the internet can answer most questions, and avoid disappointment. Although I recommend you read reviews of the ships that interest you, I would take what people say with a grain of salt. Some people are not cut out for cruising, while others would be happy on a barge. By checking out a variety of reviews, you can get a feeling for what the cruise experience is like, some of the shortcomings, and some valuable tips that can make your vacation more enjoyable. You are welcome to pack soda and alcohol in your luggage (not in your carry-on), but getting a soda card for your kids is a smart move. Walkie Talkies are inexpensive and a great way for you to keep in touch with your kids while on board the ship. If you have a cell phone, bring it, as you can call home from many ports of call for less money it will cost you on the ship. Calling from the ship can run you $8/minute.
Lots of parents get a false sense of security, thinking their teens will stay out of trouble. I can tell you that on three and four night cruises, especially on Carnival, I have observed many kid's under 21 drinking beer and alcohol, despite the 21 year old drinking age rule. On these short cruises, more than half the passengers are under the age of 30 and come specifically to party. It's not hard for kids to get other young adults to buy them booze. If you bring young people with you, it's important to discuss this with them. Unfortunately, lots of parents don't encounter this problem until it's too late.
I would NOT recommend bringing kids with you on a weekend getaway cruise (3 nights), especially on Carnival, for the reason outlined in the previous paragraph, regardless of their age. Many adults on these cruises tend to be very poor role models, and I have observed on more than one occasion, intoxicated parents acting like fools in front of their kids. I have taken numerous 3 and 4 night cruises on Carnival, and came away having a great time, but I left my child at home. You should do the same.
If this is your first cruise, I wrote the following articles with you in mind:
What to Expect from a Three or Four Night Cruise
http://www.epinions.com/content_26233900676
Booking a Cruise on the Internet
http://www.epinions.com/content_1591517316
Cruising Tips: Solutions to Problems and How to Avoid Them
http://www.epinions.com/content_1533452420
Advice for the First Time Cruiser
http://www.epinions.com/content_1378001028
Last Minute Price Reductions on Cruises
http://www.epinions.com/content_1361748100
Carnival: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly
http://www.epinions.com/trvl-review-61ED-31DC42A3-3A58CE64-prod2
What to Expect form Carnival:Help for the First-Time Cruiser
http://www.epinions.com/trvl-review-2460-3118A2B-396F49C8-prod1
Thanks for reading. Good luck with your plans and research!!
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Epinions.com ID:
Suzi
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Location: California
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Suzi is an aspiring travel writer who enjoys scuba diving and volleyball.
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