Cruising with the Kids

Cruising with the Kids

Some ships are theme parks that cater to children of all ages

There have alwasy been reasons to take kind on a cruise, of course. Exotic new ports daily will intrigue children with even the shortest of attention spans, and such exposure can be an educational introduction to new cultures. But cruise lines seeking boomer business have been upping the family ante in the last few years with a whole new slew of services that roll summer camp, theme park, and sophisticated island resort into one package – and then sweetening the pot with third- and fourth-person discount rates for families on a budget.

A typical approach is that of Premier's Big Red Boat, otherwise known as the Starship Atlantic. There's a batting practice on the sports deck, games and crafts at the children's center, a ping-pong tournament, karaoke singing, and even rehearsals for children's theater productions at the Premier theater. And, in keeping with the theme-park theme, crew members dress as Loony Tunes characters.

Spending your vacation with Bugs Bunny or Tweety Bird probably isn't your idea of a good time, so the ship also offers dawn-to-dusk baby-sitting service and the usual cruise activities for adults. Everyone has a good time, and parents can rest assured that it is exceedingly difficult to lose a child on a cruise ship.

Of course, some ships would rather the kind did get lost, or at least were kept quiet. Even some ships that do welcome children are not as well prepared to deal with their needs as others – the playroom may be no more than a corner in a public area with a few toys and children's programs may be offered only in the summer, if at all. When you book a cruise, always ask what their child policy is.

Nassau Cruise Ship. Photo by Elena.

Among the mega-cruisers that welcome children, Norwegian's Norway, Carnival's Fantasy, and Royal Caribbean's Legend of the Seas stand out for their facilities for kids. If a classic cruise is more your style, try the Queen Elizabeth II. It offers the best of both worlds : first-class dining and entertainment for mom and dad, and top-notch care by English nannies (of course) for the kids. Other first-rate family ships are availiable, of cores. We recommend ships that part in three to four-day cruises to the Bahamas, with spacious public areas, large recreation centers with group baby-sitting, tasteful furnishings, children programs with focus on learning, with lessons in ship navigation, marine life and the various ports of call. It is preferable that a ship boast large libraries, drop-off children's center. Better if the decor is pleasant but doesn't detract from festive atmosphere. Kids will love the newness of it all. Activities exclusively for kids could include hula dancing lessons, lei making, lessons in playing the ukulele.