Family Cruising
Kid
Stuff & More, The Basics
by Linda Coffman
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A
youth counselor straightens up the play area of
"Adventure Ocean" on board Royal Caribbean's Enchantment
of the Seas
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The elevator doors opened and two
junior cruisers skipped inside, tugging their smiling young
father behind them. His grin extended from ear-to-ear as he
announced, "This is the BEST part of a cruise!" He was
already attired in his tuxedo for a formal night dinner with his
wife and the children were anxious to get to their own party in
Adventure Ocean, the kids' club on Royal Caribbean's Enchantment of
the Seas.
The elevator ascended and with each
passing deck the children's excitement grew. "My wife's
dressing," their father confided. Mom and Dad planned to dine
leisurely on lobster by candlelight, while the children looked
forward to pizza and hot dogs with the youth staff in the Solarium,
followed by Movie Night. Attired in their pajamas, they would
"scramble" for sleeping bags, paint pillowcases to take
home with them, and watch "Little Rascals" movies until
10:00 pm. Should mom and dad wish to dance away the evening after
dinner, the children's Late Night Party Zone offered group
babysitting for a small additional charge.
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High
tech & high energy, Club HAL on board Holland America
Lines' Zuiderdam
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Parents who wish to share
"adult" time on their family cruise vacation no longer
find it necessary to engage a nanny or au pair to watch over
their little ones. Contemporary shipboard facilities dedicated to
the entertainment of children and teens have evolved from
simple playrooms with a few board games and toys to vast deck areas,
both inside and out, which contain a dazzling array of options from
educational to simply fun.
Youth programs are manned by
counselors carefully screened and chosen for their ability to relate
to children; most have a background in education or early-childhood
development. Their function is to provide a safe environment for age
appropriate play and learning—a "day
camp" at sea. Activities vary by cruise line, but the emphasis
is on enjoyable pursuits that offer an educational bonus—science
and astronomy programs, arts and crafts projects, history and
geography of the ports of call, and even training in social graces
and dance are a few of the planned pursuits.
"Cruising is
one of the few vacations that gives individual members of the
family time to do their own thing," says Anita Dunham-Potter, mother of two daughters. "My girls really enjoy the
activities offered and most of the time don't want to leave the kids
area when its time to pick them up."
"YEP"—Let's
Get Serious
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Spacious
& stimulating, the Kid's Crew youth center on Norwegian
Cruise Line's Norwegian Dawn
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Water slides and
computers are popular, but it's not all fun and games on a cruise.
Appropriate behavior is critical to ensure the safety of all
participants in group programs and participants are subject to
disciplinary procedures for unacceptable actions. After a warning, a
'time out' may be issued, and suspension or dismissal from the
program is the ultimate punishment for continued unsuitable
behavior.
In case of an
emergency, cruise lines adhere to "YEP"—the Youth
Evacuation Program. When registered in on board youth programs, all
children under the age of 13 are issued an ID bracelet that must be
worn at all times. Upon hearing the ship's emergency signal, parents
are instructed to go to their muster stations, stand in the front
row, and await the arrival of their children. All children are
outfitted with a life jacket, escorted to their assigned muster
station, and supervised until they are reunited with their parents.
Terrific Teens
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Teen
Disco on Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Dawn
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Possibly the pickiest passengers on
any ship are those in the 13-17 age group. Teens are... like,
well... cool... and some aren't keen to join 'group'
activities, depending on their individual degree of independence. On
the other hand, there are probably an equal number (or more) who
enjoy checking in at the teen center early in the cruise to meet and
hook up with other teens. Teenagers, unlike younger children, are
generally free to come and go as they please in a less structured
environment.
Counselors are also on hand to
chaperone dances and host pool parties, trivia games, and scavenger
hunts. Other activities can include sports and fitness classes,
Karaoke, talent shows, and "mock-tail" parties. Facilities
vary, but most ships have at least a video game area and computers.
On the newest ships there are Teen Centers and Discos. Vessels
without them usually allow teens to dance in the adult disco until
about 11:00 pm.
Cruises aren't like other vacations
where teens are pretty much tied to their parents and there is a lot
of freedom, but there are also rules. During group activities, teens
are not allowed to smoke, curse, or consume alcoholic beverages.
Security will step in if any vandalism or violent behavior is
observed. Teens are encouraged to have a good time, meet their
peers, and... like, well... chill out.
NEXT
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Images:
Zuiderdam & Enchantment of the Seas © CruiseDiva.com™ and
Norwegian Dawn Courtesy of Norwegian
Cruise Line
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