Cruising is definitely a family-friendly vacation option. Contrary to what some people believe about cruise ship kid’s clubs, you aren’t just limited to the Disney brand. All major cruise lines provide children with some type of club of their own. Certainly, you will have to define which brand may be best for your family.
Truth be told, my kids do find that one brand is way too ‘uptight’ and have requested we never set sail on that ship (and I agree it is not kid-oriented) but you can tell from their commercials right away that you don’t want to take a family on their ship.
It’s simple, you all head out on a cruise because you want family time, but you also need a little ‘couple’ time and kids clubs and cruise ships can offer you the best mix of both worlds. Lavishly live travel out loud, head to the high seas and let’s learn about kids clubs and cruise ships and then you can plan your own cruise!
Kids Clubs and Cruise Ships
Age Range
The majority of cruise lines provide scads of activities for children between ages of 3 to 17. Please note, young children must be potty trained to participate. Carnival Cruise Lines is the sole exception to this. They provide programs for kids ages two and up. Diapers are not an issue on Carnival ships.
Kid’s Clubs Hours
Kid’s club hours vary from one cruise line to the next. However, hours of operation tend to be from 8 a.m. until 10 or 11 p.m. Activities for teens usually run later, often until 1 a.m. or beyond. Most clubs take a short break during lunch and dinner, which allows families to eat together.
Activities Offered
There are so many activities offered by cruise line kid’s clubs, your child probably won’t know where to start! Honestly, you’ll be hard-pressed to even get them to leave the ship.
As a courtesy, all children receive a daily newsletter highlighting the day’s activities. There are different activities planned for each age group. They include things like:
- arts and crafts
- scavenger hunts
- pool parties
- science experiments
- backstage tours
- trivia and games
- karaoke
- acting and cooking classes
- sports competitions
- and the list goes on!
Cost Considerations
Generally, the majority of activities (both daytime and early evening) are included in your cruise rate. Keep in mind, however, there is an additional charge for babysitting, supervised meal outings and nursery time for babies and toddlers.
Safety Concerns
Every parent has safety concerns. It’s a normal part of life. Cruise line kid’s clubs are extremely safe. The majority of them feature gated access. In addition, parents must sign younger children in and out. Older kids can do so themselves. But, they can’t leave without telling someone.
In the event your child isn’t feeling well, a youth counselor will contact you to pick up your child. The same counselors are also trained to handle certain types of medical emergencies and food allergy situations.
Now that you know a bit more about kid’s clubs and cruise ships, there is no reason to leave your little ones at home. Remember, it’s always a good idea to compare clubs, before booking your actual reservations. Take into account how old your children will be at the time of the cruise and go from there. You know they’ll love you for it!
Lavishly live travel aboard a cruise ship out loud and enjoy every minute and the kids will love it too!