Many cruise lines cater to children, so much, in fact, that it’s difficult to determine which offerings are best, especially in terms of kids’ clubs. Before you plan your next cruise, consider these programs, listed by line.
Carnival Cruise Line
Camp Carnival
Ships: All Except Breeze, Triumph, Miracle and Freedom
Age: 2 to 11
Cost: Free
Requirements: Potty Trained
Divided into three age groups — 2 to 5, 6 to 8 and 9 to 11 — children enjoy arts and crafts, games, music and more at Camp Carnival. Meals are also part of the fun, and include macaroni and cheese and pizza. Camp Carnival also has a nighttime program called Night Owls (additional fees apply) so the fun can continue while mom and dad enjoy a night out.
Camp Ocean
Ships: Breeze, Triumph, Miracle and Freedom
Age: 2 to 12
Cost: Free
Requirements: Potty Trained
Introduced in 2014, Camp Ocean features more than 200 marine-themed activities, such as Sea Creature Discovery, Marine Line Trivia, Design Your Own Aquarium and more. Children are also placed into three age categories: Penguins (2 to 5); Sting Rays (6 to 8); and Sharks (9 to 11). Camp Ocean will replace Camp Carnival entirely by 2016.
Circle “C”
Ships: All
Age: 12 to 14
Cost: Free
Requirements: None
Circle C stands for “Chill, Connect and Cool,” and young teenagers are encouraged to do just that in a funky, relaxed lounge, where games and dance parties are hosted. Outdoor movies are part of the fun, too.
Club O2
Ships: All
Age: 15 to 17
Cost: Free
Requirements: None
Teenagers listen to music, play video games, sing karaoke and enjoy dance parties at Club O2, a hip and trendy space. Plus, staff members set up teen-only excursions for port days, which means more time with new friends.
For more information, visit Carnival Cruise Line.
Disney Cruise Line
It’s A Small World Nursery/Flounder’s Reef Nursery
Ships: All Except Wonder
Age: 6 Months to 3 Years
Cost: $9/Hour for First Child; $8/Hour for Others
Requirements: None
Disney Cruise Line offers It’s A Small World Nursery and Flounder’s Reef Nursery (same concept, two themes), housed in two areas. One room offers cribs and swings, while another offers organized activities, games, books, and a giant, flat-screen TV, plus an Acclimation Zone, where youngsters can easily adjust to their new surroundings.
Disney’s Oceaneer Club
Ships: All
Age: 3 to 12
Cost: Free
Requirements: Potty Trained
This is where kids find Andy’s Room, a real-life version of the one seen in “Toy Story,” complete with a giant Mr. Potato Head and Buster (the wiener dog) – kids can actually climb through him! Other features include Monsters Academy, Pixie Hollow and Explorer Pod.
Disney’s Oceaneer Lab
Ships: All
Age: 3 to 12
Cost: Free
Requirements: Potty Trained
In this area, kids can sketch – and bring to life – their own characters in Animator Studio, and make and listen to music in Sound Studio. Organized activities include Monsters Inc., Open “Mike” Night and Get the Hook!, a scavenger hunt with crime scenes and clues.
Edge
Ships: All
Age: 11 to 14
Cost: Free
Requirements: None
‘Tweens aren’t forgotten at Edge, where they enjoy hi-tech fun. Offerings include an illuminated floor for dance parties and a video wall that stretches 18 feet. Got a ‘tween-aged comedian? They’ll love That’s Hilarious, where they’ll learn the art of improvisation through movie scene skits and games.
Vibe
Ships: All
Age: 14 to 17
Cost: Free
Requirements: None
Teenagers who are too cool for their parents will appreciate an escape at Vibe, which offers exclusive splash pools, a sundeck, smoothie and coffee bar, dance club (with a DJ), media room and video game area.
For more information, visit Disney Cruise Line.
Norwegian Cruise Line
Guppies
Ships: All
Age: 6 Months to 3 Years
Cost: Free/$6 Meal Fee on Port Days
Requirements: Parental Supervision
Along with their parents, youngsters can enjoy up to two hours (per day) in this program, which includes sensory play and painting.
Turtles
Ships: All
Age: 3 to 5
Cost: Free/$6 Meal Fee on Port Days
Requirements: Potty Trained
This program includes scavenger hunts, storytelling, arts and crafts and — perhaps best of all — circus school, with activities like feather balancing.
Seals
Ships: All
Age: 6 to 9
Cost: Free/$6 Meal Fee on Port Days
Requirements: None
Circus school goes up a notch in this program, where kids learn to juggle scarfs and spin plates. Other activities include games, painting, sports, team-building challenges (you can get your family involved, too) and video games.
Dolphins
Ships: All
Age: 10 to 12
Cost: Free/$6 Meal Fee on Port Days
Requirements: None
This age set gets to try stilts and ball juggling in circus school, plus more fun with arts and crafts, team-building challenges and scavenger hunts.
Entourage
Ships: All
Age: 13 to 17
Cost: Free/$6 Meal Fee on Port Days
Requirements: None
Teens enjoy dance parties, plus video games, movies, music and, of course, circus school. Themed events are also offered, and include College Nights, White Hot Parties and Glow, with neon lights and all!
For more information, visit Norwegian Cruise Line.
Princess Cruise Line
Princess Pelicans
Ships: All Except Pacific and Ocean
Age: 3 to 7
Cost: Free
Requirements: Potty Trained
Little ones enjoy ice cream and pizza parties, designing T-shirts, movies and arts and crafts. Theme nights and pajama parties are part of the fun, too.
Shockwaves
Ships: All Except Pacific and Ocean
Age: 8 to 12
Cost: Free
Requirements: None
Big kids get video games on PS2 and PS3, plus sports tournaments, karaoke shows, scavenger hunts, movies and dance parties. Jr.CHEF@Sea and Science of the Seas are also offered to this age group; Jr.Chef@Sea allows youngsters to try their hands at cooking with one of the ship’s chefs, while Science of the Seas teaches kids about everything from sharks to the building of rollercoasters, via hands-on projects.
Remix
Ships: All Except Pacific and Ocean
Age: 13 to 17
Cost: Free
Requirements: None
All ships (except Pacific and Ocean) offer teen lounges, with late-night movies, formal dinners, DJ workshops, makeovers, sports tournaments and mocktail competitions.
For more information, visit Princess Cruise Line.
Royal Caribbean International
Royal Babies and Royal Tots Nursery
Ships: All
Age: 6 to 36 Months
Cost: $6/Hour During Day; $8/Hour at Night
Requirements: None
Youngsters enjoy age-appropriate games and activities led by trained professionals, plus books, toys and movies. Additionally, playgroup sessions (45 minutes or so) are offered, allowing parents to spend one-on-one time with their babies.
Aquanauts
Ships: All
Age: 3 to 5
Cost: Free
Requirements: Potty Trained
Activities include arts and crafts, face painting, storytelling and themed events, such as pirate nights. Adventure Science by High Touch High Tech is a real highlight, with hands-on experiments.
Explorers
Ships: All
Age: 6 to 8
Cost: Free
Requirements: None
Explorers enjoy a mix of themed events, such as World Wide of Sports Nights and Carnival Nights, plus ice cream socials and movie nights. Other activities include theater programs and Adventure Art by Crayola, in which kids are introduced to pottery, mask making and more.
Voyagers
Ships: All
Age: 9 to 11
Cost: Free
Requirements: None
Formal nights, disco dancing, karaoke and scavenger hunts are part of the fun for the 9-to-11 set, who also enjoy their own theater program, plus Adventure Art by Crayola and Adventure Science by High Touch High Tech.
Navigators
Ships: All
Age: 12 to 14
Cost: Free
Requirements: None
How good is your teen with one-liners? Can they scratch their own tunes? They’ll learn all that and more in this program. Other activities include teen-friendly casino games, plus rock climbing and mocktail competitions. On Voyager and Freedom, this program even includes an ice skating rink!
Teens
Ships: All
Age: 15 to 17
Cost: Free
Requirements: None
Older teens get a chance to play Battle of the Sexes, plus they can take part in karaoke and talent shows. They can also make their own music and join in on teen-exclusive backstage tours.
For more information, visit Royal Caribbean International.
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