In This Issue:
Cruising

Kids just wanna have fun

Ask most adults what their idea of a perfect vacation is, and relaxation is often at the top of their list. Ask most kids what their idea of a perfect vacation is, and round the clock fun and entertainment are at the top of their list.

No wonder cruises have been the fastest growing sector of the entire travel industry every year for the last ten years, and why family cruising has been the number one source of this growth!

Not only do cruise vacations have something to offer for every member of the family, when it comes to kids' facilities, many ships feature such an incredible variety of options that kids often feel more like they're at a floating theme park or at summer camp than on a cruise ship.

Kids' activities can include anything from Nintendo Wii games, to riding the waves in a surf simulator pool, to dedicated kids pools and waterparks, to fun cookery classes and science experiments, to late night slumber parties.

The best part is these kids clubs are free, fully supervised by experienced child care staff, and are typically open as late as 10pm every night (sometimes even later) giving parents the opportunity for alone time whenever they want it, while the kids are happily engaged in fun and activities with new found friends.

For those days where kids don't want to be dragged around outside, parents can enjoy a day out alone in port, whether diving in the Caribbean or sightseeing in Europe, while kids are supervised and entertained onboard. Kids can also choose from a variety of kids only shore excursions, and have access to kids only areas at many cruise line private island beaches.

While parents have the option of letting their older kids sign themselves in or out of the program, parents with younger kids are given a pager for extra security.

In addition to kids clubs, cruises have facilities to cater to youths and teens up to age seventeen, commonly regarded as one of the pickiest age groups to please! Facilities include full size sports courts and video arcades, to cool hangouts and even teen discos, where teens can learn how to DJ, practice their dance moves, sing Karaoke, or just sit back and chill.

The following is a summary of the kids/teens facilities on some of the best family friendly cruise lines.

Royal Caribbean International

Royal Caribbean has long been regarded as one of the best cruise lines for families.

Why? Royal Caribbean's Adventure Ocean youth program offers some of the most expansive and innovative facilities at sea, and is run by some of the most experienced and qualified youth counsellors of any kids program on land or at sea.

Plus, Royal Caribbean has some of the most state of the art ships ever built, featuring some of the most incredible and unimaginable recreational facilities found on any cruise line, such as an ice skating rink, rock climbing wall, surf pool, bungee trampoline, water-park and even a merry-go-round!

Royal Caribbean is the only cruise line that offers enrichment programs and workshops for toddlers ages 6 months to 3 years, where early childhood development experts at Crayola and Fisher Price have created playgroups incorporating skill building and development for little ones accompanied by their parents.

Royal Caribbean's kids program offers one of the most extensive age-segregated fun and educational activities for youths, from pajama parties and talent shows for young ones, to scavenger hunts, drama/ acting classes, movies and evening pool parties for older kids.

Royal Caribbean's teen program is one of the best, featuring a variety of sports programs and evening entertainment including a teen disco. Royal Caribbean's newest and largest ship, also one of the most talked about ships in the world, features a dedicated kids theatre, science lab, toddler nursery, and an outdoor boardwalk area reminiscent of a mini theme park.

Norwegian Cruise Line

NCL offers expansive kids and teens facilities from ages 2 to 17.

Most of their ships feature a kids pool and waterslide, rock climbing wall, and some of their newest ships even have a bowling alley!

For young ones, NCL even features a kid size buffet on some ships, with lower serving areas, and kids size table and chairs!

NCL's brand new ship debuting this July, with some of the most expansive kids and teens facilities at sea, features a partnership with Nickelodeon, with Nickelodeon characters, games and activities. This ship also features a batting cage, bungee trampoline, climbing cage, rappelling wall, and water-park with large waterslides and splash area.

Princess Cruises

Offering a more upscale cruise experience, Princess is often not regarded by many as a popular cruise line for families, yet. Princess offers excellent programs for both youths and teens, especially on its larger ships sailing the Caribbean and Mexico.

Princess offers expansive kids and teens facilities on all their large ships, featuring Playstation 2 games, a Junior Chef at Sea culinary program, kids pools and even a teen hot tub and sundeck on many ships.

Most ships feature Movies Under the Stars, a large poolside theatre showing day and night movies, many of which are well suited to families. As popular with adults as they are with kids, movie time also includes fresh buttery popcorn, pizza, and fresh baked cookies - yum!

So, if you're planning a family vacation and want to ensure the kids have fun, book a cruise. Just one warning, the kids may just have so much fun that they won't want to leave! Speak with a Flight Centre cruise specialist today by calling 1-866-317-4794.

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