We all know how kid-friendly the mega ships are, but there are some smaller ships that deserve some credit too. For families that like taking the road less traveled, here are some atypical offerings from a handful of small-ship adventure and upscale lines.
Families with kids who share a love of learning will feel right at home aboard the small, cozy ships of Lindblad Expeditions (www.expeditions.com).
As the ships ply the off-beat waterways, islands, fjords and/or harbors of the Galapagos, Greece and Alaska, special port-related activities for kids might include scavenger hunts, painting and story writing, depending on the age of children.
Appealing shore excursions for families range from frolicking with fearless sea lions on the beach in the Galapagos to spotting for humpback whales and orcas up-close from a zodiac craft in Alaska. As a bonus, there’s a “Bring Your Kids” discount of $500 off the double-occupancy rate for kids under 18.
There are few places in the world as fascinating as the Galapagos Islands. Darwin sure thought so, and if you want to introduce your children to the same unspoiled plant and wildlife that he explored,
Abercrombie & Kent’s (www.abercrombiekent.com) 48-passenger Eclipse is a smart idea. A handful of 11-night expedition cruise tours are geared to families in March, April, June, July, August and December (minimum age is 5).
Experienced naturalists are on hand to teach kids about evolution and how it affects everything from cacti to the islands’ iguanas, tortoises and birds. Kids 7 and older are taken on beach and nature walks as well as snorkeling and kayaking excursions. Fares start at $6,695 per person; child under 12 sharing with 2 adults is $5,150.
Another option is a 16-day Peru and Galapagos combo, which explores the Inca culture of Peru and Machu Picchu, plus offers a 5-night Galapagos cruise on the Eclipse. Rates from $11,885 per adult; child under 12 sharing with 2 adults is $9,525.
Abercrombie will also be offering a special Antarctica family departure on Dec 17, 2010 to Jan 5, 2011, sailing aboard a new ship, Le Boreal. The Young Explorer’s Program will include workshops for kids about marine mammals, squid biology, fish printing, navigation, drawing, writing, and arts and crafts. Fares from $15,795 per person; children under 18 save 50% of cruise price when traveling with an adult (except in suites).
Good news, the new operators (www.pgcruises.com) of the 332-passenger Paul Gauguin (which has been operated by Regent Seven Seas since 1997) will keep things status quo when they take over early next year. That means the great Ambassadors of the Environment program will still be offered. The fun and educational program has been offered on all 7-night cruises out of Papeete, Tahiti. For an extra fee of about $200, kids 9 to 15 can enjoy activities created by ocean explorer Jean-Michel Cousteau. They can learn about different kinds of coral and fish species through hikes, snorkeling, whale watching and diving excursions. The ships’ youth counselors, who lead the way, all have college degrees in natural or environmental sciences and training from Jean-Michel Cousteau’s team.
Teens will be all over the cool toys carried aboard the sporty SeaDream Yacht Club’s (www.seadreamyachtclub.com) pair of 110-passenger yachts, including ski jets, wake boards, water skis, mountain bikes and sea kayaks. Passengers over 16 can take the toys for a spin at any Caribbean and Mediterranean ports the twins anchor at. When sharing a cabin with two parents, rates for children up to age 12 are $100 per day and for 13+, they’re $200 per day.
When we’re talking the high end, Crystal Cruise’s (www.crystalcruises.com) elegant 922-passenger Crystal Symphony and the 1,070-passenger Crystal Serenity do a good job catering to families. During busy family seasons like summers in Europe and holiday weeks, supervised activities are offered for ages 3 to 17.
Cheerful playrooms are stocked with video games (Sony PlayStation® 2, Nintendo Wii™ and Xbox 360TM kiosks), computers, board games and toys; for two groups (ages 3-7 and 8-12), as many as 10 youth counselors organize stuff like scavenger hunts, arts and crafts, bridge tours, and karaoke, plus new destination-focused activities too.
That means in Italy, kids can design their own Sistine Chapels, have photo session wearing traditional Russian costumes on route to St. Petersburg, and learn a bit of French for the Monaco call. Kids get to make memory books with maps and photos as a souvenir of the countries they visited.
There’s also a teen club and video arcade, and the poolside Trident Grill is a hit with kids of all ages due to its yummy menu of hot dogs, hamburgers, pizza, ice-cream bars, cookies and more. Private babysitting can usually be arranged with a crewmember at $10 an hour ($15 for two kids) with 24-hour advance notice.
If toting a baby aboard, notify Crystal ahead of time, and they’ll special order jars of baby food or the chef will puree some (at no charge). Children 11 and younger pay 50% of the minimum fare when accompanied by two full-fare paying adults. Occasionally throughout the year, there are special promotions when children can sail free when sharing a room with two adults.
Similar story for Regent Seven Seas (www.rssc.com), whose 700-passenger Seven Seas Voyager and Mariner, as well as the 490-passenger Navigator, offer the Club Mariner program. During the summer months and holiday weeks, supervised activities are arranged for kids 5 to 17, in three age groups.
