DESTINATION: CRUISE SHIP

SKY PRINCESS® ©PRINCESS CRUISES

By Diane Tierney

Cruise ships are such fun, all-inclusive floating resorts that they’ve become destinations themselves for families

How would you like to go on vacation with your kids and never hear, “I’m hungry,” or “I’m bored,” or the dreaded, “Are we there yet?” It’s almost guaranteed if you choose a cruise for your next family vacation. Ships are fun for kids of all ages — from toddlers to teens and everything in between — that the ship itself is the destination.

There’s so much to do (and even more to eat) that a ship is like an all-inclusive floating resort with a theme park, so where it sails is a secondary consideration.

Incredible features amuse all ages such as waterparks, slides, go-karts, laser tag, rock climbing, ropes courses, zip-lining, bumper cars, skating rinks, aerial bicycles, sports courts, trampolines, arcades, 3D and 5D movie theaters, surfing and skydiving simulators and more. Aside from fancy features, ships also have spacious childcare and teen centers stocked with toys, games and computers. They are staffed with caring counselors who lead age-appropriate activities from treasure hunts to talent shows. And babysitting is available.

For meals and snacks, there are a dozen places to dine, with pizza and ice cream available almost anytime. Spectacular entertainment ranges from laser shows and outdoor movies under the stars (popcorn included), to musicals and magicians.

Family cabins have connecting doors and suites have multiple bedrooms that can sleep up to six passengers. Many ships also have dedicated family areas where a dozen or more cabins have their own private family lounges, game rooms and snack areas. You can feel confident that your cruise neighbors are also families with similar interests and your kids can make friends easily.

Carnival Cruises

BEACH POOL ©CARNIVAL CRUISES ARTIST’S RENDERING

is a leader in kid-friendly cruising and has welcomed an estimated 900,000 children annually. Its waterparks are huge and cleverly designed with fast slides for teens and splash pads for younger kids.

The company upped its game by announcing that it is building the first rollercoaster at sea on its Mardi Gras ship launching in 2022. The coaster, Bolt, will feature an 800-foot-long track with twists, turns and drops, and is built 187 feet above sea level. Riders sit on electric vehicles that resemble motorcycles and can reach speeds of up to 40 mph.

BOLT ROLLERCOASTER ©CARNIVAL CRUISES ARTIST’S RENDERING

There’s so much going on that Carnival Cruises helps guests keep track of programs with the industry-leading HUB app. With the app, you can be sure not to miss comedy performances, Build-a-Bear workshops, Hasbro game shows for families, and more.

Royal Caribbean International

ULTIMATE FAMILY SUITE ©ROYAL CARIBBEAN INTERNATIONAL

Royal Caribbean International caters to all ages, however, its ships are well-suited to tweens and teens because they have more challenging amenities like skydiving simulators, trampolines, skating rinks, zip-lining and more.

Its newest ship, Odyssey of the Seas, is scheduled to make its North American debut in November 2021, sailing from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. It is built for fun with SeaPlex, the largest indoor/outdoor activity center at sea, the FlowRider surf simulator, SkyPad, a virtual bungee/ trampoline experience, and an all-glass observation capsule for 360-degree views, plus two open-air pools and four whirlpools.

Several of Royal Caribbean International’s ships carry more than 5,000 passengers, so there’s simply a lot more of everything. Ask about Royal Caribbean International’s family suites on Symphony of the Seas with two-story lofts and a slide from the bedrooms down to the living room.

Safe at Sea

Keeping passengers healthy is of utmost importance to cruise lines, especially in the COVID era. They have stepped up their cleaning and hygiene protocols for added safety and peace of mind, plus instituting new ways to maintain social distancing. Passengers may also find traditional safety drills streamlined. For example, Princess’s MedallionClass app allows you to watch the required safety drills anytime and anywhere on embarkation day, or view the video in your stateroom. Check in with a crew member to locate your nearest muster station. Safety first!

Norwegian Cruise Line

GO KART TRACK ©NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE

Norwegian Cruise Line’s newest ship, Encore (launched in November 2019), has a 1,100-foot go-karting track that’s longer than three football fields. It has four high-speed curves that extend 13 feet over the side of the ship, so you’ll see the ocean below. Spectators can also get in on the action. From a viewing area in the middle of the track, you can use laser guns to turbo-boost your favorite racer to win the race.

An enormous laser tag area covers the entire back of Encore and is designed to look like the lost city of Atlantis. While trying to complete your mission, you can hide behind ruins and run past the tentacles of giant sea creatures. A new twist is that you can also uncover hidden treasures using augmented reality.

Norwegian Cruise Line also launched daring waterslides 159-feet high that hang 11 feet over the side of the ship. The initial drop is so steep and fast that you might be completely airborne for a few seconds inside the clear tube. There are also double loops where you can view the ocean. Norwegian Cruise Line is also known for some of the most extensive ropes courses at sea, including a walk-the-plank feature extending over the side of the ship.

Princess Cruises

NEW REEF FAMILY SPASH ZONE

Princess Cruises offers a variety of family-friendly cruise activities so you and your loved ones have plenty of ways to spend quality time together. Book a Princess MedallionClass Vacation™ and see how effortless your family vacation can be!

Enjoy TrulyTouchless™ embarkation, have beverage, food or almost anything be delivered wherever you are onboard. Stay connected, text chat and stream shows with MedallionNet ® wi-fi, and so much more. On board the Caribbean Princess, the Reef Family Splash Zone is the perfect place for younger ones to have fun and enjoy the water. An interactive splash pad with giant whale feature will entertain kids with showers, sprays and a water jet from the whale’s spout!

There is also a wide range of activities for the whole family. There’s top-deck stargazing, an indoor planetarium, expert insights through Encounters with Discovery at SEA, and Hollywood blockbusters you can watch on a giant poolside big screen with Movies Under the Stars ® . And when you’re ready for some grown-up time away from your travel group, Princess offers adults-only areas so you can enjoy some quiet time while your kids are having a blast at its youth and teen Camp Discovery centers.