The Lollipop Road

Archive for the ‘Cruising’ Category

Cruising as a family requires special considerations. Although the cruise selection process is similar to that of other groups, families will need to employ entirely different criteria when selecting nearly every aspect of a cruise. For example, when you’re cruising with kids you’ll probably have a different criteria for selecting a cabin than someone who is cruising alone. When you’re cruising as a couple, the late-night entertainment might be important, but perhaps not so much when you’re cruising with young kids – you get the idea. When looking for the right cruise, we recommend concentrating on the following six areas and considering the answers to each of the questions carefully before booking your next family cruise:

Cruising with young kids isn’t the same as cruising with teens. Cruising with a larger group isn’t the same as cruising as a single family. Should you cruise to Alaska, Europe, the Caribbean or Mexico? Which cruise line is best for your family? All ships aren’t created equal, so which ship is best for your family? These are all questions that you’ll have to answer before booking your family cruise, so make sure that you read our cruise line reviews and other cruising resources before contacting a travel agent – you’ll be glad that you did!

Disclosure

 

• Departure Port – Families might be coming from all over the country, so choose a point of departure that is convenient for everyone. 
• Itinerary – You’ll want to evaluate each port and look for those offering activities that appeal to all age groups in your party. Also be sure to account for climate and health considerations when selecting your itinerary.
• Cabin Choices- You may want to consider connecting cabins, cabins that accommodate your entire travel group or larger cabins that offer space for family gatherings. As these tend to fill early, you’ll want to plan well in advance to avoid disappointment.
• Dining and Entertainment- Dinner most evenings will probably be a family affair. Finding a cruise line that offers dining and entertainment options that appeal to multiple generations can be challenging. Carefully read all of our cruise reviews for additional information.
• Shipboard Activities – Most major cruise lines now offer a variety of activities onboard that will appeal to multiple generations. However, larger ships tend to satisfy a greater diversity of age groups and tastes, so that may be a good place to begin your search.
• Money Matters – Not all family members may be able to afford the same cruise, so be cost sensitive when choosing a sailing. Set boundaries up front so that money does not become a problem later on.

All major cruise lines offer incentives for groups sailing together, which can make your experience even more special. To take advantage of these benefits, you will need to reserve at least five cabins, but more frequently eight or as many as ten cabins, depending upon the length of the cruise and the cruise line.

At least two cruise lines have even created programs geared directly toward multigenerational family reunions. Royal Caribbean’s Royal Reunions and Holland America Line’s Family Reunion Program offer special benefits like complimentary family photos and daily family activities to groups planning family reunions. Engaging a good travel agent who is experienced in group travel will also make the process easier.

A multigenerational cruise can be as small and intimate or as large and extensive as you’d like. Just remember, the idea is to have fun!
 

Adapted from Cruising Family Style – A Guide To Cruising With Kids, scheduled to be published in November, 2010. Subscribe to our e-mail alerts to be notified when the publication opens for pre-order. And…if you sign up before November 1st, you’ll also receive a special pre-order discount!

Disclosure

One of the more dreaded times when cruising with kids, especially younger kids, is mealtime.  Imagine your embarrassment as your 8 month old throws food or something like say…a cup and it hits someone at the next table; for once you wish it had hit you (again).  What is the alternative?  Hibernating in your cabin for meals?  Well, that may be  part of the solution, but you can successfully dine anywhere on the ship armed with a few simple tips.

Read the rest of this entry »

As our regular readers know, we’ve spent the better part of May sailing onboard the Carnival Sensation, Disney Wonder and Norwegian Jewel in search of the most family friendly cruise line.  Having sailed on 25 cruises before having kids, our perspective was just a bit different once we had little ones in tow.  Up until this point we had only sailed on Royal Caribbean’s Explorer of the Seas and Celebrity’s Mercury with the kids, so we thought it might be time to broaden our horizons and see which cruise line really provides the best cruise experience for families.

It was an interesting journey, but we discovered lots along the way.  We’ve exposed the good, the bad and the downright ugly for each of the three cruise lines in our competition and in the end have chosen the best cruise line (among Carnival, Disney and NCL) in several different categories.  Now, on to the awards!

Most Family Friendly Dining Experience

Disney Cruise Line

Disney does an amazing job of not only entertaining kids during mealtimes, but the staff is attentive and are always available to assist with whatever you may need.  Disney provides sophisticated upscale choices for parents and simple but tasty foods for kids.  An excellent experience all around!

Best Children’s Program

Disney Cruise Line’s Oceaneer Club/Lab

Disney knows how to entertain kids!  With extensive, well equipped play areas, a nursery and a dedicated space on Castaway Cay, Disney goes beyond any other cruise line in offering a complete experience for your kids.  Professional, well-trained counselors are focused on making your child’s experience comfortable, fun and something that they will always remember.

Most Family Friendly Shipboard Amenities

Carnival Cruise Line’s Waterworks™ and Mini-Golf

Carnival has made a concerted effort to appeal to families.  This is obvious in their recent additions onboard, replacing underutilized public spaces with fun areas that have broad family appeal.  The ship never felt crowded and there were plenty of play areas for the kids as well as the family.  Two thumbs up for Carnival’s investment in families.

Best Embarkation and Disembarkation Process

Disney Cruise Line

You might ask why this is even an award category – well, if you’ve ever waited in long lines with screaming kids, you understand.  Disney has taken its well-developed process that it uses on land and transformed that into the best embarkation and disembarkation process at sea.  They will zip you on and off the ship without so much as a blink…and when you’re waiting, you’ll be well entertained.

Most Family Friendly Staterooms

Disney Cruise Line

This is a tough category to award because we’ve never really found a perfect cabin over the course of 30 cruises.  However, when it comes to families, Disney has made larger rooms with sitting areas and bathtubs standard.  An inexpensive upgrade will get you a deluxe cabin (214SF) with split bath and porthole mirror.  Disney was able to make our family of four comfortable in an inside cabin – that is an accomplishment!

Most Family Friendly Entertainment

Disney Cruise Line

I suppose to most that Disney was the obvious winner in this category; however, NCL with its Nickelodeon themed programming came close.  At the end of the day, Disney won out though because of its quality of entertainment.  Thank you Disney for understanding that quality is better than quantity.

Family Value Award

Carnival Cruise Line

The Family Value Award recognizes a cruise line for its appeal to families while creating an affordable experience for all to enjoy.  Carnival Cruise Line has made significant strides in creating a family friendly atmosphere while keeping fares low.  When cost is a limiting factor, Carnival is the cruise line of choice for family friendly cruising.

Most Family Friendly Cruise Line

Disney Cruise Line

Disney has done a tremendous job of perfecting its product on land and now at sea.  Providing superior food quality, service, entertainment and activities, Disney Cruise Line is not only for families, but also for adults who like to have fun.  Once you’ve cruised Disney, you too will discover the Disney Difference!

For more information, please read our full reviews of the Carnival Sensation, Disney Wonder and Norwegian Jewel.

If you have enjoyed our tips, tricks and reviews, you’re sure to love our book that will be coming out this fall.  Focused on cruising with kids, this publication will take what we’ve done this month and expand it to cover all of the major cruise lines with a ship by ship recap of family friendly amenities and even more tips for selecting, reserving and sailing on your next family cruise.

Oh, and be sure to be on the lookout for our reviews of Royal Caribbean’s Explorer of the Seas and Celebrity Mercury coming soon!  Bon Voyage!

Disclosure

In our reviews, we attempt to cover all aspects of the cruise in a fair, but candid manner, pointing out the good, the bad and the ugly.  Each category will earn a Rating from A+ through F; our overall score will reflect a weighting of each category score.  Each review and rating is done from a families point of view, so if you are single or a couple traveling without kids, your priorities may differ.  At the conclusion of our Cruise Views Marathon, we will crown the most family friendly cruise line (only Carnival, Disney and NCL are being evaluated) in several categories and then overall.  At some later date, we will be posting reviews from Royal Caribbean and Celebrity that were not part of this event.  Now, on to the review.

Ever since our first child was born four years ago we’ve been on a quest to find the most family friendly cruise line.  Having sailed on 30 cruises, we had a few ideas of where to start, but it would be an interesting journey.  This was our 4 year-old’s fifth cruise and our 19 month old’s fourth cruise.  My wife and I had sailed on NCL many years ago and were extremely excited about the new Nickelodeon themed program.

We spoke to over a dozen families during this cruise and their comments and sentiments fairly reflected our experiences.

Reservation/Documents

Rating:  B-

We reserved our 7-night Bahamas cruise through our normal online travel agency where we were able to get a 10% reduction in the base price of the cruise fare.  We opted for a Category AF Mini-Suite with a specific cabin assignment.  Normally we would choose a guarantee, but because these suites are on Deck 11 (below the pool and Garden Cafe), choosing a cabin in the quiet part of the ship (below the Library) was important. After several price changes during the week we were trying to reserve, we finally were able to get our reservation locked, although at a higher price than originally quoted. The issue with NCL is that pricing can change several times during the day and there is little reasoning from a passengers perspective as to how and when pricing changes. This oddity made making this booking rather frustrating and resulted in a lower rating for their part in this ordeal.

The online check-in process was fairly easy. We received a booklet in the mail that included our luggage tags about 45 days prior to sailing. 

Pier Check-in/Embarkation

Rating:  B-

Getting to the pier in Manhattan is a bit of a challenge, even on a Saturday. Convenient parking is available on the top deck of the cruise terminal for $210 for a 7-night cruise. This is New York and the porters were a bit rough (we do not blame NCL). We finally made it inside the terminal around 12:15PM where we waited in line for about 30 minutes. There were several areas to check-in depending on your status and location on the ship. We were directed to a suite-only area that was as long as any other.

Once our turn arrived, we quickly understood why it was taking so long. A process that had taken us 3-4 minutes in Port Canaveral took us twice as long here. Why…I have no idea, but our agent seemed quite disorganized.

Embarkation was quick and we were able to drop our luggage a little after 1PM without being scolded. Although, alarms did sound when we opened the fire doors; there was no way we were waiting until 2PM!

Overall, when cruising from the New York area, we prefer to cruise from Cape Liberty in Bayonne as getting there, parking and checking in is much easier.

Accommodations

Cabin Rating:  B-     Cabin Service Rating:  A-

On this sailing we opted for a mini-suite due to its affordable price and our desire for a larger room where the kids could spread out for 7 nights.  The standard cabins on this ship are only 143 square feet, but our mini-suite was 285 square feet, including the balcony. The balconies are large enough to comfortably fit two chairs and a small table with extra room to walk around; I wish I could say the same about the interior of the cabin. With the beds together, there was about 18 inches between the bed and closet on one side, 18 inches between the bed and sofa on the other and about a foot or so in front of the bed (to the wall). After entering our cabin on the first evening, we quickly asked the cabin steward to convert the sofa from a bed back into the upright position as it was taking up the last bit of space in the cabin. The coffee table did tuck nicely away next to the bed, which allowed us free space between the sofa and desk area.

As a result of a larger bathroom, the hallway was long and without closet space. We later decided that this cabin was more narrow than those on other ships, but longer, which made it feel more confined. The bathroom was spacious (as shipboard baths go) with a tub and separate toilet areas with a sliding glass door (only part frosted). Unfortunately, there was only one sink, which made its functionality for multiple people limited.

The cabin was also equipped with a bulky television (with movies, limited Nick programming and a few cable channels), desk telephone (not kid friendly), basic toiletries (in dispensers), a safe, refrigerator and a hairdryer.  Storage was a bit tight for a 7 night cruise. There was a two door closet, four large draws (some too deep to be practical) and three small draws (in the desk). The remainder of the space was filled with life jackets. We ended up placing much of our clothes on the top shelf of the closet.

Having the balcony was a great bonus, especially when arriving and departing port. It also allowed plenty of natural light to enter the cabin, gave me a place to write at night and gave the kids an extra play space. Room darkening curtains kept the kids from waking when mom and dad were up at night.

There are only 3 cabin categories that are larger than the mini-suite, the Penthouse Suite (sleeps 5), Courtyard Villa (sleeps 5) and Garden Villa (sleeps 6+). I would not recommend sailing in a standard cabin with four people on the Jewel class of ships, although you may be able to squeeze into a balcony cabin (205 square feet).

Our cabin steward was extremely friendly and the kids loved him. His 30 years of experience showed in his interactions and flexible attitude. The cabin was always tidy, but there could have been a bit more cleaning of furniture and bathroom surfaces. Overall, he was the best crew member that we encountered throughout the cruise.

Food/Dining Service

Food Rating:  B     Dining Service Rating:  B-

The selection at the buffet for breakfast, lunch and dinner consisted of an extensive array of standard American cuisine as well as ethnic specialties. Each day there were several Indian and Stir-Fry entrees and sides as well as other special ethnic selections throughout the cruise. You could visit the waffle station in the morning, pasta station during the day and pizza station anytime. They also offered several grilled food areas inside and on deck in addition to the frequent BBQ lunch buffet by the pool. Late night snack were basic and ice-cream shut off by 9:30PM or so. I did partake in the NCL Chocoholic Buffet, but desserts are not their specialty.

There is also a small Kids Cafe area at the entrance to the Garden Cafe. Featuring a kid friendly buffet and pint-sized seating, this was a great alternative for family lunches. Unlike the limited drink selection of water and iced tea elsewhere, the Kids Cafe also offered juices throughout the day. We also dined at the Great Outdoors on several occasions when it was nice outside and we needed to get away from the crowds. The buffet was more limited (and it was a hike from the main buffet), but it was quiet (except for the musical entertainment).

NCL offers Freestyle Dining, which allows you to dine anytime you’d like. You can make reservations (1 day in advance) or just show up and wait for a table. There are monitors throughout the ship alerting you as to the status of each restaurant. There are only four free dining areas on the ship – The Tsar’s Palace Restaurant (the nicest and largest dining room), Azura Restaurant (limited views and smaller), Blue Lagoon (small cafe style eatery with limited menu) and the Garden Cafe (buffet style). We sampled all of these during this cruise and found the food to be best in the dining room (especially dessert).

Here is where it goes downhill pretty fast – there are eight specialty restaurants, which take up precious space on this ship. With cover charges from $10-$25 per person, we expected the food and service to be something special…think again. While in port, there was a 2 for 1 special at several restaurants, so we decided to go to Mamas Italian Restaurant. Interestingly, the food that we ate there appeared or had appeared on the buffet during the week. The food was very good and were treated to special breads, but little else was special.

Overall, I have to say that the food selection was excellent and the overall food quality was very good with the exception of desserts. However, the fact that there are steep cover charges for 2/3 of the restaurants creates a higher expectation, which they did not meet, causing them to earn a slightly lower score.

The dining room service as well as the service at the buffet was fair at best most of the time. At the buffet, there was never anyone to help with your tray if you were struggling and the staff rarely kept the tables clean and clear. One day I even decided to bus our own table…needless to say, I still didn’t get a tip. In the dining room, the kids meals are served first only if requested. In the specialty restaurant, this was an impossible situation, which resulted in a rough mealtime experience for us and those around us. The first evening in the dining room, we waited almost 15 minutes for a high chair (after making two requests), our waiter could not find a kids menu and we waited so long for dinner that our 19 month old broke down and had to be removed for a nap. This, along with the experience in the specialty restaurant were the most trying – all on account of slow service.

Our conclusion is that NCL has a difficult time catering to kids in the dining room or in any dining venue for that matter. High chairs are never easy to find and getting one can take 3-15 minutes. Dining service was a frequent complaint from other families too. Capacity is also a significant problem. The Garden Cafe was often crowded and finding a table meant hiking a bit. There was rarely table space available on the pool deck. The lack of capacity in the complimentary restaurants also created a wait, even during periods that should be non-peak. These challenges take their toll on family dining.

Room service (24 hours) was supposedly available, but there was no sign of a menu or card in our room to order – again, we would spend enough time in the room to avoid the crowds, so we enjoyed getting out at mealtimes.

As a side note, we were advised from another passenger that they were often ignored by bar waiters when they had their soda program cups out. After a while they gave up and only had a total of 8 sodas (4 each) during the entire cruise, working out to about $12 per soda!

Activities/Entertainment

Rating:  B

So, NCL didn’t do a bad job with family friendly entertainment. In addition to the Nickelodeon program activities (we review this with the Kids Crew program), there were several shows that actually held the interest of kids. The best was Cirque Bijou, which was an acrobatic production with some dancing, music and interesting costumes. Unfortunately, they added a crew number to the end that really spoiled the continuity. They pretty much ignored the rule of leaving on a high note.

The comedic magic of Jean Pierre as well as the Second City Family Show was also entertaining for kids of most ages (more of a challenge for under 3). Of course, Slime Time Live was popular with all kids. So, we were able to attend about half of the shows – not a bad outcome.

NCL also worked at planning several family activities during the day. Family Pizza Making and Family Cake Decorating were abysmal activities run by an uninspired Kids Crew Staff, but the more engaging Family Charades, Family Dodgeball and Family Friendly Feud Game Show held more promise. We give NCL a kudos for the effort, but a thumbs down on the execution.

Overall, the entertainment and activities were more family friendly than the average mass market cruise line, but missed the mark on quality and execution.

Onboard Amenities/Features

Rating:  D

This is the most poorly designed cruise ship that I have been on since Royal Caribbean’s (stretched) Nordic Prince. Unfortunately there are four ships in this class, although the Gem and Pearl have a few more features than the Jade and Jewel. With over 2800 passengers on our sailing, there was little room to breath in most of the public areas. The Garden Cafe was always crowded, the pool deck was SRO (standing room only) during the day, the one usable lounge had permanently placed folding chairs for additional seating and the specialty restaurants, Shopping Galleria, outdoor sports courts and private deck areas ate up precious public space that could have been used much more wisely.

The length of half the ship on Deck 7 was open concept dining, bars and mini-lounges (Fyzz being the largest). Not only a bad design, but compound it with the fact that there is only one corridor (narrow) that spans that deck from the dining rooms to the theater (unless you want to walk outside). This area was an absolute nightmare in the evening.

Unfortunately, NCL has opted to create money making spaces over open public spaces. The result is a lack of places for kids to go and passengers to relax. Compounding the problem is the placement of the adult-only pool about 10 steps from the family pool. Of course, this is only about 10 steps from the tiny area containing the Splashdown Kids Pool and hot tub (saw plenty of kids with diapers/swimmers). The pool deck is not a fun place to be; however, the kiddie pool area did become a sanctuary ( if you can believe that) – it turned out to be the best public feature for kids on the ship!

There is a water slide, more shallow in rise than most other ships, which allows younger kids to enjoy the slide. NCL also allows adults to go down with their young children, which was great in getting our 4 year old comfortable with the slide. However, due to the shallow rise, unless you were wearing a bikini or non-resistant bathing suit, you would get stuck and had to struggle to push yourself down. Needless to say, the fun wore out quickly.

The only other features were a full basketball court with bleachers (rarely used), a golf driving cage (not kid friendly), a small video arcade and a few table games. The library did have a selection of children’s books and games, but hours were limited.

For mom and dad, there was a gym with treadmills, ellipticals and a couple of recumbent bikes, but the equipment was packed tightly together. Next door there was a spa, with some interesting offerings including Rasul and a VIP Thermal Suite Pass that included access to heated lounge chairs, indoor jacuzzi, hydro-therapy pool, Japanees plunge pool, sauna and steam ($99pp/$165cp). At the back of the ship on Deck 7 there was also the Galleria Shops that took up as much space as one of the main restaurants. Nearby were a very small internet cafe and art gallery.

NCL completely missed the mark with space allocation on this ship. You cannot enjoy Freestyle Cruising if there is nowhere to enjoy it! We would have given them an F, but for the Splashdown Kids Pool.

Kids Crew/Nickelodeon Program

Kids Crew Rating:  C- Nickelodeon Rating: B

A combined facility for kids aged 2-12, the Splashdown Kids Club located on Deck 12 had some cool features, but was inadequate for the number of kids and lack of counselors. Suffering from the same design problems as the rest of the ship, the club is split into sections – a main play area with padded jungle to climb through, an area with tables for activities, a movie room and then some transition space that adjoins the Teen Club Underground. Nearby is also a small video arcade.

The major problem with the Kids Crew program is the staff. Uninspired and downright rude at times, the staff seemed to be more interested in talking to each other than interacting with the kids. We also had several security concerns and the fact that they did not allow parents in the club at any time (even for transition) made us a bit apprehensive (especially in light of security concerns).

We opted to observe the chaos from afar and ultimately chose not to subject our son to the program. Instead, we focused on participating in the family activities and attending most of the Nickelodeon activities. But for those events, this cruise would have been a challenge for the kids.

There was also an Under 2 play area in one of the conference rooms by the Stardust Theater. Although another good try, the execution was poor. We visited 3 times, but mostly to meet other families as opposed to actually playing. You can read our full review here.

Overall, although we did enjoy the Nickelodeon activities, they were only a small part of the cruise. Given that the Kids Crew was not a viable option for us due to lack of a transition and security concerns, we wouldn’t purposely choose to cruise NCL just for the kids programs.

Ports Of Call

Rating:  C+

This 7-night sailing called at Port Canaveral, Nassau and Great Stirrup Cay (NCL’s private island).  Nassau is a great stop for kids as there are tons of activities.  This time we went to the Pirate Museum (really geared toward kids aged 6-13). We have gone to Blue Lagoon Island in the past and highly recommend it! In Port Canaveral we rented a car and spent some time at the beach and Dinosaur Store. Because you don’t dock until Noon, venturing to one of the Disney area attractions can prove to be a bit much with younger kids. Great Stirrup Cay was very crowded and with little shade, we were forced to enjoy the water most of the day – that was okay with the kids. Overall, for a 7 night cruise, this itinerary is a bit uninspiring. If NCL removed Port Canaveral and added Freeport it would be a bit more exciting.

Getting on and off the ship was a bit of a challenge in Great Stirrup Cay. The staff on the tender were not helpful and failed to assist passengers on and off the tender, even when they obviously needed assistance. We found the security staff to be less friendly than on other cruises.

Crew/Cleanliness

Crew Rating:  B-     Cleanliness Rating:  A-

In general, most of the crew that we encountered were indifferent, but several did provide excellent service (at least as compared to their fellow crew). This was a common sentiment amongst the passengers that we spoke with. Of particular note, Iain, the Cruise Director and the Nick Program leader did a great job…unfortunately, they are mere individuals in the sea of indifference.

I did have a brief conversation with the Hotel Director who seemed very open to feedback. Unfortunately, his staff failed to follow up with me, resulting in him chasing me down the gangway during disembarkation. He apologized for the mishap and offered to refund a portion of our service charges. I in turn promised to send an e-mail outlining our concerns.

Update – I sent a two-page e-mail within a week of our return detailing the issues that we encountered with specific examples.  As of August 2, 2010 the Hotel Director has yet to respond nor has NCL Public Relations made any attempt to contact me.  NCL did comp our onboard account charges (approx $400).  Such action on their part did not impact our review.

We found the ship to be clean and sanitary.  However, there were dirty dishes, that would pile up on tables regularly. The only area that could use a bit of refreshing in the pool area.

Disembarkation

Rating:  C-

The disembarkation process was the worst we’ve ever seen. NCL utilizes the traditional process of colored baggage tags and they call groups at certain intervals. This is New York, so disembarkation started a bit late, but those passengers walking off with their luggage (highly recommended here) had it the easiest. Once colored tags began being called, it was chaos. We queued up after the first two colors (before we were called) and we stood in line for almost 45 minutes due to congestion in the terminal. We attribute the chaos to an antiquated process, NCLs inability to process passengers in an organized fashion and the NYC porters and immigration staff. We didn’t get to our vehicle (parked above the terminal) until almost 11AM!

When sailing from the Manhattan terminal, always reserve later flights. Also, for those taking the bus, there is no rush to get off the ship as buses depart after Noon.

Conclusion

Overall Rating:  C+

Positive – Selection/quality of food, Nickelodeon program, family friendly entertainment.

Negative –Lack of public space, mediocre dining service, kids program concerns, compact cabins, NYC departure/arrival issues, inadequate pool area.

For those families wishing to sail on the Norwegian Epic (ie the other Nickelodeon ship), there is an excellent candid and comprehensive ship review to get you started.

Disclosure

Earlier this year, Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) announced its partnering with Nickelodeon to offer year-round Nick themed activities and entertainment onboard the Norwegian Jewel and Norwegian Epic. This was perceived as a significant addition to its existing Kids Crew program and a move toward appealing to the market that Disney Cruise Line has cornered for the last 10 years (ie character themed cruising). After having sailed on the Norwegian Jewel Nickelodeon themed cruise this week, I can tell you that Disney has nothing to worry about.

Let me start by saying that the Nick crew leader onboard the Jewel was excellent. He worked hard and did his best to get the kids involved and make the most of the experience. Unfortunately, the program design is a bit simplistic and scattered. The Nick themed activities, although well done, are either too short (ie 15-20 minutes), too infrequent (none other than Slime Time Live during our day in Nassau) or revolve around limited character appearances. The only time that all of the characters actually appear all at once is at the character breakfast ($15 adults and $10 children – infants/toddlers free), which lasted almost 2 hours (not a good thing). They also offered Nick programming on television (2 channels), but the repeating loop was too short and the same programming played every day. So, if you are planning on taking one of these cruises because of the Nickelodeon offerings or you have sailed on Disney Cruise Line, you will be disappointed. If you want to sail on the Jewel or Epic anyway, then look at this as a little extra bonus.

NCLs traditional kids program, the NCL Kids Crew is separated into several age groups (2-5, 6-9 and 10-12); they essentially share the same spaces onboard the Jewel. There are a few tables, a cool padded maze with slides and a movie room with a few bean bag type chairs. Each age group has their own structured schedule of activities, with intermingled Freestyle Play (all ages). For each age group, there were about half a dozen listed activities in addition to Freestyle Play. The offerings were quite basic and definitely geared toward the more independent child. Sprinkled in between were family events, such as Family Lego Hour, Family Pictionary, Family Charades and Family Pizza Making. Despite the seemingly family friendly nature of these activities, the Kids Crew staff did a mediocre job at making them fun and engaging. For example, Family Pizza Making consisted of an assembly line of ingredients with no organization and little interaction from the staff to the group. Honestly, the Kids Crew staff was rather uninspiring. Unfortunately, on one evening we also encountered a Kids Crew staff member who was outright rude.

While in port and after 10:30PM (until 1:30AM) each evening, expect to pay a fee to have your kids participate in the club. The fee is $6/hour for the first child and $4/hour for each sibling. You will need to carry a beeper if your toddler isn’t potty trained as they don’t change diapers. NCL also offers a dedicated area called the Under 2 Zoo. On the Jewel, this consisted of a conference room with about a dozen toys (pop up tents and Leap Frog items); all children must be supervised by an adult. This area was available from 9AM-6PM each day, but was of little entertainment value other than connecting with other families – we had more (and better) toys in our cabin. Parents pretty much agreed that this was an afterthought on the part of NCL.

You also must know that adults are not allowed into the kids area at any time – no exceptions. This means that if you have a shy or hesitant child that needs transitioning, you will be out of luck. Their reasoning was that if they let an adult into the club, that person would be a stranger to the other children (hmmm…what about the kids wandering the pool area amongst all those strangers?). They also indicated that the counselors are background checked whereas the parents are not. I take exception with their reasoning – let us take a look at club safety and security.

When registering our child, we had to sign a form; there was no bracelet issued. Each time during pickup we supposedly had to present an ID with a signature that matched the form. We wondered how this worked when they didn’t require a signature for grandma – security flaw number one. We were also a bit disturbed by their policy of relaxing this requirement once the counselor KNOWS the family member (their caps – not mine) – security flaw number two. Having spent quite a bit of time at the kiddie pool, we noticed a door leading to the kids area that we presumed was locked…until we saw several Kids Crew staff using the entrance. They did something that appeared to lock it each time, but we soon learned that the door was still unlocked when two staff members from the maintenance crew went right through the door – security flaw number three. We also had the opportunity to observe the activities in the club from this area and it was frequent chaos, perhaps from a high participant to counselor ratio. So, you can decide for yourself what their real reasons are for not allowing adults (even for transition)..

Activities for the teens were a bit more limited and their space adjoining the Splashdown Kids Club was uninspiring. The family activities, however, were definitely geared more toward teens and tweens, but I’m not sure that is where they wanted to spend their time. From my observations and conversations, it seems like they were running in the corridors or public areas at night or watching movies.

Overall, we wouldn’t recommend cruising NCL just for the kids programs. Although we feel that the Nickelodeon themed activities are a great bonus, the sacrifices you’ll make aren’t worth the limited Nick activities. Needless to say, we were really disappointed.

This post is part of our Cruise Views Marathon.  Please see special event information for details on how to enter our giveaways.

Disclosure

At one time, Blue Lagoon Island, just off the coast of Nassau in the Bahamas was utilized by Dolphin Cruise Line as a private island stop. Fast forward two decades and much is unchanged since the time I first set foot on the beach there. Sure, there has been lots of cleanup and some noticeable improvements, but the beauty and quiet tranquility that has existed for decades is still there.

A twenty-minute ferry ride from the Paradise Island Ferry Terminal, Blue Lagoon Island is one of the best family excursions from Nassau. Forget the crowded beaches in and around Nassau, Blue Lagoon Island offers a sheltered shallow lagoon perfect for young kids to swim and play, kayak, snorkel and even laize on a float for hours.

This is an easy excursion to put together on your own – and certainly cheaper than buying it from your cruise line. The Blue Lagoon Beach Day is $45 for adults and $35 for children ages 4-12. Children 3 and under are free. The Beach Package includes the ferry ride to/from the Paradise Island Ferry Terminal, access to the beach (including chairs and hammocks), a BBQ lunch and use of floats and tubes at no charge. Of course, most people making the trip to Blue Lagoon Island are coming to participate in the dolphin or sea lion encounters, which is unfortunate, because most families never even have enough time to enjoy the best part of the island – its tranquil beach and lagoon.

We set out shortly after 9AM on what would turn out to be a sunny and humid day. After a $4pp taxi ride over to the ferry terminal (under 2 are free), we purchased our tickets for the Beach Day experience and queued up to get our bracelets and board the ferry. As a sidebar, getting a taxi in Nassau is pretty easy, but not for the timid. Wait until you get outside to choose a driver and if you can see the taxi beforehand, you’ll keep yourself from ending up in something unworthy of being on the road. If there are going to be several ships in Nassau, you will want to make a reservation in advance. Of course, the downfall is that this is a rain or shine excursion, which is why we waited until the day of departure to buy tickets.

The 20-minute ferry ride will take you past million-dollar homes and out into the open water to your private island. There is an 8:30AM and 10:30AM ferry. On this particular day, with two ships in port, we were able to take the 10:30AM ferry and score chairs in the shade with an umbrella, nearby hammock and picnic table. On busy days, these are likely gone before the 10:30 ferry arrives.

Once you stake out your spot, be sure to get tubes and floats (if you want them) and then you’re set to explore. There are outdoor showers and indoor restrooms with changing facilities located in the same building as the gift shop. If you’re going to rent any additional equipment, you’ll have to pay at the gift shop and collect your equipment at the activities hut. We decided to do a 30 minute clear bottom kayak rental. This two seater was very stable and perfect for me and my 4 year-old. They also offered paddle boats and large water bikes…very cool, but geared toward older kids who could help peddle.

It was pretty hot out, so we didn’t waste too much time getting into the water. The lagoon is pretty shallow for about a hundred feet out, then gets a bit deeper until you near the opposite shore where it is shallow again (with coral lining the floor). Obviously there is no current as this is a lagoon, so it is pretty safe for young kids. Both of our kids literally played for hours! We had a quick break for lunch and enjoyed burgers, hot dogs and chicken with chips, fresh fruit and fruit punch. I decided to use the hammock for a while and the kids joined me. It wasn’t long before our youngest was asleep in the hammock – what a life – he spent two hours napping while we my oldest son and I kayaked and played in the water.

Nobody wanted to leave, but the last ferry back at 4PM was fast approaching and we still hadn’t stopped to see the dolphins. After a quick change, we made our way over to the dolphin encounter area where we were able to see the sea lions, dolphins and a giant sea turtle. After a quick ferry ride back to Paradise Island and a short taxi ride to the pier, we were all exhausted from a fun packed day. Taxis are readily available at the ferry terminal, so no worry about having to wait.

Ferrys to the island are at 8:30, 10:30, 12:30 and 1:30. Ferrys from the island are at 1:00, 2:00 and 4:00. If you want to have time to spend on the beach and participate in one of the encounters, leave no later than 10:30AM and expect to return at 4:00PM. There are several encounters available from observer to participant. No matter your reason for going, Blue Lagoon Island is the best family excursion from Nassau.

This post is part of our Cruise Views Marathon.  Please see special event information for details on how to enter our giveaways.

If you enjoyed these photos and would like to see more, visit Photo Friday at Deliciousbaby.

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Norwegian Cruise Line has a private island in the Bahamas called Great Stirrup Cay (GSC). As a matter of fact, it is a stones throw from Royal Caribbean’s Coco Cay. The downside to GSC (like Coco Cay) is that you will have to tender to the island. Each of the three tenders accommodate 450 passengers, allowing them to move a significant amount of people all at once. However, in moving that many people, embarking and disembarking can be an ordeal; we waited about 20 minutes to embark all of the passengers and more than 20 minutes to disembark upon return to the ship.

Great Stirrup Cay is is a small island with limited amenities; although the compact nature does add to the ease of getting around. They will tell you to go to deck 5 to embark the tender, but you will want to take the elevator down to deck 4 instead (even if you have to ride up, then down again). If you have young kids or are traveling with anyone who has trouble getting around in your party, don’t count on getting any assistance from the crew. Despite several people falling or almost falling, the only people to lift a finger to help were other passengers. Unfortunately, this was a common occurrence with this Norwegian Jewel Crew. 

Once onboard, it was a short (less than 10 minute) trip to the island. If you want to get a beach chair, you’ll have to be on one of the first tenders out and be one of the first to disembark the tender. They beach the tender and unload from the front, so just look for the ramp. The beach area to the right is small, but great for families. The larger beach to the left is more expansive and is good for floating, snorkeling and swimming. If you do choose the smaller beach, be aware that it closely borders the tender area, so there is a wave impact each time the tender arrives and departs.

The entire public area is pretty exposed, so you’ll want plenty of sunscreen and a hat. Restrooms and outdoor showers are centrally located. Hammocks are sparse and will be taken shortly after the first passengers arrive. There is a giant hippo slide ($4.99 one time or $20.99 for the entire day) which seemed to attract lots of kids and an activities area that hosted many family activities throughout the day (tug of war, water relay, volleyball, scavenger hunt, etc). We couldn’t wait to get into the water and that is where we spent most of the 4 hours that we were there.

From Noon until 2PM, they also served a BBQ buffet on the island. Again, it was conveniently located behind the small beach area and there were picnic tables for seating. There were not many covered areas, so again, you’ll likely be baking in the sun, so eat quickly. There was a good variety – pizza, hamburgers, hot dogs and all of the typical sides (including fruit). No charge drinks were limited to coffee and water. There was a charge for ice cream and desserts were limited to various non-frosted cakes.

At 1PM, Nick Live Beachside got rolling. It was pretty funny to watch the teams get pie in the face and then get slimmed at the end. Its a good thing that we weren’t playing because we definitely would have lost – the questions were totally geared toward older kids. That was the extent of the Nickelodeon activities on the island – no characters anywhere to be seen.

Floats are an additional $12.99/day – a party float (just a big round air filled float is $26.99/day. You can also rent 2 beach chairs and a clamshell canopy (for shade) for a cool $29.99. Parasailing ($84.99), kayaking ($39.99), snorkeling ($29.99) and an eco tour ($39.99) round out the offerings.

Overall, the kids enjoyed the water, but Great Stirrup Cay cannot compare to other cruise lines private islands. This is a rustic beach experience that you’ll share with 2800 of your closest friends, so be prepared.

This post is part of our Cruise Views Marathon.  Please see special event information for details on how to enter our giveaways.

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Today was a sea day and we were all looking forward to some pool time, a little bit of Nickelodeon activities and relaxation. The day started with a 6AM trip to the gym for my wife while I continued to sleep and babysit. By 8AM we were all awake and getting ready for an early breakfast so we could make it to Dora’s Dance Party on time. The buffet was crowded so we ended up eating in the Great Outdoors at the aft of the ship. They serve a smaller selection, but it was adequate for our needs and we were on our way quickly. The activities start promptly, so we didn’t have long to wait. For the next 35 minutes Dora and her human crew entertained the kids with music and dance from a new release CD. Unfortunately, everything does sound like bad lip syncing, but I don’t think that the kids really noticed – although our 4 year-old did ask why her lips were not moving.

We decided to check out the Under 2 Zoo next. Advertised as a free play area for kids under the age of 2, we figured that this would be a good opportunity for both of our kids to have some play time outside of the cabin. There were only a few families there, but the toys were extremely limited. There were three pop up tents, a collapsible tube to crawl through, several leap pad interactive books, and three or four other educational toys along with some large dice and a couple of balls. We actually had more toys back in our cabin, so this excursion only lasted about 20 minutes.

We took a quick tour through the Galleria (a huge gift shop) then parted as my wife and our 19 month- old went to nap and my four year-old and I went to the Cruise Critic Meet and Greet. At the Meet and Greet, there were cookies and beverages and we were able to ask questions of the Hotel Director and Cruise Director; this was the first time I had ever done one of these. I learned that we were traveling 45NM off-shore and that the tugboat pilot wears a suit while onboard…all very interesting.

The weather had cleared up (from early morning rain) so we geared up and headed to the pool deck, along with the rest of the passengers. The splash pool, tucked away in the corner of the deck, was tiny; it made the Disney Wonder area that we said was too small look spacious. There was a kids only hot tub that was always full of 5-8 year-old kids who kept trying to go into the splash pool and down its slide, impeding the little ones from playing. The sole security staff assigned to the pool deck stopped by twice, warning the kids both times. On the third round, after I had been deliberately soaked by several of them, security removed the unruly kids from the area. Sad part is that one of the parents was sitting nearby and must have seen how their child was behaving…oh well, all in a day.

By now we were all hungry, so it was time for lunch. We were lucky enough to get a table on deck, which is not an easy feat on this ship. We decided to try the grilled food that they were preparing on deck…it smelled so good. Big Mistake! My hamburger was dry and crispy and the potato salad was warm and mushy. I wasn’t allowed to put my own condiments on either, so I got a huge glob of mustard that I didn’t want. Needless to say, course two was Indian food from the buffet – much better. The kids ate pizza, so they were happy. I got crazy and decided to try the cheesecake…another Big Mistake! I’m not even sure that it could actually be classified as cheesecake. I have to disclose that my wife’s hamburger and the one that Grandpa had yesterday were both very good…perhaps they had it in for me!

Next, we headed back to the cabin to get ready for the character meet and greet at 2:30PM. There were tons of families and the photo opportunity lasted about 45 minutes. The kids enjoyed just watching Sponge Bob and Patrick, so we hung around until the end to take our photo (with a bit of kicking and screaming). We needed a treat – ice cream was on tap.

Exhausted from the day, we retired to our cabin to take a quick nap, allow the kids some play time, chill on the balcony (enjoying the breeze) and get ready for the Formal (if you care to) night dinner. We ventured out to Tsar’s, one of the main dining rooms on the ship. We hadn’t made reservations and noticed the dreaded red bar on the dining status monitor on our way (there are monitors throughout the ship that tell you how full each restaurant is at any given time). Red told us that there was a wait, which ended up being about 15 minutes – we should have made reservations. It took them a while to rustle up a high chair and they couldn’t find a kids menu, so we were left with the impression that they really weren’t well prepared to handle kids – we’ll see how things go next time. They brought the kids food first, but by that time, our youngest had fallen asleep. Everyone enjoyed most of their meal (spring rolls, beef wellington and the ice cream were popular) and this was the first time that I had a dessert on this cruise that I actually finished (other than ice cream). The crème brulee with chocolate ganache was truly excellent – now if they could only apply that same effort to the rest of their desserts.

It was almost 8PM and The Captain woke up (our youngest was wearing a captain’s uniform) just in time for dessert. We were all tired and there wasn’t any family friendly entertainment tonight, so we headed back to the cabin. Our oldest watched cartoons, our youngest went to bed for the evening, I wrote and mama read a book. Yup, just another day cruising the seas!

This post is part of our Cruise Views Marathon.  Please see special event information for details on how to enter our giveaways.

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Once you have done it once, it doesn’t seem so hard. We’ve had plenty of practice lately, so we thought we would pass along some tips and tricks to help you pack for your next family cruise.

There really are 5 basic tips for packing for a cruise with kids. 

1. Make a list and check it twenty times. The key to packing everything you need is to start your list early and add items as you think of them. You can find plenty of websites that post recommended packing lists; even the cruise lines have them. Whatever you use, just make sure that you stick to it. Cross out items as you pack them so that nothing is left behind.
2. Get everything together at once just before you are ready to depart. Packing too far in advance leaves room for losing items along the way, especially with kids. Lay everything out so you can check your list; this will prevent scouring through packed bags to make sure you packed a particular item.
3. Designate a bag or specific space for toys. Let your kids pack that bag and do not allow anything that does not fit in that bag. You might also want to make a list of what toys were packed so that when you pack to return there are no toys left behind.
4. Pack as little as possible. If your ship has laundry facilities or offers baby supplies, you may be able to save a great deal of room in your baggage. Figure on being able to reuse outfits once for adults and not at all for kids. Also be sure to check the suggested dress for your cruise line as you may want to skip formal attire (or rent it), which takes up extra space. If you can buy diapers and other supplies in port or onboard, you may want to do so to save the packing space (although the cost will be higher). Both Carnival and Disney offer laundry facilities. Being able to do your laundry in the middle of a 7-night cruise allows you to pack about 30% less.
5. Pack the essentials and make sure that you have everything you absolutely need in your carry-on bag. Be sure to take an umbrella stroller if you have kids under 2 (2-3 is when the trouble starts to outweigh the benefit). Your carry-on should contain bathing suits (for a dip in the pool before your luggage arrives), cruise documents and identification, medication and snacks, a few small toys for entertainment while waiting to board, sun hat and sunscreen, valuables, a camera, diapers and wipes (if applicable) and a change of clothes for the kids.

Keep it simple; lay everything out and if it looks like too much, it probably is. Remember that in addition to your luggage you will have kids to carry at times too, so rolling luggage for you and the kids might make travel easier. Also, if you intend on buying souvenirs, make sure that you have a little extra room in your luggage; if you are packing diapers and other disposable items, you have ready made space on the way home. Each time you cruise, it will get easier!

This post is part of our Cruise Views Marathon.  Please see special event information for details on how to enter our giveaways.

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