Cruising With Kids: Norwegian Cruise Line - Cruise Line Fans: Cruise Forum, Reviews and Chat From Real Cruisers

timwilloughby · 10-16-2009, 09:06 AM

Cruising With Kids: Norwegian Cruise Lines

Norwegian Cruise Lines (NCL) offers a Kid's Crew program for all children 2 and above. The minimum age to cruise aboard an NCL ship is 6 months. Kid's Crew play areas include jungle gyms, tunnels and the all-important ball pit. Pirate parades, Dora the Explorer sing alongs and Blue's Clues Scavenger Hunts are also conducted by the youth coordinators on board. Is your little tyke under 2? Don't worry, NCL has something for them, as well. The Under 2 Zoo is a play area designed specifically for the toddler set, and includes balls, LeapFrog learning toys, and tunnels to crawl through. The Under 2 Zoo does require parental supervision at this time. While there is no in-room babysitting service on board NCL ships, there is an option for parents that want to take a couple hours of evening time away from the kids. NCL offers group babysitting in the Kid's Crew for $6 per child/per hour and $4 per sibling/per hour. Port Play is offered when the ship is in port, and Late Night Fun Zone is offered nightly from 10:30 p.m. – 1:30 a.m.

The Norwegian Star, Spirit and Dawn each have a themed kid's water park on board ship, with slides, water cannons and splash pools for those children no longer in real diapers. There are even Kid's Cafe on board all NCL ships, except the Norwegian Majesty, catering to most of the specific dietary and tastes of small children. Lowered chairs, a full buffet of favorites from hot dogs and french fries to cookies and milk, fruits and veggies are all available to keep blood sugar levels high and moods positive.

Lodging for families with small children on NCL is not quite as accommodating as on Disney Cruise Lines, but they make an excellent effort from all reports. Staterooms sizes vary from ship to ship, but newer vessels in the fleet consist of staterooms that have several possible combinations, ranging from two bedroom up to five bedroom possibilities, once all the privacy dividers are deployed. Apparently, the Norwegian Epic, to launch in 2010, will have Family Deluxe Balcony and Family Balcony staterooms located directly adjacent to the Kid's Crew areas.

NCL does not offer stroller rental on board any NCL ship. I was going to list this as a drawback, but you all know how I feel about strollers, right? I don't like them....Grab yourself and your spouse a sling or baby-backpack and keep the little one close to you while looking out over that gorgeous Caribbean horizon. Cribs can be found on certain ships, but only fit in certain sized cabins. Be sure to book early and consult your Travel Agent or the cruise line directly about your particular needs.

Drawbacks: NCL's youth staffers are not allowed to change diapers. Hmmmm? What does this mean for parents? It means you get a pager and it buzzes and beeps once the last diaper you changed gets soiled. Get ready to return to your child for an immediate diaper change done by...you guessed it. YOU. Oh well, its not like you haven't changed a diaper before, right? Also, Cruise Line Fans suggests that families with small children book early for any NCL cruise, either with the line directly or with your trusted Travel Agent, to insure satisfactory lodging reservations.

dreampassages · 10-16-2009, 09:10 AM

I have never sailed with NCL before but, this is one of the main reason why I will try them in the near future.

Great post!

Char · 10-16-2009, 09:15 AM

Tim, it is interesting to see the differences in child care among the cruiselines. I wonder if any other line requires a parent to change the diapers?

Is there an age minimum for the Port Play times? It really worries me that some parents go ashore and leave their children (even teenage children) on board. What if something happens to prevent them from making it back to the ship before it sails? I know you would always have Thomas close to you no matter where you go, but not all parents feel the way you do.

timwilloughby · 10-16-2009, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Char

Tim, it is interesting to see the differences in child care among the cruiselines. I wonder if any other line requires a parent to change the diapers?

Is there an age minimum for the Port Play times? It really worries me that some parents go ashore and leave their children (even teenage children) on board. What if something happens to prevent them from making it back to the ship before it sails? I know you would always have Thomas close to you no matter where you go, but not all parents feel the way you do.

Char,

Thanks for your response and follow up question.

The minimum age for Port Play time is 2 years old, according to the NCL website.

Also, here's another interesting note to consider: Beepers and handy phones do not work ashore, so at least one parent will have to stay onboard when their children are in the Youth Program.

cruisin' chick · 10-17-2009, 02:05 AM

Supposedly Carnival will change diapers, but my experience was that sometimes I would pick up my daughter and she would need a change ASAP.

I think parents have to decide about whether to leave their children onboard while they leave the ship for a while. It'll be like dropping off your child at day care or a babysitter. There's always the possibility that one gets detained and get back late. But in this case, you need to make doubly sure to get back on the ship. I wouldn't book an independent tour, do any physical excursion (and risk having to go to a hospital) or wander too far from the ship. In other words, not run into any chance of not getting back on board in time. And if your child isn't feeling well, stay onboard with your child (don't take the child to the program).

And if you have kids under 18, let them know that they are not to leave the ship without you...or else. I would probably be more concerned about a teen running around the ship than with a six year old that's checked into the kids' program.