Travel

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(From Metro Parents)

Sailing The High Seas With Kids

by Linda Zapczynski

 

Today's cruise ships accommodate every age and every pocketbook, sailing to such exciting places as the Bahamas, Alaska or Crete. There are cruises combined with hotels and land attractions, such as Disneyworld, and cruises with themes, such as the "Pro Baseball Cruise".

Kids' Clubs have become a mainstay aboard cruise lines today, like an elaborate extension of summer camp. Kids can swim in the ship's pools, go to a teen night club, enter a sandcastle contest on an exotic island or learn a new dance for the last night's show on the ship.

But which lines accommodate families best? Where do they sail and how much do they cost? Here's the low-down on several popular cruise lines that focus on family fun:

 

The Big Red Boat cruise line has two ships, with eight decks, each holding about 1600 guests, and offering three and four-night cruises to the Grand Bahamas. Both cruises go from Port Canaveral, Florida to Nassau to Port Lucaya, Grand Bahamas and back to Port Canaveral. Options to spend part of your vacation aboard ship and part on land are also available. For example, a family could cruise to a few ports, then hop off at Port Canaveral and head to Disneyworld to complete their vacation package. Tickets to Disneyworld and other Orlando attractions are usually included in the package price at a discounted rate.

A four-nighter ranges from $649 to $1329 each for the first two guests, with $489 to $569 each for the third to fifth guest. The three-nighter starts at $549 and goes to $1199 each, with the third to fifth guest at $449 to $529.

Airfare is included with Big Red, and one or two kids, ages 2-17, are free when accompanied by two full-fare adults.

Kids' activities on Big Red target ages 2-17, and are available from 9 am-1O pm.If you keep late hours, a 24-hour child-care service is available for a nominal charge.

 

The "Fun Ship", or Carnival Cruise Line, goes to the Bahamas, the Mexican Riviera, the Carribbean, Alaska and Hawaii, offering 11 ships and 10 decks, with an average 2000 guests on each ship. The Bahamas and the Mexican Riviera cruises are from three days to a week; the Caribbean and Alaska are for a week, and Hawaii is 10 to 16 days.

Carnival's three-day cruises to the Bahamas start at $519-$939 each, with the third and fourth guest at $219 (child) to $239. Four-nights on the Mexican Riviera starts at $599-$1169, with the third and fourth guest at $279 (child) to $309.

Seven days in the Mexican Riviera or the Caribbean starts at $999-$2049, with the third and fourth guest at $449 (child) to $499.

Ten to 11 days in Aleaxka starts at $1,399 to $2749, with the third and fourth guest startig at $499 (child) to $599, May through September.

Carnival's cruises to Hawaii go to four islands in 12 days, starting at $1649-$2649, with the third and fourth guest at $999 (child) to $1049.

Kids from two years to 17-years old can join "Our Camp Carnival" program.

 

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) goes even further. Besides the Bahamas, Aleaska, the Caribbean and Mexico, NCL travels to Scandinavia, the Baltic, Europe, the British Isles, the Mediterranean, Bermuda and Canada.

Six ships, with 1000 to 2000 guests each, even off theme cruises, in sports or music. Tanya Tucker may entertain on the Country Cruise, while Dave Winfield wows the guests on the Pro Baseball cruise.

On NCL, a three-day cruise starts at $609 to $1619, with the third and fourth person at $200. A 7-day Caribbean cruise starts at $1299 to $5349 per person, with the third and fourth person at $699 to $749. The Alaska cruise starts at $1499 to $4399, with the third and fourth rate at $799. Airfare to Miami is included.

Children under two are free when accompanied by two adults staying in the same cabin. The Kid's Crew Children's Program is included in the third/ fourth rate, with groups from six to 12 years of age and teens from 13 to 17 years. Holidays offer a special morning program for kids from 3 to 5 years old. Evening activities for kids are plentiful.

 

Last, but not least, is the Royal Caribbean, which is truly a royal experience. For a heavenly blend of pampering, perfection and peace, this is my choice for that nothing-goes-wrong vacation.There's more expensive cruise lines, but the Royal seems to have a family ambience and still have everything in a beautiful working order.

Nine ships, with seven to 10 decks each, holds about 1000 to 2300 passengers, offering trips to the Bahamas and Caribbean.

Unique in this group of cruise lines is the Royal's 3,4,10 or 11-night Caribbean cruise.

The 7-night Caribbean cruise starts at $1399 to $4099 each, with the third and fourth person--which includes children and infants--at $699 to $749 each.

The Royal's 3-night Bahama cruise starts at $599 to $2149 each, with the third and fourth at $200. The 4-night Bahamas cruise begins at $899 to $2249,with the third/ fourth at $200-$335.

Airfare from Detroit to Miami or Port Canaveral is included in the cruise rate, with the exception of the 3-4 night Caribbean trip.

"Adventure Ocean" is a specially designed program for children divided into groups from three to 17 years old.

Seven-day Caribbean and 3-4 night Bahamas rates are the primary rates given here in the interest of comparison. Other factors, such as quality, frills, etc. must be experienced to subjectively judge the true value.

 

Linda Zapczynski is a freelance writer from Shelby Township.

 

 

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Tips For Smooth Sailing

 

The departure date or season determines pricing, with the summer months being the least expensive for the warm climates. There are often separate pricing plans for seniors, honeymooners and family reunions.

The selection of the staterooms also reflect cost. Staterooms are larger and more expensive with respect to a higher level on the ship, with the smallest rooms at the bottom. The rooms on either end tend to be a bit rockier, depending on the weather, and are less expensive.

Inside rooms are priced less than rooms with a porthole.

Not included in cruise rates are alcohol, games (Bingo, gambling) and land excursions. Port charges, averaging $100 per person, are mandatory, and not included. Tips for the waiter, busboy and cabin steward average $3/day for each server times each person in your party and, although the tips are optional, the service is generally more than worth the expense.

There's no additional cost for evening entertainment, such as musical revues, full-scale plays, comedy and magic acts. Full casinos, spas and fitness centers, running tracks and ball courts are a few of the amenities also available.

For the kids, there are playrooms, children's pools, and video arcades. And for the whole family, movies and room service are lifesavers in a pinch.