The Program

Carnival has 3 separate youth programs divided by age:

Camp Carnival is for ages 2-11 and is further sub-divided into 3 groups:  Toddlers (2-5), Juniors (6-8) and Intermediates (9-11).

Circle “C” for ages 12-14

Club O2 for ages 15-17

The Facilities

Camp Carnival kids have their own space, games, paints, crayons and pool area; playrooms and designated areas around the ships offer Circle “C” kids a wide variety of games and equipment including a video arcade; Club O2 kids have their own dedicated lounge where they can hang-out round the clock.

The Staff

Each group has its own set of directors overseeing the program. Carnival’s camp directors have experience and/or education in child care, are trained in first-aid and CPR and have passed a background check.

Operating Hours

Camp Carnival complimentary program runs from 9 AM – 10 PM on sea days and times vary while in port; There are late night/ after-hours programs for Circle “C” and Club O2 that vary by ship and itinerary.

Special Services

--Carnival does not offer in-room babysitting, but does offer after-hours group programs for children 2-11 from 10 PM – 3 AM. Cost is $6 per hour for the first child and $4 per hour for each additional child.

--Special teen-only shore excursions and outings are offered.

--Walkie-talkies are available for rent onboard.

--Toddlers do not have to be potty-trained, but parents must supply diapers and toiletries.

The Program

Celebrity’s youth program is divided into 5 age groups:

Toddler Time (under 3 years old and requires parent participation and supervision)

Ship Mates (ages 3-5)

Celebrity Cadets (ages 6-8)

Ensigns (ages 9-11)

Admiral Teens (ages 12-17)

The Facilities

Designed exclusively for junior cruisers, children ages 3-11 have their own dedicated spaces in the “Fun Factory”. Crafts, music, theme parties, movies and the latest gaming technology are just some of the ways children are entertained in the “Fun Factory”. A separate Teen Center is the ultimate hang-out for the 12-17 year olds.

The Staff

Each youth group has its own set of counselors. All counselors have some formal education in child development, education, recreation or related areas and have experience with groups of children. They are all trained in CPR and some speak a number of foreign languages.

Operating Hours

The “Fun Factory” is open from 9 AM (or ½ hour before arriving in a port) –10 PM every day. There is no cost for the program, however, when the ship is in port, there is a charge of $6 per hour/per child for children ages 3-11.

Special Services

--Celebrity provides in-room babysitting for up to 2 children (minimum age 12 months) from the same family for $8 an hour.

--Children ages 3-11 can participate in evening slumber parties from 10 PM – 1 AM for $6 per hour/per child.

--Celebrity’s V.I.P. Party Pass can be purchased which includes behind-the-scenes ship tours, big-screen movies and popcorn, dinner and slumber parties and entitles parents to a savings of 40% on nighttime babysitting.

--Celebrity has partnered with Leap Frog® to provide an assortment of interactive toys available for use in the “Fun Factory” and can also be checked out for private use.

The Program

There are four Activity Clubs:

Mini for ages 3-6

Maxi for ages 7-11

Teen Junior for ages 12-14 (only active during certain times)

Teen for ages 15-17

The Facilities

All ships have a children’s playroom and a teen disco.

The Staff

There are always 2 full-time youth counselors onboard in the Caribbean and 3 in the Med. Additional counselors are employed whenever a dozen or so kids are on the passenger list. The Costa Med and Costa Atlantica have at least 4 full time youth counselors onboard all regular sailings. All counselors have some child-care experience and all know CPR.

Operating Hours

For all children between the ages of 3-17, Costa Cruises entertainment staff are available on sea days from 9 AM to midday, from 3-6 PM and from 9-11:30 PM. For in-port days, Costa’s Activity Club hours are flexible depending on the cruise itinerary.

Special Services

--Costa has 2 themed dinners per cruise just for kids.

--No private in-cabin babysitting is available, however, Mini and Maxi Club nighttime group baby-sitting is available free of charge in the children’s area from 9-11:30 PM (11:00 PM on European cruises). From 11:30 PM-1:30 AM group babysitting is available for $10 per hour (arrangements made in advance).

--On Gala Nights there is a complimentary “Parents’ Night Out” from 6-11:30 PM during which kids 3 and older (must be out of diapers) are entertained and given a special buffet or pizza party.

The Program

Crystal’s Junior Activities Program is three-tiered:

3-7 year olds

8-12 year olds

13-17 year olds

The Facilities

Fantasia, Crystal’s children’s playroom, offers tables and chairs for arts and crafts, Sony PlayStation® games, large screen TV and board games. There is also a video arcade (Waves) for the teenagers.

The Staff

Crystal’s staff consists primarily of qualified teachers and experienced camp counselors. CPR training is required.

Operating Hours

Hours of operation and activities vary depending on the itinerary and number of children onboard. On those sailings with Junior Activities Directors, a detailed schedule of events is created at the beginning of the cruise.

Special Services

--Crystal Cruises offers in-stateroom babysitting for a fee: $10 per hour for the first child, $15 for 2 children and $20 for 3 (the maximum number allowed).

--Crystal offers some shore excursions specifically geared for kids, particularly in Alaska.

The Program

On Cunard, children are divided into three age categories:

Children ages 1-6

Youth ages 7-12

Teens ages 13-17

The Facilities

The Play Zone is a dedicated area for guests 1-6. It features a nursery for infants/toddlers, video games and movies, an outdoor area and multi-purpose activity area.

The Zone is designed for children ages 7-12. Here children will find video game stations, air hockey and table football, disco, arts and crafts lounge and plasma screen TVs. The Zone is reserved for teen use during certain designated hours.

The Staff

A permanent staff of certified British nannies as well as youth and teen counselors coordinate and oversee the program.

Operating Hours

Aside from 2 hours at lunchtime (noon-2 PM) and an hour or two in the afternoon, the playrooms provide complimentary supervised activities and care from 9 AM until midnight

Special Services

--A special children’s supper/tea is served between 5-6 PM daily at the King’s Court Buffet, allowing parents to have formal dinner by themselves.

--Private babysitting is not available. However, complimentary child sitting on a group basis is available in the evenings.

The Program

Disney Cruises Lines kids programming is unique, in that, children are no longer grouped by age, but by the activities they choose. However, they still have designated programs and facilities that appeal to specific age groups:

Nursery (3months to 3 years old)

Oceaneer Club (ages 3-7)

Oceaneer Lab (ages 8-10)

Tweens (ages 11-13)

Teens (ages 14-17)

The Facilities

Depending on the ship, children from 3 months to 3 years are cared for in the Flounder’s Reef Nursery or It’s a Small World Nursery on Deck 5 mid-ship. Space in the nurseries must be reserved in advance and there is a fee.

The majority of the rest of Deck 5 mid-ship is home to the Oceaneer Club (a separate area geared for children ages 3-7) and Oceaneer Lab (a separate area geared for children ages 8-10).

Edge is a tweens-exclusive space for children 11-13 on the Dream and the Fantasy. The 11-13 year olds have their own designated space on the Disney Magic called Ocean Quest.

Vibe is the teens-exclusive space for the 14-17 year olds. This teen hotspot features an indoor lounge and breezy sundeck.

Each ship also has a state-of-the-art video arcade and a family lounge/nightclub/entertainment center where parents and children can enjoy live entertainment together

The Staff

Each group in the Disney Youth Program has their own dedicated staff. All counselors are required to have formal education in child development, education, recreation or related activities and a minimum of 2 years experience handling groups of kids ages 3-17. Disney provides certified CPR training.

Operating Hours

Hours of operation vary based on itinerary, but are usually open from 9 AM – 1 AM on sea days and 7:30 AM – 1 AM on port days.

Special Services

--Disney does not offer in-stateroom babysitting, but babysitting services are available in the nurseries for $6 per hour for the first child and $5 per hour for the second.

--Character Greetings where children are invited to meet their favorite Disney Characters occur both in designated places and during special surprise appearances.

--Onboard all ships there are designated family pools, children’s pools and adults only pools.

--Chill Spa on the Disney Dream is a rejuvenating spa designed for teens only.

--Shore excursions for teens only are offered at many ports.

The Program

Holland America’s youth program is divided into groups based on age ranges:

Club HAL Kids (ages 3-7)

Club HAL Tweens (ages 8-12)

Teens (ages 13-17)

*Club HAL starts at age 5 on the Prinsendam

The Facilities

Club HAL is the dedicated space for kids ages 3-12. This play area is sub-divided into 2 sections where the 3-7 year olds participate in a variety of creative activites and the 8-12 year olds have Sony Playstations®, arcade games and family-safe internet to keep them occupied.

Teens can enjoy The Loft – a “teens only” lounge designed to resemble an artist’s loft and most ships also feature The Oasis – a “teens only” sundeck area that is connected to the Loft.

The Staff

Each youth program has its own director and staff. They are all permanent, full-time employees. All have college degrees with more than half focused on education studies. Most staff also have experience in education or related fields such as child development, recreation or leisure studies. The number of Club HAL staff aboard is determined by the number of children in each age group sailing on the cruise.

Operating Hours

Club HAL and teen activities operate all day during sea days with breaks for meals. Programs also operate on port days if kids and teens sign-up the day before

Special Services

--Group babysitting services available from 10 PM until midnight at Club HAL. After hours for children 3 and up the cost is $5 per hour per child.

--Limited babysitting is available through the Front Desk on a staff volunteer basis (cost is $8 per hour for the first child, $6 per hour for each additional child from the same family). Babysitting may be available on port days (if staff is available).

--Club HAL children’s program schedules Toddler Times for kids under the age of 3 to play in the Club HAL facilities (parents must supervise).

--Holland America has launched a kids and teen Culinary Arts Center activity program to bring the joys of cooking to the younger set.

The Program

MSC Cruises’ youth club program is divided into 3 groups based on age:

Mini Club for ages 3-8

Juniors Club for ages 9-12

Teen Club for ages 13-17

**In Europe, the youth programs are conducted mostly in Latin tongues.

The Facilities

Children ages 3-12 have their own colorful and spacious play areas and MSC’s Teen Club is a dedicated space for the 13-17 year olds. On the Fantasia Class ships, teens can also enjoy the teen disco with a 4-D interactive cinema and mini-bowling alleys.

The Staff

Children are under the supervision of trained youth counselors; number of counselors varies by itinerary and the number and ages of children onboard.

Operating Hours

Operating hours and activities vary by the itinerary and number and ages of children onboard. On port days, the Mini and Junior Club remain open for children 3-12.

Special Services

--For families MSC offers a 30% discount on shore excursions for children under the age of 12.

--MSC is the only cruise line that kids (17 and under) sail free on all cruises and itineraries fleetwide.

--In-cabin babysitting is available with 24 hours notice for a fee.

--My Teen Card can be purchased so kids from 12-17 can make pre-paid purchases onboard.

The Program

“Kids Crew” is divided into 4 groups based on age ranges:

Juniors (2-5)

First Mates (6-9)

Navigators (10-12)

Teens (13-17)

The Facilities

Each age group has its own dedicated space and age-appropriate planned activities which vary from ship to ship. NCL is a cruise line where the “newer the ship the better for kids” holds true.

The Staff

Each age group has its own director overseeing the program. NCL’s youth staff are selected from various university education and recreation programs. They are all trained in first-aid and CPR and attend special training courses on team and confidence building, communication skills and working with children with special needs.

Operating Hours

On Embarkation Day: 8 PM – 10 PM

Port Days: From Departure from ort to 10:30 PM

Sea Days: 9 AM – 10:30 PM

Special Services

--NCL offers an exclusive Nickelodeon® at Sea program on the Jewel and the Epic (breakfast with Nickelodeon is available for a nominal fee).

--NCL does not offer in-room babysitting, but do offer group sitting while the ship is in port and after-hours (10:30 PM – 1:30 AM) in the Kid’s Crew facilities for a fee ($6 per hour for the 1^st child and $4 per hour for each additional child from the same family).

--NCL accepts non-potty trained kids and parents are given beepers when its time for a change.

The Program

The youth program on Princess is divided into 3 age groups:

Princess Pelicans for ages 3-7

Shockwaves for ages 8-12

Remix for ages 13-17

(Age groups may differ on Diamond, Caribbean, Sapphire and Star Princess)

**On Pacific and Tahitian Princess, the Youth and Teen Programs are only available when 20 or more children are sailing.

The Facilities

Junior Cruisers (3-12) have their own dedicated space known as the “Fun Zone” and there is a separate Teen Center for the 13-17 year olds. **There are no separate youth facilities on the Tahitian and Pacific Princess

The Staff

Youth staff has daycare, teaching or child development backgrounds. CPR certification is required.

Operating Hours

Sea Days: 9 AM-noon; 2-5 PM; 7-10 PM

Port Days: 8 AM – 5 PM

Special Services

--Princess does not offer in-room babysitting, but group sitting for children ages 3-12 is offered on all vessels except Royal, Tahitian and Pacific Princess, from 10 PM-1 AM for a charge of $5 per hour per child.

--Scheduled on select seasonal sailings, the California Science Center delivers interactive science activities.

--Pete’s Pals Program is offered as a way for kids to learn more about endangered species.

--On Alaska sailings, the National Park Service Junior Ranger Program teaches kids about nature and wildlife of Alaska.

--Pelican Perch is a supervised play area on the private island of Princess Cays® open from 10 AM- noon.

--Two special dinner evenings are designed for each age group to dine without parents.

The Program

Regent’s Club Mariner Youth Program is divided into 3 groups based on age: 5-8, 9-12, 13-17; The program is offered on all summer sailings and during the holiday season.

The Facilities

There are no separate dedicated children’s areas, but on family sailings most activities take place in the Stars Nightclub or Card Room.

The Staff

Regent identifies the youth staff as experienced and “enthusiastic” but requires no special training.

Operating Hours

On sea days from 9 AM–noon, 2:30–5:30 PM and 8–10 PM. On port days, hours are 9 AM-5 PM and 8-10 PM. Teen program runs later in the evening (9-11 PM)

Special Services

--The Ambassadors of the Environment (AOTE) Youth Program is a unique program that introduces travelers ages 9-17 to natural wonders and building environmental sustainability. Hands-on experiences emphasize the importance of conservation.

The Program

Royal Caribbean’s Youth Program is divided into 5 age groups:

Aquanauts for ages 3-5

Explorers for ages 6-8

Voyagers for ages 9-11

Teens ages 12-14

Teens ages 15-17

There are also Royal Babies (6-18 months) and Royal Tots (18-36 months) Programs where parents and child can take part in Fisher Price® playgroup sessions

The Facilities

All ships in the fleet have dedicated space designed specifically for each age group. Adventure Ocean® is sub-divided so that each age group has its own unique space. All ships have a separate Teen Center/Lounge/Nightclub (Fuel Nightclub and The Living Room)

The Staff

Each group in the youth program has their own dedicated director overseeing the specific program. Every member of the Adventure Ocean® staff holds a college degree in education, recreation or a related field and has experience working with children ages 3-17

Operating Hours

Adventure Ocean® hours for the 3-11 age groups are:

At Sea – 9 AM-noon; 2-5 PM; 7-10 PM / In Port – 30 minutes prior to the first shore excursion to 5 PM or return of last shore excursion and 7-10 PM

For the teen programs (ages 12-17) activities are scheduled throughout the day and early evening. The Teen Center is open from 10:30 PM-2 AM every night.

Special Services

--Group sitting, known as the Late Night Party Zone is available for 10 PM-1 AM for children ages 3-11. Rate is $5 per hour per child.

--In-room babysitting is offered from 8 AM-2 AM through Guest Relations but must be booked 24 hours in advance and is based on availability. Cost is approximately $12 per hour for 1 or 2 children in same family or $15 per hour for 3 children.

--Royal Caribbean has teamed with Crayola® and Fisher Price® to provide age-appropriate activities and foster parent/child bonding and development.

--On the Oasis, Allure, Liberty and Freedom of the Seas set sail with Dreamworks Animation® and enjoy themed activities with such characters as Shrek®, Madagascar® and Kung Fu Panda®.

--Oasis Class ships offer a fully-staffed Nursery where children (ages 6-36 months) can be left in the care of trained professionals; cost is $8 per hour per child.

--Special Dinners (without parents) are planned for each age group.