Cruise into a family holiday

28 August 2019 By: John Pedler

Norwegian Jewel

With their brightly coloured livery, the Norwegian Cruise Line fleet are among the funkiest looking ships on the open ocean. Inside, there’s plenty to keep everybody entertained between ports.

Supervised kids’ programs cater to all ages, from toddlers through to teens. Kids aged up to 12 can head for Splash Academy, with activities organised for different age groups.

For the teens there is the Entourage program offering video games, movies, dance parties, and the chance to hang out with teenagers who are similarly averse to spending all day with the folks.

The Jewel's colourful exterior isn't where the fun stops

The Late-Night Fun Zone is a child-minding play space that’s open from 10.30pm to 1.30am, so the really big kids, who paid for the trip, can have a night out.

Out on the sports deck there’s a volleyball/tennis/basketball court, a chess board, and that classic shipboard activity from the dawn of time – shuffleboard.

Carnival Spirit

Twenty-four-hour pizza and ice-cream – job done. But there’s more than just all-day snacks to keep the kids busy on a Carnival cruise. The Spirit has the largest shipboard waterpark in Australia, with something for all ages. Little tackers can scoot down the smaller slides, while bigger kids can experience the near-vertical freefall of the Green Thunder waterslide. There’s also mini-golf, a basketball court, and even a Build-a-Bear Workshop.

The Green Thunder offers near-vertical freefall

Every evening at poolside, the outdoor cinema shows the latest flicks. Family movie nights can be enjoyed from the comfort of lounge chairs or, in a serious nod to the cruising lifestyle, you can watch from the pool.

There’s a range of supervised kids’ activities including Club 02, a teen hangout for 15 to 17-year-olds. Organisers even plan teen-only shore excursions, for when everyone in the family needs some time with their own age group.

Ovation of the Seas

If this ship spent all its time dockside it would still have kids crawling all over it. The Ovation is like a floating funfair, jam-packed with an incredible range of activities. Outside there’s a rock climbing wall, a waterpark, a poolside cinema, and a windowed capsule known as North Star, which rises high into the air to allow a bird’s-eye view of the ship and the surrounding sea. There’s also a skydiving simulator, powered by a giant fan, and an on-board surf machine.

Inside there’s a complete amusement centre. As well as a games arcade, there’s roller skating, table tennis, basketball, volleyball and indoor soccer. Plus the sports court converts to a bumper car arena and circus school, teaching kids all the skills they’ll need to become trapeze acrobats.

As well as all this, the Ovation has kids’ clubs for ages up to 17.

The bumper car arena on board Ovation of the Seas

Sun Princess

The Sun Princess represents a more traditional style of cruising. Like most ships, there are pools, hot tubs, plenty of bars and eating options, plus outdoor activities like volleyball, basketball and table tennis. But you won’t find the more elaborate amusements like waterparks, rock climbing and skating rinks.

However, there’s still a strong focus on family entertainment. There are hosted game nights, trivia quizzes and sports challenges. Weather permitting, the family can join an informative stargazing session, away from the glare of city lights. The outdoor cinema screens movies and other features all day, including live sports. During the evening sessions, there’s even complimentary popcorn.

There are also three age-specific areas with activities for youngsters up to 17-years-old, and organised kids-only dinners.

The outdoor movies on the main deck of the Sun Princess

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