| Cruising Alaska - Now It's a Family Thing | | | | young peoples' program called "Adventure |
| | | | Ocean" serving and entertaining travelers 3 |
| | | | to 17 in five different categories. |
| | | | |
| If you're thinking about a family vacation to | | | | Youngest group (ages 3 through 5) are called |
| Alaska, and you're wondering if your kids | | | | Aquanauts and do finger painting, building |
| would enjoy a cruise to "The Last Frontier," | | | | blocks, play dough, music activities, dot |
| wonder no more. Young family members from | | | | dancing, and "shape Bingo." Explorers (6-8) |
| toddlers through teens have a blast on big | | | | have a Pirate Night, go on a backstage tour, |
| ships and small as their vessels sail through | | | | enjoy nutty nicknames, and engage in |
| the protected waters of Alaska's Inside | | | | autograph hunts. Nine to 11-year-old Voyagers |
| Passage. Aboard ship or ashore, there are | | | | do karaoke singing, have a Ga-Ga Ball, enjoy |
| lots of kid-friendly, parent-friendly, and | | | | H20 Thunder Races, and do an art walk. |
| grandparent-friendly places to see and fun | | | | |
| things to do. | | | | Navigators (12-14) play in sports |
| | | | tournaments, have pool parties, enjoy a |
| It's true, only a short decade or two ago | | | | college night, engage in video games, and |
| families with kids aboard Alaska cruiseships | | | | attend disco dancing sessions as well as a |
| were as scarce as Alaskan Dall sheep lambs in | | | | formal night. Older teens,15-17 and called |
| a grizzly bear's lair. But the times have | | | | Guests, also enjoy dancing, pool parties, DJ |
| changed -- big time. Today you will find, in | | | | training, Battle of the Sexes, plus a formal |
| addition to the traditional hefty contingent | | | | night and a Survivor Series. |
| of seniors and near-seniors aboard each ship, | | | | |
| a growing number of families. Sometimes these | | | | RCI's Edu-tainment programming offers: |
| groups are multi-generational, with gramps | | | | |
| and grandmas, moms and dads, and kids that | | | | Adventure Science, a blend of hands-on |
| range from gangly teens to babes literally in | | | | experiments and wacky entertainment (example: |
| arms. | | | | Staggering Through the Stars, and a Wacky |
| | | | Water Workshop); |
| The reason? Word is out that Alaska's | | | | |
| attractions are sure-fire hits for travelers | | | | Adventure Art, the opportunity to exercise |
| of any age: attractions like humongous whales | | | | creativity with crafts; |
| breaching full length out of the water, | | | | |
| grizzly bears chasing salmon along forest | | | | Sail Into Story Time and Adventure Family. |
| creeks and rivers, icebergs (sometimes as big | | | | The latter is a free, onboard program that |
| as a tour bus) crashing, splashing, and | | | | allows children 3-11 and their parents to |
| thundering off the faces of miles-long | | | | spend quality time together doing projects |
| glaciers. | | | | that range from shipbuilding regattas to |
| | | | talent shows and scavenger hunts. ( |
| Too, there are opportunities to mush in a dog | | | | |
| sled behind a team of charging huskies - | | | | Mid-Size Vessels |
| after helicoptering to a lofty mountain-top | | | | |
| glacier no less! Kids and parents can ride | | | | RADISSON SEVEN SEAS CRUISES' youth program, |
| bikes through towering forests or down | | | | "Club Mariner," provides adults who want to |
| mountain paths and trails. They can also | | | | share Alaska's wonders with their children or |
| kayak among whales and sea lions. Whole | | | | grandchildren a complimentary children's |
| families can fish for lunker king salmon. Or | | | | program. "The program," says the company, |
| try their luck at gold-panning in creeks and | | | | "offers the opportunity for every member of |
| streams. | | | | the family to experience Alaska in a |
| | | | meaningful, enriching way." |
| Newest craze for the young and the | | | | |
| young-at-heart is riding a zip-line through | | | | The cruiseline's youth program is designed |
| the upper canopies of towering spruce and | | | | for three age groups: 5-9, 10-13 and 14-17. |
| hemlock forests in Ketchikan and Juneau -- | | | | Throughout each voyage, trained counselors |
| hanging safe and secure in a harness as they | | | | offer young cruisers the opportunity to |
| "zip" along a steel cable some 130 feet or | | | | participate in a variety of interactive |
| more above the forest floor. | | | | adventures focusing on Alaska. Children will |
| | | | exercise their creativity with crafts while |
| Or, less daunting, while visiting museums up | | | | gaining knowledge about Alaska's diverse |
| and down the coast families can absorb the | | | | wildlife, its unique geography, its |
| totemic culture and the history of Alaska's | | | | indigenous crafts, and its rich artistic |
| Native peoples. They can learn about the | | | | heritage. |
| period when Alaska was "Russian America." And | | | | |
| they can view mementos of the tumultuous gold | | | | Kids will learn about whales, salmon, |
| stampede to the Klondike during the late | | | | glaciers and totem poles. They might draw and |
| 1800s, | | | | write about their adventures in their special |
| | | | Club Mariner scrapbook, bake chocolate |
| No question about it, Alaska has something | | | | "moose" cookies, go whale watching out on |
| exciting to offer every family member, | | | | deck or learn all about eagles, dolphins, |
| regardless of age. | | | | bears and sea lions. |
| | | | |
| But what about life aboard the cruiseships? | | | | Notes RSSC: "Club Mariner not only makes it |
| Will young people find the experience | | | | easier for families to travel together, it |
| dullsville? | | | | helps kids broaden their cultural and |
| | | | educational horizons. And they'll return |
| Hardly. The mid- to mega-sized ships in | | | | home knowing more about Alaska than all the |
| particular are literally resorts afloat with | | | | other 49 states combined!" ( |
| swimming pools, spas, snack shops, ice cream | | | | |
| parlors, outdoor game courts, video arcades, | | | | SILVERSEA CRUISES advises that, due to the |
| and movie theaters. Special staff members | | | | sophisticated nature of its cruises and |
| aboard these vessels -- with one exception -- | | | | programs, the company does not encourage |
| include trained youth counselors. These crew | | | | travel with young children. ( |
| members arrange age-appropriate social | | | | |
| activities, organize games and sports events, | | | | Smaller Ships |
| supervise arts and crafts, take youngsters on | | | | |
| shipwide treasure hunts, and generally see to | | | | AMERICAN SAFARI CRUISES' Kids in Nature (KIN) |
| it that cruisers from tykes through teens | | | | cruises, include a luxury yacht as the |
| enjoy their cruise as much as their parents | | | | schoolhouse, an Expedition Leader/Naturalist |
| and grandparents. | | | | as the teacher, and the wildlife-rich waters |
| | | | of Alaska's Inside Passage as the laboratory. |
| Although smallship cruiselines in Alaska do | | | | KIN convenes in Alaska aboard the upscale |
| not staff their vessels with special | | | | 22-passenger yacht Safari Quest with the |
| counselors for young cruisers, the ships are | | | | first of two seven-night cruises from Sitka |
| no less family-welcoming. These vessels can | | | | June 17. The voyage takes in various |
| enter small bays and inlets where guests can | | | | wilderness sites and communities throughout |
| view wildlife on close-by forest shores, | | | | Southeast Alaska. and ends in Juneau June 17. |
| explore waterways by kayak or in spiffy | | | | Another seven-night Safari Quest sailing |
| powered Zodiacs, hike remote island beaches, | | | | commences July 29 while an eight-night voyage |
| perhaps even stop for a natural hot springs | | | | from Prince Rupert, B.C. to Juneau embarks |
| dip in forested surroundings. | | | | June 26 aboard the equally luxurious 12-guest |
| | | | Safari Escape. |
| One smallship cruiseline even schedules three | | | | |
| Alaska cruises each year especially geared | | | | Activities abound for all ages: kayaking, |
| for family travel. | | | | hiking on a remote island followed by a |
| | | | full-scale picnic, hopping shore-to-shore by |
| Regardless of vessel size, and with only a | | | | Zodiac, viewing whales directly off the bow |
| couple of exceptions, cruiselines in the | | | | or dolphins right below, collecting shells to |
| Alaska trade actively court family cruisers. | | | | study, and more. Kids and adults alike are |
| Few such travelers, young or old, find the | | | | accompanied on a variety of personal-choice |
| experience anything other than "cool." And | | | | excursions while their yacht is at anchor. |
| they're not referring to the weather. | | | | |
| | | | At the end of a cruise each child receives a |
| Cruiseline by cruiseline here's a rundown of | | | | Kids in Nature backpack filled with mementos |
| kid care and family fun on an Alaska cruise. | | | | of their various explorations: a certificate |
| The information was supplied by the | | | | of achievement signed by the Captain and |
| cruiselines or taken from company websites. | | | | Expedition Leader, a tee shirt and cap, a |
| | | | pair of binoculars, disposable camera and a |
| Large and Mega Size Cruiseships | | | | typed list of all of the flora and fauna |
| | | | observed during the cruise. The program |
| CARNIVAL CRUISE LINE's 2006 Alaska voyages | | | | offers kid-size pricing -- two kids under 12 |
| aboard the 2,124-passenger Carnival Spirit | | | | for one adult fare. |
| offer youngsters age 2 through 17 a variety | | | | |
| of continuous supervised activities as part | | | | Aboard other sailings during the season |
| of the line's "Camp Carnival" program. | | | | American Safaris Cruises' three yachts offer |
| | | | very upscale amenities and cuisine best |
| Included in the line's Alaska sailings are a | | | | appreciated by sophisticated adults. For |
| number of "just for Alaska" projects where | | | | these cruises the line normally discourages |
| kids can make their own dream catchers and | | | | guests from bringing young children and does |
| totem poles and learn about the region's | | | | not offer specifically child-oriented |
| fascinating Native Alaskan cultures. | | | | services. ( |
| | | | |
| The Carnival Spirit offers other kid- and | | | | AMERICAN WEST STEAMBOAT COMPANY advises, "We |
| family-friendly amenities as well, including | | | | tend to cater to mature adults and therefore |
| a spacious indoor play room featuring an arts | | | | offer no special programs to kids and teens." |
| and crafts center, a 16-monitor video wall, | | | | ( |
| climbing mazes, an outdoor play area, and a | | | | |
| computer lab. | | | | THE BOAT COMPANY offers special rates for |
| | | | young cruisers traveling with parents: 50 |
| When it comes to dining, says Carnival, | | | | percent off the usual fare if occupying a |
| "Youngsters get the full 'Fun Ship' treatment | | | | stateroom with a parent, 20 percent off if |
| with expanded children's menus offering a | | | | occupying a separate cabin. |
| variety of kids' favorites as well as a daily | | | | |
| junior special." The menus are included on | | | | The company's two vessels do not have |
| the back of a coloring and activity book | | | | separate personnel specifically assigned to |
| featuring word finds, mazes, tic-tac-toe, | | | | youngsters on board, but the line does try to |
| crossword puzzles, connect-the-dots, and | | | | accommodate the desires of each passenger |
| other games. | | | | including kayaking, fishing, beach hikes, and |
| | | | other kid-friendly activities. ( |
| Young cruiser age groups include 2- through | | | | |
| 5-year-olds, 6 through 8, 9 through 11, and | | | | CLIPPER CRUISELINE has no specific children's |
| for teens 15 through 17 a program called | | | | programs or staff for younger travelers, but |
| "Club 02." ( | | | | the nature of the company's routes and |
| | | | cruising areas |
| CELEBRITY CRUISES' "Family Cruising Program" | | | | |
| offers young peoples' activities in four age | | | | (including whale sightings, bears other |
| groups: | | | | wildlife, and shore excursions)make it |
| | | | appropriate for family groups. Cabins can |
| On any given day Ship Mates (for 3- through | | | | accommodate as many as three guests; for |
| 6-year-olds) may enjoy a clown party, | | | | larger groups two cabins would be necessary. |
| treasure hunt, T-shirt painting, Legos, | | | | ( |
| talent time, finger painting, dancing games, | | | | |
| summer stock theater, cartoon time, | | | | CRUISE WEST offers a children's travel |
| computers, play stations, musical games, | | | | special aboard the Sheltered Seas Daylight |
| movies, ship tours, and ice cream sundae | | | | Yacht Tours. Travelers 12 and under sharing a |
| making. | | | | cabin with an adult save 50 percent on Family |
| | | | Adventure cruise fares. Youths 13 through 21 |
| Many of these same activities are on the | | | | save 25 percent. |
| agenda for older children as well, but are | | | | |
| undertaken on an older-age level. | | | | While many of the company's other cruises are |
| | | | of considerable interest for families with |
| Celebrity Cadets (for youngsters 7-9) might | | | | children, activities aboard ship are not |
| also include pool olympics, scavenger hunts, | | | | specifically geared for young travelers. |
| charades, a fitness program, board games, | | | | Cruise West is the largest of the smallship |
| relays, and team trivia. Ensigns (for | | | | cruiselines serving Alaska and offers |
| pre-teens 10-12) additionally enjoy karaoke, | | | | cruising options of family interest from |
| relay races, ship tours, and pizza parties. | | | | Southeast Alaska with its totems, glaciers, |
| | | | national park lands and goldrush historical |
| Admiral T's takes in two classes of | | | | points of interest to Southcentral's Prince |
| teenagers, 13-15 and 16-17. Members can | | | | William Sound and beyond to Arctic waters and |
| frequent the Teen Club, engage in basketball | | | | even Russia. ( |
| tournaments, enjoy pool parties, and help put | | | | |
| on talent shows. | | | | DISCOVERY VOYAGES advises that cruises aboard |
| | | | the 12-passenger vessel Discovery are |
| Celebrity vessels also offer a "Parents Night | | | | "definitely family friendly" and, in fact, |
| Out" program. On the two formal nights of a | | | | the company offers a 25 percent discount for |
| seven-night voyage, Celebrity treats parents | | | | children 12 and under. |
| to free babysitting when counselors take the | | | | |
| children to a pizza party for dinner. ( | | | | Notes a company spokeswoman: "Due to the |
| | | | intimate size of our vessel we do not have |
| HOLLAND AMERICA LINE's "Club HAL" provides a | | | | specific youth directors but our staff |
| variety of kid-friendly facilities and | | | | (including Captain Dean Rand's daughters |
| age-appropriate activities. Programs for | | | | Hannah and Heather, who grew up on board the |
| children ages 3-12 may be found aboard 2006 | | | | Discovery) is diverse in working with both |
| Alaska-bound ships Ryndam, Statendam, | | | | adults and children as well as being |
| Zaandam, Zuiderdam, Oosterdam, and Westerdam | | | | naturalists and kayaking guides." The company |
| and for ages 5-12 aboard Volendam and | | | | often works with agencies and outfitters who |
| Veendam. All eight ships have a teen program | | | | specialize in family trips. ( |
| for ages 13-17. ( | | | | |
| | | | LINDBLAD EXPEDITIONS welcomes voyagers young |
| Club HAL activities are designed to be age | | | | and old. And come September, Archie Comics |
| appropriate. For example, daily activities | | | | illustrator Stan Goldberg will join a |
| planned for children ages 3 to 7 may include | | | | shipload of other Lindblad Expeditions |
| arts and crafts, face-painting, camp-out | | | | travelers through the Inside Passage from |
| night, candy bar Bingo, outdoor fun, and a | | | | Southeast Alaska to British Columbia. His |
| pajama party. | | | | mission: to create the second in his "Little |
| | | | Lin" cartoon book series of educational |
| "Tweens," the in-between travelers 8 through | | | | adventures for young people. (In his first |
| 12, may learn golf putting, attend dance | | | | book, Fun and Games With Little Lin, released |
| parties and theme nights, compete in on-deck | | | | in 2005, child explorer Little Lin discovers |
| sports events and scavenger hunts, play | | | | Peru's Galapagos Islands.) |
| arcade games, tie-dye t-shirts, or simply | | | | |
| play ping-pong with a friend. | | | | ßIn his second work Goldberg's young |
| | | | adventurer will sail to Alaska and will |
| Teens 13-17 enjoy The Loft designed to | | | | encounter glaciers, humpback whales, bald |
| resemble a New York artist's loft; there's | | | | eagles, and all manner of other creatures |
| also The Oasis, a private deck where teens | | | | and their habitats along Alaska's and British |
| can soak up the rays then cool off in a | | | | Columbia's Inside Passage. In future years, |
| one-of-a-kind waterfall. The Loft and Oasis | | | | the Alaska-inspired Little Lin books will be |
| are currently available on 2006 Alaska-bound | | | | distributed to all families traveling aboard |
| vessels Ryndam, Statendam, Veendam, Volendam, | | | | Lindblad Inside Passage cruises. ( |
| and Zaandam. Teens will especially enjoy the | | | | |
| teen disco, dance lessons, arcade games, teen | | | | MAPLE LEAF ADVENTURES offers families the |
| sports tournaments, karaoke, trivia contests, | | | | opportunity to view Alaska's glaciers, |
| bingo, play stations, movies and hot tub | | | | whales, islands, bear hot spots, beaches, hot |
| parties. | | | | springs and towns aboard the classic |
| | | | tall-ship sailing vessel Maple Leaf, a |
| On most itineraries, Holland America provides | | | | beautifully restored 92-foot sailing schooner |
| at least one full-time Youth Program Director | | | | built in 1904. |
| and one or more youth staff members. The | | | | |
| ratio of Club HAL staff to children on board | | | | The ship takes 9 or 10 guests. The vessel's |
| is 1:30. | | | | on-board naturalist, chef and experienced |
| | | | crew can customize the trip's itinerary, menu |
| Additionally there's a wide variety of | | | | and activities to suit family interests. |
| kid-pleasing food, including special | | | | Typical highlights include unparalleled |
| sandwiches, tacos, burgers, hot dogs and | | | | proximity to ice bergs, glaciers and |
| pizza. For the very young baby food, high | | | | wildlife, sailing a tall ship, and great |
| chairs and booster seats may be requested in | | | | camaraderie between guests and crew. |
| advance of boarding. Baby-sitting services | | | | |
| are available for a small surcharge and | | | | Special activities for kids include sail |
| special birthday parties can also be | | | | training, fishing (with purchase of a fishing |
| arranged. | | | | license), hikes, and a customizable |
| | | | itinerary. |
| NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE notes on its web pages | | | | |
| that the line's Kid's Crew and Teen's Crew | | | | Accommodations are comfortable but not |
| programs are filled with age-appropriate | | | | luxurious. Because berths are limited to nine |
| activities for youngsters 2 through 17. For | | | | or ten passengers, it is possible for one or |
| Kid's Crew members aged 2-12, NCL offers | | | | more families (two families of five, for |
| everything from arts and crafts to pajama | | | | instance) to jointly reserve all the berths |
| parties. Teens Crew, for cruisers 13-17 | | | | for one of the company's 11-night Alaska |
| provides options like pool parties, a teen | | | | voyages. Parents with teen-age children may |
| disco, a video arcade, and more. | | | | reserve berths that are not otherwise |
| | | | reserved with the concurrence of prior-booked |
| But don't, says NCL, think of these programs | | | | adult passengers. ( |
| as "babysitting." There's very little | | | | |
| "sitting" involved, notes the cruiseline. The | | | | State and Provincial Ferries |
| programs are active, energetic, educational | | | | |
| and, most importantly, fun. ( | | | | ALASKA MARINE HIGHWAY SYSTEM (Alaska ferries) |
| | | | is made-to-order for family travel along |
| PRINCESS CRUISES' junior cruisers (ages 3 to | | | | Alaska's coast. Depending on vessel |
| 17) can enjoy a boatload of exciting onboard | | | | youngsters will find onboard play areas for |
| activities. All of the line's Alaska-bound | | | | the very young, casual meals and snack bars |
| ships have special kids and youth centers | | | | for any age, movies, and nature talks plus |
| staffed by counselors who put on a program of | | | | expansive glass-enclosed solariums. These are |
| age-specific activities each day. Group | | | | ideal for spotting orcas (killer whales), |
| babysitting is available in the late | | | | humpback whales, playful porpoises and sea |
| evenings. | | | | lions in the water plus mountain goats on |
| | | | towering cliffsides, and (for the fortunate |
| Among a number of programs for youngsters is | | | | observer) the sight of black and brown |
| one specific to Alaska. Produced with the | | | | (grizzly) bears on passing beaches. Families |
| National Park Service, Princess' sub-teen | | | | with or without vehicles may embark as far |
| "Junior Ranger" program is designed to bring | | | | south as Bellingham, Washington or Prince |
| Glacier Bay and the Alaska wilderness to life | | | | Rupert, British Columbia. |
| for thousands of children each summer. The | | | | |
| program features interactive games, activity | | | | Larger stateroom-equipped vessels of the |
| books, and presentation by rangers. The | | | | fleet are the Columbia (931 passengers), |
| corresponding "Teen Explorer" program | | | | Matanuska (745), Malaspina (701), Taku (370), |
| features similar learning activities geared | | | | and Kennicott (748). Depending on the season, |
| for older youngsters. | | | | one or two ships sail on weekly schedules all |
| | | | the way to/from Bellingham while others turn |
| In a cruise industry exclusive, the Los | | | | around at Prince Rupert. ( |
| Angeles-based California Science Center | | | | |
| provides entertaining interactive activities. | | | | BC FERRIES demonstrates its kid-friendliness |
| Princess youth staff have undergone extensive | | | | even before a family boards ship. |
| training at the center, designed to enthrall | | | | Computer-savvy children or their parents have |
| young passengers with award-winning science | | | | only to surf the web to and they will meet |
| projects. Whale watching, building and racing | | | | cartoon characters Samantha ("Call me Sam") |
| sailboats, marine biology studies and squid | | | | and Cal, two seagoing doggy characters who |
| dissection are a few of the activities | | | | introduce young viewers to three online |
| available. | | | | activities - an electronic coloring book, a |
| | | | "Match the Ferries" memory game, and a |
| The line's website notes that preteens are | | | | virtual bridge tour. |
| divided into two groups: Princess Pelicans | | | | |
| ages 3-7 and Princess Pirateers, 8-12. Both | | | | The 700-passenger provincial ferry vessel |
| groups are entertained with age-rated arts | | | | Queen of the North connects with Alaska state |
| and crafts, discos, movies and cartoons, | | | | ferries at Prince Rupert for frequent access |
| exclusive kids-only dining, hunts, karaoke | | | | to Southeast Alaska ports. ( |
| and lip-sync shows, afternoon ice cream | | | | |
| parties, pizza parties, backstage and galley | | | | # # # |
| tours, pajama parties, and T-shirt coloring. | | | | |
| | | | Alaskan travel writer Mike Miller lives in |
| Says Princess' website: "Our astounding teen | | | | Juneau where his current passion is |
| centers are packed with Nintendo, movies, | | | | publishing an informational website about |
| karaoke, giant screen TVs, card and board | | | | Alaska cruising: Miller has authored or |
| games, ping-pong and juke boxes." The site | | | | contributed to a number of books (Fodors, |
| also notes that the Alaska-bound Sun, Dawn, | | | | Sierra Club Books, Globe Pequot, The Milepost |
| Coral, Island, and Diamond Princess ships | | | | and others). He also writes for TravelAge |
| also offer a toddler's play area. ( | | | | West (a magazine for travel agents) and for |
| | | | major newspapers and magazines. |
| ROYAL CARIBBEAN INTERNATIONAL provides a | | | | |