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