Prepare for a cycling race
 

Welcome to our mountain biking racing Archive!

 

(Browse for more articles)

 

Cruising Alaska - Now It's a Family Thing

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




www.cmtrials.com keyword stats [2008-08-23-2008-08-23]



Daily top traffic source : MSN
Historical MSN keyword trend


Most current MSN search phrases:

mountain scottsdale
pocket


Other search engines trends:



Other search phrases:

electra bike for sale store hours for best buy
mountain biking tips gary fisher tarpon bicycle
Cross country motorcycle trips mountain bike shocks
"estate sale" and BMW and motorcycle mountain bike skills
Fast Pocket Bikes best buy in store coupon
Gary Fisher Montare For Salegary fisher studded mountain bike tires
santa cruz heckler bike buying selling real estate
motorcycle cake mountain bike cycling
downhill mountain bike gary fisher bike
29" mtb salebikes for sale with a santa antique bicycles for sale
iron horse warrior mountain bike buying real estate in costa rica
bike shops santa cruz ca second hand used cars
26 quest sierra mountain bike bear mountain bike race
north carolina mountain land for sale





1 - A - B - C - D - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 - 10 - 11 - 12 - 13 - 14 - 15 - 16 - 17 - 18 - 19 - 20 - 21 - 22 - 23 - 24 - 25 - 26 - 27 - 28 - 29 - 30 - 31 - 32 - 33 - 34 - 35 - 36 - 37 - 38 - 39 - 40 - 41 - 42 - 43 - 44 - 45 - 46 - 47 - 48 - 49 - 50 - 51 - 52 - 53 - 54 - 55 - 56 -