Children’s programs on ships used to be just a place for parents to park their kids while mom and dad went off to do some important adult relaxing. Today, the best family ships devote a huge amount of resources, acreage, and innovation to making sure kids are having as good a time as their parents — or even better. For families traveling with kids, here are some of our favorite ships.

Disney’s Disney Dream: Arguably the best ship at sea for families with young kids, Disney Dream offers the biggest and best children’s facilities, a nursery for kids 3 months to 3 years, separate teen and tween centers, a kids’ pool with waterslide, a toddler-friendly splash zone, and a 765-foot water flume called the AquaDuck (if you can’t view the video above click here) — and those are just the highlights. There are also the best standard family cabins at sea, fantastic family oriented shows and movies, and lots of high-tech magic to make kids go “Oooh!,” plus some secluded adults-only areas to make parents go “Aaah.” You can even pre-order diapers and other baby supplies that’ll be in your cabin when you arrive. A near-identical sister ship, Disney Fantasy, will launch in 2012.

On Disney Cruise Line, the fun is not limited to the ship. Disney owns its own private island, Castaway Cay.

Disney’s Disney Magic & Disney Wonder: Though not quite as amazing as the newer Dream, Disney’s two original ships aren’t far behind, offering an almost identical experience at an only slightly scaled down level. There’s no AquaDuck, but there is different scenery outside, with Magic scheduled to sail from New York and Galveston next year, and Wonder doing Alaska and Mexican Riviera voyages.

Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas & Allure of the Seas: The biggest cruise ships in the world, these two sisters are also the only ones that give Disney’s ships a run for their money in the family category. Each offers a huge open-air family area styled like an old-time boardwalk (there’s even a carousel), 28,700 square feet of kids’ playrooms, a nursery for kids 6 months to 3 years, extensive teen centers with their own outdoor deck, a pool deck with three different pools and a fun water park, a sports deck with surfing simulators and rock-climbing walls, an ice-skating rink, 3-D movies, fun dining options, and more. Courtesy of a deal with DreamWorks Animation, there are also costumed characters like Shrek and the Madagascar penguins, who participate in a parade and other activities throughout each cruise. As with Disney, you can order diapers and other baby supplies and have them ready in your cabin when you arrive. To view the video “A Teen’s View of Allure of the Seas” click here.

Also see Family Cruise Advisor’s Top Ten Family Cruises

Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Epic: NCL’s biggest ship, Epic is also its best for kids, with one of the cruise world’s best waterslides, a splash pool for younger kids, a rock-climbing wall, a trampoline, a 24-foot “spider web”–style climbing cage, a basketball court, a batting cage, a two-story video screen in the atrium that’s great for watching sports; and meet-and-greets by costumed characters from Nickelodeon. The kids’ center offers Wii and Playstation II games, a dance floor, a big-screen TV room full of beanbag chairs; a great play structure with a crawling maze and ball jump. Teens get their own club/hangout, located up a “secret” hideaway staircase. Bonus: Kids under 2 sail free when sharing a cabin with two paying guests.

Royal Caribbean’s Freedom of the Seas & Liberty of the Seas: Once the world’s biggest cruise ships but now also-rans after fleetmates Oasis and Allure, these sister ships offer tons for families, including a huge playroom and video arcade, a teen club, a nursery for kids 6 months to 3 years, puppet shows created by Emmy and Tony Award nominee John Tartaglia, a water park, a surfing simulator, an ice-skating rink, a rock-climbing wall, 3-D movies, a basketball court, and a miniature golf course. For fun enrichment, there are educational programs offered in collaboration with Fisher-Price and Crayola; for kiddie celebrity sightings, there are character parades and photo ops with DreamWorks movie characters; and for sugar highs there are Ben & Jerry’s ice-cream parlors and fresh-baked cupcake shops.

On Carnival Magic, kids and adults alike enjoy the SkyCourse, the first-ever ropes course at sea. Photo courtesy of Carnival Cruise Lines

Carnival’s Carnival Dream & Carnival Magic: These two sister-ships — one already in service (Dream) and the other debuting next month — are Carnival’s best for families with kids, especially kids who love water slides, since they come armed with twin 80-foot racing slides; a 104-foot enclosed spiral slide; and a 303-foot-long, four-deck-high enclosed corkscrew waterslide. There are also kids’, teens’, and tweens’ centers, a basketball court, and a miniature golf course, and Carnival Magic will add a “ropes” course, in which kids (and adults) can strap into a safety harness and work their way along 230 feet of beams, rope bridges, and swinging steps suspended above the top deck.

Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Jewel, Norwegian Jade, Norwegian Pearl & Norwegian Gem: These ships were the most recent generation from NCL before its new Epic, and are just all-around fun vessels. For kids, they offer huge, brightly colored play and crafts area; a big-screen TV room full of beanbag chairs; a huge play structure with a ball jump and crawling maze; a computer room; a video arcade; a teen center; and a small outdoor play area. The buffet restaurant includes an adorable “Kid’s Cafe” section with chairs, tables, and serving stations scaled down to pint size, and with kid-friendly food to match.

Princess’s Caribbean Princess, Crown Princess, Emerald Princess & Ruby Princess: Kid-wise, the best thing about these ships is the fact that their kids’ center includes a large, attached, fenced-in outdoor play area with a splash pool, lots of plastic trikes, a kids’ basketball setup, and kid-size tables and chairs. It’s a great place for energetic kids to work off steam while their parents relax nearby. Inside, the bright, cheerful kids’ centers have toys, games, computer stations, and organized activities. The teen centers have computers, video games, and a dance floor. The line’s “Movies Under the Stars” outdoor movie experience is great for families, with lounge chair seating and free popcorn.

MSC Cruises’ MSC Fantasia & MSC Splendida: Though the children’s programs at Italian line MSC aren’t in the same league as those offered by Disney, Royal Caribbean, and Carnival, it still makes this list for one primary reason: because kids 11 and under sail fare-free when sharing a cabin with two paying guests (though government fees and taxes still apply). The line’s recent ships all have smallish children’s centers with games, arts and crafts supplies, PlayStations, and activities, plus an enclosed outdoor area with a wading pool, play structure, and tube slide. The new Fantasia and Splendida add a 4-D movie theater (with moving seats) and a Formula One racing car simulator.

Click the links below to read full ship reviews of the vessels featured in this article.

Disney Cruise Line

• Disney Magic
• Disney Wonder
• Disney Dream

My daughter was only six weeks old when she traveled with mom and dad on our first family vacation — to Walt Disney World in Orlando. Only a few months later, at the tender age of five months, she crossed the Atlantic with dad (a travel writer) and mom to cruise to the Canary Islands on Cunard Line‘s – Queen Elizabeth 2. Lucky girl, right? Wrong. Both experiences were miserable.

Our six-week old was much too young to comprehend or appreciate Disney. Plus, she developed colic — a painful, but common, condition among infants that causes abdominal pain and uncontrollable crying (sometimes for the frustrated parents as well!).

My wife and I took turns dining at Restaurant Marrakesh, Epcot’s wonderful Moroccan restaurant. We were hoping for a romantic dinner while our sweet girl slept tableside. No such luck. Our baby girl began wailing before the appetizers appeared, and for the next hour, my wife and I swapped between bites to eat and trying to comfort our crying daughter. A romantic dinner? What were we thinking?

Months later, crossing the Atlantic, our baby slept for the entire flight. Unfortunately, we did not.

We arrived at London’s Gatwick Airport sleepy and tired. Dazed and confused from lack of sleep, we picked up our rental car and drove two hours to the New Forest, near Southampton, where we were to stay overnight in a beautiful hotel. We checked into our room and threw ourselves onto the bed. Baby, however, wanted to play. For the next week, our biological clock was out of sync with daughter’s and what could have been a wonderful trip went down in the books as “never again.”

There is a happy ending to these stories. Our children grew up, and when I wrote this story, we were planning our next family vacation: a four-day cruise on Disney Cruise Line’s Disney Wonder combined with a three-night package at Walt Disney World’s Animal Kingdom Lodge. That one went down as a great vacation. Through the years, we became experts — by making the mistakes of trying to do too much or to do vacations that were inappropriate for our kids’ ages. We dragged our kids from one vacation to the other only to discover what makes a great family vacation –and also what makes a not-so-great one.

My kids on Disney Wonder, with a Carnival Cruise Lines vessel in the background.

Who’s Your Family?

It may seem obvious, but the first step in planning your family vacation is to know who will be traveling with you?

Are you traveling with an infant, or god forbid, infants? If you can still muster the courage after reading about our nightmare vacation with our daughter, then go right ahead. And take some solace: There are vacations that work with infants. The key is to make sure you don’t travel too far. When vacationing with infants and toddlers:

• Stay close to home — no more than, say, a six-hour transit, whether you’re flying or driving.
• Consider vacation venues that offer babysitting or child-watch programs.
• Not all cater to children, and of those that do, not all cater to infants and toddlers. Let’s face it, you and your significant other need a break from baby, and there’s nothing better than being able to get away for a romantic dinner or a hand-in-hand stroll along the beach while knowing your baby is in good hands.

Three’s Company

If you’re traveling with children over the age of three, the playing field becomes a lot larger, because so many vacation venues offer supervised programs for kids. In fact, the programs are so good that you may suffer your first disappointment: Your kids may want nothing to do with you — they’ll want to hang out and play with their peers.

My wife and I quickly got over the initial disappointment of our kids not wanting to clutch at our clothing for the duration of our vacations.

As they grew older, our kids played to their hearts’s content while we relaxed, and everyone got what they came for: a vacation. The trick to the foolproof vacation with children over the age of three:

• Consider vacation venues that offer age-specific programs and activities. Your kids will have more fun hanging out and playing with their peers than they will gnawing at your nerves.
• Make sure your vacation venue has a pool. Any vacation that allows your children to splish and splash is a good vacation.

Traveling With Teens

Teens can be the hardest group to please, I can say from the experience of having once been a teen that they will want nothing to do with dull old dad and mopey old mom. We’re just not hip. How to please them?

• Consider vacations that offer teen-specific venues. Several cruise lines, for example, now feature teen-only bars (for mocktails, of course) and coffee shops.
• Book separate accommodations for your teen. Remember, we’re not hip enough to breathe the same air as our teens much less room with them. Plus, they often spend scads of time in the bathroom, mostly in front of the mirror. If you have need of this facility on your vacation, get a separate room.

Extended Families

There’s one other kind of family vacation: the extended family vacation. This is when grandmother and grandfather –and even aunts and uncles and cousins — come along.

On extended family cruises you can sit down for dinner with your family of six, eight, or a dozen or more, and no one has to worry about who is picking up the check. Go ahead and have that extra plate of lobster. Extended family vacations can be great, but to make sure they go off without a hitch:

• Consider vacation venues that offer something for everyone. The kids may be bored to tears on small luxury ships.
• Don’t try to pile everyone into one room. Sure, you could save money if eight of you were to share an inside stateroom on a cruise ship, but the point of family reunions is to emerge feeling better about one another — not learning more than you care to know about the hygiene habits of family members.

Family Cruising

So now that you know who you’re traveling with, how do you choose the venue? Cruises are great, because cruise ships are self-contained, floating, nearly all-inclusive resorts. Nearly all-inclusive, because most cruise lines do not include the cost of alcohol, shore excursions, and gratuities. What generally is included, however, are children’s programs, all meals, and entertainment.

That is to say that typically you won’t pay a dime extra for your child to participate in the on-board children’s programs. Most cruise lines, however, do charge for baby-sitting, whether it’s in your stateroom or group-babysitting.

Happy Endings For Everyone

My children are now 14 and 15, and I have had some of the best trips of my life with them. I traveled to Alaska with my son, Alex (‘Awesome’ Alaska: The Great Land Through The Eyes Of A Kid), and my daughter Britton and I cruised the Mekong (Cruising The Mekong). I took both of them on Allure of the Seas over Thanksgiving.

Traveling with family, while sometimes challenging, can be exceptionally rewarding. So get out there and enjoy all that this world has to offer – on a cruise, with your family.

Ralph Grizzle
Editor (and father), Family Cruise Advisor

Carnival Magic

Carnival Magic will offer family cruisers plenty of new and exciting features.

My first cruise was in 2000 when my daughter (aged 2) was just old enough to enter Camp Carnival. We choose Carnival Cruise Lines because they had an award-winning children’s program (accepting children in diapers) and the price was right. I never regretted my cruise line choice; in fact, Carnival Cruise Line is one of my favorite cruise lines when traveling with my family.

A lot has happened in the cruise industry since my first cruise. Ships keep morphing into floating resorts and onboard amenities and activities keep getting bigger and better.

Set to debut May 1, 2011, Carnival Magic will offer family cruisers many cruise industry-firsts that will have kids of all ages begging for a vacation at sea.

Topping the list of cruise industry-firsts on Carnival Magic is the ropes course.

Carnival Magic, will have over 19,000 square feet of family oriented spaces inlcuding the first ropes course at sea. Located in the expansive SportsSquare recreation complex, the ropes course, called SkyCourse, will offer adventure-seekers, magnificent views of the sea nearly 150 feet below while strapped in a safety harness and traversing rope bridges, swinging steps and beams.

Those that are not as willing to go full-throttle may choose from a variety of other fun activities in the SportsSquare complex. Families can spend hours playing popular video games on a large plasma screen TV, pumping-iron (think Venice Beach in CA) at the first outdoor weightlifting area on a cruise ship, or playing mini-golf at Carnival’s first two-level miniature golf course.

Rounding out the SportsSquare menu of activities are: the Vita exercise course; a lighted multi-purpose court for basketball, volleyball and soccer; and tables for ping pong and foosball.  With all this action, cruisers are bound to want to cool-off at the WaterWorks aqua park.

WaterWorks aqua park will feature an exhilarating "Twister" spiral water slide

Carnival Magic’s WaterWorks aqua park will feature an exhilarating “Twister” spiral water slide, as well as the new Aqua Play splash park designed for youngsters and their families, featuring a gigantic, 300-gallon “dump bucket.”

It’s not all about the action on the open decks, Carnival Magic offers new and exciting dining venues as well.

The latest Dream-class ship, Carnival Magic will debut new dining venues:  Cucina del Capitano and Red Frog Pub.

Cucina del Capitano, ("The Captain's Kitchen") will offer dinnertime options with made-to-order Italian favorites in comfortable, relaxed surroundings

Cucina del Capitano, (“The Captain’s Kitchen”) will offer dinnertime options with made-to-order Italian favorites in comfortable, relaxed surroundings. Cruisers may dine on hand-made pastas, risotto and fresh-from-the-oven Italian specialties – many served family style. Many of the dishes and recipes were hand-selected by Carnival’s captains. Dinner will carry  a nominal fee. During the day, the space will be utilized as a casual made-to-order pasta bar with items offered on a complimentary basis.

RedFrog Pub will offer a Caribbean island-inspired environment, which will serve snacks and drinks, including ThirstyFrog Red, a private-label draught beer brewed especially for Carnival Magic.

RedFrog Pub will offer a Caribbean island-inspired environment, which will serve snacks and drinks, including ThirstyFrog Red, a private-label draught beer brewed especially for Carnival Magic. There will be seating for 100 in an indoor/outdoor venue. The menu will feature Bahamian conch salad, grouper fingers, firecracker Jamaican chicken wings, as well as other Caribbean inspired fare.

Young cruisers will enjoy the “Fun Ship” treatment when it comes to eating on Carnival Magic. Families can look forward to expanded children’s menus offering a variety of kids’ favorites, as well as a “daily junior special.” The new menus are included on the back page of a fun coloring/activity book.

To be among the first family cruisers to experience Carnival Magic, book a cruise during the inaugural season.

Carnival Magic will operate a series of Mediterranean cruises departing May 1 to mid October, 2011 from Barcelona. After her European cruise season, Carnival Magic will reposition to Galveston, Texas to launch seven-day Caribbean service.

Add some spice to your family cruise by taking a cooking class

A smile from a happy cruiser having fun at cooking school

Parents of tweens/teens are always looking for opportunities to engage with their children and to find “cool” activities for the family to enjoy. While a cruise vacation offers plenty of choices when it comes to entertainment, in some cases once onboard it is hard to hang with the kids. New friends, kids clubs, arcades, and endless eating sessions of pizza and soft-serve might leave mom and dad in the dust.

But my 12-year old daughter and I found a good way to spend time together: We participated in a cooking class offered by Chefmakers at Sea, and it was one of the highlights of our cruise on Royal Caribbean’s Liberty of the Seas.

The reason I enjoyed it so much is because I could tell that my daughter was learning and having fun. Plus, I got to spend quality time with her.

Chefmakers at Sea is a cooking school offered on Royal Caribbean’s Freedom of the Seas and Liberty of the Seas. The concept was developed for people who want to take cooking classes but do not have time. The owners of Chefmakers at Sea contract space on Freedom and Liberty to meet the needs of cruisers that want to spend some of their vacation time learning cooking techniques.

Making Beef Wellington

Chefmakers at Sea takes over the front of the Windjammer Cafe in a space called Jade. During our event, we prepared food on stainless steel workstations and cooked on the grill station.

There are a wide variety of programs available. Popular classes include: Knife Skills, All About Chicken, Wine and Dine, Surf and Turf, and Asian Cuisine.

Chefmakers At Sea will accommodate families, and in addition to age-appropriate kids classes, older children, when accompanied by an adult, may attend many of the classes.

When we attended, we had a private group, and the chef helped us create a four-course menu, with wine.

A suggestion for making sure you don’t miss the boat for the cooking class: Stop by the Chefmakers At Sea information desk on the first day of the cruise. The desk is located at the front of Jade in the Windjammer Cafe. Review the class schedule and sign up. The most popular classes sell out, so don’t delay if you see a class that intrigues your inner chef.

Bon Appétit

Tips For Finding A Family Friendly Cruise

Making memories

There is no better remedy for combating the short, cold days of winter than planning a family cruise vacation. For some reason, just looking at itineraries and ship diagrams is enough to lift the spirits. But before long what started as a fun search for your next family vacation quickly becomes a nightmare as data-overload sends you over the edge.

To help keep things in balance, Family Cruise Advisor has put together a few tips to help make the cruise buying process a little more user friendly.

Think Value, Not Price

Although price is a good motivator, value is a better indicator that a cruise will be a success.

Consider what is included in the cruise price.

• Does the ship have adequate care for infants? Some ships charge for babysitting infants because they do not have facilities for babies.
• Does the ship offer kids programming for the ages you need?
• Are soft drinks and juice included in the price? Disney Cruise Line has generous soda fountains and juice available around the clock. Other cruise lines do not.

Consider A Slightly Older Ship, But Watch The Size

When looking at price make sure you are comparing apples-to-apples. New ships typically have a higher price tag than slightly older ships.

Although Royal Caribbean International’s new Oasis-class ship Allure of the Seas has a lot of great features, pricing is significantly lower on Liberty of the Seas and her sisters in the Freedom-class. The cruise experience is almost the same: great kids programs, specialty restaurants, surf simulator, rock climbing wall, ice-skating rink, arcade, etc.

Royal Caribbean

Speaking of Royal Caribbean, watch the size of the vessel you select. For example, there are many features that are not available on Monarch of the Seas due to her smaller size. This is an example of too much of a good thing. Savvy shoppers will notice some great cruise fares on Monarch of the Seas, but this ship does not have the bells and whistles found on the larger ships in the fleet.

When to spend money for a cruise on a new ship

Disney Cruise Line’s newest ship Disney Dream is fetching top dollar for a product that is completely different than Disney Magic and Disney Wonder. The updated technology and innovations on Disney Dream are well worth the additional investment in vacation dollars.

Destination

Disney Cruise Line

In most cases when cruising as a family, the ship is the destination. However, families must also consider where the ship sails. Popular family cruise destinations for 2011 are: Europe, Alaska, Mexico, and the Caribbean.

Depending on the age of your children and their tolerance for long flights, a realistic destination will become obvious. I say go for gold and head to Europe. But I am also the same person that took a three-month old baby on an six-hour flight to Hawaii.

Show Me The Money!

A lot of people think that if they wait long enough, cruise lines will offer deep discounts. Although this could be the case, when traveling with a family it is better to plan ahead to avoid disappointment.

Remember that there is little risk to putting down a deposit in advance. In most cases (Disney concierge class suites exempt) deposits are refundable. Final payment is due 90 days before the cruise. Some travel agencies and cruise lines will guarantee the price, which means that if the cruise fare goes down before final payment, you are entitled to getting the lower price.

Family Cruise Basics

• Planning your family cruise
• Age Minimums: The ABCs
• Top Tested Tips for Cruising with Babies and Toddlers
• Family Affair: Cruising with the Whole Crew, Grandpa, Grandma & The Kids
• Choosing A Family Stateroom
• Cruise Ship Kid Programs
• Cruise Ship Safety and Security For Families

Auf Wiedersehen, Germany

Disney Cruise Line’s Disney Dream  has left the building and has begun the transatlantic crossing.

Disney Dream makes her transatlantic journey

Just a few days ago Disney Cruise Line‘s newest ship, Disney Dream left Bremerhaven, Germany on a transatlantic journey to Florida. Disney Dream will greet family cruisers starting January 26, 2011 on her inaugural cruise.

A Disney Cruise is always a great choice for families looking for a touch of elegance with just the right mix of kid-friendly amenities.

Family Cruise Advisor has compiled extensive reports about Disney Dream to help families navigate the many features and amenities on this new ship.

I am excited to see the blending of classic ocean liner design with state-of-the-art technology. Topping off my list of Disney Dream bells-and-whistles are the AquaDuck water coaster and Disney Cruise Line’s new adults-only Remy restaurant.

Disney Dream posts on Family Cruise Advisor:

• An Overview of Disney Dream Highlights Too busy to read everything? This is a great place to discover the highlights of Disney Dream’s one-of-a-kind venues and experiences.
• Disney Dream Youth Programs Everything a parent needs to know about youth programs on Disney Dream. The key to making sure the whole family has fun on a cruise vacation. Disney Cruise Line has one of the best children’s programs at sea. Discover what awaits your young cruiser.
• Dining Options For Family Cruisers on Disney Dream. I appreciate a cruise line that offers a variety of food that appeals to both adults and kids, and I love how Disney Cruise Line staff will dispense ketchup for kids in the shape of Mickey Mouse as well as offering a sophisticated menu for adults in the no-kids zone specialty restaurants. Disney Dream is upping the game a bit in the food service department, especially for adults. For more on how Disney is pleasing parents and palates, read Disney Cruise Line, Michelin-starred Chef Create Perfect Pairing with French-inspired Remy Restaurant On the Disney Dream.
• Entertainment on Disney Dream When you think of Disney, animation, technology and entertainment come to mind. It all comes together on Disney Dream, where entertainment
 includes live musical shows, first-run films, Digital 3-D movies and fun-filled family deck parties, which features the largest fireworks show aboard a cruise ship.

Can’t get enough? Check out our other Disney Dream stories on Family Cruise Advisor:

• Family Cruising: Disney Dream
• More Disney Dream Coverage From Papenburg, Germany
• Video: Disney Cruise Line Floats Out Disney Dream
• Disney Cruise Line Rate Number 1 By Readers Of Condé Nast Traveler

From Port Canaveral, Florida, Disney Dream will cruise to the Bahamas on rotating 3, 4, and 5-night cruises. All cruises on Disney Dream will visit Disney Cruise Line’s private Bahamian island Castaway Cay.

It’s official. Disney Dream is the newest and largest Disney Cruise Line vessel.

Disney Dream is designed like a transatlantic ocean liner with contemporary details.

Disney Dream is one step closer to greeting guests in Florida now that Meyer Werft officially delivered the new vessel to Disney Cruise Line today in Bremerhaven, Germany.

Construction of Disney Dream started two years ago in Papenburg, Germany. Disney Dream measures 128,000 tons and has 1,250 staterooms with the capacity to accommodate 4,000 passengers. The largest ship in the Disney Cruise Line fleet, Disney Dream has many  innovations  that will allow family cruisers to have the vacation experience of a lifetime. Perhaps my favorite innovation is the AquaDuck water coaster.

Check out the video. This is not just another water slide at sea. The AquaDuck looks really fast and should provide a lot of fun.

Disney Dream will deliver family cruise experiences like no other.

Other noteworthy features on Disney Dream include:  Inside staterooms with virtual views, Enchanted Art that immerses guests in stories, and fine dining at Remy.

The shipboard experience remains focused on the legacy and heritage of The Walt Disney Company’s most valuable assets – master storytelling, world-class entertainment and legendary guest service.

Disney Dream is ready to welcome family cruisers on its maiden voyage, set for January 26, 2011, from Port Canaveral, Florida.

Want to learn more about Disney Dream?

• Disney Dream Youth Programs For Family Cruisers
• Family Cruising: Disney Dream
• Disney Dream Dining Options For Family Cruisers
• Disney Cruise Line Reveals Entertainment on Disney Dream
• Disney Cruise Line, Michelin-starred Chef Create Perfect Pairing with French-inspired Remy Restaurant On the Disney Dream
• More Disney Dream Coverage From Papenburg, Germany
• Video: Disney Cruise Line Floats Out Disney Dream
• Disney Cruise Line From Port Canaveral
• Disney Cruise Line Rate Number 1 By Readers Of Condé Nast Traveler Magazine

To Flow or Not to Flow? That is always my question when I go on a Royal Caribbean ship.

Mother-daughter cruise on Liberty of the Seas -- pictured in Labadee, Haiti

My 12-year old daughter and I took a mother-daughter cruise last month on Royal Caribbean International’s Liberty of the Seas. Although the cruise was more work than pleasure for me, my daughter came along to keep me company and to make sure I would not have to pay the single supplement.

There are many diversions, entertainment options, and activities available on a family cruise. While onboard Liberty of the Seas, we set off to discover the 5 most popular activities for tweens and teens between the ages of 12 – 14.

Top 5 teen activities on Liberty of the Seas:

• Adventure Ocean youth program for ages 12-14

Teens participating in Adventure Ocean programming experience freedom, opportunities to make new friends, and a chance to participate in a variety of non-stop activities.

Although the Adventure Ocean program is supervised, youth are permitted to check in and out of programs on their own. Try to establish a meeting point and a time to reconnect with your child. Since participants in Adventure Ocean are able to come and go as they please, this age group tends to migrate around the ship on their own between scheduled activities like: teen dodgeball, Scratch DJ Academy, teen soccer, Karaoke, and theme parties.

• FlowRider surf simulator

Adrenaline junkies get ready for fun. The FlowRider, on select Royal Caribbean cruise ships, is ready to give teens (and moms) the ride of their life. Teens have their own private time on the FlowRider or they can stop by with their parents during scheduled hours. The FlowRider simulates a real surfing or body boarding experience. 30,000 gallons of water per minute rush underneath the rider at 30 mph creating a five-foot ocean-like wave.

I really wanted to try the FlowRider, but I was not prepared with the right outfit. My advice here is to invest in some board shorts and a sunscreen shirt or rash-guard to wear on top. As a mother, you might not want to try the FlowRider in your bathing suit. Enough said.

• Ice Skating on Center Ice – a real ice rink at sea

Ice skating rink at sea

The most challenging thing about ice skating at sea is finding the ice rink. There is really only one entrance to Center Ice, ask for directions and plan to get lost. Once there, enjoy some  recreational skating or take in an ice show performance.

Make sure to pack long pants and socks because they are required to skate on the ice.  Besides “Encore!” the ice show on Liberty of the Seas, family cruisers can take advantage of open skate times. There is a maximum of 50 guests per session allowed at any one time.

• Challenger’s Video Arcade (located adjacent to the Adventure Ocean rooms)

State-of-the-art gaming center on Liberty of the Seas

For some reason, the arcade on Liberty of the Seas is quite a hot-spot. The games are not cheap, but for some lucky youth the sky is the limit.

Unsuspecting parents should realize that activating your child’s SeaPass card with a credit card to cover purchases onboard will allow access to the recharging station that issues gaming credits. Parents are responsible for all charges. My daughter, who does not have permission to charge, reported that one of her friends spent about $150 to “win” an electronic device.

Games take credits that are pre-purchased at the Recharge Station tied to your SeaPass account

• Strolling through the Royal Promenade finding pizza

The best pizza at sea?

A fun teen activity on Liberty of the Seas is walking through the indoor mall-like space called the Royal Promenade. A popular destination while window shopping is stopping for food or ice cream. Pizza in Sorrento’s Pizzeria is complimentary, while treats at Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream Shop are available for a fee.

Read more about Royal Caribbean International’s family cruise ships:

• Family Cruising: Royal Caribbean’s Freedom Class Ships
• Family Cruise Insight: Getting The Most From Allure Of The Seas
• Oasis of the Seas: Big Thrills for Kids!
• Royal Caribbean Beefs Up Family and Youth Offerings

Disney Dream has plenty of big spaces for kids to have fun.

Disney Cruise Line’s newest ship Disney Dream has plenty of space dedicated to actively engage children in Disney-themed youth programs. Family cruisers will encounter almost an entire deck created just for kids.

Youth programs on Disney Dream:

• It’s A Small World Nursery
• Disney’s Oceaneer Club
• Disney’s Oceaneer Lab
• Edge
• Vibe

It’s A Small World Nursery

Serving infants and toddlers ages 3 months to 3 years

Disney Dream's It's A Small World Nursery

Family cruisers who want to take advantage of the nursery must pre-reserve space either on the ship or ahead of time online. It’s a Small World Nursery is available at an additional charge of $6 per hour.

The nursery is designed to help small children feel comfortable and to make parents feel confident when leaving their little ones. Upon entering the nursery, parents and children can meet and interact with counselors in the “acclimation zone” so kids can adjust to the nursery.

Parents wishing to check on their children, without disturbing them, can glimpse into the nursery’s main play area through a one-way window. Trained youth counselors play with children, change diapers and feed kids. There is a separate nap room in the nursery where sleepy babies can rest, allowing parents to hang out and relax.

Parent advisory for children ages 3 – 10

Children between the ages of 3 and 10 will choose youth programming in Disney’s Oceaneer Club or Disney’s Oceaneer Lab based on interest instead of age. While some activities are recommended for certain age groups, participation is based on a child’s interest level and maturity — not age. As a result of this, siblings and friends can play together without restriction.

Disney’s Oceaneer Club

Kids ages 3 – 10 have plenty of options to stimulate creative play

Disney Dream's Oceaneer Club

There are four themed play areas in Disney’s Oceaneer Club on Disney Dream:

• Andy’s Room is about playing with characters from the animated Disney Pixar “Toy Story” films. Children can rearrange features on Mr. Potato Head, crawl through the coiled body of Slinky Dog and get behind the wheel of an oversize, remote-controlled racecar.
• Explorer Pod is inspired by the Disney Pixar animated film “Finding Nemo.” The bright-blue-and-yellow submarine in the center of the room is the centerpiece in this space. Inside the submarine, children can explore and play games at 16 interactive computer stations. Outside of the sub, there are eight computer stations.
• Monster’s Academy is a interactive space inspired by the Disney-Pixar film “Monsters Inc.” The centerpiece is a play structure designed for climbing. In addition there are computers integrated into the walls featuring games. There are also props for playing dress up.
• Pixie Hollow is a dedicated space celebrating Tinker Bell and her fairy friends. A pixie tree stands in the room, its branches extending overhead with hundreds of fairy lights twinkling among the leaves and hummingbird-sized fairy houses hanging from the boughs. This setting is perfect for crafts, or dress up in fanciful costumes.

Disney’s Oceaneer Lab

Children ages 3 – 10 will explore and discover

Animator's Studion in Disney Dream's Oceaneer Club

Disney’s Oceaneer Lab has two main areas where children engage in activities:

• Animator’s Studio offers young family cruisers a place to learn computer animation. Children can use their imagination to create original, hand-drawn art or learn how to sketch their favorite Disney character. With the help of a counselor and an animation simulator, kids can bring to life computer-animated characters.
• Sound Studio is designed for children who appreciate and are inspired by music. Kids create their own original tunes using special song-making software. After composing their music and lyrics, they can record their song. The Sound Studio also has listening and music download stations featuring top hits.

Edge

Tweens ages 11 through 13 can hang inside the Forward Funnel on Deck 13

Where was Disney Dream when I was growing up? Edge is so cool that if I could pass as a tween, I would hang out here all day.

At first look, it seems like tweens have a place to hang out, watch television, listen to music, play videogames, surf the Internet, partake in various activities and make new friends. Look deeper and discover a high-tech space designed to help facilitate interaction between tweens.

High-tech touches like notebook computer stations allow tweens to play games and access the onboard social media application exclusively for them. On this “blog spot,” tweens can communicate with each other during the cruise by leaving messages, comments and posting photos and videos.

Along one wall of the club is a massive video wall that can be used for gaming, movies or television viewing. Stretching more than 18 feet long and nearly five feet tall, the state-of-the-art video wall can be utilized as one giant screen or separated into smaller individual screens.

A lighted dance floor – and multi-colored ceiling lights above that mirror the floor – make the perfect stage for a dance party.

Another hi-tech highlight is green-screen technology, which provides backgrounds for creating fun videos and acting as a screen for lively karaoke parties.

Being in the funnel provides great views of the pool and Disney Dream’s water coaster. AquaDuck winds through the forward funnel of the ship. Three portholes in the tween club provide silhouetted views of AquaDuck riders as they zoom through the tunnel.

For those family cruising tweens that have saved their allowance, there is a Tween menu of spa services just for them at Chill Spa. Tweens have their own space in the spa where they can enjoy special services including facials, massages, body treatments, manicures, pedicures and more.

Vibe

Teens between the ages of 14 to 17 have nearly 9,000-square-feet to enjoy their cruise

Vibe: Disney Dream Teen Club

Teens have Deck 5 forward to enjoy their specially designed indoor and outdoor teen club. Access to Vibe is by special “teen-only” swipe card.

Modular, movable furniture and cushy chairs are plentiful and invite teens to kick back in style. Teen family cruisers have a fountain bar stocked with refreshments such as soda, juice, smoothies and coffee drinks (coffee drinks for a 14 year old?)

A media room serves as the central gathering space with video gaming and movie watching on a 103-inch LCD screen with digital surround sound. Teen cruisers have access to technology to create and edit videos using the latest computer software. Also, teens can access the onboard social media application at one of several computer stations in the lounge or via their own WiFi-enabled laptop.

In the dance club area, aspiring DJs can try their hand at spinning and mixing tracks. A lighted, multi-color dance floor and video wall set the stage for dance parties. On a separate stage, teens can take the spotlight during talent shows, karaoke contests and dance competitions.

Exterior of Vibe Teen Club on Disney Dream

Outside, teens have their own private deck area with two wading pools and plenty of chairs to lounge. Additional water features include fountains, pop jets and misters for cooling off. For recreation, teens can play deck games such as ping-pong, foosball and other favorites.

Want to learn more about Disney Dream?

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For better or worse, food is an integral part of a family cruise experience. Tasting one’s way through a cruise vacation is one of the delights family cruisers can look forward to.  On Allure of the Seas, family cruisers can choose to dine in more than 24 venues.

Allure of the Seas main dining room Adagio

Family Cruise Advisor has put together a list of the top eateries on Allure of the Seas. Click here for a full review of Allure of the Seas.

Top family-friendly dining venues

Adagio Dining Room: Designed in the 1920s Art Deco period, Allure of the Seas’ three-tier main dining venue offers breakfast, lunch and dinner service. Families with children ages 3 – 11 years old should take advantage of My Family Time Dining, which offers the early dinner seating with the option of checking your child into Adventure Ocean Club within the restaurant at a pre-arranged time. Other dining times are the flexible My Time Dining and Traditional dining (either early or late seating.)

Rita’s Cantina: This restaurant is truly unique to Allure of the Seas. Rita’s Cantina offers classic Mexican food. The design is inspired from beach bars and Southern California taqueria shops. Families can expect high energy food service in a kid friendly venue. Cost: $7.95 per person open lunch and dinner.

The Boardwalk Dog House: Also unique to Allure of the Seas, The Boardwalk Dog House offers gourmet hot-dogs. At this outdoor venue, look for a lunch counter located in the Boardwalk neighborhood. The location next to the Ice Cream Parlor will ensure a family friendly lunch. Cost: complimentary.

Johnny Rockets A standby on all Royal Caribbean ships, this 1950′s-style diner serves great fish & ships, grilled foods and breakfast items. Cost: $4.95 per person for lunch or dinner. Breakfast is complimentary.

Giovanni’s Table: An Italian trattoria with both indoor and alfresco seating, featuring Italian classics served family-style. Cost: $10 per person for lunch; $15 per person for dinner.

The Wipe Out Café: A casual self-service buffet with pizza, hamburgers, sandwiches and fresh salads. Cost: complimentary.

Sorrento’s Pizzeria: Featuring New York style pizza, made-to-order pies and by-the-slice. Cost: complimentary.

Dessert anyone?

The Cupcake Cupboard: Featuring fresh-baked gourmet cupcakes as well as cupcake parties. Cost: A nominal fee applies and will depend on what is ordered.

Boardwalk Donut Shop: Homemade donuts will please the kids. Cost: complimentary.

Ice Cream Parlor: A variety of ice cream flavors and toppings available.  Cost: A nominal fee applies and will depend on what is ordered.

Date-Night on Allure of the Seas

150 Central Park: Enjoy a glass of wine while dining in this upscale and intimate restaurant. Molly Brandt, winner of the Allure of the Seas Culinary Challenge co-hosted with The Culinary Institute of America, as well as Food and Wine’s 2006 best student chef, will create some fun and innovative cuisine. Cost: $35 per person.

Samba Grille: Unique to Allure of the Seas, this Brazilian steakhouse located in the Solarium features authentic Brazilian-style meats and seafood dishes. The theme of this restaurant is inspired from the Brazilian steakhouses known as churrascaria. Churrasco is the cooking style, which means barbecue in Portuguese. Cost: $25 per person.

Chops Grille: Royal Caribbean’s signature steakhouse with views of Central Park and premium cuts of quality meats. Cost: $25 per person.

Izumi Asian Cuisine: Asian food venue offering a Sushi bar and the hot-rock cooking experience. Guests can cook their own chicken, steak or mixed seafood on the hot rocks (heated 575 degrees Fahrenheit.) Cost: depends on each item selected.

Vintages: A wine bar with pre-dinner tapas and cheeses along with a robust selection of fine wines. Cost: varies by item from menu.

Park Café: Located in Central Park and famous for the Roast Beef sandwiches. This indoor/outdoor gourmet market is an easy option for families. Salads, sandwiches, soups and pastries available. Cost: complimentary.

Healthy Choice

The Vitality Café: Looking to stay in shape and find some great low calorie, healthy spa food? The Vitality Café serves up healthy snacks, sandwiches, wraps, fruit and smoothies. Also available are energy bars, vitamin-packed smoothies or Tazo teas. Cost: varies on what is selected.

The Best Coffee

Starbucks: The first ever Starbucks at sea is located on deck 5 in the Royal Promenade.  The Starbucks outlet on Allure of the Seas offers signature drinks like Frappuccinos, lattes, and seasonal specialties.

This is the best place on Allure of the Seas for hard-core coffee drinkers. In addition to specialty coffees, cruisers can find a selection of snacks. Look for this venue on the Royal Promenade between Boleros and On Air Karaoke Club. Cost: Fees for specialty drinks and upgraded snacks.

Café Promenade: The café offers Seattle’s Best coffee drinks. Food to enjoy here includes fruit shakes, pastries and sandwiches. Cost: complimentary.

Want to learn more about Allure of the Seas?

• Allure Of The Seas Accommodations
• Allure of the Seas review on Avid Cruiser
• Allure Of The Seas Luxury Stateroom Options For Family Cruisers

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