Kids Programs

[sddee]

I am asking which Cruise line has the better kids program, for ages 7 & 10.

[Nliedel]

Royal Carribbean and Disney both have wonderful programs. I don't do the whole Mouse thing unless forced by my children at gunpoint, but RCI has a good program that was well talked up by every kid I ran into on board that I asked (I have been researching this for my boys, who are starting to wear me down about cruising).. I asked parents and kids what they thought on every line that I have been on and RCI comes in head and shoulders for things like: Interesting things for various ages, times available and conveniance for parents and a good adult to child ratio.

[cruisinqt]

I have a 5 and 7 year old that have cruised with us numerous times. They prefer RCI and Carnival and like both of them equally. :) First, I'll list the best thing about RCI kids programs:

 

1. Every time you drop your kids off in the kids program they each get an ocean adventure dollar. These dollars accumulate over the length of the cruise and your kids get to buy toys and stuff with them on the last day of the cruise. You also get the dollars when you win the family scavenger hunts. They will also give you the dollars if you attend the orientation meeting on the first night of the cruise.

 

2. They get to have their picture taken with the captain of the ship.

 

3. There are usually treasure hunts, face painting, pillow painting, t-shirt painting, and lots of fun games.

 

4. There is usually a pajama party with ice cream, pizza, and games.

 

 

The best thing about Carnival kids programs:

 

1. The Carnival ships have outside playgrounds with kiddie pools in their kids programs. ( Not to mention the 214 ft. spiral water slide located on all Carnival ships.)

 

2.They have video game tournaments in the arcade area.

 

3. There's usually scavenger hunts, face painting, jewelry making, t-shirt painting, etc.

 

4. There is usually at least one pizza party with an ice cream bar.

 

Both cruise lines have their positives and negatives. My kids favorite thing about RCI is the ocean adventure dollars and getting to buy neat stuff with them. Their favorite thing on Carnival is the HUGE spiral slide and having a playground and kiddie pool right in the kids area. They like both equally and couldn't choose one over the other. I don't think you would go wrong on either of these cruise lines. We like Disney, but it just costs too much for us to try it. Plus Disney does not have casinos. :eek: These two cruise lines have a lot for adults and kids to do. It sounds like Disney is more kid oriented. But I would definitely recommend either Carnival or RCI for kids and adults too. Our family cruises on one of these two cruise lines every year and we always walk away very satisfied. Both lines have strict security in the kids area. Plus the counselors are college educated with degrees. And they both have computers and gameboys or playstation 2's in the kids areas. They both also do kids talent shows too. I hope this helps, good luck!

[sddee]

Thanks so much for your response.

[dad son team]

My 7yo really likes the RCI program. We have not been on Carival yet so I can't campare the two. We have been on Disney, and while it was really nice, he liked the kids program on RCI better. Only piece of advice for RCI is to try and get a ship with a kids pool if your kids like the pool. The regular pools are all 4ft deep. The Mariner and Navigator does not have kids pools.

[busybusybusy]

We were on the Golden Princess in August, and my son is 10, and he had a blast. My daughter, 15, also found a lot of kids her age to hang around with. She didn't do many of the organized things for her age, but they just hung around in the teen pool. The Golden (and the Grand) have 4 24/7, freshwater pools, which we liked. One is adults only, and one is for kids, although I saw several adults in it as well. I also liked how strict Princess is with the drinking age. It is 21, and they enforced it. I didn't see this as a problem with my daughter, but we went on Carnival years ago and I saw a lot of drunk 16 year olds who looked older, and I know their drinking age is 18. Whichever line you choose, have a great time!:D

[eastexascruiser]

We've been on both Royal Carribean & Carnival. Both were good. However, remember that the activities will vary with the ship.

 

For instance, on Rhapsody, our kids never got a picture with the Captain, but the "bucks" were a great idea!

 

On Celebration, the Camp Carnival room was very small & not much for the older kids ...

 

Just something to keep in mind!

[BluexMoon]

While researching this info for my upcomming cruise, I found that RCI rooms are much smaller than Carnival, (I know, I know... "There just to sleep in") And the square feet per person for the entire ship on RCI is less. So, it seems to me RCI crams more people onto a ship than Carnival. I would assume, food lines would be longer, as would tender lines, pools & hot tubs would be more packed. Am I wrong??? I've only been on Carnival.

 

 

p.s. I got this info from the cruiseline's websites.

[serene56]

BlueMoon. Although a cabin may be smaller on a Royal ship- THe way the cabins are laid out you never notice the difference- but I never seen the smaller inside cabin. They way the public rooms are laid out there is never a crowd. I have sailed the Voyager and was amazed that I never once stood in a line for anything. Not ice show tickets..not the buffet..not even the pursers desk. The only time I seen it crowded is the two nights that people congregate on the Promanade deck to see the parades. But it disperses quickyl. Not once did I feel I was among over 3000 people.

[BaliChic]

Hands down Royal Caribbean or Princess. If you prefer a refined experience for the adults but where your kids will also have a fantastic time, give Celebrity a try! Its good because everyone gets their way!

 

Diahndra