We cruise A LOT, and sometimes cruise with other families. We don’t have kids of our own, so I’ve asked my dearest friend and fellow cruise mate Tabitha, who has been cruising with her kids since they were wee toddlers, to share what you need to know about cruising with kids. This is the third in a three part series that focuses on sea days and kids camp. The other two parts that focus on pre-cruise planning of accommodations and what to expect with the boarding process and preparing for the cruise and excursions are linked here as well. I’m going to let Tabitha take over from here…
Cruising is an easy way to vacation with kids. You get on the ship, you unpack once and settle in. No rental cars, car seats, food searches or forced itineraries. The crew takes care of you and life is easy. Here’s what you need to know about sea days and kids camp.
Sea Days
Lots to do on sea days for kids. A water park on a ship is always a hit. Pools too. Check the ship’s amenities before booking. Each ship is unique. Most ships provide life jackets if needed but if your toddler is in water wings, bring them with. Pool floats aren’t usually permitted considering the pools aren’t massive. There is usually an outdoor sports complex on the top level of the ship. Basketball, putt putt golf, horse shoes, maybe even a catwalk track, etc. The ship might even have a game room, full of arcades, tucked away in some corner of the ship.
The ship will host many activities for adults and kids. Older kids participate in scavenger hunts around the ship. There is even a special club that plays music and is designed for the older kids.
There are usually some events such as Build-a-Bear workshops hosted by the kids camp. Check the daily schedule that is provided by your steward.
Movie nights are usually on the big screen at the Lido deck, with popcorn. The first movie is usually a family movie, maybe something safe for everyone to watch and newly released. A later might be appropriate for younger kids. Check the activity schedule for planned movies.
You’ll likely find a kid’s channel or two on your stateroom tv, Cartoon Network or something similar. Also, they will usually rotate a few select family movies throughout the length of the cruise.
We usually load up our iPads with some new games and movies for the times when our kids need to take a rest. WiFi on the ship is limited, pricey, and not always reliable.
With so many things going on daily on the ship it’s easy to miss something you might have enjoyed. Check the activity schedule that is delivered to your stateroom everyday.
Kids Camp
Kids Camp! Free Daycare! No really, the kids go have their own fun and make new friends, without you. At kids camp, they are divided into age groups, little kids and big kids. They are safe under constant guard and have several young and fun counselor types watching over them. The same counselors interact with the kids each day so they really get to know the kids. Activities include toys, crafts, art, movies, face painting, etc. The bigger kids have bigger accommodations and more age appropriate activities like games, computer games, crafts, movies, etc.
The kids camps are typically open on sea days and partially open on port days. I don’t know any cruise line camp that will accept a kid while parents leave the ship for port. Most kids camps end sometime in the evening, 9:00pm or so. But, extended care past midnight, may be offered at a really really cheap price.
Kids camp may also close for a lunch period so parents have to collect their kids and feed them before the afternoon activities begin. There may also be a pre-dinner break but usually they offer a kids camp dinner. The food selection is fit for a kid; chicken nuggets, corn dogs, quesadillas, etc. and depending on the ship they might walk the kids down to a closed-off and supervised section of a dining room or they might ask that you meet them there.
Camp registration is easy. You can register while completing your online boarding documents. Probably a series of checkboxes, depending on the cruise line. They already have all your passenger’s information anyway. You can also register in person on the ship anytime. All passengers have ID cards so it’s pretty much just signing a document agreeing to their rules.
At the first drop-off they supply you with a small mobile phone that can be used within the ship’s phone network only. This way they can reach you anytime in case there is a problem. Keep it on your person at all times.
Minimum age requirements are different for each cruiseline. Few will accept a baby, some will accept toddlers, most will accept potty trained kids only. When shopping cruise lines look for this detail in their kid’s camp topic, it’s pretty easy to find this policy.
Previous: Planning, Accommodations, and Boarding
Also previous: Preparing for the Cruise and Excursions
More Cruise Tips, Packing Lists, and Past Cruise Adventures:
First 24 Hours on a Cruise Ship: Do’s and Don’ts
Cruise Tips: Planning and Packing
My Cruise Kit: The Practical & the Ridiculous
A Cruise Must: Chef’s Table on Carnival Cruises
Cruise Packing Lists: Backpack & Rolling Suitcase Packing Checklists
Carry-On Suitcase Packing List (Packing Checklist for the Overhead Bin)
Carry-On Bag Packing List (Packing Checklist for Under the Seat)
Read about our Mediterranean cruise here and British Isles cruise here and Alaskan Cruise here.
Don’t forget a corkscrew (read about my TSA-compliant Carry-On Corkscrew here)!
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