Recommend September 2011 - (Page 62)

fabulous family voyages continued from page 60 of its four million guests this year, for example, “...has invested a tremendous amount of time and research into understanding what kids want and has created tailored facilities and programs to meet those expectations,” says Jennifer de la Cruz, company spokesperson/senior director, public relations for Carnival. Carnival passengers will find water parks and family-oriented shore excursions and onboard activities. The new Carnival Magic boasts sportsquare with a one-of-a-kind ropes course and a variety of sporting activities, plus a two-level mini-golf course. The WaterWorks aquapark features a 312-ft. Twister waterslide and a 300-gallon dump bucket. What kid wouldn’t like that! Carnival Magic, as well as Carnival Dream, has cabins for five that feature two bathrooms. Many of its ships offer inter-connecting staterooms, allowing for more space for families, and privacy when needed for parents. living room, dining room, and three separate bedrooms, each with a bathroom. each Villa also has a private garden with hot tub, outdoor dining area and terrace. These are ideal choices for family reunions, as they sleep six adults, plus there is room for two rollaway beds and a crib. Courtyard Villas include a living area, private balcony, dining area, separate bedroom with a queen-size bed and a separate children’s bedroom. one bedroom features a luxury bath and separate shower. In terms of their kids’ programs, Kid’s Crew on NCL is available year-round for ages 2 to 12. Kids are divided by age group to enjoy age-specific fun just for them, including treasure hunts, arts and crafts, games, dance parties and video games. Teen’s Crew gets 13- to 17year-olds enjoying their time with new friends in a supervised setting with sports, movies and parties. royal caribbean international Royal Caribbean International’s complimentary year-round Adventure Ocean program starts at age 3 and is divided into five groups through age 17. “edu-tainment Programming” leads kids through hands-on science experiments, while artists show off their creativity with crafts linked to the art, history and culture of the regions the ship is visiting. Theater arts using vocal and physical exercises and other creative activities release the actor in young guests. Royal Caribbean is also where you will hear shrieks of delight when kids get to meet such familiar friends as shrek, Princess Fiona, and “Madagascar’s” alex the Lion and the Penguins during Character Breakfasts and meet-and-greets available on four ships. That is when they’re not having fun at the ice skating rink, surf simulators, rock climbing walls and even ziplining! Connecting staterooms on Royal Caribbean allow for families with older kids to get the space they need. Royal Family Suites available on most Royal Caribbean ships accommodate up to eight, with two bedrooms including four twin beds, two Pullman beds and a newly upgraded double sofa bed. all have a separate living area and two bathrooms. and for the ultimate family reunion, the Presidential Family Suite includes four bedrooms and four bathrooms for up to 14. you also get a living area, and a private balcony with a whirlpool, wet bar and outside dining area. Making family meals easier, Royal Caribbean’s My Family Time Dining helps kids complete dinner within 45 minutes, freeing parents to enjoy coffee and dessert at their leisure. once seated, kids enjoy expedited service and are immediately served. available only during the first seating in the main dining room, kids registered in the Adventure Ocean youth program and My Family Time Dining are met by Adventure Ocean counselors at the main dining room entrances at 6:45 p.m. and are escorted back to the Adventure Ocean spaces for ongoing evening activities, while parents can continue on with their dinner. The entire family gets to enjoy fun their own way, making for the ultimate family vacation. n Archived related articles (available on recommend.com): Disney Dream (March 2011) contact information Carnival Cruise Lines: (800) CaRNIvaL; carnival.com Disney Cruise Line: (888) DCL-2500; disneycruise.com Norwegian Cruise Line: (866) 234-7350; ncl.com Royal Caribbean International: (866) 562-7625; royalcaribbean.com disney cruise line all Disney Cruise Line ships offer its family-friendly and industry first bath-and-a-half staterooms, translating into more convenience and room. other industry firsts can be found on its new Disney Dream, such as the aquaDuck water coaster and Magical Portholes that transform inside staterooms into rooms with magnificent views. Disney Fantasy, which will begin sailing in spring 2012, will include many of the innovative features of sister ship Disney Dream, as well as a dinner show that brings guests’ drawings to life, a salon offering makeovers for princesses and pirates, and a new Broadway-style “aladdin” production. Character experiences, including meet-and-greets with such favorites as the Princesses, Mickey and pals, are a big part of every Disney cruise and a huge draw for families. But Disney is not the only cruise line that has well-known characters making the rounds to bring endless smiles to the kids. norwegian cruise line on Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) voyages on Norwegian Epic and Norwegian Jewel, kids can pal around with Nickelodeon characters spongeBob squarePants, Patrick starfish and Dora the explorer during a Character Breakfast and meet and greets. Plus, the Nickelodeon All Access Cruise, which happens twice a year, offers meet-and-greets with the stars of Nickelodeon’s live-action shows including “iCarly” and “victorious,” plus lots of opportunities to get “slimed” with Nickelodeon’s trademark green gook. NCL had close to 300,000 children on board fleet-wide in 2010. Its core Freestyle Cruising concept with a range of entertainment and dining options, plus a relaxed dress code and a great kids’ program, is a good match for families, says Janet Kim, fleet youth program supervisor. Kids can even eat all day long in the Kid’s Cafe on many NCL ships. These cafes are specially designed with kid-sized furniture and a buffet at kid’s height filled with children’s favorites. Cool family-friendly extra fun facilities on board include splash pools on many of its ships and on select ships, families can enjoy bowling, rock-climbing walls, and even the first rappelling wall at sea on Norwegian Epic. staterooms on board NCL ships can interconnect to create 2-, 3-, 4-, or 5-bedroom areas. Suites and Garden and Courtyard Villas on select ships offer extra space and lots of extra amenities. Garden Villas on six of NCL’s ships feature more than 5,000 sq. ft. of space, with a 62 september 2011 recommend.com http://www.recommend.com http://www.carnival.com http://www.disneycruise.com http://www.ncl.com http://www.royalcaribbean.com http://www.recommend.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend September 2011

Editor's Notes/Agent Speak
Hotel Desk: Hilton Hotels & Resorts
Tour Talk: Abercrombie & Kent
Sunset Key Guest Cottages, Key West
Can't Get Enough of Jupiter Beach, Florida
Hanging Out in the Outer Banks
Aloha to Families in Hawaii's Resorts
Cruise Stockholm
Galapagos Islands- Cruising 101: Back to Basics
The Ultimate Family Adventure in Costa Rica
Flanders Travel Planner
Fabulous Family Voyages
China: A Wonderland for Kids
India: Pure Wonderment
An African Adventure
Dreams Punta Cana Resort & Spa, D.R.
The Bahamas: Islands of Adventure
Cayman Islands: A Home Away from Home
Mazatlan Reinvigorated
CasaMagna Marriott Cancun Resort

Recommend September 2011