What kinds of things can you do to amuse yourself and a child of 10 on a cruise?

Question

Any tips for getting the most out of our first cruise would be appreciated. We haven't a lot of money, so information about cheap and free activities would be helpful

Answer 1

You did not say what cruise line or ship you are going on but regardless just about every line and ship has established FREE programs for kids. The cruise lines have professionally trained staff who develop and run programs for kids by age groups. These staff people supervise the kids in activities on ship all day and sometimes into the early evenings. The kids are grouped by age. So your 10 year old would be with other kids who are in the 8 to 12 (for example) age range. Some ships have special areas where the kids go to participate in the activities. ALL OF THIS IS FREE !!

Royal Caribbean Cruise line calls their kids programs "Adventure Ocean". Carnival calls its kids programs for 10 year olds "Camp Carnival". Norwegian calls its kids programs for 10 year olds "Navigators". Other cruise lines also have programs for kids as long as there are at least about 20 kids cruising.

In addition to the supervised programs, many ships have special areas just for kids including shallower pools, water slides and play areas. ALL OF THIS IS FREE. Royal Caribbean cruise line has some of the best on board activities for kids including on various ships, ice skating or roller blading, mini-golf, table tennis, rock climbing wall, basketball court and on the new Freedom class ships, Liberty, Freedom and Independence of the Seas the flowrider where kids can body surf right on ship. These ships also have a special water park area just for kids called the H2O Zone which has a mini lazy river, a small pool, water cannons and lots of fun stuff just for kids.

You can read about the kids programs on each cruise line's web site; just click on the "On Board Activities" tab or link and look for kids and family stuff. The best cruise lines to go on for kids activities would be Disney, Royal Caribbean and Carnival. My recommendation would be Royal Caribbean

Answer 2

There are alot of free sites that offer colouring pictures
- http://www.coloring.ws/coloring.html
Also activity books are great... Dont know where you are but in Aust we have discount stores that sell great cheap activity books
- I'd suggest letting your son/daughter pack a bag of toys and with out telling him you also pack a bag and so when he/she gets bored with the toys he/she's packed you can surprise him and give him/her the other bag of toys.
- Depending on the cruise you go on most do have kids clubs.
- Take lots of those little travel games (tic tak toe, dominoes, cards, and alike) again we have these very cheap at discount stores but not sure if you do where you are.
- Perhaps get a map of the cruise boat and plan a tresure hunt on the boat and you or your partner accompany your son/daughter to locations on the boat to collect ribbons or alike you have placed or just play a version of eye spy where you find things on the boat and then your son has to find them and mark them off on a chart you've made - eg - Bow of the ship or port hole etc...
Well hope this helped some... ENJOY Cruises are fantastic

Answer 3

good for u guys to enjoy life sometimes...be happy! not because how much money you have....anyway, a lot of fun stuff u can do at the cruise ship, if they provided a free surf lesson or just boarding on the made wave that they ussualy have, or just watching the dolphins that pass by, sometimes theres a free tour to the city or island that u guys visit, ask whether they have activities to release a baby turtles just an examples, or just biking around the island....be lazy, just do nothing just let ur kids hang around the beach doing nothing, same as their parent...thats the meaning of vacation, just give ur self a break.....and be happy, hope ur trip become a wonderful one....enjoy!!

Answer 4

Go to CruiseCritic.com, "Boards", then check out "First Time Cruisers", "Cruising with Kids", "Ports of Call", etc. Lots of useful info from past cruisers.

Have fun!