Cruising for the whole family

Posted 5 May, 2021 John Pedler

These days, cruise ships are a cross between floating villages and seaborne resorts. They have shopping arcades, a variety of bars and restaurants, cinemas and live theatrical shows, and everything you’d expect to find in a small town that’s solely dedicated to having a good time.  

Carnival Spirit

Twenty-four-hour pizza and ice-cream – job done! But there’s more than just all-day snacks to keep the kids busy on a Carnival cruise. The Spirit has the largest shipboard waterpark in Australia, with something for all ages. Little tackers can scoot down the smaller slides, while bigger kids can experience the near-vertical freefall of the Green Thunder waterslide. There’s also mini-golf, a basketball court, and even a Build-a-Bear Workshop. Every evening by the pool, the outdoor cinema shows the latest flicks. Family movie nights can be enjoyed from the comfort of lounge chairs or, in a serious nod to the cruising lifestyle, you can watch from the pool. There’s a range of supervised kids’ activities including Club 02, a teen hangout for 15 to 17-year-olds. Organisers can even plan teen-only shore excursions, for when everyone in the family needs some time with their own age group. Where you can go: Pacific Islands, Great Barrier Reef, New Zealand    

Pacific Explorer, P&O

Just riding the glass lift up the massive, four-deck-high atrium is a bit of a thrill, but it’s the Explorer’s outdoor activities that should really get the heart pounding. As well as enjoying the simple pleasures of the waterpark, guests can also soar across the deck on a zip line, take on the pirate-inspired walk-the-plank experience over the ship’s rail, or scoot around on the Segway course. There’s also laser tag and a bungee trampoline, and passengers are welcome to get a team together for a game of barefoot lawn bowls. Chock-a-block with toys, Turtle Cove is the supervised playspace for toddlers. There are also separate areas and activities for children aged 11 to 14 and 15 to 17. And while the little ones are busy getting crayon all over their faces, mum and dad can retreat to the ship’s two adult-only areas, both with sunlounges and pools. Where you can go: New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Moreton Island, New Zealand    

Norwegian Spirit, Norwegian Cruise Line

Setting sail from Sydney from next year, the Norwegian Spirit is a great option for your next family adventure. On board, there’s a range of youth programs, play spaces and activity centres for all ages. For kids aged 6 months to 3 years, the Guppies program will look after your little ones while you relax aboard. For older children, there’s Splash Academy (3 to 12 years of age) and Entourage (teens aged 13 to 17) – activity zones that’ll keep them busy throughout the cruise. Think themed party nights, dance clubs, movie sessions, sports and more. The 2-bedroom Family Suites are also located right nearby the kids areas too, so it’s just a hop, skip and a jump for them to play the hours away. Where you can go: New Zealand, South Pacific, Bali, Australia (various).    

Ovation of the Seas, Royal Caribbean

If this ship spent all its time dockside it would still have kids crawling all over it. The Ovation is like a floating funfair, jam-packed with an incredible range of activities. Outside there’s a rock climbing wall, a waterpark, a poolside cinema, and a windowed capsule known as North Star, which rises high into the air to allow a bird’s-eye view of the ship and the surrounding sea. There’s also a skydiving simulator, powered by a giant fan, and an on-board surf machine. Inside there’s a complete amusement centre. As well as a games arcade, there’s roller skating, table tennis, basketball, volleyball and indoor soccer. Plus the sports court converts to a bumper car arena and circus school, teaching kids all the skills they’ll need to become trapeze acrobats. As well as all this, the Ovation has kids’ clubs for ages up to 17. Where you can go: New Zealand, New Caledonia, Tasmania