Cruise Operators

Specialist Reports Styles of Holiday Cruise Holidays Cruise Operators Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) 

	Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL)
1 Derry Street, Kensington, London W8 5NN			MAP
tel: (0800) 181 560

Owned by Carnival and Star Cruises. Welcomes children with one of the most developed child programmes, called ‘Kids Crew'.

Ships

Eight with 800-2,032 berths.

Where

Caribbean, New England and Canada, Alaska, South America, the Mediterranean, Scandinavia, and Hawaii.

UK Departures

Some.

Style

‘Freestyle', ie more flexible than traditionally, with choice of restaurants, not set dining times or tables, and casual dress. Mid-sized ships so less of a floating mall experience. Options include a snorkelling programme.

Accommodation

All vessels offer four-berth cabins and six ships in the fleet offer connecting cabins. The SS Norway has cabins for up to five. Some non-smoking cabins.
Norwegian Star, joining the fleet from December 2001 and based round Hawaii, also has three-bedroom villas onboard with private gardens and butler.

For Children

Cots, high chairs. A youth news sheet details activities for 3-5 years and 6-12 years hour by hour.

Children's Facilities

The Norway used to be the SS France and has a mural of Noah's Ark painted in 1961. The children's play area was until recently the largest dedicated children's play area on any cruise ship afloat with the largest TV on board for showing kids videos.

The Porthole with indoor and outdoor sections so children can be divided into 3-5 years and 6-12 although it is more used by the younger group with toys to appeal to them.

There is a children's pool on some ships.

Food for Kids

There are eight children's menus including burgers, hot dogs, spaghetti, meatballs and ice cream sundaes. Meals can be delivered and there are snacks and treats. Children also get free soft drinks.

Babysitting

Group babysitting is available at US$4 per hour and private babysitting in your cabin from noon to 2am US$8 per hour.

Children's Activities

Kids Crew programme daily and evenings when at sea and 3-5pm and 7.30 operates 0-10pm, and port days 3-5pm and 7.30-10pm.

3-5s with stories, indoor games and outdoor sports, face painting, magic shows, a "Circus at Sea", arts and crafts, parades and parties.

6-8s get Olympic games, wacky cooking classes, parties, magic shows, arts and crafts, indoor games, balloon sculpture and face-painting, ice cream treats, juggling, movies and ship trips.

9-12s get Olympic Games, guest athletes, and "Circus at Sea" scavenger hunts, private bridge tours, Sega, magic shows, joke telling, arts and crafts, parties and dances, ship tours, sports activities, movies and contests.

13-17s get volleyball, basketball, Dive-In pool party, Sega, scavenger hunt, love connection, disco, Trivia Contest, Liar's Club and talent show, the last two being combined on some sailings.

Staff

Trained in safety, communicating and working with children.

Security Measures

A name tag system identifying children who must remain in the childcare centre until collected by their parents. Cabin numbers and lifeboat station numbers are written on the back of the tag in case of an emergency.

Port Calls

A youth co-ordinator accompanies ashore. Children cannot be left in childcare if parents go ashore. There are also tours specifically for children 6-12 years.

Sample Price

An adult on an Eastern Caribbean cruise (nine nights) is around £1,900 in an inside cabin peak season, an infant under 2 sharing £335, 2-11 years sharing £1,000.