Everything You Need to Know About Cruising with Kids on Norwegian

A holiday on board Norwegian Cruise Line’s family friendly fleet can be the perfect getaway, offering something for all ages. If you are planning a family cruise holiday, then here’s what you need to know about cruising with children on Norwegian.

Youth Programs

Norwegian Cruise Line offers a range of complimentary Youth Programs for children from six months to 17 years of age. These are split into three dedicated programs tailored to provide children with age appropriate supervision and activities.

Guppies Programs (6 months – 3 years)

Across the Norwegian fleet parents will find Guppies Open Play and Guppies Hosted Activities for children aged six months to three years. The Guppies Open Play space is equipped with toys and interactive games for parents and their little ones to play together without direction, while the Guppies Hosted Activities are planned and delivered by specially trained staff.

Both the Guppies Open Play and Hosted Activities require the supervision of a parent or guardian, however, on Norwegian Escape, parents can also take advantage of the Guppies Nursery that offers a drop off service (a fee based program).

Splash Academy (3 - 12 years)

The Splash Academy welcomes children from three to 12 years of age and delivers three drop off programs that offer age appropriate activities. Activities will vary by itinerary, however parents can generally expect their little ones to come back raving about the following.

Parents can provide Dolphins a sign out authorisation on at sea days, meaning that children between 10 – 12 years are able to sign themselves out after two hours in the Splash Academy (only permitted before 10:30pm).

Entourage (13 – 17 years)

Designed for teenagers, Entourage offers a mix of activities and a fun space for teens to hang out. By day there are activities planned by experienced Teen Counsellors taking place throughout the ship as well as a zone where these almost adults can go to hang out together.

They can kick back and watch movies, challenge newfound friends with video games or sports, get creative with hands on arts activities, discover hidden musical talents or don dancing shoes as a hip dance club unfurls after dark.

Port Play & Late Night Fun Zone

Port Play is a group sitting service offered on port days. If you choose to head ashore yourself, you can do so with the peace of mind knowing the little ones are in good hands. Available for children three – 12 years old, this service incurs a fee for supervision during mealtimes.

Please note that if your child is in nappies or needs special assistance, one authorised person will need to remain onboard. In this instance, you will be issued with a handy phone which will not work in port, and therefore a registered pick up person must stay on board and contactable should your child or youth staff need assistance.

If you are planning an evening out, you can take advantage of the group sitting offered in the Late Night Fun Zone. This group sitting is run by certified youth staff between 10:30pm and 1:30am and does incur an additional fee.

Children in Nappies

If your child is in nappies you are still able to use the Youth Programs available on board Norwegian Cruise Line. However, staff will not change nappies or pull ups (except Certified Nursery Attendants of the Guppies Nursery on Norwegian Escape). You will be issued with a handy phone or pager and will be alerted if your child needs changing, therefore, a parent or authorised pick up person must be reachable at all times. Penalties apply if the alert is not responded to by an authorised person within 15 minutes.

Family Fun On Board & On Shore

While Norwegian Cruise Line's Youth Programs are designed to engage and entertain children on board, they don’t provide family bonding opportunities beyond the Guppies Open Play and Guppies Hosted Activities. Adults are not permitted in the Guppies Nursery, Splash Academy or Entourage except during the registration process. These zones are restricted for registered youth participants only.

However, part of the fun on a family cruise is spending time together. Therefore, Norwegian Cruise Line provides plenty of family friendly amenities and activities across their fleet to keep children of all ages (as well as parents who are still big kids at heart) entertained. Perhaps take part in one of the workshops on offer or challenge your skills with a game of family trivia.

Amenities vary by ship, but some family favourites include a round of mini golf, a game of air hockey in the arcade, splashing around in the Kid’s Aqua Park or careening down a multi-storey waterslide. There is plenty of fun to be had at the Toddler Ropes Course, or the Rock Climbing Wall for the older kids. If you happen to be cruising on Norwegian Joy or Norwegian Bliss, you can also take a spin on Norwegian’s Race Tracks at Sea.

At each port you can choose family friendly shore activities that will make your journey even more memorable. Whether it is snorkelling in the Caribbean, whale watching in Alaska, or discovering the alluring cities of the Mediterranean, there is a shore excursion that will enchant and engage travellers of all ages.

Flexible Family Friendly Dining

You’ll find Freestyle Dining across the Norwegian Cruise Line fleet, meaning that you can eat where and when you want. You aren’t locked into set seating times, so you can dine at a time that suits you and your family. If the little ones are hungry early then there is no need to wait, or if they are enthralled with the onboard activities you can eat a little later – whatever suits you.

There is an array of dining options on board each ship, from family favourites like hamburgers and hot dogs to fine dining. Children three years and under always eat free while those four-12 can choose from a complimentary kids’ menu on board. If you are after a date night, you can register your little ones for the Late Night Fun Zone and enjoy a romantic dinner just the two of you.

Family Rooming Options

Norwegian Cruise Line offers an array of family friendly rooming options to suit all kinds of family configurations and budgets. Across the fleet you’ll find Inside, Oceanview and Balcony stateroom options as well as Family Mini-Suites. There are a select number of staterooms that offer the option to interconnect, and on most ships, you’ll also find Two Bedroom Family Suites for a larger entourage.

There are options for everyone, it just comes down to choosing the right cruise stateroom for you. It is also important to book your cabin early to ensure you get the accommodation(s) that you prefer, as securing multi-room options, interconnecting or even side by side cabins can be tricky (particularly if you are cruising during a school holiday period). Planning and booking well in advance gives you the best chance of reserving the stateroom you have so carefully researched and chosen, which will be your home away from home on your family cruise holiday.