| Here is an article I came across in a travel trade magazine regarding
families on Chandris Celebrity's Meridian (reprinted here without permission):
Celebrity Cruises is offering 7-night family cruise vacations to Bermuda
aboard the Meridian, as she sails from New York on Sundays June 27 to Sept 5.
Children and young adults will have a daily program of activities all
supervised by Celebrity staff members. Young ones can paint and draw, learn
songs and dances, see movies and participate in scavenger hunts, dance lessons
and Celebrity Summer Stock.
For youngsters interested in life at sea, the Young Mariners program will
introduce them to the day-to-day operations of a ship, with opportunities to
meet the captain and learn navigation by the stars.
And for family togetherness, there are pool games, karaoke entertainment and
a masquerade parade, designed for participants of all ages.
The Cruise-only rate is $445 for third or fourth passengers occupying a cabin
with two full paying passengers and the cruise-only rate for children under 12
is $330, occupying a cabin with two full paying passengers. Children under 2
travel for free in adults' cabin.
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| Just to add some personal experience, I took my two kids (then ages 6
and 10) on the Celebrity Horizon to Bermuda from NY. While the ships
are different, the kids program was great, the dining service (when we
AND our kids CHOSE to join us for lunch or dinner) was great (magic
tricks from the waiters and Maitre'd, etc), and our children had a
great time on-board and in Bermuda.
We found Celebrity NY-Bermuda-NY fie for a moderately priced family
cruise experience
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| Carnival Cruise LInes is offering "Camp Carnival", a program of organized
activities for all youngsters, on its nine ships on a year-round basis. The
program is divided into three age categories: junior (4-7), imtermediate (8-12)
and teen (13-17) with activities offered appropriate to each. Young
passengers can partake in scavenger hunts, bingo, bridge tours and ice cream
socials, while teens have deck parties, limbo contests, trivial pursuit and
video-game competitions.
All Carnival ships have a children's playroom. The Carnivale, sailing on
3 and 4 days Bahamas cruises from Port Canaveral, houses the fleet's only
indoor/outdoor playroom featuring playground style equipment in an open deck
area. The Carnivale is also part of the company's Cruise & Orlando Vacations,
combining the cruises with Central Florida land stays, including visits to
Disney, MGM, and Epcot Center.
Carnival's newest Superlines, the Fantasy and Ecstasy, boast teen clubs which
serve as a gathering place during the day and, at night, feature music and
dancing. The Sensation, set to debut in November, also will feature a teen
club.
Camp Carnival is staffed by 25 perminent counselors and coordinators, as well
as temporary employees brought on during peak summer and holiday periods.
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