Kids on Alaska Cruise-just got back

Hi All-

We just got back from the June 28 10 day Alaska cruise. Traveled with our 10 year old twin grandsons. There were about 23 children on the ship, 19 participated in the kids program. It was outstanding. The leaders, Bruno and Vespa really knew how to engage children. There were crafts, games, contests etc. during the day when the ship was not in port and the evening programs went from 7:30-10:30 and included a survivor night, a spy night, a wii night and a final evening pillow fight. Three was also cookie baking and a bridge tour. There was one kids dinner. Morning activities were usually in Toscana and afternoons and evening in the card room.

The highlight was the circus in Horizons at 8:30 and concluded before the final show in the Lounge on our last sea night. The kids had practiced devil sticks, lasso and juggling during the week. The audience was mostly doting parents and grandparents. Then the kids led everyone in line dancing, which they had also learned, after which they had a cast party.

All children wore color coded wristbands throughout the cruise identifying their muster station. We were told that in the event of an emergency, staff would escort them to their muster station if they did not happen to be with us. Children 9 and older could sign themselves in and out of the kids program. Younger children had to be signed in and out by parents. They also enjoyed golf and shuffleboard and we saw other families using the pool and the ping pong table. We made a deal with them that they could go places on their own but at the first complaint they would have to stay with us. Seems to have worked because we did get positive feedback from fellow cruisers and no complaints.

It appeared that the children were all children or grandchildren of experienced Oceania cruisers and were very well-behaved. There were several multigenerational family groups. A lot of passengers gave the kids odd looks on embarkation but if there were any complaints, we never heard them. The children who ate in the Grand Dining Room were appropriately dressed. For our grandchildren, having to dress up for dinner made the point that they had to be on their best behavior. Seemed to work for other children too.

The menu in the Grand Dining Room was a bit challenging but they had fun trying new foods. They also learned that they could request things without sauces. They are probably the only cruisers who had their caesar salad made table side without dressing in Polo! The staff was very welcoming to children and helpful with menu suggestions.

Several nights, they ate dinner in the Terrace Cafe or got room service so they could get to their evening events on time. On those nights, we enjoyed sharing a table with other cruisers in the Grand Dining Room or specialty restaurant and listening to the string quartet before or after dinner. We only made it to the last show, since that isn't a favorite thing for us.

We did ship excursions to Totem Bight and gold panning/salmon bake, using OBC. The excursions were very well done. But there are no children's prices so it works better to take the cash OBC and then buy extra excursions on the dock for less than half the price.

I would recommend the Alaska cruise to families with children who are well-behaved and able to understand the need to be considerate of the predominately older cruisers.

Mary

This is great information. We are considering an Oceania Alaska trip with our extended family for next year or the year after. One child would be five and just old enough to join in the activities.

Our hesitation is the dining, not the food itself but the prolonged nature of a fine dinner on O.

Mary sounds like it worked out well for you & the grandkids

They certainly had a lot to keep them busy