Families Going to "Fill in the Blank" this "Fill in the Blank" Vacation

[vicd1969]

Hope you don't mind me adding to some of the excellent responses you've received. I've recently sailed with a large multi-generational family group (on Eurodam) but also have been on the Zaandam in Alaska. I think your trip is the one-way between Vancouver and Seward, right?

 

Hi, all!

 

Are basketballs provided for the basketball court? What about tennis rackets and balls?

Basketball, yes. Tennis maybe no. Note that the crew usually play basketball at later in the night (Filipinos love their b-ball) and passengers aren't allowed to play with them due to insurance liability.

 

Can kids hang out at the bars? Allowed to dance? I know they have specific teen activities, but what if, Heaven give us grace! they want to hang with their parents and party like it's 1999?

Unfortunately, I don't think the Zaandam offers BB King. There would be some dancing set up after 10:30 PM and maybe during early evenings at the bar. But dancing options will be limited.

 

Any pool tables (billiards) on board? Foosball? Air hockey? I know I have seen pictures of ping-pong on our ship, the Zaandam.

I don't think there are any pool tables. The Teen center may have foosball or air hockey. Ping Pong tables are usually found in the lido deck near the entrance to the spa.

 

We are going on a multi-generational trip. How easy is it for us to leave the ship early and then return and get my parents off the ship for a later afternoon excursion?

Very easy in Juneau and Ketchikan to get on and off the ship directly close to shopping and walking options. I think Skagway should be straightforward as well.

 

On a scale of 1-10, how likely is it people get irritated when (not if) my kids get rowdy in the pool?

Fewer people in the pool from dinner onwards, so your kids may get a bit more leeway. The kids in my group were able to enjoy the pool mostly to themselves on a Caribbean cruise this way, I would expect this would be the case even more so for an Alaskan one, if weather cooperates. Speaking of pool, the kids to this day can't stop talking about the Dive-In 's burger and fries, it's located next to the pool.

 

Are very nice, golf, preppy shorts acceptable for Gala Nights for teens (boys!) if they wear button down shirts? Will my daughter and I look completely ridiculous in ball gowns we want to get from Rent the Runway?

No and No, as others have mentioned. May be too cold to wear shorts in any case for Alaska, especially someone used to 95+ degree summer weather in Austin :).

 

[Gail & Marty sailing away]

There are very few kids on Holland American cruises except Holidays summer time Alaska and the Caribbean.

[1of4]

I don't known how recent a development the parental contract for supervision of minors is that I mentioned in a previous post; a copy was in the bound information about the cruise in our cabin on our January 2017 cruise. The captain also made a statement about the parental contract during the all ship announcements on embarkation day. He stated that all passengers with minor children had received a copy in their cabin and it needed to be signed, dated and turned into Guest Services.

 

Hopefully, the OP's "fun loving" teens won't try to push too many of the age limits for various venues or otherwise push the requirements for behavior and supervision in the contract.

 

We haven't seen the contract outside of Club Hal which employs a three strikes and you are out rule. One cruise, the captain's own son was on thin ice and the captain himself had to come in for the warning that only 1 strike remained.

[Homosassa]

I was surprised to see the contract in our cabin and then to hear the captain specifically mention it and the fact that parents were responsible for their children at all times.

 

Maybe HAL realizes that free range children are becoming a problem.

[ithaca gal]

i was surprised to see the contract in our cabin and then to hear the captain specifically mention it and the fact that parents were responsible for their children at all times.

 

Maybe hal realizes that free range children are becoming a problem.

 

 

lol

[ellieanne]

I was surprised to see the contract in our cabin and then to hear the captain specifically mention it and the fact that parents were responsible for their children at all times.

 

Maybe HAL realizes that free range children are becoming a problem.

 

My experience is it's not free-range children that are the problem; it's free-range teenagers. On several of my cruises security had to be called to remove teenagers from the bars (and they were AT the bar not just in the room) after the curfew and on one a group of teenagers thought it was hilarious to carve their names in the elevator button panels. Children are usually not unaccompanied, it's the unsupervised teenagers that are generally a bigger problem to the rest of us.

[GirlGoneTexan]

What exactly does this contract state?

 

We're taking our first HAL cruise with the kids (ages 8, 11) next month... 14 day Amsterdam to Alaska.

[1of4]

What exactly does this contract state?

 

We're taking our first HAL cruise with the kids (ages 8, 11) next month... 14 day Amsterdam to Alaska.

 

I don't remember exactly but basically bullying and other bad behaviour will not be tolerated. I don't believe it would be an issue for children who respect rules and are generally well behaved.

 

I have witnessed bad behaviour on another main line sailing out of Florida that HAL would have deemed unacceptable: running on stairs and knocking people over, running in halls and lounges including across furniture that others are sitting on, soaking people with water guns on gala nights when elevator doors open.....

[Homosassa]

I should have clarified that when I said children, I was referring to those under 18.

 

According to the captain's announcement and the contract in the cabin (it might have used 16 and not 18, can't remember), children are to be either in the onboard children's (these includes the teens) programs or under the supervision of their parents.

 

Misbehavior would not be tolerated and parents would be held responsible.

[1964IceCreamLady]

 

I wish I was going on this cruise with you....you sound like such a fun family!

However, I am curious how you came to pick this cruise and maybe not one of the other lines that would have much more in terms of amenities for teens and families? I have never been on HAL and am trying to decide if it would be a good fit for me and my husband.

 

We are a a very nice, very average family. :) Thank you!

We chose HAL for very various reasons:

#1 Mid size ships. My parents are accustomed to VERY small, intimate cruises (on one now with 75 people!). This will seem like a MEGA ship to them. Big factor.

#2 Itinerary. It fit our schedule.

#3 Demographics. To be honest, I have NO desire to wait in line to see Snow White or to wait in line for a water slide. My kids are way too old for the former, and we live in Austin, near one of the best water parks in the world, Sclitterbahn. We don't want or need our kids spending their vacation in a ship's idea of a water park. I also spend a lot of time with my kids and my kids' friends, so it will be nice to have an adult-focused vacation. I would like to have a family vacation, which to me means we spend time together as a family, with each other. One con are the age restrictions of tween ClubHal (8-12) and The Loft (13-17). My youngest will still be 12, not 13. That means he can't hang with his siblings in The Loft (according to other posts, just like the Fitness Center, the age requirements are strictly enforced). Of course, the teens are happy about it. :eek:

[1964IceCreamLady]

My kids are "free range." I give them a lot of rein. Why? Because they are responsible and well-mannered. If they were brats I wouldn't want to spend my vacation with them.

 

I think we can all agree that regardless of age, people can be rude, pushy, aggressive, ill-mannered, moronic jerks.

 

I believe most of the negative responses have come from my original question, how irritated would people be if my kids engaged in a little horseplay in the pool? Clearly I am sensitive to the issue, or I wouldn't have asked the question. Maybe I should have been more specific, e.g. not swimming laps but goofing off, but not chicken fights and cannonballs OF COURSE.

 

I know my sense of humor may not come across in the written form. So let me clarify that when I ask a question, I am serious. When I write, yeah, they are going to try and sneak into the casino or climb a funnel, I am JOKING.

 

Thanks for the information on the Fitness Center. That's the kind of small detail that I need to know so I can tell my son, oh, hey, by the way, the Fitness Center is off-limits. Just like finding out about The Oasis, so I could tell my daughter, oh, hey, sorry to disappoint, but that area is gone now.

 

Now for a personal update and a travelling tip: We looked into flights from Vancouver home and they were all long, no non-stops, AND expensive ($2700 for the 5 of us). Our solution is to take the Amtrak train to Seattle and fly home non-stop from there. Since we have so many points from our Southwest credit card, no fare! The train costs $144 for the 5 of us, and we booked an AirBnB in Seattle for 2 nights for $400. So we get to spend a day in Vancouver, get a train trip through the Cascades, and get a day in Seattle and actually save money instead of flying home from Vancouver. That's a lot of sushi!

[E@syPe@zy]

We are a a very nice, very average family. :) Thank you!

We chose HAL for very various reasons:

#1 Mid size ships. My parents are accustomed to VERY small, intimate cruises (on one now with 75 people!). This will seem like a MEGA ship to them. Big factor.

#2 Itinerary. It fit our schedule.

#3 Demographics. To be honest, I have NO desire to wait in line to see Snow White or to wait in line for a water slide. My kids are way too old for the former, and we live in Austin, near one of the best water parks in the world, Sclitterbahn. We don't want or need our kids spending their vacation in a ship's idea of a water park. I also spend a lot of time with my kids and my kids' friends, so it will be nice to have an adult-focused vacation. I would like to have a family vacation, which to me means we spend time together as a family, with each other. One con are the age restrictions of tween ClubHal (8-12) and The Loft (13-17). My youngest will still be 12, not 13. That means he can't hang with his siblings in The Loft (according to other posts, just like the Fitness Center, the age requirements are strictly enforced). Of course, the teens are happy about it. :eek:

Well...I think you are all going to have a blast!! And Alaska is so amazing. We went later in the season and saw lots and lots of Orcas. They were amazing! We were hoping to get a glimpse of a larger whale, but hopefully you and your family will get to see a few. Be sure to take rain gear for everyone and some warm jackets. I also found a light pair of gloves came in handy....holding those adult beverages while outside.:D

Have a wonderful trip with your family...that's so special!

[1964IceCreamLady]

Hope you don't mind me adding to some of the excellent responses you've received. I've recently sailed with a large multi-generational family group (on Eurodam) but also have been on the Zaandam in Alaska. I think your trip is the one-way between Vancouver and Seward, right?

 

We will be southbound, Seward to Vancouver.

 

My dad, husband, and 2 sons are going up first for a week-long fishing trip at Royal Wolf Lodge. Then my mom, daughter, and I are meeting them in Anchorage, driving to Denali for a 2-day stay, and then driving back down for the cruise. It will be an AMAZING adventure!

 

Yes! The responses have been MOST helpful! So many small details!

[dce85]

That is the itinerary we did with our boys. The train trip from Anchorage to Seward is gorgeous. I'm sure your kids will be fine. You will have a fantastic time. We cruise with grandparents a lot. Dinner is a favorite for everyone because of the time for storytelling. Enjoy it.

 

 

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[jennymaxgirl]

I enjoyed reading your post just now - as we will be taking our 8 and 10 year olds on the Koningsdam in March. Can I ask if you took your kids to the aft pool? I have been told that the aft pool is ADULTS ONLY, however the signage at the pool states those 14 and over require supervision. I plan on taking our kids to this pool, while supervising them of course. Hoping we don't get any glares lol. Did the staff enforced the max capacity of the pool that you noticed? It's posted as being only 8 people. Thx :)

 

I will try to reply to questions not answered, or from a family perspective.

 

We have had our two children in the bars for happy hour many times. They can not sit at the bar but neither do I.

 

Our two love Club Hal and the Loft so we never saw them during opening times. The Loft, for 13-17 year olds has no closing time. There are computers up there with the games they will like. Everyday they are allowed exclusive use of the sports desk. But they can sign out the balls/rackets any time. There is usually a make your own breakfast in the culinary arts centre once each cruise for the enrolled in the children's programs.

 

Children are allowed to dance but the pool it highly dependent on the people onboard. The sea view pool sometimes is for 16+ unless supervised...sometimes one "adult" complains then nobody under 16 is allowed. The Lido pool is for everyone. On our last cruise through the Panama Canal we had a few bad experiences of our two being very respectful and staying in the deep end so as not to upset the "senior adults" who were standing and talking. It was like clockwork every time our two got in a few would decide to swim laps and swim right at them and then scowl. The pool would be empty, our two would get in and 10 minutes later the pool was over capacity. But that was their problem, not my two who just wanted to be in the pool that they are allowed in. I brought a float ring and a few water balls. One day the whole pool made up a ball game with our two and the adults were the rowdy ones. I got many thanks for bringing the balls (and the kids) and comments like it was the most fun they had on a cruise in years.

 

So you never know. Running is not allowed but children are!

 

The Pinnacle Grill is also open for lunch. It is less expensive and they make an awesome burger!

 

Every bar makes slushy drinks. I pre purchase each child a $50 drink card which is good for all nonalcoholic drinks.

 

If the kids do not want to change for dinner then the same food is available through room service or in the Lido.

 

My best tip: get a family portrait taken on gala nights. Photographers will be in multiple locations each with a different colour background. The portrait makes the best momento of your trip.

[GirlGoneTexan]

I enjoyed reading your post just now - as we will be taking our 8 and 10 year olds on the Koningsdam in March. Can I ask if you took your kids to the aft pool? I have been told that the aft pool is ADULTS ONLY, however the signage at the pool states those 14 and over require supervision. I plan on taking our kids to this pool, while supervising them of course. Hoping we don't get any glares lol. Did the staff enforced the max capacity of the pool that you noticed? It's posted as being only 8 people. Thx :)

 

Hi, I'm going to answer based on our cruise on the Amsterdam this past June with our 8 and 11 year olds. We were cruising for 2 weeks to Alaska, and there were about 30 kids under 13 on board, which was PERFECT. The kids made friends at Club HAL, and they really connected with the staff unlike previous cruises on other cruise lines.

 

Yes we took our kids to the aft pool. Got a few looks but no one said anything. There was nothing that said the aft pool was adults only.

 

Re: capacity, the aft pool is pretty small, but I never saw more than 5 people in it at a time.

 

The lido pool was typically the one people swam in, but it was never packed as on previous cruises (RCI big ships where you can't even get near the pool).

 

I was pleasantly surprised at how everyone, both guests and employees, treated us and our children. We were often complimented on their behavior, dress (they dressed up at formal night), and how well they danced with the band, and the piano player even took some of their requests.

 

My kids said they will never go back to RCI, they are hooked on Holland!

 

Have a great trip!

[petepie]

Great thread! Lots of good info for us too!

[debcruising]

You may not have gleaned this already, but I am a bit of a planner... :')

 

"I have heard the best time to book the Pinnacle is the first night aboard? Good for tired families?"

 

Hi 1964IceCreamLady, just off the N.A. on 11/25 and there were announcements made that the PG, Tamarind and Canaletto were 1/2 price for the first night of my 7 day voyage. Hope this helps.

[sail7seas]

You may not have gleaned this already, but I am a bit of a planner... :')

 

"I have heard the best time to book the Pinnacle is the first night aboard? Good for tired families?"

 

Hi 1964IceCreamLady, just off the N.A. on 11/25 and there were announcements made that the PG, Tamarind and Canaletto were 1/2 price for the first night of my 7 day voyage. Hope this helps.

 

 

Are there young children included in your traveling family?

Edited November 30, 2017 by sail7seas

[sail7seas]

You may not have gleaned this already, but I am a bit of a planner... :')

 

"I have heard the best time to book the Pinnacle is the first night aboard? Good for tired families?"

 

Hi 1964IceCreamLady, just off the N.A. on 11/25 and there were announcements made that the PG, Tamarind and Canaletto were 1/2 price for the first night of my 7 day voyage. Hope this helps.

 

 

Will you have a long travel day traveling from 'somewhere' in Florida, getting to FLL? :)