NCL Pearl: activities parents can do WITH kids?

[rjm11]

Hello! I am booked on an Alaskan cruise on the NCL Pearl in an AB penthouse: me, my husband, and two children ages 3 and 4. I was wondering if there are any activities in the kids center (or otherwise) that we can participate in as a family? I am not as interested in dropping my kids off there, but would like for them to be able to use the jungle gym/ball pit things.... are there times that parents can take children there?

 

Also, does anyone have any experience with this room or ship? Was it a good choice for us? I have only cruised RCCL, and Princess, and this will be our first time taking the kids!

 

thanks!

[calikak]

Are you in the suite type with the separate children's bedroom? If so, you are going to LOVE that cabin. The bathroom is to die for, I could have spent all day in that shower and DH could have spent all day in that tub. :) Be sure to make use of all the VIP perks, starting with the priority embarkation--let the folks at the pier know that you're in a penthouse suite, and they'll escort you through security and take you to the VIP check-in lounge, where you'll meet the concierge and start being pampered. NCL has amazing VIP perks, I think way above and beyond most other cruise lines. There's a separate dining room for breakfast and lunch, with a nicer menu than the main dining room, and you get a butler who will bring you food from any restaurant on the ship to serve at the table in your room. This is especially handy if your kids don't want to sit through dinner in the dining room--with our son, we'd get him dinner from the buffet and then put him to bed, then call the butler and order a nice elegant meal for ourselves. If you need a high chair or booster seat, your butler can probably arrange one for you as well, just ask. Ours also kept us stocked in milk for our son's bottles (he was 17 months when we cruised with him) and just generally took good care of us.

 

Usually kids' club activities aren't open to parents, I think...but I'd ask about that when you register them on the first day. That ship does have a lot of great activities for school-aged kids, like the Wii thing, and bowling, and the rock climbing wall, etc. but maybe not as many for kids that age, beyond the kids' club of course. The pool area is awesome too, but, it may be too cold to use for a lot of your cruise to Alaska. But you never know, you may totally luck out on the weather.

 

I hope you have a great cruise!