Gold Award: Disney Cruise Line Silver Award: Carnival Cruise Line
Bronze Award: Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean
If you have kids, it’s hard to beat Disney Cruise Line, a line that brings its park prowess to the high seas and manages to teach the competition a thing or two about how to deliver service to families with young children while still catering to the needs of the adults who are, after all, footing the bill. How good is Disney with kids? It starts when you embark and a crew member welcomes families on board by name over the ship’s public address system. Even adults aren’t immune to Disney’s unique brand of cruising whimsy.
Carnival Cruise Lines runs a close second thanks to their much-improved kids’ programs and upgraded facilities. Of particular note is the line’s new Seuss at Sea partnership that includes a special Cat in the Hat parade from the ship’s atrium to the main theatre; Dr. Seuss story time; and a focus on encouraging kids to read that we absolutely love.
Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean earn honorary mentions thanks to their diverse kids’ programs that are tailored to children and teenagers of all ages and whiz-bang onboard toys, like twisty waterslides, bumper cars and sky diving simulators.
Back in school, I’m doing so much lenairng.