Family Cruise News: Family-Friendly Cruises Holland America features great teen facilities, featuring private areas exclusively for young people, as well as child care and a kid-friendly crew.

Feature Article by Raye & Marty Trencher Editors and Publishers Cruise Traveler Magazine

Family cruising continues to grow in popularity, according to the Cruise Line International Association. Holland America is riding the wave with great teen facilities, featuring private areas exclusively for young people, as well as child care and a kid-friendly crew.

Kids love Club HAL^® with its supervised play areas for children ages 3 to 12. From games, arts and crafts, and story telling to ice cream-sundae parties, puzzles, treasure hunts and more, there's always a fun place for younger children, ages 3 to 7. For tweens, children ages 8 to 12, HAL offers golf putting, ping-pong, on-deck sports events, scavenger hunts and an award-winning National Park Service Jr. Ranger Program on Alaska cruises.

HAL's selections of electronic games in Club HAL^® have recently been upgraded and now include Xbox and Wii games. Xbox and Wii games and accessories will be available for check out by kids and teens on all ships with the exception of the ms Prinsendam.

With these upgrades, Club HAL^® is able to offer gaming tournaments, DDR and karaoke contests; events that are especially popular with our teen guests. iPod^® DJ systems are now available on all ships with the exception of ms Prinsendam, allowing kids and teens to play and mix their own music.

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The Loft and The Oasis provide teens ages 13 to 17 with an exclusive hideaway. The Loft and The Oasis give HAL's teen guests plenty of space to relax and socialize with people their own age. In the Loft, they enjoy sports tournaments, video games, karaoke sessions, movies and more. On ms Ryndam, ms Statendam, ms Veendam, ms Amsterdam, ms Rotterdam, ms Volendam and ms Zaandam, a spiral staircase leads to the private Oasis with its waterfall, two wading pools, hammocks and chairs for lounging.

Specially designed Culinary Arts Center Workshops for Kids bring the joys of cooking to younger guests. Junior cooks learn how to prepare Alaska cookies called Bear Tracks, yummy fruit leather, ice-cream sandwiches, salad art and more. And children of all ages look forward to the folded totheyl animals they find in their rooms at bed time.

Family dining options abound. There are special menus for kids in the Dining Room, the Lido Restaurant and the Terrace Grill, featuring hot dogs, lasagna, pizza and other kid favorites. In the evening, parents with younger children can dine in comfort with casual Lido Dining in the Lido Restaurant.

Babysitting services for children three years and up, are available from 10 p.m. until 12 midnight as part of the Club HAL^® After Hours program. Cost is $5 per hour per child. At other times, and for children under the age of three, limited babysitting is available through the Front Office on a volunteer basis. The cost is $8 per hour for the first child and $5 per hour for each other child.

With all of these great onboard activities for young guests, family cruising is a natural choice. And don't forget Holland America's industry leading Family Reunion Program with additional amenities for family groups of eight or more for larger, multi-generational families.

For more Information on Family Cruising visit www.familycruiseonline.com

or call 800.365.1445

Youth Programs

The following information is subject to change or modification by the cruise line without notice. You should check directly with the cruise line about any programs you have an interest.

On Holland America ships, they provide a wide variety of exciting youth- and teen- friendly activities and facilities for guests ages 3 to 17. With supervised fun for our younger guests, the entire family can have the cruise vacation of their dreams.
Managed Supervision
You can feel at ease knowing that your child's onboard experience is safe and well-managed. All Club HAL® activities are supervised by permanent, full-time staff, and are designed to be kid friendly and age appropriate. Youth Staff hold degrees in education, childhood development, recreation, leisure studies or related fields.
Programs Available
Club HAL® — Kids*: Children, ages 3-7, can participate in such activities as story telling, fabric painting, indoor games, arts and crafts, drawing contests, ice-cream sundae parties, puzzles, bingo, pirate treasure hunts or a farewell pizza party. Children in the Kid's age group must be toilet trained. Children in pull-ups or diapers are not allowed in the youth facilities, due to mandates from US Public Health. Exceptions to this rule cannot be made.
Club HAL® — Teens*: Tweens, ages 8-12 might learn golf putting, have disco parties and theme parties, participate in the award-winning National Park Service Jr. Ranger Program on Alaska cruises, compete in on-deck sports events, compete in scavenger hunts or simply play Ping-Pong with a friend.
The Loft and The Oasis*: Teens, ages 13-17 will especially enjoy the teen disco, karaoke sessions, video games, teen sports tournaments, card games, trivia contests, bingo, movies and videos. When there are more than 100 children on board, a HAL Talent Show is offered. (The Oasis is not available on all Vista-class ships)
*On the ms Prinsendam, youth activities are offered for ages 5-17. All other ships offer youth activities for ages 3-17.
Daily Programs
Times vary based on age group, number of children on board and staffing:

Sea Day — Morning, Afternoon and Evening Activities
Port Day — Morning, Afternoon and Evening Activities
Kids & Teens Culinary Arts Center Program
HAL Kids Culinary Workshops now offer children a unique and fun learning experience. Kids will learn basic cooking techniques, kitchen safety, new ingredients and how to follow recipe instructions. Aside from the fun involved, cooking encourages kids to think about numbers and measuring, cleanliness, safety and time management. All the workshops are hands-on where questions are encouraged and having fun is a must!
HAL Kids Culinary Workshops are geared toward two age groups; ages three to seven and ages eight and up. Teenagers 15 and up may participate in the adult classes.

The menus range from simple to teen gourmet
Classes are usually limited to fifteen students unless otherwise noted
All classes are hands-on
Each student receives copies of the recipes prepared in class
All classes are complimentary and last approximately one hour

Additional Family Services
Holland America Line is dedicated to making your family's cruise vacation memorable and happy for each member of your family. They serve a wide variety of kid-pleasing food, including special sandwiches, tacos, hamburgers, hot dogs and pizza. Baby food, high chairs and booster seats may be requested in advance of boarding. On sea days, babysitting services are available through the Front Office for a small surcharge for children 3 years of age or older. This service is provided by staff on a volunteer basis, and may not always be available. Babysitting service is not offered while the ship is in port, although Club Hal does offer activities for children aged 3-12 between 8:00am and 4:00pm on port days. Special kid-friendly birthday parties can also be arranged with advance notice.
Extended Hours
Club HAL’s port day activities as well as After Hours is available for children ages 3-12 who meet Club HAL’s eligibility requirements. (Children must be pre-registered for the program in the way of a completed parental consent form, they must be potty trained, out of pull ups and 100% independent in the restroom as the youth staff are not permitted to assist.) Club HAL® After Hours is available on all ships (except the ms Prinsendam) from 10:00pm - 12:00am for children 3 years of age or older. The fee is US$5.00 per child, per hour. Parents must pick up their children on time or a late fee is charged. For babysitting outside of the hours offered in Club HAL, guests may check at the Front Office to schedule this service provided by staff on a voluntary/limited basis only.
Port Day Activities
Activities will be offered when in port from 8:00 am - 4:00 pm. A lunch service is available for those attending port day activities between the hours of 11:00am – 1:00pm.
After Hours 10:00 pm– 12:00 am
After Hours group kid sitting is offered every evening from 10:00 pm to 12:00 am. Children must be 3 years of age and potty trained. Charge is $5.00 hour per child. Late charges apply to children who are picked up after 12:00 am. Limited private babysitting is available for all ages through the front office. Youth staff are not able to provide this service.
Special Needs
HAL Youth Programs recognize that some children may have special needs. Special needs children are invited to attend activities based on their chronological age. HAL Youth Programs have many staff trained to work with special needs children. Guests should make HAL aware of this when booking their reservation.
Important Notes
A limited number of high chairs, booster seats and cribs are available at no charge. These must be reserved in advance at the time of booking. An international children's menu is offered at dinner and includes a variety of appetizers, salads and soups, and standard items such as hamburgers, hot dogs, pizza and chicken, plus chef's specials like beef tacos, grilled cheese, fish and chips or spaghetti.
 

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