Ahoy there (little) sailor!

Setting sail for new destinations and new adventures has never been easier for families, writes Nikki Wallman, with a range of high-end kids’ experiences at sea that will forge new friendships, broaden horizons and create lasting memories

Set sail with the family aboard a super-luxe cruise liner brimming with fun for the kids

HURTIGRUTEN NORWAY – YOUNG EXPLORERS

Up for a real adventure? Hurtigruten has just launched its Young Explorers programme for children aged seven to 13 on selected sailings in 2017 on the MS

Finnmarken, MS Trollfjord and MS Midnatsol (from April 2018 the programme will run year-round on MS Finnmarken). The initiative is a fantastic exercise in encouraging children’s sense of adventure, while also teaching the importance of environmental protection. With a dedicated host planning each day’s activities (including on-shore excursions), kids will enjoy learning how to pitch a tent, use maps and compasses, and identify various Norwegian foods…while blindfolded! An on-board playroom, lounges and Jacuzzi provide relaxation time, between also participating in environmentally friendly activities like beach clean-ups. With so much staggering natural beauty coasting by, this will surely serve as a powerful setting to encourage the next generation of explorers and eco-warriors. www.hurtigruten.us/about-hurtigruten/hurtigruten-news/young-explorersprogram-in-norway/

CRYSTAL CRUISES – KIDS SAIL FREE

Junior travellers aboard Crystal Cruises can join their parents or grandparents in exploring a wide range of destinations and family-friendly shore excursions as part of the line’s Kids Sail Free programme, available on select all-inclusive voyages. Kids have the opportunity to explore eyeopening historic wonders such as the Great Wall of China or the ruins of Pompeii, and enjoy activities like kayaking the gorgeous canals of Copenhagen or taking to the underwater paradise of Bali for a spot of snorkelling – definitely something for show and tell once they arrive home. The fun is not restricted to on-shore destinations, either: kids can make use of special gaming facilities as well as programmes covering a broad range of interests, from fashion shows and cookie decorating to team games and scavenger hunts. www.crystalcruises.com/special-offers/kids-sail-free

“EACH DAY BRINGS NEW ADVENTURES, FROM ISLAND AND BEACH EXCURSIONS TO SCIENCE ACTIVITIES AND CRAFTS AND GAMES”

PAUL GAUGUIN CRUISES – STEWARDS OF NATURE

It may not boast all the big entertainment bells and whistles of much larger cruises, but on these incredible luxury small-ship voyages on board M/S Paul Gauguin, children can enjoy a whole other side to cruising the paradisiacal waters of the South Pacific. Board games and DVDs, Tahitian dance and arts and crafts keep kids entertained at sea, with added on-shore excitement via the Stewards of Nature – a Wildlife Conservation Society partnership. Offered during the summer and holiday season, the programme offers fun and interactive learning for kids aged seven to 17 (as well as their families). Starting with an introduction and itinerary run-through from WCS naturalists upon boarding, each day brings new adventures, from island and beach excursions to science activities and crafts and games. www.pgcruises.com/ms-paul-gauguin/WCS-Family

ABERCROMBIE & KENT FAMILY CRUISES

For luxe family holidays with immersive activities galore, it’s hard to go past Abercrombie & Kent – and its cruises are no exception. Take, for example, the family Antarctic cruise in December 2017 on board the luxurious 199-passenger Le Lyrial. The journey, taking in the Antarctic Peninsula, Falkland Islands and South Georgia, will feature two dedicated Young Explorer leaders who will lead children (aged seven and above) through a fantastic programme of activities and workshops. From daily excursions exploring flora and fauna to photography lessons and snowball fights; from searching for ocean creatures to nature journalling, children’s horizons will quite literally be broadened after this extraordinary adventure. Abercrombie & Kent also offers 10-day Luxury Small Group Journey Family Galapagos itineraries, providing families the opportunity to get up close and personal with the spectacular wildlife of this unique natural paradise. www. abercrombiekent. com. au/ journeys/antarctica-south- georgia- thefalkland-islands-1

CUNARD CHILDREN’S PROGRAMMES

Cunard is renowned for traditional elegance across its three upmarket ships: the Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth. This needn’t mean adultsonly, however – with a dedicated children’s programme for youngsters aged two to 17. The Play Zone, a vibrant play area for young children aged between six months and seven years, boasts a space for outdoor fun, as well as puzzles and board games, building blocks and arts and crafts. In the Kids Zone programme (eight to 12 years) older children can socialise, make use of gaming consoles, and enjoy sports competitions, arts and crafts and karaoke. And hard-to-please teens can also enjoy a dedicated programme offering entertainment from table tennis tournaments to discos and deck sports. In addition, guests with children receive a children’s activity programme in their staterooms upon embarkation, including any dedicated “theme days”. https://ask.cunard.com/help/life-on-board/childrens_club