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What’s New in Family Cruises From New York

Enjoying a trip to another country doesn’t require hours of planning flights, hotels, meals, tours and activities your kids will enjoy. A cruise provides an all-in-one option, particularly if your jour- ney begins in the New York City area. Several family-friendly cruise lines now serve the Manhattan Cruise Terminal, Brooklyn Cruise Terminal and Cape Liberty Cruise Port in Bayonne, N.J.

Over the past several months, and through the rest of 2016, brand new ships such as Royal Caribbean’s Anthem of the Seas have been introduced to solely serve the New York market. Others, like the Disney Cruise Line, are returning to the area after a hiatus. New Yorkers will also see newly-refurbished ships in the area, as well as new itineraries and ports of call.

Before booking a summer, fall, or winter cruise, consider these new options.

Manhattan Cruise Terminal, Pier 88 and Pier 90 (nycruise.com)

 

CARNIVAL VISTA
Carnival Cruise Line (carnival.com) is introducing a brand new ship this year, the Carnival Vista. Not only is it the largest Carnival ship, it’s also the first in a new class featuring Family Harbor accommodations in a dedicated family zone on Deck 2, with staterooms for up to ve people. Family Harbor includes an exclusive lounge space and a family concierge desk.

Vista will offer several first-of-its-kind attractions, including SkyRide, a suspended open-air cycling experience; the first IMAX® Theatre on a ship; and the Kaleid-O-Slide, a raft-riding water tube slide.

Following its inaugural season in Europe, the Vista will o er two Caribbean sailings from New York, departing Nov. 5 and 16. The first 11-day itinerary includes eastern islands such as the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and Antigua. The second includes southern islands like Aruba, Bonaire and St. Maarten.

DISNEY MAGIC
This October, Disney Cruise Line (disneycruise.disney.go.com) returns to New York for a limited time with six sailings on the Disney Magic; including one to Canada and five to the Caribbean. On Oct. 2, a ve-night Canadian cruise includes stops in Halifax, Nova Scotia and Saint John, New Brunswick. An Eastern Caribbean cruise departs on Nov. 5 and stops in St. Maarten, Tortola and San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Four Bahamian cruises – seven or eight nights in length, depending on the dates – depart on Oct. 7, 15, 22 and 29. The Magic will stop at Dis- ney’s private island, Castaway Cay, and Port Canaveral, Fla. The eight-night cruise also includes a day in Nassau, Bahamas. Passengers have the opportunity to visit Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando by purchasing a one-day Park Hopper ticket with round-trip transportation.

The Disney Magic, a family favorite since its 1998 debut, recently unveiled a new AquaLab water playground with pop jets, geysers, bubblers and the Twist ‘n’ Spout water slide. The renovated Animator’s Palate restaurant features a new “Drawn to Magic” show. Another highlight is Andy’s Room, a multi-level space in Disney’s Oceaneer Club.

Brooklyn Cruise Terminal, Pier 12, Red Hook (nycruise.com


PRINCESS CRUISES

With its Princess Pelicans, Shockwaves and Remix programs for children ages 3-17, the Princess cruise line (princess.com) welcomes families.Two ships, in particular, Regal Princess and Caribbean Princess, will offer nine sailings from Brooklyn between September and November. Caribbean Princess will sail to Quebec City on two 10-day itineraries, with calls to New Brunswick and Nova Scotia as well as Boston and Newport, R.I.

Regal Princess, the company’s newest ship, features the SeaWalk® – a dramatic glass-bottom walkway – a giant poolside movie screen and a nightly sound and light water fountain show. Five-day fall getaway sailings stop in Saint JohnandHalifax,whileseven-day cruises also include Newport, Boston and Bar Harbor, Maine.

Cape Liberty Cruise Port, Bayonne, N.J. (cruiseliberty.com


ROYAL CARIBBEAN’S ANTHEM OF THE SEA

Royal Caribbean’s newest ship, Anthem, is also the third largest in the world (royalcaribbean.com). It’s longer than ve Boeing 747’s and accommodates 4,180 guests. Anthem stands out for its state- of-the-art entertainment venues, shows, and attractions, with several being “firsts” at sea. For example, you can ride 300+ feet above the ocean in the North Star glass observation capsule, or in the Ferrari bumper cars in SeaPlex, a huge indoor recreation space. You can also try two simulated extreme sports –skydivingwithRipCord by iFLY, or surfing the SurfRider.

Since its debut last fall, Anthem homeports in Bayonne, N.J., which means you’ll be able to sail her year-round. In the colder months, you’ll be transported to the Bahamas and the Caribbean on a variety of itineraries rangingfromveto12 nights. In the summer and fall, Bermuda, New England, and Canada are additional destination options.

CELEBRITY SUMMIT
Celebrity Cruises (celebritycruises.com) doesn’t automatically come to mind as family-friendly, but with the Toddler Time, Fun Factory and X-Club programs for toddlers through teens, it’s worth a look. Additionally, the entire fleet is certified as “Autism Friendly,” offering sensory-appropriate films and toys; priority check-in and departure; and special dietary accommodations. This year, Celebrity Summit unveils a major renovation upgrading her to Solstice Class, with a new Rooftop Terrace with a giant movie screen, specialty restaurants, dedicated Xbox stations and the new iTake teen video project.

The Summit begins her cruise season in late April with seven-day excursions to Kings Wharf, Bermuda. In September and October, the itineraries shift northward to New England and Canada. A range of nine to 14-day cruises all include stops in Boston, Bar Harbor, and Halifax. Depending on the length of the cruise, you may also visit the U.S. ports of Newport, Portland, Maine, as well as the Canadian ports of Charlottetown, Saguenay, Saint John, Sydney and Quebec City. Two cruises to St. Thomas and San Juan depart on Oct. 16 and 22.

Frequent contributor Traci L. Suppa blogs about her family’s travels at GoBIGorGoHomeBlog.com

Five Tips for First-Time Family Cruisers 


UNDERSTANDING THE SLEEPING ARRANGEMENTS

Many family staterooms that sleep four will have a sofa bed for one child, and a bunk bed with side rails that pulls down from the upper wall or ceiling.

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE KIDS’ CLUBS

The cost is included! Your kids will be supervised and entertained while you enjoy some quiet time.

PACK EVERYDAY ESSENTIALS

There will be a gift shop on board, but don’t assume it will stock items like diapers or children’s OTC medications.

MAKE EVERYONE AWARE OF EXTRA CHARGES

Not everything is included in the cost of your cruise, particularly WiFi. Some lines even charge for soda, so make sure your children are aware of what they can and can’t ask for.

CHOOSE EXCURSIONS WITH THE KIDS IN MIND

If you’re taking them with you, look for excursions with fun local experiences, like swimming with dolphins or snorkeling at a nearby beach.

 

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