The first time I ever went on a cruise was on my honeymoon, when my husband and I were fortunate enough to sail aboard a luxurious, 95-passenger yacht with a staff that catered to our every whim, the plushest of accommodations, and gourmet food that made this self-proclaimed foodie's head spin.  The second (and last) time I took a cruise was two years ago, when my family took a 4-day cruise from New York City to Canada aboard a mega ship filled with thousands of passengers, a staff who wouldn't even tell me where I was supposed to throw away my daughter's dirty diaper, and food that was mediocre at best.  As disconcerting as the crowds, lack of service and lackluster food were, however, the thing that most bothered me about that cruising experience was that there were absolutely no organized activities for my husband, daughter and I to enjoy as a family.  The only entertainment option for Sadie, who was 2 1/2 at the time, was to drop her off at the ship's kid club, which we were loathe to do, seeing as we'd gone on vacation to spend time as a family.  Don't get me wrong - I'm all in favor of "me time" and time alone as a couple; we just didn't choose to do that on this trip.  So, apart from a few visits to the pool and a go at the mini golf course, we mostly stayed in our cabin and found ways to entertain Sadie with books, games and toys - all things we could have done at home.  Needless to say, the experience left me soured on the idea of cruising.

Enter Norwegian Cruise Line.  A few months ago, Norwegian invited me to two fabulous events, each of which showcased the cruise line's commitment to family cruising and left me optimistic that a cruise may very well be a smart vacation option for my family. You see, Norwegian understands that, in addition to an innovative and entertaining drop-off kids program (more on that in a moment), a cruise line is well-served by offering programming in which an entire family can participate, thereby providing families with a chance to connect and engage as a family unit, creating memories that will last well beyond their time aboard the ship.  That's why Norwegian offers fun activities for the whole family, day and night, on board and ashore.  Kids can go head-to-head with mom or dad in game shows and have a blast with family members in poolside challenges.  Families can also participate in scheduled events such as Charades, Pizza Making, LEGO Creations, cupcake decorating, a Family Deck Party and a special Family White Hot Party.  As an added bonus, through a partnership with Hilario Productions Cirque du Jour, Norwegian offers a family circus school performed in a circus ring and hosted by a ringmaster.  Kids and their parents can learn a variety of skills, including balancing feathers, juggling, plate spinning and even stilt walking.

Of course, there are times when parents need a break from the action, or when kids just need to hang out with other kids their age, which is when Norwegian's revamped, complimentary kids and teens programs will be a boon to cruising families.  These programs, known as Splash Academy (for ages 6 months to 12 years, further broken down by age group) and Entourage (for teens) are now available on all of Norwegian's ships, and feature a curriculum focused on team building and assisting in developing children's interpersonal and confidence-building skills.  With activities that are tailored specifically to each age group, these new youth and teen programs focus on creative and unique activities (including the aforementioned circus skills program), together with sporting events, through a partnership with King's Foundation and Camps.

 Both Splash Academy and Entourage feature a different theme every day. Whether it's ocean-related, pirates, space cowboys, jungle fever or circus, every day offers a new surprise that is tailored to the individual age groups with a variety of themed activities. A large variety of sports activities and workshops are also on offer, including soccer skills, physical challenges and icebreaker action games.  Teens will enjoy bowling tournaments, soccer challenges, dodge ball under the stars and more.  There's also a chance for the whole family to play along with a variety of sports, including dodge ball, sports court fun, tug-of-war and King's Camps' family challenges. 

Creative arts also play a big role in the Splash Academy and Entourage programs.  With a focus on theater and the arts, young cruisers will have the chance to participate in puppet shows, mini improvisational acting classes and the ability to act out their favorite spy or survivor in themed activities such as Superspy Mission Impossible and Desert Island Adventures.

Splash Academy also offers activities for cruisers under three and their parents, who can enjoy sensory play classes which include baby art featuring "Wee Can Too" organic art products.  There are also fun events such as parent and baby "Rhyme Time" where a storyteller recites popular nursery rhymes featuring puppets or "Motion in the Ocean," a parent and baby mini workout.  These programs would have been fantastic to enjoy with Sadie when we were on our cruise two years ago! 

This all sounds pretty fabulous, right?  Well, I haven't even gotten to the Norwegian ships themselves, which are undeniably gorgeous.  I was lucky enough to be invited to tour and enjoy brunch aboard the Norwegian Gem when it was docked in Manhattan in May, and I was blown away by the attention to detail in the staterooms and decor, as well as by the stellar quality of the food and service I received.  From fabulous swimming pools to the expansive kids' club facility to family suites and garden villas with their own private courtyards, there was something new and exciting to discover around every corner of the Gem.  The tour left me excited at the idea of cruising, and eager to experience Norwegian's family programs with Sadie, my husband and our 4-month-old son Ben.   
 
Thanks to Norwegian for setting me straight on the fact that there is at least one cruise line out there that truly "gets" the idea of family cruising!  For more information on Norwegian's family offerings, visit www.ncl.com/family.