NCL Epic’s Children’s Program

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NCL provides a variety of supervised activities for children, no matter what their age. The Kid’s Crew® program has four categories and provides complimentary activities based on the age of the child or teen at the time of sailing.

Youth Staff is carefully chosen from educational and recreational programs at their respective universities. Each staff member is CPR- and First Aid-certified, so children will be safe and secure at all times. Let’s review the different age category programs.

Juniors (ages 2-5 years)

The wee ones have a space of their own, supervised by our trained Youth Staff. Since attention spans are often limited at this age and they can tire easily (sounds like most of us, actually), activities are fun and engaging, like storytelling, arts and crafts, and treasure hunts.

First Mates (ages 6- 9 years)

This age group is a bit more independent and our programs accommodate their growing curiosity and need for activity and entertainment. NCL offers the standard activities like crafts, but also the latest computer games and Wii. (If you don’t know what this is, get a kid to show you…BTW – the Wii Fit Yoga is fantastic.)

Navigators (ages 10-12 years)

These cruisers are becoming intrepid and NCL facilitates their expanding horizons and social awareness with team-building challenges, parties, scavenger hunts and, of course, all the latest computer games and Wii. On Norwegian Epic, they’ve pulled out all the stops for the young ones with a gigantic kid’s area and a special section just for tweens, known as Recess. Recess area will include:

  • Wii™, computers, video games, PlayStation®3
  • Interactive, light-up dance area
  • Karaoke performance stage that doubles as a surround sound cinema
  • Extended hours so mom and dad have time for their own fun

Teens (ages 13-17 years)

Teens have a desire to exert some control over their vacation experiences. On Norwegian Cruise Line, teen cruisers enjoy their very own teen center. Here they can hang out with fellow teens and take advantage of air hockey, foosball, video jukebox, televisions and Wii games. Activities and games vary by ship. (There’s no Teen Center on Norwegian Majesty, at this time.)

For this energetic crowd, NCL provides themed facilities to grab teen’s attention. They can feel like they’re in the New York Subway in Norwegian Jewel’s Underground Teen’s Club or in the Metro Center on Norwegian Pearl. Or they can visit the Leopard Lounge on Norwegian Gem, a cool place where teens can have fun. They can see who’s on board at Connections, on Pride of America. The rest NCL’s ships (except Norwegian Majesty) boast Teen Clubs that have activities all day and turn into teen discos at night. Norwegian Epic will have the hottest under-21 club yet, Entourage. It’s sure to be filled with all things important to 13-17 year-olds, including self-serve food and soda stations. More about Entourage:

  • For teens ages 13-17
  • Designed like an adult lounge
  • PlayStation®3, air hockey, pinball, foosball, a video jukebox
  • Large flat-screen TVs
  • At night, transforms into a nightclub with music,  dancing and trendy seating arrangements

Here’s a quick and handy reference table that shows the variety of activities available, based on each age grouping. Activities vary per sailing.

Juniors (Ages 2-5) First Mates (Ages 6-9) Navigators (Ages 10-12) Teens (Ages 13-17)
Arts and Crafts Arts and Crafts Arts and Crafts Computer Games
Storytelling and Painting Computer Games Scavenger Hunt Team-building Challenges
Treasure Hunt Pizza-making party Computer Games Sports Activities
Family Activities Wii Team-building Challenges Wii
Parties Sports Activities Video Arcade
Family Activities Wii Parties
Video Arcade Movies
Parties Dance Club
Family Activities

Youth Programs – Hours of Operation (ages 2-12)

Embarkation Day:    from 8 pm to 10:30 pm
Sea Days:                     from 9 am to 10:30 pm
Port Days:                  departure from port to 10:30 pm

*These hours may vary by ship and itinerary.

Pools and Play

Mom, dad, grandma and grandpa and any other family member can have fun with their junior cruisers at the splash pools on Norwegian Dawn, Norwegian Gem, Norwegian Jade, Norwegian Jewel, Pride of America, Norwegian Star and Norwegian Spirit. In addition, Norwegian Dawn, Norwegian Spirit and Norwegian Star offer themed wet and wild fun areas with slides, water squirters and splash areas.

Splash pools for the pint-sized crowd are available on many of our ships. They might even find their very own hot tub and waterfalls. Everyone enrolled in the Kid’s Crew® program can take advantage of jungle gyms and tunnels on Norwegian Dawn, Norwegian Gem, Norwegian Jade, Norwegian Jewel, Norwegian Majesty, Norwegian Pearl and Pride of America.

Social Time section

Norwegian Cruise Line also offers Freestyle Free Play for all age groups to socialize and have fun together. Since our programs are separated by age group, this is the time for all the kids in the family to get caught up. The designated time slots are the first hour of Kid’s Crew®, two hours in the afternoon and the last half-hour of Kid’s Crew®.

Arcades and Games

Arcades can be found on all ships, so everyone will have a chance to blast some aliens or fly their own plane. Children of all ages, and even grandparents, will have fun playing pinball. Really. And don’t forget that on some ships your customers can experience our bowling alleys at sea.

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Sue Lobo
Sue, our esteemed Operations Manager, has been honored as a Top Travel Specialist by Condé Nast Traveler for 2023 and 2024. With over 25 years of experience in the travel industry, Sue brings a wealth of expertise to our company, particularly in the areas of group travel, event planning, and blogging. As a passionate traveler herself, Sue has explored more than 20 countries across three continents, including captivating destinations such as Cuba, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates. Her firsthand experiences allow her to provide invaluable insights and recommendations to our clients, ensuring that their travel dreams become a reality. Sue's dedication to the travel industry extends beyond her role as Operations Manager. She has successfully coordinated over 200 travel groups, meticulously planning and executing each trip to perfection. Her attention to detail and commitment to excellence have earned her a reputation as a trusted and reliable travel professional. In addition to her operational expertise, Sue is a gifted writer at heart. She leverages her writing skills to share her love of travel and provide consumers with essential industry-related news and updates. Her engaging blog posts offer a unique perspective on the world of travel, inspiring others to embark on their own adventures. When she's not planning extraordinary trips or writing captivating travel content, Sue indulges in her passion for cooking, exploring the diverse flavors and culinary traditions of the places she visits. With her unwavering enthusiasm and extensive knowledge, Sue continues to be an integral part of our team, ensuring that every traveler's experience is truly unforgettable.