Reviewed By:
Joanne
Travel Date:
May 2000
Last May we went on a 11 night cruise on the "Fair Princess" (now replaced with the much newer Pacific Sky.) Now if you want a child friendly holiday and you don't get too sea-sick this is it. They had (and I assume its the same on the new ship) three kids clubs, one for the 18mth- 5yrs , 6yrs-11yrs, and a teenager club.
Our children two and a half and four and a half so they went into the playpen which was just like a crèche with loads of activities, video's and its own pool which you could take them in yourself. The hours were 9-12noon, 2-5pm, then the kids had there own dinner sitting in the restaurant at 5.30. The playpen opened again at 6pm and you could drop the kids off in there pj's and they would put mattresses on the floor and put a video on and put them to sleep. You had to pick them up by midnight. This was great as it enabled us to eat in peace and enjoy the entertainment or see a movie. We picked them up by about 10pm most nights. You have to let them know where on the ship you would be and you could contact them on one of the many phones around the ship if you wanted to check on them. Our kids loved this place we had to beg them to spend time with us.
Every night about 5pm you got a program for the next days activities for yourselves and for the kids clubs. They did all sorts of activities from games on the deck, t-shirt painting, play dough, songs, a cubby house and also made dress-up's at a special parent child session that were later paraded at a special showing for the rest of the ship. The 6-11yr club was open at night till about 10pm then they would do night patrol on the cabins if you wanted your child to go to sleep. They had video games and older actives . I don't know a terrible lot about that club as the playpen was separate from them. But the kids all seemed happy enough.
And like wise for the teenage club they all seemed to be having a ball and you know how hard it is to keep teenagers happy. The ship had loads of things to do. Craft, games, aerobics', gym, walk a mile club, mini olympic's etc , and a movie theater with latest release movies. Or you could just lie on the deck and read a book or have a doze knowing that your kids were perfectly happy and well looked after. I don't know about you but if I'm worried about the kids not having a good time I can't relax.
The food was great for both adults and kids and all included in the price. All you had to pay for was the drinks which were cheaper than a pub at home. I think I put on about two kilos but it was so worth it! It cost us $1400 each and $800 each for the kids which included all the childcare and meals. We visited Vanuatu, Isle de Pines, Lifou and Noumea.
It's a great value holiday as almost everything is included.
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family travel in Australia and the Pacific
