Sail on small cozy ships in small coves, narrow channels and off beat waterways that larger cruise ships are unable to go to. Lindblad has partnered with National Geographic and schedules fun-filled learning activities. Each ship has naturalists and historians aboard to teach passengers about the history of the land, plants and wildlife of areas visited. The crew includes one expert for every 12 guests aboard the 62 passenger expedition cruise ships. Lindblad cruises include the islands of Galapagos, Greece, Alaska and Baja California. Educational shore excursions include scavenger hunts, interacting with wildlife, snorkeling and nature hikes.
Lindblad Expeditions
96 Morton St., 9th Floor
New York, NY 10014
212-765-7740
expeditions.com
The cruise line features a 48 passenger ship named the Eclipse that offers 11 night expedition tours. An experienced naturalist teaches children of all ages about evolution and how it affects plant life and animals, from iguanas to birds. On the cruise to Galapagos Islands, kids and teens have the opportunity to explore plant and wildlife that Darwin studied. Shore excursions include nature walks, snorkeling and kayaking. The Nile cruise includes dinner in an Egyptian home where children can learn the culture first hand. During the Moroccan adventure passengers learn Moroccan traditions such as dancing, pottery making and cooking.
Abercrombie & Kent USA
1411 Opus Place
Executive Towers West II, Suite 300
Downers Grove, IL 60515
866-342-8367
abercrombiekent.com
The 332 passenger Paul Gauguin offers fun and educational cruises out of Papeete, Tahiti. Their Ambassadors of the Environment Youth program offers stimulating activities for kids and teens that were created by Jean-Michael Costeau. Children learn about coral and fish species through hikes, snorkeling, whale watching and diving excursions with interactive and hands-on experience. Youth counselors that have degrees in environmental sciences are aboard each cruise.
Paul Gauguin Cruises
11100 Main St., Suite 300
Bellevue, WA 98004
425-440-6171
pgcruises. com
Disney Cruises offers educational cruises in a fun and innovative way. Kids participate in a live chat session with the officers of the ship. Projects in the playrooms include science, cooking, arts and crafts. Children learn how to hand draw original art in the animation studio, conduct scientific experiments in the Oceaneer Lab and create music in the sound studio. Younger kids learn historical facts while listening to stories and participating in scavenger hunts. Children aged 11 to 13 can learn to steer a virtual ship in the Ocean Quest, and activity center designed to look like a bridge aboard the Disney Magic Cruise Ship. The educational activities aboard Disney cruises are geared towards kids 13 years of age or younger.
Disney Cruise Vacations
Guest Communications
P.O. Box 10238
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
800-951-3532
disney.go.com
