Disney Cruise Line offers the gold standard in kid's programs. The Oceanner Club (ages 3 to 7) and Oceaneer Lab (8 to 12) keep kids busy with a number of activities, including arts and crafts, sports, performing arts and science. There is also Aloft, a teen space, and flounder's Reef Nursery, for ages 3 weeks to 3 years. For hanging with the kids by the pool, the Mickey pool (shaped like Mickey's head) has a baby water slide and a wading area. Disney also offers great live shows and movies geared towards kids.
Royal Caribbean had a special Nickelodeon cruise to the Mexican Riviera in 2009, with Nicktoons characters and premieres of Nickelodeon programming. The cruise line offers Fisher-Price play sessions for kids 6 months to 3 years (with a parent) and Adventure Ocean supervised programs for kids 3 to 5, 6 to 8 and 9 to 11. Teens are put into groups as well (12 to 14 and 15 to 17). The programs involve a lot of physical activity, including ice skating, basketball and rock-climbing.
Princess Cruise has a Fun Zone for kids, with two programs: Princess Pelicans for ages 3 to 7 and Shockwaves for ages 8 to 12. There are scavenger hunts and theme parties. The Remix center for teens has games, karaoke and Playstation 2. Teens have their own hot tub, while kids have a wading pool. There is also a video arcade, and a Princess Idol talent show for the whole family to enjoy.
