The Royal Caribbean cruise ship, Jewel of the Seas departs from Boston and embarks on a 13-day cruise. The ship makes port stops in six Caribbean islands: St. Thomas, St. Maarten, Dominica, Barbados, Aruba and Curacao and makes its final dock in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Five days are spent cruising and fortunately, Royal Caribbean is well-known for its array of on-board activities. The Jewel features a rock-climbing wall, indoor and outdoor golf simulator and spacious basketball and volleyball courts. Guests can also relax in the indoor solarium, day spa or in one of the many lounges and cafes. For families, the Jewel offers the Adventure Ocean Program for children ages three to 17 years old. The five supervised programs are divided by age group and offer a host of activities like finger-painting for the young children to evening karaoke for older teens.
Royal Caribbean International
866-562-7625
royalcaribbean.com
Norwegian Spirit begins its 15-day cruise from Boston and ends in New Orleans. There are eight port stops: Samana, Tortola, St. Kitts, Barbados, Curacao, Aruba, Roatan and Cozumel. The Spirit's emphasis is on a water theme with the Mediterranean-inspired Tivoli Pool, four outdoor hot tubs, two water treadmills and the kids' water park, Buccaneer's Wet and Wild. There are 15 dining options from the formal five-course dining at Windows to the causal Bier Garten Grill. Evenings can be spent at the nightclubs, lounges or casino, which boasts 158 slot machines and other games like roulette, blackjack and craps. The ship also caters to families with Charlie's Child Care Center, a supervised kid-friendly zone with a nursery, arts and crafts, cinema and computers. Older teens can spend their days and evenings at the Celebrity Teen Disco.
Norwegian Cruise Line
866-625-1166
ncl.com
The Norwegian Dawn sails from Boston on a seven-day cruise with three days at the King's Wharf port. The ship focuses on family fun and provides activities for passengers of all ages and interests. Located on deck 12 is the massive kids' pool, T-Rex, featuring a dinosaur themed pool with water slides and paddling pool. The T-Rex Kids' Center is a fun-filled indoor jungle gym for children. The Teen Club and Video Zone is primarily for teens to relax and hang out with their new friends. Adult passengers can find many activities whether it is shopping for souvenirs, lighting up a cigar at the Havana Club or sunbathing at the poolside bar at the Oasis pool.
Norwegian Cruise Line
866-625-1166
ncl.com
