Two cruise companies kids clubs compared

The Princess Kids club is a solid programme that starts aged three to eight (Pelicans) and eight to 13 (Pirateers) then the 13 – 17 year olds are part of the Off Limits teens club. All clubs are run by staff who have several years experience working with children and start at nine in the morning for a full day of activities until ten in the evening, with breaks for meals and snacks. It’s a free service but after 10pm there’s a charge for kid-sitting which can be had until 1am. The teen club, Off-Limits actually functions 7pm to 1am too with lots of organised stuff for the teens to do.

Royal Caribbean International offers the Adventure Ocean children's club – divided into five age groups: Aquanauts for ages three to five, Explorers are six to eight, Voyagers are nine to 11, Navigators 12 to14 and Guests for 15 to 17. There’s also Aqua Babies for 18 to 36 months, but this requires parents supervision, it’s not a leave and forget service! The day for all clubs is 9.30am to 10pm, with meal breaks. Like Princess, they offer a sitting service at an extra cost until 1am.