Young Passengers Can Make Waves

Although children are becoming increasingly welcome on board cruise liners, before booking a cruise find out if the line offers programs for kids and whether there will be other children on the voyage.

Even well-traveled youngsters can get bored on board.

Don’t expect free 24-hour baby-sitting. Youth counselors are aboard to enrich your child’s vacation, not take him off your hands.

If you think you’ll need a baby-sitter, before booking the cruise ask if crew members will be available for baby-sitting duty, and inquire about the fees.

Avoid booking a family trip on a line that does not offer free or discounted travel, counselors and special programs for children. The lack of such is usually a tip-off that the line prefers adult clientele.

Lines offering special summer prices and programs for children include American Hawaii, Carnival, Chandris, Commodore, Costa, Delta Queen Steamboat Co., Dolphin, Norwegian Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, Premier and Regency.

Until last year Sitmar had the most active shipboard program for children. However, since Sitmar was absorbed by Princess there seems to be decreased emphasis on youth programs.

Premier, Costa and Regency offer discount prices for single-parent families by charging the parent a per-person, double-occupancy rate and the child a lower third- or fourth-passenger fare.

Premier also offers a seven-day package with a Bahamas cruise and Disney World stay. The price ranges from $595 to $1,095 per person, double occupancy, for adults, depending on accommodations; $225 to $295 for children in the same room.

It will be copied by Carnival for February, 1990, when the Carnivale will be repositioned to Port Canaveral for three- and four-day Bahamas sailings packaged with Disney World programs.

This summer Carnival’s fare for children sharing a cabin with two full-fare adults is $395 on all seven-day cruises, $190 and $250 on three- and four-day cruises. In some cabins Carnival can add a fifth berth.

Cribs and high chairs are available on all ships, and baby-sitting is offered at a nominal charge.

In addition, Carnival’s “Junior Cruisers” program has been extended from limited sailings to sailings year-round.

Regency Cruises offers free Caribbean sailings between June 18 and Aug. 27 for the child who shares a cabin as the third passenger with two full-fare adults. The fare for another child, traveling as the fourth passenger, is $195.

Regent Star seven-day sailings depart on Sunday from Montego Bay, Jamaica, with two itineraries. One includes Costa Rica, Cartagena, Aruba and a partial transit of the Panama Canal. The other includes Ocho Rios, St. Thomas, St. Barts, St. Martin and San Juan.

Special shore excursions for young people will be available, including a snorkeling safari, as well as shipboard disco parties, games, crafts and special children’s videos.

Single parents and single grandparents also get a fare break from Regency for Regent Star sailings. The parent or grandparent pays the per-person, double-occupancy rate on the three lowest-priced categories available (from $1,065 to $1,315). Children under 12 travel for $665 to $695.

Adult air fare is included, but children fly for $195 to $395, depending on the gateway city.

A children’s counselor offering programs on American history will be aboard seven-day cruises on the paddle-wheeler Mississippi Queen, departing New Orleans Aug. 11, 18 and 25; Sept. 1 and 15, and Nov. 24.

Children through 16 years can travel free with two full-fare adults booking a cabin from a minimum of $2,065 per person, double occupancy. Two additional children under 16 will be accommodated free in a separate cabin, if space is available.

Costs include free round-trip air fare for parents. For more information, call the Delta Queen Steamboat Co. toll-free at (800) 543-1949.

Between Thursday and Sept. 2 American Hawaii will allow up to two children, 16 or younger, to cruise free in any cabin costing $1,725 per person, double occupancy, and higher, when accompanied by two full-fare passengers.

Kids can cruise free with Chandris on all Bermuda sailings this summer, if they are under 12 and share a cabin with two full-fare adults. Air fare is extra.

The line charges children $499 to $799 for other seven-day cruises. This includes air fare for travelers under 12 who share a cabin with two full-fare adults. Children under 2 years travel free.