Princess Cruises – Princess Cruises offers the popular Movies Under the Stars program, complete with complimentary blankets and popcorn. The line also offers the Discovery at Sea program, which includes Shark Week at Sea, Discovery and Animal Planet shore excursions, Stargazing at Sea, and Discovery at Sea Trivia Challenge. Ultra Luxury Cruise Lines Crystal Cruises – Crystal Cruises offers swimming pools and a theater on board their ships and has a variety of exciting shore excursions that families will love. Perhaps the top of the list is Crystal Cruises’ “Exclusive Evening in ‘Middle-Earth’: The Hobbiton Movie Set After Hours,” where participants travel ninety minutes from the pier in Auckland, New Zealand to the Hobbiton Movie Set and Farm. A description of the excursion, straight from the line, reads: “Upon arrival, you will be treated to a guided walking exploration of the picturesque countryside, which has been opened ‘after hours’ for Crystal guests. Admiring the beautiful setting, you will come to understand why director Peter Jackson, when flying over the Alexander family farm during a search for filming locations in 1998, selected this spot for Hobbiton. “Without roads, buildings or power lines, this location was indeed ideal for the portrayal of Middle-earth. For filming, however, much was needed to be done. Site construction began in March, 1999. Heavy earthmoving equipment provided by the New Zealand Army was pressed into service to build a road into the site. Hedges and trees were brought in, gardens were planted, 37 hobbit holes were created, and even the artificial leaves for the oak tree overlooking Bag End were painstakingly put in place, one by one. “The result, as you will see, is both fanciful and stunning. The set was rebuilt in 2011 for The Hobbit prequel, complete with hobbit holes, gardens, the bridge, the Mill and the Green Dragon. During your visit, you surely will be impressed by the skill of the set makers as you step into this spectacular world with views across the verdant landscape to the Kaimai Ranges. “After your guided exploration, take a seat in the area outside the Green Dragon Inn, overlooking the small lake and the Mill. Stepping deeper into the World of The Hobbit and Middle Earth, enjoy a delicious barbecue dinner served by locals adorned in Lord of the Rings inspired attire. “With dusk falling, your magical evening draws to a close as you re-join your motor coach and return to civilization.” Crystal Cruises is also offering a new Crystal Family Memories Program on select sailings. The offer (complimentary with six full-fare, full-payment guests) is as follows: $200 per person shipboard credit (maximum 2 per stateroom). One 8” x 10” activity photo and a USB memory drive with digital photo files of all purchased photography (one set per stateroom). Third-berth kids sail free (seventeen years and under with waiver). $500 credit for a minimum $2,500 Crystal Private Adventure ® . A $100 nonrefundable service fee applies, and the $500 credit is applied at time of payment. Standard request procedures also apply. All guests in staterooms must be full fare. This offer applies to the first two full-fare guests in a stateroom or suite. To be eligible for the Crystal Family Memories program benefits, guests must be booked as a family/friends group at the same time with the same travel agency. Restrictions apply. Paul Gauguin Cruises – Paul Gauguin Cruises offers the Ambassadors of the Environment Youth Program, developed by Jean- Michel Cousteau’s Ocean Futures Society, which introduces children aged 9–17 to the natural wonders of French Polynesia. Participants learn about the environment through hands-on experiences with marine and island ecosystems. This program is open to the whole family for the additional cost of the shore excursion. Water-loving families will also adore the m/s Paul Gauguin’s pool and retractable watersports platform for paddle boarding, kayaking, or optional scuba diving expeditions.
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2016 Family-Friendly Cruise Travel Planner
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