Family Vacation Ideas and Help for Family Vacations

     The preparations range from simple to teen sophisticate. Kids under eight years old will learn to make Bear Tracks (Alaska theme cookies), Fruit Leather (fruit roll-ups), Ice Cream Sandwiches, Salad People Art, and Denali Peaks (Alaska Theme Scones). Kids eight and over will delight in making Soft Pretzels, Granola Bars, Pita Chips and Hummus, and Saltwater Taffy.

     Babysitting services are available from 10 p.m. until 12 midnight during Club HAL After Hours for children three years and up. Cost is $5 per hour per child. At other times and for children under the age of three, limited babysitting is available through the Front Office on a volunteer basis. The cost is $8 per hour for the first child and $5 per hour for each other child.

     Holland America Line welcomes infants older than six months. By advance request through Holland America Line’s Ship Services Department, guests may arrange commercial baby food, diapers and refrigerators for a nominal fee. A limited number of high chairs, booster seat and cribs are available at no charge. In addition, the line’s Club HAL children’s program schedules Toddler Times for kids under the age of three to play in the children’s facilities. Parents must stay with youngsters at all times.

     Club HAL and the teen program have an open door policy. Children may come and go as they please, however each child through seven years old must be signed in and out of the activities. Tweens and teens may come and go as they please, choosing which activities they want to attend. Guests may meet the Club HAL and teen staff during embarkation or on the first night of each cruise at an orientation meeting for parents and children.

     Holland America Line’s Club HAL and teen program directors and counselors are permanent, full-time employees. All have college degrees with more than half focused on education studies. Most staff also have experience in education or related fields such as child development, recreation or leisure studies. The number of Club HAL staff aboard is determined by the number of children and teens in each age group sailing on the cruise.

     Each ship has an on-board infirmary staffed by a licensed physician and three registered nurses. The infirmaries are equipped with emergency medical facilities and a well-stocked pharmacy. Security staff regularly patrol the ship.