Page 120 - Holidays with Kids - Volume 62 (January 2020)

CRUISING WITH KIDS

Where the grown ups play
Deck Five is dedicated to kids’ clubs, from
Guppies for babies to Entourage for teenagers,
separated by age groups. The well-curated
library scores a big tick, with titles including
Aliens Love Underpants. But adults will make a
beeline for the Mandara Spa.
This isn’t an ordinary spa, it’s a slice of
ocean-going nirvana. In the barber area, men
recline on black leather chairs being lathered
while Elemis diffusers puff lavender smoke like
bourgeois dragons. Relax on stone-warmed
chaise longues like Cleopatra, or delve into Tips to take on board
more exotic treatments, from the Salt Bath 05
chamber (assists respiration), the Sanarium (a This is one Instagrammable ship. Catch
sauna with 40 per cent humidity) or literally The Sugarcane Mojito Bar at sunset on
chill in the minus-10-degree Snow Room (two The Waterfront promenade.
minutes maximum recommended). restaurant) means queues never appear. The Play laser tag at night, when the Lost
Having spent an afternoon being inspired in next is the unbeatable quality-versus-value City of Atlantis becomes doubly
the high-tech Fitness Studio, it’s tempting to ratio. And lastly, The Haven, a ship within a atmospheric.
reconsider the last portion of short rib ravioli at ship, an executive level private club with 80 Download the Cruise Norwegian app
Onda by Scarpetta that night. The crunchy rooms, resident-only pool, lounge and bar. It's and pre-book must-do experiences.
filling juxtaposes the silky pasta, every bite a an oasis I can imagine grandparents retreating For number crunchers; the
veritable flavour bomb. Onda is a gastronomic to after a morning with the next generation. 3,998-passenger, 169,116-tonne vessel
on board highlight, unless tempted by The last night is spent watching a stage is the fourth and final ship in the
teppanyaki, a glass of Veuve at Le Bistro or the show of Kinky Boots open-mouthed. As fleet’s Breakaway-Plus Class, costing
Q Texas Smokehouse, to name a few. patent red leather stilettos flash and high kicks nearly $1 billion.
wheel, it’s hard to believe that in just one Plastic water bottles have been replaced
Floating our boat afternoon it’s possible to roar around a with Just Water, a carton made mostly
In an exceptionally canny move, this ship will speedway, shiver in a snow room, eat of paper, and a cap made of sugar cane
travel not only the Caribbean but also the world-class cuisine and watch an award- (eliminating six million single-use plastic
Alaskan coast, typically the domain of older winning show. For a ship on the ocean, it’s all bottles annually).
travellers. Yet this area of the world is an a little out of this world.
underrated hotspot of adventure tourism. The
01 Bird's-eye view of Norwegian Encore 02 Laser tag arena
market is yawning wide for a ship filled with 03 Galaxy Paiilion 04 Observation Lounge 05 Robot riot
adventure lovers to revel in wildlife-oriented Norwegian Encore ride 06 The Speedway. All images © Norwegian Cruise Line
shore excursions and tramp the great outdoors. Report Card
Three things float to the surface as 06
standouts. One is the ‘freestyle dining’; no
dining slots (unless booking at a specialty Info ncl.com

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