kids?

[kathyemma]

I am going on my first cruise with HAL (thanksgiving week on the zuiderdam) - with my 8 year old - we normally cruise with RCCL and they have a wonderful kids club - does anyone know about the kids club on HAL?

[Mary Ellen]

Middle-Aged Mom has a recent review (http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=403057) of the Zaandam mentioning Club HAL. She's quite happy to answer questions (and re-live her cruise :D ). You can also ask her there.

[middle-aged mom]

I am going on my first cruise with HAL (thanksgiving week on the zuiderdam) - with my 8 year old - we normally cruise with RCCL and they have a wonderful kids club - does anyone know about the kids club on HAL?

Hi Kathyemma:

As Mary Ellen has mentioned, I am more than happy to "talk your ear off" or write a long page or two about our recent cruise and experience with Club HAL.:)

I've attached a link for you to HAL's website with info on their children's programs called Club HAL, just in case you haven't seen it yet.

http://www.hollandamerica.com/onboard/kids.do

We just completed our very first family cruise, and we took Holland America's ship Zaandam. I was quite satisfied with the caliber of the Club HAL program, the organization, the staff, and the variety of activities available. I imagine, however, from what I've read and heard, that RCCL has a larger and more comprehensive youth program, and so I don't know how Holland America will compare for you. We cruised from August 18-25, and there were 140 youngsters onboard. Hope I've provided you with some answers.:)

[kathyemma]

Thanks for the info. I am really hoping she will enjoy it - mostly at night so i can hit the casinos! RCCL does have a wonderful kids club - but we are ready to try something new.

[newmexicoNita]

I think most of the lines have good kids programs now. As long as you have Thanksgiving break and families you will have kids and kids always seem to have fun, no matter what.

NMNIta

[CalCrzMom]

I have taken my daugher who was 7 at the time of sailing (2/05) on the Zuiderdam cruise to the Bahamas. She loved Club Hal so much, I hardly go to see her except for when Club Hal closed. Her only complaint about the cruise was that it was too short and that her brother didn't come.

We too are going on the Zuiderdam the week of Thanksgiving but this time, my son (age 11) will join us (my daughter convinced him that it was fantastic, will not go down like the Titanic (movie had just come out) as we survived and other of his friends have since vacationed on cruises, who also by the way, came back alive) and my daughter has just turned 9.

For me, I love this because it is a happy medium for me. Being a single mom with two children, it is hard for me to have a break and the children have great fun at the same time. I have and do endure being in an "overcrowded children's" forum such as a certain pizza/game restaurants targeted to children (who are often times over-stimulated) and parents (who look stressed-and-exhausted) where I am almost always guaranteed to leave with a headache. On a Hal cruise there aren't as many children as on other cruise lines, but enough so that the kids make friends, play, have great organized fun (treasure hunt was great) and not be disruptive to the other passengers (myself included!). Club Hal's staff was wonderful, full of energy, and kept me informed of the activities every day when I signed my daughter in and out. I also get a break where I can sit and read without worrying if my kids have jumped over the rail, bored, etc. as I know they are having a great time, especially on days at sea.

No doubt your child will have great fun!

[kathyemma]

I am sure I will be running into you and your kids at Club HAL! I can not wait - doing the daily count down now. If you want to grab a drink or hit the casino one night - let me know. I am also a single mom - so i get bored at night once my dd goes off to the club.

Kathy