Do Youth and Teen facilities/programs different from Princess ship to ship?

[texasgirl29]

My countdown clock video (BTW, 30 days and 14 minutes to go!) has a feature about the youth and teen programs. We are sailing on the Island Princess which I understand is smaller than some of the other Princess ships. Does that reflect any difference in facilities for youth and teens? I'm really hoping my two (ages 9 and 12) will want to go to some of the activities, particularly the Young Chef program.

J.

[DrivesLikeMario]

Yes, the programs vary, but not greatly unless you're comparing the programs on the larger ships to the smaller ships.

Our kids enjoyed the kids' program on the Coral Princess when they were about your kids' ages. The Coral/Island has a smaller video game room than the other ships and no video arcade (the kind that costs money to play), but it's adequate. I'm sure the kids' program will be packed at that time of year. There were over 550 kids onboard our 10 night cruise and it was a total madhouse. Hope yours is better.

[kooljamming]

Great difference between Sapphire Princess and Golden Princess!

I observed the kids program on Sapphire Princess (02/09) which was interesting and engaging. It had interesting games so I was convinced my 11 yr old would like. On Golden Princess (08/09) the program was reduced to mainly crafts which she did not care for. The teen program was mostly a hang out on the Golden but engaing activities/competition on Sapphire.
My kids (11 and 13) enjoyed the program not for the activities but the friends they made. Be prepare for your 12 years old not wanting to spend time with much younger kids in the group (8-12 group).

[DrivesLikeMario]

I guess every experience is different. Our kids were on the Golden and the Diamond and the programs were almost identical.

[karatemom2]

Originally Posted by DrivesLikeMario

I guess every experience is different. Our kids were on the Golden and the Diamond and the programs were almost identical.

We have been on the Golden three times and the Diamond twice within the last couple of years and I agree. The quality of the program was excellent and very similar on both ships. We love Princess for many reasons, but the wonderful programs for children and teens is one of them. We have always found the activities to be very consistent on all of our Princess cruises and our kids always have a great time.

[kooljamming]

Originally Posted by DrivesLikeMario

I guess every experience is different. Our kids were on the Golden and the Diamond and the programs were almost identical.

Yeah, I was expecting an experience similar to the one I observed.

Activities on Sapphire Princess Shockwave (02/09):
Ping Pong tournament, build-a-book, guitar hero practice, air hockey, fooseballchallenge, t-shirt design contest, hula hoop/jump rope challenge, wizard academy, twister fun, tennis match, Mexican dinner fiesta night, movie, dodge ball, fact or fiction game, dissect a squid, ice cream party, scene it jr, pj party, mummy wrap, balloon popping challenge, one leg endurance, crazy-oke-time, line dancing, pirate night, face painting, pirate games and flag, graffiti wall art, face and hair painting, tattoo flower leis, family disco, butterfly key rings, mini golf, ojo de dios, stain-a-frame. family wii challenge, shuffle board fun, via las Vegas night: poker, roulette, black jack, auction, battle of the jenga cities, jeopardy game, ping pong challenge, group bowling challenge, velvet art.

Golden Princess Shockwave (08/09)
t-shirt coloring, draw the ship competition, ice cream social, make an art bag, b-day party dinner, movie, puzzle race, giant banner, celebrity heads. caption & caricatures, make a venician mask, choose some tattoos, disco, kids Olympics, talent show practice ( 7 acts for the actual show), board games: pictionary, beat the time, blink murder mystery, tumbs doodle klutz, foosball. family wii, pizza party, Viva las Vegas, fooseball final, dodge ball, talent show.

The activities came directly from Shockwave activity schedule. I might have missed a few but majority are included. It might be the directors interpretation and being on the right sailing. Overall I would rate Sapphire 8 out of 10, would be 9 if they had taken the kids to the show and started out the cruise with a family dance or some family activity. Golden Princess, the activities speak loud and clear. I would have loved to see a similar program on Golden as the one on the Sapphire. Maybe we will have better luck next time

[onthelake]

I think it makes a big difference with the number of kids on board. The bigger the group of kids, the more they stick strictly to the schedule. When they have a small group, they are more likely to make small changes to accommodate what the kids would like to do.

[DrivesLikeMario]

onthelake - That's a good point and we found it to be true too. Our first time on the Grand, there were only 13 8-12 yr. olds and they did modify the schedule to suit them.