Norwegian Cruise Line launches "Guppies" program for youngsters

New Splash Academy and Entourage Programs receive rave reviews from kids and parents alike

MIAMI – March 18, 2012 – Norwegian Cruise Line announced today that the line’s children’s program, Splash Academy, has implemented a brand new “Guppies” program offering exciting, interactive programming for kids’ ages six months to three years old.

The new program gives parents, with children under the age of three, the opportunity to engage in a variety of sensory-based programs with children including baby art, featuring organic, vegetable-based “Wee Can Too” art products, baby “Rhyme Time,” where a storyteller recites popular nursery rhymes featuring puppets, and “Motion in the Ocean,”  a parent and baby mini-workout.

Now, for a limited time, families have an extra incentive to book a new cruise reservation in order to experience these new programs by taking advantage of Norwegian’s popular Kid’s Sail Free Sales Event.  For cruises booked now through March 23, 2013, kids ages 17 and under traveling with two adults in the same stateroom cruise free on select sailings. Taking advantage of this special offer gives families the perfect opportunity to experience the all new Guppies program and the rest of the exciting Splash Academy and Entourage program offerings. 

Norwegian Cruise Line is also celebrating the successful fleet-wide implementation of its enhanced Youth and Teen programs, Splash Academy and Entourage. The new programs, announced in February of 2012, have received enthusiastically positive reviews from parents and kids, and have made a dramatic impact on the overall family cruise experience.

With the new programs, kids and teens have the chance to participate in a variety of innovative events and activities throughout their cruise, specially tailored to their individual age groups. Both Splash Academy and Entourage feature a different theme each day, such as “Rumble in the Jungle,” and “Under the Big Top,” offering new surprises every time the children return to the program. 

“When we got home from our trip on Norwegian Pearl, I asked my six-year-old daughter what she liked the most about our cruise to Alaska,” said Jennifer Bronson Hano, a recent Norwegian guest. “She told me it was Splash Academy, saying ‘I went to Splash Academy every day!’" 

Kids of all age groups love participating in the sporting activities that were developed through the partnership with The King’s Foundation and Camps, a United Kingdom-based organization. The sports component of the youth programs offers high quality sports activities designed to make a positive impact on the children. Examples include soccer skills; physical challenges; and icebreaker action games. Bowling tournaments, soccer challenges and “dodge ball under the stars” are just a few of the active offerings for teens. The new program also offers the family a chance to play along in a variety of sporting activities including dodge ball, tug-of-war and other exciting family challenges.

One of the most popular aspects of the new program is the circus workshop, developed through the partnership with Hilario Productions’ Cirque du Jour, which offers fun circus activities for the whole family.  Through the program, children have the rare opportunity to learn a variety of unique skills such as balancing feathers, juggling, plate spinning and even stilt walking. Classes take place within the youth program, but a family circus school performed in a circus ring, hosted by the Cruise Director, who acts as ringmaster, is also offered.

“My two grandchildren ages 6 and 8 loved Splash Academy! I had to drag them out each night,” said Norwegian Facebook fan, Claire Denora Bradford.  “They even wanted to stay there instead of going to the beach in Bermuda! The counselors worked so hard with the kids for the circus performance and it was a big hit! We thought it was a very well-run program and the counselors are safety oriented.”

 

Parents also love participating in activities and events with their children, including cupcake decorating; pizza making; family game shows; family charades; Family Deck Party; and a special Family White Hot Party. Additional information about Norwegian’s family offerings can be found at

www.ncl.com/family. ;

To book a cruise during Norwegian’s Kid’s Sail Free Event, families can contact a travel professional, call 866-234-7350 or visit www.ncl.com.

About Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian Cruise Line is the innovator in cruise travel with a 46-year history of breaking the boundaries of traditional cruising, most notably with the introduction of Freestyle Cruising which revolutionized the industry by giving guests more freedom and flexibility. Today, Norwegian invites guests to “Cruise Like a Norwegian” on one of 11 purpose-built Freestyle Cruising ships, providing guests the opportunity to enjoy a relaxed cruise vacation on some of the newest and most contemporary ships at sea. Recently, the line was named “Europe’s Leading Cruise Line” by the World Travel Awards for the fifth consecutive year.

Norwegian Cruise Line’s largest and most innovative Freestyle Cruising ship,

Norwegian Epic, debuted in June 2010 and has been named “Best Overall Cruise Ship” by the readers of Travel Weekly two years in a row and “Best Ship for Sea Days” by Cruise Critic. Norwegian Cruise Line is the official cruise line of Blue Man Group, appearing for the first time at sea on Norwegian Epic, as well as the official cruise line of Legends in Concert, The Second City®, Howl at the Moon Dueling Pianos, and Nickelodeon, the number-one entertainment brand for kids. Cirque Dreams™ & Dinner is also featured on board Norwegian Epic as the first show of its kind at sea under a big top.

The Company has two 4,000-passenger vessels, Norwegian Breakaway and Norwegian Getaway, under construction for delivery in April 2013 and January 2014, along with one larger “Breakaway Plus” vessel for delivery in fall 2015.  Known as New York’s ship, Norwegian Breakaway will be the largest vessel to homeport year-round in the city, sailing to Bermuda for the summer beginning May 12, 2013.  Norwegian Breakaway’s features include hull art by legendary artist Peter Max, seafood restaurant Ocean Blue by famed New York Iron Chef Geoffrey Zakarian, bakery by Buddy Valastro, star of the TLC series “Cake Boss,” and fitness classes and a retrospective display from the ship’s iconic godmothers, the Rockettes®.  The entertainment lineup includes three Broadway shows: Rock of Ages, Burn the Floor and Cirque Dreams™ & Dinner: Jungle Fantasy.  Sister ship Norwegian Getaway, the largest ship to homeport year-round in Miami, will sail Eastern Caribbean voyages beginning in February 2014.  Sailings for both vessels are now on sale.

For further information on Norwegian Cruise Line, visit www.ncl.com, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @Norwegiancruiseline, Pin us on Pinterest, watch us on YouTube, or contact us in the U.S. and Canada at 888-NCL-CRUISE (625-2784).