Keen to win the kids' vote, Princess asked some of its child-aged passengers to rename its two older age-group activity programmes. Now, eight to 12-year-olds club previously known as "Princess Pirateers" rejoices in the much funkier name of "Shockwaves", while the "Off Limits" clubs for 13 to 17-year-olds has been renamed "Remix".
These, together with the "Princess Pelicans" club for three to seven-year-olds, occupy "The Fun Zone" on Deck 12, and keep youngsters busy -- broadly speaking -- from 9 a.m. to noon, 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. until 10 p.m.
Child supervision is also available from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. at a price of $5 per child, per hour, and children are invited to a Kids' dinner from 7 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. -- useful if parents want to dine alone. Younger children must be out of nappies and fully toilet trained to join the club.
Compared to some ships (including the newer, bigger ones on the Princess fleet) children's facilities are limited to a couple of rooms, but the youth staff are enthusiastic and the activities -- from making clown hats to designing outfits for a "Fantastic Plastic Fashion Parade" -- quite imaginative.
Other than ping pong tables, a ball court and splash pool up on Deck 15 and the large outdoor Riviera pool on Deck 12 -- which they tend to monopolise at times -- kids have no dedicated outdoor area.
