Kids in Nature

The Best Playground on Earth

 

Whether you're part of a family on a private charter or a mix of families booking independently, you can enjoy adventure travel in nature’s most diverse playgrounds.

 

Activities abound for all ages:

The opportunities are endless. Whether your family wants to kayak, walk on a remote beach, collect shells to study, hike on ancient glacial ice and in the temperate rain forest, or enjoy a full-scale picnic and hot springs excursion, you’ll find that our explorations are a blast!  You’ll hop from shore-to-shore by shore boat, view whales directly off the bow and Steller sea lions and seals along the coastline. Then, there’s fishing and crabbing, and checking in on the musical antics under the sea via the underwater Hydrophone and underwater camera.  All of these activities offer an exceptional experience for the whole family.  WE GUARANTEE…NO ONE WILL BE BORED!

 

Learning and fun:

Far from the typical family vacation getaway, a yacht cruise provides kids a fun way to learn about nature and other cultures. With one crewmember for every two guests, kids and adults alike are accompanied on a variety of personal-choice excursions while the yacht is at anchor in our destinations. In a rare introduction to wilderness lifestyles, kids and the entire family will meet and interact with local residents of remote island communities. 

Memories to Share:

At the end of a week of up-close adventure, the crew will present each family member with a photo disc of several hundred images to share and reminisce for years to come. Each child under 12 will receive other mementos of their various explorations.

 

Special Pricing:

Our unique Kids in Nature program (KIN) convenes during popular summer vacation times in Alaska and popular spring vacation times in Hawaii.  

The program is available on our June 25 or July 16, 2010 Alaska Discoverers’ Glacier Country cruise departures aboard the Safari Quest. In Hawaii the program is available on our March 8 and 24, 2012 Hawaiian Seascapes cruise departures aboard the Safari Explorer.  These dates offer a savings of 25% off the published rate for kids under 12 years of age.

For families that board the 12-guest Safari Spirit, we offer a special charter savings rate of a 8% off the published fare for all (11) Alaska Discoverers’ Glacier Country peak season cruise departures (June 11 - August 20, 2010) and 5% off the published fare for select value season departures (May 14, 21, 28; June 4; August 27, 2010).

 

Questions We Often Hear:

 

My kids are so active.  Are they going to go stir crazy on a boat for a week?

On the contrary, kids kayak, hike, fish from the swim platform, help pull up crab pots, examine star fish in their hand with the help of the Expedition Leader/Naturalist and learn about nature from all of the crewmembers.  They help the Chef prepare a "glacier cake" or make cookies and create arts and crafts with materials supplied by the assisting crew.  Like adults, they love seeing whales, bears, dolphins, sea otters, eagles and all kinds of wildlife close off the bow of the yacht or inflatable launch.  In warm water destinations, rope swings, tubing, water skiing, snorkeling, beachcombing, cave searches, burro trail rides and other adventures await kids and adults alike.  Kids enjoy the hot tubs, games, kid-friendly DVDs and books available onboard.    With so many varied activities at their fingertips, kids tend to forget that Nintendo even exists.

I'm worried about my kids disrupting the cruise for others.  Will my kids be bored?

To ensure that everyone enjoys their yacht experience, we generally set aside special departures under our  "Kids in Nature" program for families with kids under the age of 12.  Educational and fun activities aided by take-home equipment provided by the Expedition Leaders keep the kids happy and busy.  Bored - no; exhausted at the end of each day from kayaking, hiking and watching glaciers calve giant icebergs into the sea  - yes!  Parents truly appreciate the all-out effort to ensure their kids come away with a well-rounded outdoor vacation.  The other way that young kids are accommodated on our 12, 22 or 36 guest yachts is when families charter the entire yacht.

What is the youngest age child that you can accommodate?

There is no age restriction.  Families with kids between infancy and about five-years-old most often choose to book a private charter or take advantage of one of our "Kids in Nature" select departures.  Life jackets are provided onboard for kids age five years and above (about 70 pounds and up).  For younger children, it works best for parents to bring a custom-sized life jacket from home.