Final Oasis of the Seas Neighborhood Announced - The Youth Zone

There has been so much information coming out about the Oasis of the Seas that you might have missed the announcement of the seventh and final "neighborhood" which Royal Caribbean made with much fanfare on Wednesday - the Youth Zone.

Continuing the tradition of excellence in programming for children and teens, this zone will encompass over 28,700 square feet, and include Kids Avenue, a central boulevard connecting dedicated Adventure Ocean spaces and various themed play areas; the cruise line’s first nursery for infants and toddlers six months or older; and state-of-the-art teen areas.

Yes, you read that right. A nursery for infants and toddlers! The Royal Babies and Tots nursery, a first for Royal Caribbean, will serve as a fully-staffed nursery with trained professionals, as well as various playgroups created by Fisher-Price and Crayola. Open daily, the nursery will offer parents drop-off options in the daytime and evening, carefully maintaining an optimum staff-to-child ratio. Free-time play also will be offered daily. This type of facility previously was only found on lines such as Disney and Cunard, and is sure to be popular with young families. While I still caution families to be careful in traveling with very young infants, even at 6 months, as exposure to a large ship, with so many people (and unfamiliar germs) can be difficult for such a young immune system, this is an option for those who want to travel with their younger children.

Within the Youth Zone, Kids Avenue will serve as the main promenade for young cruisers. Arts and crafts activities, scavenger hunts, talent shows and other scheduled and guided age-specific activities will be offered to three age groups, each with its own space: Aquanauts, age 3 to 5; Explorers, age 6 to 8; and Voyagers, ages 9 to 11. In addition, there will be new common play areas, including the Kid’s Arcade for video games; the Workshop, where families can learn scrapbooking skills or create personalized jewelry; Imagination Studio where children can explore through the Adventure Art by Crayola; an Adventure Science Lab; Play, a circular area for sports and games; and Adventure Ocean Theater, a children’s theater at sea complete with a stage and curtains, audience seating and production equipment.

The teen-only spaces will be located one deck above and adjacent to the ship’s Sports Deck, where kids can try out the ship’s two FlowRider surf simulators; the miniature golf-course, Oasis Dunes; or the Sports Court for volleyball and basketball games. The physical separation of the teen-only spaces from younger Adventure Ocean guests is an enhancement recommended by Royal Caribbean’s Teen Advisory Board. Longtime teen-only spaces, Fuel disco and The Living Room, will return aboard Oasis of the Seas, only larger and more state-of-the-art. The Living Room is a hangout for teens with a “mock-tail” bar, which serves non-alcoholic sodas and juice concoctions. It also is the place for Scratch DJ 101 classes and surfing the Internet via the bank of computer stations. An outdoor deck is adjacent.

In addition to these areas, attractions for children will be located throughout the ship’s other neighborhoods. Along the Boardwalk, kids and teens will be able to shop at retail stores tailored to their interests, and infants and toddlers can ride the Carousel with their parents or enjoy the play space modeled after a 50’s style gas station next to the Johnny Rockets restaurant. The Challengers Arcade will return with the latest video games. In the Vitality Spa and Fitness Zone, teens and tweens can enjoy a menu of spa options specially tailored for them.

“The Youth Zone aboard Oasis of the Seas will continue to build on our award-winning Adventure Ocean youth and teen programs, and expand to include dedicated space and programming for our guests as young as six months,” said Adam Goldstein, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean International.

In case you missed any of the other announcements, the other neighborhoods will include Central Park, Boardwalk with the AquaTheater, the Royal Promenade, the Pool and Sports Zone, the Vitality at Sea Spa and Fitness Center, and Entertainment Place.

Pregnant? Just had a baby? New policies on RCCL, Celebrity, Azamara

The RCI brands - Royal Caribbean, Celebrity and Azamara - have revised their policies dealing with their youngest passengers... and those expecting future cruisers.

Effective immediately, infants sailing on a cruise must be at least 6 months old as of the first day of the cruise/cruisetour. However, for Transatlantic, Transpacific, Hawaii, select South American cruises/cruisetours and other selected cruises/cruisetours, the infant (as of the first day of the cruise/cruisetour) must be at least 12 months old.

For pregnant cruisers, the policy is revised for all three lines as well. Guests who will have entered
their 24th week of pregnancy by the beginning of, or at any time during, the cruise or cruisetour. A physician's "Fit to Travel" note is required prior to sailing, stating how far along (in weeks) the guest's pregnancy will be at the beginning of the cruise and confirming that the guest is in good health and not experiencing a high-risk pregnancy.

These policies are for the protection of the passengers. Neonatal and infants require specialized equipment and medication, and the onboard clinics just aren't equipped to handle premature labor or infants. Other lines have similar requirements and I'd expect to see more of these restrictions specifically spelled out.

If you're pregnant and thinking of cruising, or have an infant, make sure to discuss that with your agent at the time of booking... or after you've confirmed your pregnancy. It's wonderful to get away before the birth of a new family member, but horrible to be turned away at the pier.