Youth Programmes FAQs
Note: Youth program operations may vary by ship and sailing based on local regulations and continued return to service efforts.
As we continue our Youth Programs return to service efforts, Splash Academy is offering limited drop off services when the ship is sailing on sea days and port days. At this time, we are not offering any services when the ship is docked or in port or for late night.
Youth Programs is the umbrella of programs for children 5 to 17 years old which consists of:
Guppies Programs = Temporarily Not Offered. The Guppies Program offers parents many opportunities to interact with their infants/babies/toddlers and promote growth and development of infants/ babies/toddlers 6 months - 3 years old. Please refer to the Guppies activity programme for the location, dates, and times. The timetable varies per ship and itinerary. The programmes are:
Guppies Open Play = Temporarily Not Offered. A play space for parents and babies to play together with a variety of toys, balls, interactive games, and blocks. This is offered across the fleet and is not a drop off programme.
Guppies Hosted Activities = Temporarily Not Offered. Activities are hosted by the Early Years Coordinator (or Nursery Attendants on the Norwegian Escape) for parents and babies. This is offered across the fleet and is not a drop off programme.
Guppies Nursery = Permanently Closed.
Splash Academy is a drop off program for child ages 5 - 12 offering flexible programming allowing children to explore and make their own interest-based choices throughout the sailing.
Entourage is the teen hang out for 13 -17 years old Refer to Entourage FAQ: What does Entourage have to offer teens 13 -17 years old?
For Splash Academy and Entourage, it is recommended that parents register their child(ren) and teen(s) as soon as they board the ship. Any Youth Counsellor on board the ship is available to assist.
SPLASH ACADEMY
5 - 12 years old
ENTOURAGE
Entourage: 13* - 17 year olds
*Age eligibility is based on the age of the child at the time of sailing, according to their birth certificate or passport reflected on the ships manifest.
A child must be 5 years old to register for Splash Academy
A child must be 13 years old to register for Entourage. Please refer to the birthday exception.
A child who turns 18 during the cruise is considered a legal adult and will not be able to continue participation in Entourage.
*The minimum age eligible for Splash Academy is 5 years old at the time of sailing, based on the child's date of birth, according to their birth certificate or passport reflected on the ships manifest.
**Refer to FAQ: What do I need to know about the 10-12 year old parent sign-out authorisation?
On all ships, a one-time digital registration form is to be completed by a parent or guardian (if child is not traveling with their parent) for each child/teen age 5 - 17. Children/teens can then participate as frequently as they choose during operating hours. Norwegian requests that you let the Youth Staff know if your child has allergies and/or is taking any medications by noting this on the Registration Form.
Splash Academy and Entourage are complimentary programs.
Refer to FAQs Are there any fees I should be aware of?
Limited hours are offered on Sea Days and Port Days while the ship is sailing.
Hours are posted onboard the ship based on ship and itinerary.
Parents can allow their 10 - 12 year old to sign themselves out of Splash Academy after two hours of participation.
It is recommended for parents to make the first initial drop off so the Youth Staff have the opportunity to meet you. In order to sign themselves in and out of the programme, the 10-12 year olds must have their key cards and their parents location.
The authorisation ends nightly at 10:30 p.m. Therefore, at 10:30 p.m., the 10 -12 year old will be signed out from Splash Academy, unless the parent registers the child for Late Night Fun Zone.
If the child does not wish to remain in Splash Academy for the two hours, the parent or another authorised guardian can pick up the child at any time.
Please refer to FAQ regarding authorized pick-up people.
The sign out authorisation does not apply on Port Days.
It is recommended that parents decline the authorisation if they do not want their 10 - 12 year old unattended or if the child has a moderate to severe special need. It is also recommended for safety purposes, to establish a meet-up plan for 10-12 year old who are given the sign out authorisation so you are aware of where they are when not in the programme.
Most drop offs will take place in the Splash Academy; however due to high counts the 10 - 12 year old programme may be in a different location. This is not meant to cause inconvenience as it allows us to take in more children.
It is recommended that you check the Dolphins Activity Programme for all drop off locations.
Overall, there are very few fees associated with the Youth Programmes.
Bracelet Reprint Fee: $5.00 USD
Pager/Handy Phone Fee: $150.00 USD for damage and replacement.
Splash Academy Diaper Changing Fee: $75.00 USD and programme dismissal
Splash Academy Late Pick-Up Fee: $1.00 USD per minute, starting at the 16th minute and the child can be dismissed from programme for excessive late pick-ups.
It is not advised for a child to bring in electronics or personal items to Splash Academy. In the event the child does bring in an item, the child is fully responsible for the item if lost or damaged. In addition, whilst in programme, the device should be used on a limited basis as to not distract other children from the programme. We also reserve the right to remove the item in attempt to control shared content that may be inappropriate for all ages.
Yes, if they choose to. Children 5-12 are able to choose the activities they want to participate in by themselves or with other children.
Flexible Programming allows for the children to choose their interest-based activity. There will many options for them to explore from Dynamic, Creative, Gaming, and Chill. They can choose one or they can choose all of them.
The activities will vary per session.
Children must be at least five (5) years old to participate in Splash Academy based on date of birth at the time of sailing according to the ships manifest. No exceptions can be made.
Children turning five (5) years old during the cruise are welcome to register and participate on their birthday.
Children turning six (6) years old during the cruise are welcome to register for and participate in the 6-9 year old age group beginning embarkation evening.
Children turning ten (10) years old during the cruise are welcome to register for and participate in the 10-12 year old age group beginning embarkation evening. Sign in and out privileges* only apply after the child turns 10 years old.
Children turning thirteen (13) years old during the cruise are welcome to register for and participate in the Entourage Programme beginning embarkation evening.
If a 12 year old is registered for Splash Academy, it is understood that 12 year olds need special attention and programmes; therefore the Dolphins Youth Counsellors offer more mature games/theme nights and timetable Entourage Take-Overs allowing the Dolphins to enjoy the lounge, video games, air hockey, foosball, music videos and much more.
Splash Academy and Entourage are adult free zones (18+) regardless of what program is taking place.
Parents/guardians/adults are only allowed in the Splash Academy and Entourage facilities on embarkation day during the registration process.
Any parent with a special needs child that would like additional information, please contact the access desk in advance of sailing by calling toll free 0333 2412319 or by sending an email to accessdesk@ncl.com.
Parents or Primary Guardian (if children are not traveling with their parents) may select a total of four (4) people (including themselves) to drop off/pick up their child(ren) from Splash Academy (Fleetwide).
The authorised drop off and pick-up people are the same people and must be listed on the child's profile at the time of registration and must be 18 years of age or older.
The drop off/pick up person must always have the following:
- His/her key card and the child’s key card
- Noted password; share the password with all pick-up and drop-off people
- Handy Phone if issued
If the person does not have the key cards or password, this will delay the drop off and pick up process for Splash Academy age groups. At pick up, the child will not be released until proper keys and information is provided.
Norwegian Cruise Line does not provide one-on-one care or babysitting on any ship.
Identification bracelets are issued to children ages 5 - 12 when registered for the youth programmes and worn for the entire cruise. The bracelet is colour coordinated for each age group, displays the child's safety muster station and any allergies. Medical conditions are coded privately for internal use.
Splash Academy will accept children in nappies who are eligible to participate in the complimentary, drop-off programme. However, Youth Counsellors in Splash Academy on any ship are not able to change nappies or pull-ups. The parent or primary guardian is responsible to assist their child and will be given a pager or handy phone to alert them when their child needs assistance and must respond to the page within 15 minutes. In the event there is an immediate health and sanitary concern to the child, facility, or other children, the child will be assisted into clean clothes until the parents arrive or can be reached.
For Splash Academy, any parent or at least one authorized pick up person of a child in diapers using the drop off service, on sea days or ports must be reachable and remain on board as pagers and handy phones do not work.
A $75.00 USD fee will apply and the child will be dismissed from the programme if:
1. A parent does not respond to a page within 15 minutes.
2. A parent or authorised pick up person does not remain onboard during port day services.
Parents should be aware that Norwegian Cruise Line Youth Counsellors in Splash Academy on any ship are not able to assist children in the washrooms. This includes pulling up/down pants, buttoning/unbuttoning pants and/or wiping assistance
A pager or handy phone will be issued to alert you when your child needs assistance. Any parent or at least one authorised pick up person of a child needing assistance in the washroom and using the drop off service, on sea days or ports must be reachable and remain on board as papers and handy phones do not work ashore. A $75.00 USD fee will charged to the parent's onboard account and the child will be dismissed from programme if the authorised pick up people leave the ship and/or cannot be reached.
In the event there is an immediate health and sanitary concern to the child, facility, or other children, the child will be assisted into clean clothes until the parents arrive or can be reached.
Yes. Since Norwegian Cruise Line Youth Counsellors in Splash Academy are not able to provide one-on-one-care or babysitting, the parent(s) will be called to pick up their child after 15 minutes of continuous crying. The step process for care is as follows:
- Step 1: Comfort the child
- Step 2: Redirect the child
- Step 3: If the child is still crying, the parent will be called. It is expected that the parent pick up within 10 minutes of the call.
Yes, detailed activity agendas are available on embarkation day which advertise the schedule of activities for Splash Academy and Entourage for each age group.
Activities are flexible, subject to change, and age groups are combined. Entourage activities will be rescheduled (when possible) if there is no participation after the first 15 minutes of the scheduled activity.
Step 1: Warning - The Youth Counsellor addresses the child and it is explained that his/her behavior is unacceptable and needs to be improved immediately.
Step 2: Reflection Time - If the child continues to disobey the Youth Counsellor, a time out is issued and the parents are notified at pick-up time.
Step 3: Suspension - If a time out is not effective in eliminating the inappropriate behavior, the parents are located and the child is grounded from the programme for 24 hours. The child is then welcomed back, but if there is any reservation on the part of the Youth Counsellor, a parent may be required to attend with their child.
Step 4: Dismissal - Once the child is allowed back into the programme after the initial dismissal, if any disobedient behavior continues, the child will no longer be allowed to participate. More severe behaviours may warrant a higher discipline as deemed appropriate by the Youth Programme Supervisor.
Entourage combines the hang out zone, dance zone, game zone and party zone. The Teen Counsellors plan intriguing activities and challenges to keep the teens coming back for more. Activities and games may take place around the ship. Parents should know that the activities are hosted by the Teen Counsellors. However, when activities take place around the ship, Entourage may be unsupervised.
Yes, Entourage VIP Wristband for all registered teens to wear for the duration of the cruise. Teens need to bring their key card and be wearing the wrist band to enter Entourage and participate in the programmes. Replacement bracelets will require parent acknowledgement and a replacement fee will apply.
In an unlikely event of an emergency, if teens are in Entourage, the Teen Counsellor will direct the teens to their Assembly Stations; however, teens are personally responsible for proceeding to their Assembly Stations. Parents should ensure that their teen(s) are familiar with their Assembly Station location number or letter. This information can be found on the guest key card and on the back of the stateroom door.
For overall safety, parents are responsible for their children at all times, even when not present.
Yes. Teens are expected to be courteous and respectful at all times. Upon coming to Entourage, Teens should have their key card and wristband available/visible. Teens are also responsible for any personal items brought to activities and events. Teens participating in our programmes are prohibited from smoking, drinking alcohol and using profanity. Violence and vandalism will not be tolerated.
It is highly encouraged for teens/parents to have open communication when in and out of Entourage.
All crew members are instructed to report inappropriate behavior to Ship Security. There is a 1:00 a.m. curfew for all teenage guests. Teens must proceed to their staterooms unless they are accompanied by their parent/guardian.
Norwegian strongly discourages teens from travelling ashore alone in the ports of call.
Step 1: Verbal Warning - Teens exhibiting inappropriate behavior will be asked to stop immediately.
Step 2: Parent Notification - If the inappropriate behavior does not stop, parents will be notified of the inappropriate behavior and informed that if the behavior doesn't change the teen will be dismissed for 24 hours or programme dismissal depending on the severity.
Step 3: 24-Hour Dismissal with Parent/Ship Notification - If the inappropriate behavior does not stop, he/she will be dismissed from the Teen Centre and Teen Programme for 24 hours. Parents and Ship Security will be notified.
IMMEDIATE DISMISSAL: Any teen passenger exhibiting violence, vandalism or intoxication when participating in the Teen Programme or using the Teen Centre will result in immediate dismissal for the entire sailing. Parents and Ship Security will be notified.
If a child/teen of any age is not feeling well, he/she should visit the medical centre. Before returning to the programme, he/she must be cleared by the doctor. Please refer to Childhood Exclusion Policy that is posted outside all Youth Programme facilities. A standard medical centre charge may apply.
To ensure that children/teens and parents have an enjoyable holiday, and to assist those children/teens that require a little extra care, it is recommended that parents contact the access desk in advance of sailing for any medical special needs request by calling toll free 0333 2412319 or by sending an email to accessdesk@ncl.com.
Parents or guardians must alert the Youth Staff of any allergies, required medications or special needs of their child/teen when registering. If a child has a severe allergy and uses an epipen, the epipen must come with the child.
The Youth Programme Manager as the right to issue a handy phone based if the need is determined.
Youth Staff are not allowed to administer any medication to any child.
It is recommended for parents to contact the access desk for any severe allergies, medical conditions or specials needs by calling toll free 0333 2412319 or by sending an email to accessdesk@ncl.com.
In the event of an emergency during Splash Academy hours:
Child Care Team shall gather the children in their care and bring them safely to the Child Pick-Up Point where the children can be claimed by their parents. An announcement will be made as to the location of the Pick-Up Point.
On the order from the Captain, all unclaimed children at the Child Pick-Up Point will be accompanied by the Child Care Team to an assigned lifeboat.
No child will be left unattended.
Youth Programmes and Youth Programme facilities adhere to fire code safety and maximum occupancy* guidelines outlined per vessel based on Fire Safety Standard Code. In the event the facilities reach maximum occupancy, there could be delayed wait times for drop off.
*Maximum capacity refers to the maximum number of children and staff allowed inside the Youth Facilities at any time to provide safety and prevent overcrowding. Splash Academy and Entourage staff are required to enforce the set limits and reserve the right to temporarily suspend drop off service to registered guests once the maximum capacity has been reached. Access to facilities will be granted once children/teens are signed -out or picked up and space becomes available. The service is available on a first come first serve basis.
Yes. 24-hour Internet service and arcade games are available on the ship and are accessible with your stateroom key card. Fees are charged directly to your onboard account. Parents, if you do not wish for your child to have access, please visit the reception desk and deactivate your child's card.
Great family fun is offered throughout the cruise. Activities are subject to change per ship/itinerary but may include shipboard challenges, a circus show, a movie night, sports competitions, scavenger hunts, dance parties, game show challenges and poolside challenges.
Please remember that a parent or guardian is required throughout the duration of the activity in order for the child to participate in designated Family Activities.