{"id":13613,"date":"2025-07-14T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-07-14T15:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fromabirdseyeview.com\/?p=13613"},"modified":"2025-07-10T08:48:00","modified_gmt":"2025-07-10T15:48:00","slug":"2000-kids-on-board-really","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fromabirdseyeview.com\/?p=13613","title":{"rendered":"2500 Kids on Board! Really?!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>by Bob Sparrow<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"448\" src=\"https:\/\/fromabirdseyeview.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/deck-north-stro.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-13614\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fromabirdseyeview.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/deck-north-stro.webp 768w, https:\/\/fromabirdseyeview.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/deck-north-stro-300x175.webp 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Ovation of the Seas &#8211; Kids pool with North Star in upper right corner<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-ad2f72ca wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<p>While we\u2019re on the subject of cruising after reading Suzanne\u2019s blog last week about \u2018Senior Cruising\u2019, I thought I would mention that Linda and I will be leaving this Tuesday on what could be called <strong>\u2018Junior Cruising\u2019<\/strong>. Our three kids,<strong> Stephanie, Dana and Jeff<\/strong>, their spouses, <strong>Jason, Joe and Pam<\/strong> AND our five grandchildren, <strong>Dylan, Emma, Addison, Mac and Brooklyn<\/strong>, will all be boarding the <strong>Royal Caribbean<\/strong> ship, <em><strong>Ovations of the Sea<\/strong> <\/em>for a four-day cruise from <strong>L.A. to Ensenada, Mexico and back to L.A.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>There will be nearly <strong>5,000 passengers<\/strong> on board, half of them kids, so this is not a cruise for relaxation, in fact there are so many things to do on this ship, that we may not get to them all in the four days we will be on board. Below is a list of activities available to the kids\/grandkids, OK, and maybe us too.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"275\" height=\"183\" src=\"https:\/\/fromabirdseyeview.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/ripcord.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-13622\" style=\"width:332px;height:auto\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Ripcord skydiving<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>At the <strong>SeaPlex<\/strong>, at varying times, one can ride bumper cars, play basketball, volleyball, soccer, go roller skating or attend a circus school with a trapeze.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Go on <strong>North Star<\/strong>, which extends 300 feet above the ship for a 360-degree view of the surroundings.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Ripcord<\/strong> is a skydiving simulator the gives the sensation of free falling.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>FlowRider <\/strong>is a surf simulator that lets you ride a surfboard or a boogie board on real waves.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Rock Climbing<\/strong> on a simulated rock wall on the side of the ship, safety lines included.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"259\" height=\"194\" src=\"https:\/\/fromabirdseyeview.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/wave.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-13616\" style=\"width:323px;height:auto\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">FlowRider<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>In their spare time, kids can participate in the <strong>Adventure Ocean<\/strong> youth program where age-specific activities for <strong>Aquanauts<\/strong> (3-5), <strong>Explorers<\/strong> (6-8) and <strong>Voyagers<\/strong> (9-11), and <strong>a Teen Lounge<\/strong> for those \u2018older\u2019 kids. There is also an <strong>Adventure Science Lab<\/strong> and a fun-filled <strong>Water Park<\/strong>, with mini-slides, water cannons, fountains and pools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In between activities I\u2019m sure the kids will find \u2018all-you-can-eat-pizza\u2019 and \u2018all-you-can-eat-ice cream shops.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"351\" height=\"143\" src=\"https:\/\/fromabirdseyeview.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/bumper.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-13615\" style=\"width:442px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fromabirdseyeview.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/bumper.jpg 351w, https:\/\/fromabirdseyeview.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/bumper-300x122.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 351px) 100vw, 351px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Bumper cars<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>But the ship also recognizes that adults may need a break and a treat or two, so there is an <strong>adult-only section<\/strong> where one can go to get relief from the constant chaos, a<strong> casino<\/strong>, where I\u2019ll look for Linda if I can\u2019t find her, a <strong>Bionic Bar<\/strong> where your drink is made to order by a <strong>mechanical bartender, <\/strong>no tipping just oil him once in a while.\u00a0 There are Broadway-style shows nightly as well as venues with music and dancing \u2013 not sure how much dancing I\u2019ll do, but it\u2019s nice to know it&#8217;s there in the event I get the urge! There is also a place called <strong>Two70<\/strong>, it provides a 270-degree view from the back of the boat.\u00a0 This multi-level lounge transforms from a daytime observation space with panoramic views into a nighttime theater featuring a unique blend of digital art, robotics, and live performances. There are also plenty of restaurants and bars that will help us to maximize our <strong>drink package!<\/strong> Oh yeah, there\u2019s also a gym, but don\u2019t expect any photos that might catch us perspiring.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"275\" height=\"183\" src=\"https:\/\/fromabirdseyeview.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/robot-bartenders.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-13617\" style=\"width:335px;height:auto\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Robotic bar<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>We\u2019re not sure we want to expose our grandkids to <strong>Ensenada <\/strong>at their age, so we\u2019ll probably not get off the boat when we\u2019re in port, but we\u2019ll see, maybe they want to discover what a real Mexican taco tastes like.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That\u2019s all for the cruise preview, if anything happens that\u2019s blog-worthy, I\u2019ll give you an update next time.\u00a0 Until then, wish me luck in keeping my sanity around <strong>2,000 sugar-high kids!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>                                    Yes, I&#8217;ll have another Margarita, thank you!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>by Bob Sparrow While we\u2019re on the subject of cruising after reading Suzanne\u2019s blog last week about \u2018Senior Cruising\u2019, I thought I would mention that Linda and I will be leaving this Tuesday on what could be called \u2018Junior Cruising\u2019. &hellip; <a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/fromabirdseyeview.com\/?p=13613\">read more<span class=\"meta-nav\"><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":13614,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[813],"tags":[4786,4788,4789,4784,3138,4781,4780,4783,4779,4782,4787,4785],"class_list":["post-13613","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-travel","tag-bionic-bar","tag-drink-package","tag-ensenada","tag-flowrider","tag-mexico","tag-north-star","tag-ovation-of-the-seas","tag-ripcord","tag-royal-carribean","tag-seaplex","tag-two70","tag-water-park"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/fromabirdseyeview.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/deck-north-stro.webp","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p31aN0-3xz","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/fromabirdseyeview.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13613","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/fromabirdseyeview.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/fromabirdseyeview.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fromabirdseyeview.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fromabirdseyeview.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=13613"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/fromabirdseyeview.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13613\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13624,"href":"https:\/\/fromabirdseyeview.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13613\/revisions\/13624"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fromabirdseyeview.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/13614"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/fromabirdseyeview.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=13613"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fromabirdseyeview.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=13613"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fromabirdseyeview.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=13613"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}