Jeannette McCurdy is one of the stars of Nickelodeon’s iCarly, along with Nathan Kress and, of course, Miranda Cosgrove. My kids love Jeanette McCurdy and the gang, in fact, iCarly is one of their favorite Nickelodeon shows (along with Spongebob Squarepants, starring that goofy yellow invertebrate). When my kids and I were on the Nickelodeon Cruise, Jeannete McCurdy and Nathan Kress were perfect; fun, humble, never condescending, and genuinely happy to be on a cruise with legions of adoring fans. Jeanette McCurdy even took some time to let my older daughter interview her, and here is the resulting video.

Now, a year and a half has passed since that family cruise vacation. My younger daughter (who interviewed Nathan Kress for this video) now fits into the shirt my older one is wearing in that Jeannette McCurdy interview video!  I’m embarrassed to admit this, but it took me a long time to remember I had video from our Nickelodeon Cruise family vacation online because I misplaced that Flip video camera. It’s been a real pleasure, and a nostalgic trip, to watch all the videos from our family cruise — children grow up a lot in almost two years! The Nickelodeon Cruise itself has changed as well: The Nickelodeon Cruise has switched ships from the Royal Caribbean Mariner of the Seas ocean liner to one in the Norwegian Cruise Line. I’m sure, though, that Nathan Kress and Jeannette McCurdy are just as gracious as ever.

That Nickelodeon Cruise allowed my children and I to explore Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan, and Puerto Vallarta during day trips off the ocean liner. Looking back, I am certain that there are better ways to get to know a travel destination — especially one as large and diverse as Mexico’s Pacific coast. It’s a pretty good introduction for children to a different place, though. After giggling over all the raw videos with my kids, I asked them what their favorite memories of that family cruise vacation were. My younger daughter most loved recalling the rain forest in Puerto Vallarta, the Spongebob Squarepants concert, meeting Nathan Kress, and the all-you-can-eat soft ice cream self serve by the children’s pool. My older daughter most fondly remembered meeting Jeannette McCurdy, a “find the Splat” ship-wide scavenger hunt, and winning a dollar (from me!) for eating a hot jalapeno in Mazatlan. I lost that bet, and yes, she reminds me whenever the opportunity arises.

Walking through a rain forest, thrilling to a child-centric trip, even winning a bet with your mother: These are some experiences that add up to wonderful memories of a family cruise vacation. If we are, indeed, the sum of our experiences, then I’ll always recall that Nickelodeon vacation with gratitude. I am so thankful to have these valuable, shared experiences of laughter and discovery with my children. No matter what type of family vacation you prefer, traveling with your children strengthens the ties of the family unit.

Thank you to Nickelodeon at Sea Cruises for hosting this fun family cruise vacation.

My children and I were so lucky to have been invited to go on the Nickelodeon Cruise.

This Royal Caribbean West Coast cruise set sail from Los Angeles, going to the Mexican Riviera with ports of call in Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan, and Puerto Vallarta. In between, as you can guess, there is non-stop Nickelodeon fun and activities for the kids. Since this was my first real cruise (we were also on a two-day “mini-cruise” in February), I can say that this was the Best Cruise Ever! (Yes, having no point of comparison makes this a rather flimsy claim, but all the children I spoke to on the cruise were having the time of their lives.) One of the biggest highlight of the Nick Cruise was the up-close interaction with several young actors on Nick television shows.

Jennette McCurdy on Nick Cruise

Children younger than mine were delighted to see Dora, Diego, and the Penguins (from Madagascar) walking around, and my kids loved getting to meet real-life actors from iCarly and True Jackson, VP. On the 2-day cruise my younger daughter got to “interview’ iCarly actor Nathan Kress, and she was delighted when he recognized her and sat next to her for a few minutes. He’s a great guy.

Keke Palmer with Fans on Nick Cruise

My older daughter got to interview his costar Jennette McCurdy on this cruise, and later, when Jennette remembered her name and spoke to her briefly, my daughter was (for once) rendered nearly speechless. And Keke Palmer, star of True Jackson, VP, was so friendly and delightful that even the shyest kids accepted her hugs with glee.

Tom Kenny

Yes, Spongebob Squarepants is all over the Nick Cruise – and there was a great “concert” starring the voice of Spongebob, Tom Kenny. Seriously, he rocked out with a band, in a way that the children and teens really appreciated. It was the most joyous sing-along of the Spongebob Squarepants theme song you can imagine. Loud, too. On the last night of the cruise, all the stars participated in a game of “Tic Tac Nick” (I think it should have been called Nick Tac Toe, but whatever) in one of the giant theaters, The Savoy. Lucky Tom Kenny got to go twice, once as himself and once as the voice of Spongebob. This was, like every other theatrical show – including the ice show – an audience participation game.

Happy Cruising Kids

More on the cruise to come – I loved getting off the Mariner of the Seas and exploring a little of Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan, and Puerto Vallarta with my children – but believe me; those teen actors on the Nickelodeon Cruise couldn’t have been nicer to the kids on the boat, or more professional with the adults. Nickelodeon does a great job with their cadre of young actors. What a wonderful family vacation.

If you tuned in a few days ago you saw my review of the JW Marriott’s new Nickelodeon Getaway Program at JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort in Phoenix, but this resort deserves even more attention than I could give in the earlier SpongeBob and Dora filled post.

Talk about an extremely kid-friendly resort!

Nickelodeon aside, this Marriott was perfect for the kids right from the start.

1. Comfy rooms. I’ve mentioned in previous posts that I love a good beds, and Marriott has them. In addition, if you’re a family who needs a lot of space, I recommend you reserve a Luxury Suite. The main suite has two separate entrances and is equipped with a murphy bed, a dining/conference table (perfect for room service or for a family pizza gathering when you want to take a break from the pool). The suite has a wetbar, desk, TV and sitting area and one of the most spacious bathrooms I have ever seen. On each side of the suite are door leading to two traditional bedrooms (also with spacious bathrooms), one room has a king-sized bed, the other one has two doubles. Depending upon your clan size, you can reserve only one or all three rooms.

2. Kid-friendly dining. There are several dining options on the property but we stayed within the comforts of  Blue Sage restaurant because 1) With the resort fee, kids eat for free, 2) The environment was casual enough to accommodate our preschoolers, and 3) The buffet had a kid-sized area filled with mac n cheese, chicken strips and tater tots (Darling!). My kids loved being able to help themselves.

3. Fun in the sun! Sure, mom can hit the on site Revive spa and dad can play a round at the Wildfire Golf Club, but the entire family will want to spend time in one of the four pools. We opted to spend the entire day in the lazy river and playing on the waterslide. There are no rental fees for the tubes, just grab a one or two person tube and relax.

4. Water, water everywhere. When in the desert, it’s imperative you stay hydrated, and Desert Ridge happily helps guests do just that. Scattered throughout the pool areas are pitchers of ice water with plastic cups so you can help yourself as needed. In the lobby (this one was near Blue Sage) was fruit flavored water which changed daily. My kids are big water drinkers so fruit water was quite a treat.

This JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort made it so easy to have a relaxing yet memorable weekend with all of its kid friendly features. I can’t help but recommend this kid friendly Phoenix resort to other families looking for the perfect weekend.

The new Nickelodeon  Getaway Program at select JW Marriott Resorts is a guaranteed funtastic way to have a full-blown “all about the kids” vacation this summer. This past weekend the  program kicked-off, and my family was lucky enough to be invited by Marriott to partake in the launch at JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa in Phoenix. I have to say it was one of the most memorable weekends we have ever had as a family.

Stay tuned for a more thorough review of the extremely family-friendly Desert Ridge Resort, but in the meantime, let me tell you about the Nickelodeon  Getaway Program.

Immediately upon arrival, families know they in for a treat. Nickelodeon Getaway Hosts greet guests with a big welcome in the resort lobby.  You can’t miss them, since they are dressed in bright orange shirts (and some in orange Crocs) and a couple of popular TV start might be nearby. (Hint: One is big and yellow and lives in the sea and they other wears a purple backpack and is always up for an adventure). The hosts kindly answer questions, offer itineraries and pump everyone up for the weekend (the program is held over weekends and, depending upon the location, is offered year-round or seasonally.) Rates start at $139, which I think is very reasonable since seeing the kids’ faces light up when the see Dora and Sponge Bog is  priceless.

Our first night, all participating families gathered poolside for the kick-off, which consisted of games, Otter pops,  the classic green sliming and a swim-in movie.

Saturday morning families that wished to participate in the character breakfast (at an extra cost) had the pleasure of meeting Sponge Bob Square Pants and/or Dora the Explorer, and even getting the star’s stamped “autograph” (which will certainly be included in the kids’ scrapbooks).

Saturday was filled with other Nickelodeon activities, such as themed art projects (some cost a little extra) and poolside game activities. In between swimming and riding the resort’s water slide, we had a great time watching the Nickelodeon Getaway Hosts entertain guests with songs and games, which included parents and grandparents getting pies in the face!

Saturday evening was another movie by the pool which featured iCarly (remember SoCalGal’s daughter’s interview with actor Nathan Kress?).

By Sunday it was time to say good-bye (and let’s just say our little ones were not ready – and honestly, I wasn’t either).  We bid farewell to our character friends in the lobby and snapped a few final shots before returning to Tucson.

If you’re looking for a kid-friendly experience this summer, I highly recommend the new Nickelodeon Getaway Program at JW Marriott Resorts – it’s a great way to keep the kids entertained and make some wonderful family memories.

For more information visit www.nickelodeongetaway.com.

Nickelodeon cruise vacations are poised to become the Next Big Thing in family travel. The itineraries - to the Mexican Riviera or the Caribbean – are popular vacation spots in their own right, of course. Add in the fun of a family cruise with real Nickelodeon TV stars from iCarly (and characters – hello, Spongebob!), and we’re talking happy, entertained children from sunrise to sunset.

My own kids had an amazing two-day cruise experience recently. A highlight was when they met iCarly actors Jennette McCurdy and Nathan Kress. In fact, my younger daughter snagged herself an interview with Nathan Kress, who plays Freddy on iCarly. He’s a cool kid!  Here is the interview, straight from the Nick cruise:

Nathan Kress is a professional actor, despite his young age. He knows how to project his voice, whereas my somewhat starstruck daughter does not. In case you had a hard time hearing her questions (I know I did, and I was 3 feet away), she asked him what his favorite TV shows are, if he likes to vacation with his family, how it feels to have so many fans, his favorite place to travel, and what it’s like playing Freddy on iCarly. Softball questions, yes, but this wasn’t Meet The Press.

This partnership of Nickelodeon and Royal Caribbean is really exciting for those of us with Nick-crazed young kids.

Diego and Dora on the Nick Cruise (nick.com)

The ship that cruises out of Los Angeles, the Mariner of the Seas, is huge (Voyager Class), with plenty of things for the parents to do while their kids play.  It’s over a thousand feet long with 15 passenger decks, after all – room enough for an adult spa and fitness center as well as an ice skating rink, and designated youth and teen areas. Imagine that: While Mom and Dad are enjoying a relaxing body treatment in the spa, our children are getting a full-body treatment of their own, in the form of getting slimed. That’s right, the classic Nick Slime Time makes a big appearance on Nickelodeon family cruise vacatons, along with Dora, Diego, and the genial, friendly stars of iCarly. It’s hard to imagine a more child-friendly, entertaining family cruise trip.

Next summer is going to offer something great for families; two new Nickelodeon cruise vacations on massive, classy, 4-star Royal Caribbean cruise ships. My children love Nickelodeon, and when I let them watch TV (who am I kidding, this means almost every evening), they usually choose to watch kiddie fare like iCarly, Drake and Josh, and Spongebob Squarepants. A Nickelodeon cruise trip sounds like a perfect way to spend a family vacation at sea.

We have never been on a cruise before, unless kayaking around the Long Island Sound counts (it doesn’t).  So when Nickelodeon and Royal Caribbean offered a 2-day, one-night mini-vacation, it seemed like an offer we couldn’t refuse.  It’s an easy drive from West LA to the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro, and when we pulled into the parking lot, my daughters asked if the massively huge ship we saw docked was ours. No way, I answered, that’s too big a boat. Turns out I was wrong! The Mariner of the Sea is a Voyager class ship, over 1,000 feet long with 15 passenger decks and a capacity of 3,835 guests and over a thousand crew. Wow. It’s the size of a town!

When it’s not hosting a Nick Cruise, the Mariner of the Seas still has a child-friendly deck with rock-climbing, mini golf, 3 pools, a basketball court, a video arcade and many more fun activities. My kids were shocked speechless – and I though they were going to pass out when they realized that all-inclusive meant they could have all the food they wanted. We all overindulged.

But the highlight was beyond a doubt the Nickelodeon portion of the cruise. My kids met “Spongebob,” but it was two of the stars of the Nick show iCarly that got them really excited. Jennette McCurdy, who plays Sam on iCarly, was friendly and sociable. My 9-year old was a little shy, but when Jennette learned that they are both brown belts in karate. She and my daughter had a conversation about the different schools of the martial arts (Jennette McCurdy is a brown belt in Uechi Ryu, and my kid’s a brown belt in Yoshukai karate).  My younger daughter had a long talk with another actor on iCarly, Nathan Kress. What a good sport he was, answering a 7-year old’s questions! (Example: “How do you like having adoring fans?” This, said adoringly.) Both Jennette McCurdy and Nathan Kress hung with the group for a couple hours, touring the Mariner of the Seas, trying rock climbing and basketball, and generally being terrific guests.

After Nathan Kress and Jennette McCurdy left – they’re teens, they have to go to school sometime – the Mariner of the Seas was no longer a Nickelodeon cruise, but more of an adult overnight vacation. I didn’t see any other children on the ship. My kids had to do a little of everything, so we went on the rock climbing wall, had some (more) to eat, saw an ice show at the ice skating rink, laughed a lot, and acted silly. We had a wonderful time, and it ended too soon: I had to keep them in our room after dinner, as the other 2,000 or so cruise ship travelers were getting pretty drunk. That all-inclusive includes drinks! Some people so inebriated, they clearly were past the point of having fun. I thought it would be best to shield my kids from all that.

Suffice it to say, a regular, week-long Nick cruise will not be filled with totally drunk adults. It surely will be full of families with children and young teens, and oriented towards a youthful Nickelodeon-themed vacation. The Mariner of the Seas, as partnered with Nickelodeon, will leave the Port of Los Angeles on July 26, and round-trip travel to the Mexican Riviera. Another cruise on the Freedom of the Seas leaves Florida for the Eastern Caribbean on August 9.  For children and young teens that enjoy Nick televisions shows – and c’mon, who hasn’t watched Spongebob? – these cruises sound like a terrific way to spend a summer family vacation together.

Right before we disembarked the next morning I asked my kids what they thought of their first cruise travel experience. Did they like it? Their answers speak for themselves.