Cruise Ship Kids’ Club & Onboard Play Space Design

Aroya Cruises: Bespoke Kids’ Club & Onboard Play Spaces

Tigerplay partnered with SMC Design to deliver the cruise ship kids’ club design for AROYA, the first Arabian cruise liner. Following Cruise Saudi’s recognition of Tigerplay’s previous projects during the early briefing stages, we were appointed to lead the design and delivery of an immersive collection of cruise ship play spaces that set a new benchmark for family entertainment at sea.

Working alongside SMC Design’s expertise in cruise interiors, Tigerplay brought its specialist knowledge of engineered play environments to create a series of engaging, durable and visually distinctive spaces for children aged 0–12.

Designing a Connected Collection of Cruise Ship Play Spaces

Our brief centred on the creation of ‘Sailors Shore’ – a collection of themed environments including the Reception Area, Shipyard Workshop, Nursery, Discoverers’ Zone and Captains’ Zone.

Each onboard children’s play area was designed to share a consistent maritime identity while delivering age-appropriate play experiences that encourage exploration, creativity and social interaction. Interactive technology, immersive sensory lighting and bespoke play features were seamlessly integrated throughout, creating a cohesive environment that balances imaginative design with practical operation aboard a working cruise ship.

Engineering Play for the Marine Environment

Designing premium cruise ship play spaces presents unique engineering challenges. Limited ceiling heights required careful spatial planning to maximise play value without compromising accessibility, sightlines or safety.

Drawing on more than two decades of experience delivering complex play environments both on land and at sea, our team developed innovative solutions that made every square metre work harder. Throughout the design process, we collaborated closely with trusted manufacturing partners to specify materials and finishes suitable for the demanding marine environment.

Alongside detailed concept development, Tigerplay produced a comprehensive technical design package over four months, ensuring every element met the operational, engineering and regulatory requirements of the project.

Interactive Technology That Enhances Family Entertainment at Sea

Technology was carefully integrated to enrich the play experience rather than dominate it.

Working with Clever Association, we incorporated interactive LED lighting throughout each environment, creating responsive play experiences that encourage movement and exploration. Interactive gaming tables and digital wall games from world-leading manufacturers introduced collaborative play opportunities, while scent technology within the Shipyard Workshop and sensory cave added another dimension to the immersive environment.

An interactive LED display projects a vibrant underwater world that responds to children’s movement, while bespoke digital entrance displays help define each themed zone. Overhead, handcrafted rock formations, a suspended whale, an octopus and a school of more than 150 individually created fish reinforce the maritime narrative and create memorable visual moments throughout the space.

Delivering an Onboard Children’s Play Area During Live Refurbishment

Installation formed part of AROYA’s extensive ship refurbishment, requiring close coordination with multiple specialist contractors operating simultaneously on board.

Tigerplay worked collaboratively with marine outfitting specialists MJM Marine and the wider project team to respond quickly to evolving site conditions while maintaining programme certainty and quality standards throughout the installation.

Logistics, Planning and Precision

The marine environment demanded a carefully managed manufacturing and installation strategy. Material specifications differed significantly from traditional land-based projects, requiring alternative engineering solutions that satisfied strict marine standards.

The project involved coordinating more than 50 deliveries alongside approximately 60 international flights, with Tigerplay’s installation teams working in rotating 3–4 week schedules over a 14-week programme. Detailed planning and disciplined project management ensured every component arrived, installed and performed exactly as intended.

Setting a New Standard for Cruise Ship Kids’ Club Design

The completed installation demonstrates Tigerplay’s ability to transform ambitious concepts into premium, engineered play environments that exceed expectations.

The finished cruise ship kids’ club design closely reflects the original visual concepts, showcasing the precision of our design and manufacturing process. More importantly, it provides a memorable onboard children’s play area that enhances family entertainment at sea, combining imaginative play, technical excellence and long-term durability.

As Arabia’s first cruise liner, AROYA represents a landmark project, and we’re proud to have delivered a collection of cruise ship play spaces that help define the onboard experience for families for years to come.

What this means for you

This approach works well when there are multiple stakeholders involved in a project, a tight timeline and a large-scale play environment catering to a wide range of ages with the latest in innovative technology.

We provide a complete service covering consultancy, design, manufacture, and installation, ensuring smooth international delivery from concept to opening.

Book your consultation today to get your project started.