(Accidentally posted this on MM Moms and meant to originally post here...)
Anyone care to talk to me about cruising?
H and I have been saying for a few years that we'd like to explore taking a family cruise vacation once our youngest son was old enough for a cruise kid's club. It seems like a good compromise for a vacation that would allow the kids to have a blast but also give H and I some time to enjoy a meal alone or do something else without the kids. Anyway, my youngest is now 3yo and I'm starting to very casually look into a cruise for next year.
We would have a newly 4yo, a 6.5yo, and an almost 14yo if we were looking into a mid-winter vacation. Although I'm not even sure that would be possible for us without pulling the kids, or at least one kid, out of school (SS and the kindergartner are in different school districts with different spring breaks every single year). So would I be hitting scary hurricane season if I had to wait until June?
Anyway, are there any seasoned cruise fans that have some resources to begin my research? Best ships or itineraries for kids? Ways to save money on the budget? Favorite ports to visit?
My kids haven't been on an airplane yet, so this would be their first "real" vacation.
Post by vanillacourage on Feb 19, 2019 15:57:22 GMT -5
I don’t have a lot to offer on planning resources but we’re doing a week cruise to the Caribbean on Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Seas in October and we’re stoked! RCL has its own private island now which looks really nice. We’ll use Trip Advisor message boards to research best excursions in each port b
June won't be a hurricane issue, but it will be hot for most destinations.
I haven't cruised with the kid yet, but we are planning to for Thanksgiving this year. She'll only miss 2 days of school going that week.
One of the things DH and I realized on our last cruise was if we were to bring our daughter with us, we needed a cruise that had more "stuff" on board. Our last cruise was with Princess and I could guarantee she would have been bored on it. The don't have the fun stuff like water slides, zip lines, etc. My kid is an active kid, so we're planning to hop cruise lines and go on Royal Caribbean this next one. At least this way I know there will be endless things to keep her entertained.
We have not done a Disney cruise yet, mostly because I can't stomach the cost. Maybe when she's older, but I'm happier to take her to the parks and keep cruising separate. Also Disney cruise line has some of the worst return customer perks of any program.
You may run into an issue with the size of your room for your party. With 5 people you will need a bigger cabin, probably a suite, which can be more expensive.
ETA: DH and I prefer the eastern or southern Caribbean itineraries. Southern means a longer cruise or going out of Puerto Rico, which we did for our HM and was a great start to the trip. Also, if you want to visit the cruise line's island, they are usually on the eastern itineraries vs western.
I also prefer Ft. Lauderdale for port. We had no issues with the airport or the cruise port. There are plenty of hotels right by the port and our last hotel was walkable to several restaurants and even a Publix.
June won't be a hurricane issue, but it will be hot for most destinations.
I haven't cruised with the kid yet, but we are planning to for Thanksgiving this year. She'll only miss 2 days of school going that week.
One of the things DH and I realized on our last cruise was if we were to bring our daughter with us, we needed a cruise that had more "stuff" on board. Our last cruise was with Princess and I could guarantee she would have been bored on it. The don't have the fun stuff like water slides, zip lines, etc. My kid is an active kid, so we're planning to hop cruise lines and go on Royal Caribbean this next one. At least this way I know there will be endless things to keep her entertained.
We have not done a Disney cruise yet, mostly because I can't stomach the cost. Maybe when she's older, but I'm happier to take her to the parks and keep cruising separate. Also Disney cruise line has some of the worst return customer perks of any program.
You may run into an issue with the size of your room for your party. With 5 people you will need a bigger cabin, probably a suite, which can be more expensive.
This was one of my questions. It looks like it's possible to get adjoining rooms. How does that work when cruises are priced per person? Do you just pay double per person or something?
We're also going on a Royal Caribbean cruise (Adventure of the Seas) this year. We're going with my family. My sister's family (H, 2 kids) are staying in a junior suite that has bunks for the kids and a pullout sofa. That might be something to consider. We've been reading the Cruise Critic message board for tips, etc.
Post by notsocreepylurker on Feb 19, 2019 16:03:14 GMT -5
Cruising can be awesome or terrible. I've been on 7 or 8 cruises and I am a cruiser but I tell people not everyone is. Go into it with an open mind and realize plans can change due to weather, tides, illness, etc.
Check out Cruise Critic website for message boards with tips and tricks. I don't have kids but every cruise I've been on has had a kids club and stuff for teens. I think they take the kids as young as 1 even.
June won't be a hurricane issue, but it will be hot for most destinations.
I haven't cruised with the kid yet, but we are planning to for Thanksgiving this year. She'll only miss 2 days of school going that week.
One of the things DH and I realized on our last cruise was if we were to bring our daughter with us, we needed a cruise that had more "stuff" on board. Our last cruise was with Princess and I could guarantee she would have been bored on it. The don't have the fun stuff like water slides, zip lines, etc. My kid is an active kid, so we're planning to hop cruise lines and go on Royal Caribbean this next one. At least this way I know there will be endless things to keep her entertained.
We have not done a Disney cruise yet, mostly because I can't stomach the cost. Maybe when she's older, but I'm happier to take her to the parks and keep cruising separate. Also Disney cruise line has some of the worst return customer perks of any program.
You may run into an issue with the size of your room for your party. With 5 people you will need a bigger cabin, probably a suite, which can be more expensive.
This was one of my questions. It looks like it's possible to get adjoining rooms. How does that work when cruises are priced per person? Do you just pay double per person or something?
You can get adjoining rooms. Just make sure that 1 adult is listed for each room, even if you plan on having them connect the whole time. But I'd consider a junior suite instead. Then you would also get Suite perks.
glitzy07, I think it depends on the cruise line and the requirements. I think they require someone over 18 to be listed in each room, but if you reserved connected you would be in one and your DH in the other.
Post by nygiantsfan on Feb 19, 2019 16:07:29 GMT -5
We've sailed twice on Norwegian (Breakaway and Gem) and twice on Royal Caribbean (Anthem of the Seas) with our now 6 year old, his first cruise he was 4. Both cruise lines were great and our son loved both kids clubs as well. If you look at going at a non-school vacation time, then normally there are kids sail free or some other deal like that. But then kids have to miss school. They also have promos where you get a free drink package or specialty dining, etc. We just book it normally through the cruiseline and then transfer it to costco travel and get a credit from them. My husband does all that, so if you need more info, I can find out.
Cruising with kids is the easiest vacation ever. There is so much to do, both as a family and then for them (kids club!), so you can enjoy some couple time. We love it.
June won't be a hurricane issue, but it will be hot for most destinations.
I haven't cruised with the kid yet, but we are planning to for Thanksgiving this year. She'll only miss 2 days of school going that week.
One of the things DH and I realized on our last cruise was if we were to bring our daughter with us, we needed a cruise that had more "stuff" on board. Our last cruise was with Princess and I could guarantee she would have been bored on it. The don't have the fun stuff like water slides, zip lines, etc. My kid is an active kid, so we're planning to hop cruise lines and go on Royal Caribbean this next one. At least this way I know there will be endless things to keep her entertained.
We have not done a Disney cruise yet, mostly because I can't stomach the cost. Maybe when she's older, but I'm happier to take her to the parks and keep cruising separate. Also Disney cruise line has some of the worst return customer perks of any program.
You may run into an issue with the size of your room for your party. With 5 people you will need a bigger cabin, probably a suite, which can be more expensive.
This was one of my questions. It looks like it's possible to get adjoining rooms. How does that work when cruises are priced per person? Do you just pay double per person or something?
I would suggest adjoining rooms over a suite, mainly for cost if you're looking to be on a tighter budget. Gratuities are more expensive on a suite, and IMO a suite is not worth it. Yeah, it's nice to have a little extra room, but not for the cost. The bathrooms are bigger usually, but space wise it's not that big of a difference. 50sf sounds like a lot, but really, it'll still be tight. I can only speak for RCCL though on anything below Oasis class.
If you want adjoining rooms, you need to start looking ASAP. They fill up quickly.
Post by notsopicky on Feb 19, 2019 16:12:25 GMT -5
Second the rec for Cruise Critic.
We did 2 cruises last year, when my son was 7. Both on Carnival, so fun stuff for kids--water slides/splash pad, Kids' Club, fun shows, etc.
The first one had a port every day, so that was special (most cruises do not have that many stops). We were so busy w/ excursions that he never even went to Kids' Club. Second cruise had 3 sea days (we went to Curacao/Aruba, far away), so he did go for a little bit on 2 days (we hit the casino for a couple hours, had adult time, lol).
We are cruise people. We're planning another one to Alaska for 2020, and perhaps Cuba this summer if H's commission is $$$.
Re: accommodations, price it out both ways: two adjoining rooms, and one big suite. I think w/ that many people, I might enjoy 2 adjoining rooms so you all won't be on top of each other, even in a big suite. We are a fam of 3, and we get a suite--it's perfect for us (we do like to hang out in the room sometimes, to get away from the crowds, to play games or watch a movie. Not everybody likes to hang in their room--the folks I hear that from get an inside stateroom in which they shower, change and sleep--and that's it.) For us, we paid full price for both H and me, and then E was 1/2 price.
Feel free to ask questions! I know a lot about cruising, but I'm probably more help with specific information requests, rather than me just rambling on.
notsocreepylurker I've heard that about cruising. My family went on one cruise when I was 15 and my sister was 11. We both had an absolute blast in the kid's clubs and loved the vacation. It was also one of our first "real" vacations because we had a cabin growing up that my parents were paying for instead of vacations. I think just the fact that there are a million things to do would be great for our kids. And SS will be old enough to go off on his own and make new friends like I did as a kid.
Post by maudefindlay on Feb 19, 2019 17:11:54 GMT -5
We did a Royal Cartibean Oasis of the Seas Western Carribean cruise over the holidays with our 6, 7, and turned 10 yr old on the cruise. They were perfect ages. We wore swimsuits under our clothes on the ship, so we could swim right away. No one was swimming, so we had it to ourselves. You might eat right before boarding. The buffet restaurant was crazy the first lunch and dinner, then things thinned out after people got in their own rhythms.
We traveled with 15 relatives. My 10 yr old stayed with my FIL in the cabin next door and we had an attendant take down the balcony partition, so we had a bigger balcony and could come and go to each others' cabins.
I love cruises! I’ve only been on two, but they are my favorite way to travel now. I don’t have a ton of advice because the two times I’ve gone, it has been with multiple generations of family, and I wasn’t the main planner. I loved our Norwegian Cruise Lines Cruise (western Caribbean). My son was only two then, and not potty trained, so couldn’t use the pools and wasn’t old enough for the drop off kids clubs, so that kinda sucked, but I was glad to have family available to watch him!
My son was 4 for our next cruise, on Holland America, which I was more apprehensive about because it didn’t seem kid friendly at all, but it was a bucket list cruise for my grandmother and great aunts. I wouldn’t recommend it for your age group, but my 4 year old had an amazing time. He was one of 7 kids on the ship, and old enough to spend all day at the kids club, where he got sooo much attention. He got fawned over wherever we went on the ship, haha. And while he was in the kids club, I got to relax at the spa and in the pool. Best vacation ever!
I’d choose a ship like NCL or Royal Caribbean that has tons of kid friendly activities and programming.
I thought that I did not like cruises until we went on a Disney Cruise last year, and now I am dying to go on another Disney Cruise. I went on a Carnival Cruise with a group of friends (no kids) years ago and hated it. The ship was dirty, the food was not great, and we were totally bored on the ship for the most part. I had no desire to go on another cruise ever again after that experience.
Then we did a family Disney Cruise with my FIL last year, DD was 5, and it was amazing. The ship was beautiful, food is seriously AMAZING, tons of stuff to do on board. Great water slide, fun games and activities for everyone. DD had a blast and the kids club was perfect so that DH and I were able to have a nice "date night" at one of the adults-only restaurants as well as having a couple of hours day to relax by the pool, get a drink, whatever. It was seriously the perfect mix of family time and relaxing couple time. Most of the port excursions we wanted to do wouldn't have been great for a 5 year old (too young for things like zip lining, she would have been bored by tours and stuff) so we mainly just stayed on the mostly-empty boat and had the pool to ourselves, which was actually great.
They are mad expensive but I can't recommend Disney Cruises enough. Granted, I have never been on Royal Caribbean or Princess so I have no comparison there - but, in my experience, I would stay away from Carnival.
ETA: For me, the balcony was a must. We had a room with a balcony and, as I was the first one up every morning, it was lovely to sit out there while DH and DD were still asleep, drink my coffee, and read while I listened to the water. I don't think I would have liked it nearly as much without the balcony.
Post by sapphireblue on Feb 20, 2019 7:03:13 GMT -5
I would not consider myself a cruiser but I have gone on at least 3 because I have a close friend who reviews cruises for a living.
We have taken her twin sons, most memorably when they were under 3 years old. I don't have much to add because you have already gotten great advice--just wanted to mention that my friend would always have the option, on any cruise line she used, to have a staff member babysit her sons in her cabin so that she and I would go out for drinks and dinner and a whole evening out. The staff member just read in her cabin while her boys slept. That was a great option.
Also, I loved having a balcony. When she needed some quiet time with her sons in the afternoon, I would sit out there with a pot of coffee and a book and it was so nice.
ETA: I am pretty sure she paid the babysitters cash at the end of each night.
H and I have been on 4 cruises and we love them. We have always chosen Carnival due to price and itinerary and haven’t been disappointed. We haven’t taken our daughter yet, as cruises have been just H and I so far. DD just turned 6 so we’re looking at doing a family cruise next year. The Carnival Horizon is one of their newer ships and very family friendly. They have the kids club and a water park, plus outdoor sports and the sky ride for older kids. They also offer family suites with more room plus a floor that is for families only with a private hang out room and separate breakfast area.
A note on summer cruises, most lines increase prices around spring break and summer since that’s when a lot of families vacation. We’re looking at next winter and would pull DD out of school. If that’s a possibility for you, I’d consider it to save some $$$$.
A also recommend Cruise critic for more info and reviews. I have used it a lot when planning cruises and booking excursions.