Cruising with kids

[sandandsea]

What do we need to know? We’ve done several cruises over the past 20 years but never with kids and the last was probably 9 years ago. We are going on a 5 day carnival cruise with family and our kids (age 4&8 at sailing). Our kids are great travelers and have done annual vacations from birth. Both love water and are excited for a big boat. It will be this summer in the Caribbean, so hot and lots of sunblock.

[buckeyegirl]

Our kids are 3 & 7 and have been on a few cruises. If you want the shortest water slide lines or least amount of people in the pool do that as soon as you get on the ship or during port of call days. Otherwise, we just read the daily agenda and have the kids pick a couple activities to do each day. We also get the kids signed up for kid's club the first day so it's done and then they can go later in the cruise.

[NitaX]

My kids (8 and 17) love Carnival. The kids camp is neat and they have plenty of activities. Which ship are you sailing? Our favorites have been the Dream and the Vista. Those generally have lots of stuff to do. The Dive in movies are fun, and the kids enjoy those.

I wouldn't do a bunch of history heavy excursions. I'd skip those because they get worn out with the walking. 

[notsopicky]

We love cruising with our kid. Def get them registered for Kids Club the first day. I agree w/ NitaX, skip the history-heavy excursions. Plan to spend lots of time at the pool. We also like to have some down time in the stateroom--piled on the bed, playing a game and watching a movie.

Which ports are you going to? We've been to most of them in the Carib on Carnival.

[tres3]

We have done a few Holland American cruises but for the most part they aren't kid friendly. Our kids are fine and enjoy the kids club but it isn't like carnival or royal caribbean. We usually go HAL for the ports not the actual cruise.

[sandandsea]

We are sailing on Carnival and going to Grand Turk and Nassau. We’ve never been to GT and I visited Nassau circa 1994 so we have zero experience. I think we will do a private snorkeling trip in GT and rent UTVs in Nassau.