Cruise Lines

[LusbyMom]

Ok we are taking our first cruise next summer. Most of my family is going with us so it will be a large group.

What cruise lines do you recommend? Some people will be flying, some will be driving. If we leave from Florida some will be driving from Maryland & Arkansas. So we really can't leave out of Southern Florida.

Which cruise line is your favorite? We will have alot of kids with us. Which ones have the best kids activities onboard? But are still great for us adults?

I hate making decisions

Where do you go to book your cruises? Hoping to get a good deal with 30+ people booking

 

[dn0121]

Best Cruise Ever

 

[Kain99]

Take Disney Cruise! The kids wil love it! Happy kids, means happy Momma!

 

[lovinmaryland]

I would check directly w/ Royal Carribean. They are my favorite line! We have taken several cruises w/ them w/ a lot of family members (ended up w/ about 10 rooms or so) and they gave us a good rate and even upgraded the person (my mother) who booked the cruise for everyone to a room w/ a balcony.

 

[4mygirls]

Check the cruise lines, we just took a cruise to Bermuda that left out of Baltimore, very easy!:yahoo

 

[LusbyMom]

Best Cruise Ever

Take Disney Cruise! The kids wil love it! Happy kids, means happy Momma!

Others are not interested in the Disney Cruise

I would check directly w/ Royal Carribean. They are my favorite line! We have taken several cruises w/ them w/ a lot of family members (ended up w/ about 10 rooms or so) and they gave us a good rate and even upgraded the person (my mother) who booked the cruise for everyone to a room w/ a balcony.

That is what my SIL and Brother took last year.. They like Royal Carribean.

My concern is I really didn't want to get 2 rooms... and Carnival seems to be the only one online that I can find that says you can have 5 people in 1 room. I was looking at a Norweigan Cruise yesterday. I am driving myself looking at all the choices I want to get all booked and paid for at the end of next month.

 

[LusbyMom]

Check the cruise lines, we just took a cruise to Bermuda that left out of Baltimore, very easy!:yahoo

Which cruise line? When are you going? Is it your first cruise?

Alot of people I talk to say that the ships leaving Baltimore are not as good... but then a few others have said they are.

 

[lovinmaryland]

Others are not interested in the Disney Cruise



That is what my SIL and Brother took last year.. They like Royal Carribean.

My concern is I really didn't want to get 2 rooms... and Carnival seems to be the only one online that I can find that says you can have 5 people in 1 room. I was looking at a Norweigan Cruise yesterday. I am driving myself looking at all the choices I want to get all booked and paid for at the end of next month.

YOU DO NOT (let me repeat) DO NOT WANT 5 PEOPLE IN ONE ROOM!!!! While over the years the rooms have gotten slightly bigger I would never repeat never share a room w/ my children. It was hard enough sharing that small room & bathroom w/ my husband

We were just discussing booking a cruise after the holidays and had planned on getting to rooms next to each other w/ the kids in one and adults in the other. Sometimes they have rooms that adjoin as well

 

[LusbyMom]

YOU DO NOT (let me repeat) DO NOT WANT 5 PEOPLE IN ONE ROOM!!!! While over the years the rooms have gotten slightly bigger I would never repeat never share a room w/ my children. It was hard enough sharing that small room & bathroom w/ my husband

We were just discussing booking a cruise after the holidays and had planned on getting to rooms next to each other w/ the kids in one and adults in the other. Sometimes they have rooms that adjoin as well

Really? Dang... I don't wanna put my kids alone in a room. They would hate it anyway... at least the youngest would and she sleepwalks.. the boy would be out roaming the ship in the middle of the night.. and the oldest would be checking out all the boys

 

[lovinmaryland]

Really? Dang... I don't wanna put my kids alone in a room. They would hate it anyway... at least the youngest would and she sleepwalks.. the boy would be out roaming the ship in the middle of the night.. and the oldest would be checking out all the boys

No they are pretty good at keeping tabs on the kids and they have programs for the kids that run basically all day and all night! They will have a blast... plus they can order room service to the rooms all the time for free (my kids loved that )

The rooms are just really really small so it would be really tight quarters. The bathrooms remind me of a camper bathroom (very small not much room to move around)

 

[devenny99]

My husband and I have been on 2 cruises - one with Royal Caribbean and one with Princess - and we liked Royal Caribbean. They have plenty of stuff to keep the kids busy all the time. As someone else said, you do not want 5 people in a room. The rooms are not very big (unless you get a suite) and you would be tripping over each other. Plus there is no room to store clothes for 5 people. A suite might be an option for you because by the time you pay for 2 rooms you might be able to get a suite for the same price or slightly higher. Good luck on whatever cruise line you pick.

 

[Aerogal]

Beware of Carnival. Nothing against the line but the clientele are more partiers than you might want your kids around (plus they have topless and nude sunbathing areas (not that the kids can get to them but you never know). Royal Caribean has all day and evening activities for kids of all ages. Go for a suite (if you have enough people going they have family suites that can accomdate a big crowd with several rooms). Don't worry about the bathrooms. They have enough room for you to monitor a wee one shower pee and wash. There are no baths but your kids will probably be in the pools alot anyway! The ports are great but I suggest the western caribbean, more ports and more fun for family.
Most lines have a policy that kids under a certain age MUST have a parent/adult guardian in the room. Do your research on line. And I suggest you keep the kids in an interior room unless you have an adult in the room all the time. You don't want one to fall overboard off the balcony.

 

[Beta84]

My concern is I really didn't want to get 2 rooms... and Carnival seems to be the only one online that I can find that says you can have 5 people in 1 room. I was looking at a Norweigan Cruise yesterday. I am driving myself looking at all the choices I want to get all booked and paid for at the end of next month.

I thought it wouldn't be a big deal because you would just claim one of your kids in someone else's room. or you could just do that anyway, i doubt it would be tragic if 1-2 of your kids were with their aunts or uncles. you really don't want 5 people in a room, especially if you're gonna go economy and stick with the cheapest rates. That would be miserable!!

Price is another issue. If you wanna stay with lower rates then Disney, Celebrity, Princess, and stuff like that are all out. You'd probably be looking at Royal Caribbean, Carnival, and Norwegian. All 3 are fine but I'd probably rate them Royal Carribean, Norwegian, and then Carnival.

 

[lovinmaryland]

Beware of Carnival. Nothing against the line but the clientele are more partiers than you might want your kids around (plus they have topless and nude sunbathing areas (not that the kids can get to them but you never know). Royal Caribean has all day and evening activities for kids of all ages. Go for a suite (if you have enough people going they have family suites that can accomdate a big crowd with several rooms). Don't worry about the bathrooms. They have enough room for you to monitor a wee one shower pee and wash. There are no baths but your kids will probably be in the pools alot anyway! The ports are great but I suggest the western caribbean, more ports and more fun for family.
Most lines have a policy that kids under a certain age MUST have a parent/adult guardian in the room. Do your research on line. And I suggest you keep the kids in an interior room unless you have an adult in the room all the time. You don't want one to fall overboard off the balcony.

That is true so when booking a cruise you place an adult in each room requesting rooms being side by side or even adjoining and then the kids can have one room and the adults the other. Once you are on board they really arent to strict. We made sure we tipped our room steward extra also

Oh LusbyMom some one mentioned disney... and the last time I looked into a Disney Cruise for 5 of us (2 adults and 3 children) for 3 days it was going to cost us about 4k

I prefer RC but I would not be against going on Carnival w/ the kids. However if it was a vacation away from the kids I would go w/ RC all the way!

 

[Beta84]

hmm where is Chasey

 

[muttdog]

I would check directly w/ Royal Carribean. They are my favorite line! We have taken several cruises w/ them w/ a lot of family members (ended up w/ about 10 rooms or so) and they gave us a good rate and even upgraded the person (my mother) who booked the cruise for everyone to a room w/ a balcony.

Going on our 3rd cruise with Royal this fall, kids program is topnotch, my son would spend all day and night there, and he had a blast. As some of the other posters mentioned, stay away from carnival, I went on carnival once, will never go back.

 

[Chasey_Lane]

I've suggested those interested in taking a cruise become a member of cruisecritic.com. They have tons and tons of useful information that will make your selection a little easier perhaps.

 

[Chasey_Lane]

(plus they have topless and nude sunbathing areas

Carnival offers "adult only serenity" areas on some ships; not all. From everything I've read, they no longer have topless/nude areas. The adults only area is for those that want to relax w/out screaming or whining children.

 

[itsbob]

Take Disney Cruise! The kids wil love it! Happy kids, means happy Momma!

$$$$$

 

[itsbob]

Ok we are taking our first cruise next summer. Most of my family is going with us so it will be a large group.

What cruise lines do you recommend? Some people will be flying, some will be driving. If we leave from Florida some will be driving from Maryland & Arkansas. So we really can't leave out of Southern Florida.

Which cruise line is your favorite? We will have alot of kids with us. Which ones have the best kids activities onboard? But are still great for us adults?

I hate making decisions

Where do you go to book your cruises? Hoping to get a good deal with 30+ people booking

Norwegian.. Negotiate for an Owners Suite, Garden Villa, or Courtyard Villa.. it's a 1- 3 bedroom apartment, and everyone can stay in the same 'house'..

You'll have everything a normal house has, including the square footage.. and everyone will be in much better living conditions than having everyone in an interior rooms. The kids can run around and play and still be in your room.. You'll get your own hot tub, sun deck, etc, etc..

The Ship we were one had 5 or 6 Top of the Boat Suites.. I think all but one were two bedroom, but everything converted to beds.. (slept 10 I think).. and the BIG one was a three bedroom.

You can probablly negotiate a price to be substantially LESS than what it would cost for everyone to get their own rooms, and have 10 times better living conditions.