Oosterdam w/ kids Mex Riv

[menajr8]

Guess its too late to ask because I just booked it and paid in full...but is it kid friendly?? Our boys are 18, 14 and 12, first cruise for them. DH and I have done a few, one other on HAL (Zaandam). Are they pretty similar? Thanks!

[califgary]

i would say the 2 dont mix well -

[franksandy]

i would say the 2 dont mix well -
Thats not very nice...

As much as I prefer not seeing kids running around on cruise ships...and bothering the bar tenders with their coke cards...Holland America has a very good childrens program.

And since Carnival isn't doing Mexico anymore....The Oosterdam will get more kid friendly as the season goes on.


Sandy

[Essiesmom]

Thats not very nice...

As much as I prefer not seeing kids running around on cruise ships...and bothering the bar tenders with their coke cards...Holland America has a very good childrens program.

And since Carnival isn't doing Mexico anymore....The Oosterdam will get more kid friendly as the season goes on.


Sandy

Carnival is still doing Mexico...RCI is not. EM

[SwissMyst]

Mexican Riviera has a lot of very active kid friendly shore excursions or active things to do and explore on your own - beaches and water sport activities or just walking and viewing historic parts of town for different scenes, colors and local snacks (with all due food precautions- hot and fresh). They should do just fine.

[menajr8]

Thats not very nice...

As much as I prefer not seeing kids running around on cruise ships...and bothering the bar tenders with their coke cards...Holland America has a very good childrens program.

And since Carnival isn't doing Mexico anymore....The Oosterdam will get more kid friendly as the season goes on.


Sandy

Oh my boys won't be running around OR have soda cards :) Part of the reason for the cruise is because I want them to have a cultural experience. Dressing up for dinner and experiencing a 5 star restaurant and knowing how to handle themselves. (No 5 stars around where we live) They are normal boys and will have to be reminded to keep it civil, but they are really excited to experience it all. BUT it also would be nice if they had peers to meet and have fun with. If not they are used to hanging out together.

[menajr8]

Mexican Riviera has a lot of very active kid friendly shore excursions or active things to do and explore on your own - beaches and water sport activities or just walking and viewing historic parts of town for different scenes, colors and local snacks (with all due food precautions- hot and fresh). They should do just fine.

Thank you for the input. We are also looking forward to the beach scene. Any specifics you want to share??

[maxout]

There were 552 kids on our cruise in April, Hal handled it very, very well and my daughter had a blast. Don't let the "pedophobes" bring you down as most are suffering from rectal/cranial inversion. :rolleyes:

[SwissMyst]

Thank you for the input. We are also looking forward to the beach scene. Any specifics you want to share??

If you want to do something on your own in Mazatlan, you can turn left after you leave the port entrance and walk a few blocks down to the ferry that takes you a short distance across the water to "Stone Island" (Isla de las Piedras) which is actually a long peninsula that you can see a very short distance across the water from the ship, looking away from the town. There is a nice beach and plenty of palapa beach shack restaurants that can serve you some fresh seafood and Mexican specialties. http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g150792-d152282-Reviews-Stone_Island_Isla_de_las_Piedras-Mazatlan_Pacific_Coast.html

[menajr8]

There were 552 kids on our cruise in April, Hal handled it very, very well and my daughter had a blast. Don't let the "pedophobes" bring you down as most are suffering from rectal/cranial inversion. :rolleyes:

WOW!! LOL LOL Both on the amount of kids on one ship and your description of people who don't like kids!
I doubt there will be very many kids on our boat as we are pulling the kids out of school rather than wait for Spring Break. (Nov 27th-Dec4th)

[menajr8]

If you want to do something on your own in Mazatlan, you can turn left after you leave the port entrance and walk a few blocks down to the ferry that takes you a short distance across the water to "Stone Island" (Isla de las Piedras) which is actually a long peninsula that you can see a very short distance across the water from the ship, looking away from the town. There is a nice beach and plenty of palapa beach shack restaurants that can serve you some fresh seafood and Mexican specialties. http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g150792-d152282-Reviews-Stone_Island_Isla_de_las_Piedras-Mazatlan_Pacific_Coast.html

Thanks! I will log onto TripAdvisor and read up on that.

[JamesEM]

We sailed on the Ooosterdam for a 10 day cruise in May and there very few kids onboard, but they did have a childrens program.

[photomikey]

Many, many threads on HAL's "kid appropriateness" if you do a quick search. Most filled with the same as this thread, but some gems in there.

In short, kids/families who entertain themselves will do well on HAL. Kids/families who are looking for a lot on the daily program to jump from activity to activity will be bored. From what you wrote, your family will do fine.

The kids program on that week will probably have a dozen or so kids. Maybe two dozen. If you ask me, I'd rather have 15 than 150, as you might actually get to know someone outside your comfort zone.

Have fun! What week is your cruise?

[Spinner2]

We're aboard the Oosterdam right now; there are kids aboard; not sure how many but we keep seeing different ones when we see them so there are more than a dozen for sure. All ages; all seem to be having a good time and they aren't trouble for anyone.

[rrogers123]

From reading your posts, I am sure you and your children will have a marvelous time. It is apparent your attitude about travel and your expectations for your children will insure that all that come in contact with your children will be pleased with their behavior and presence on the ship.

I agree with the posts about kid friendly ports, tours and activities. My wife and I are looking forward to zip lining in PV on our Panama Canal tour. It was recommended by some friends that took their young daughters to on their land trip to PV. Our son was much younger on his first cruise to Mexico. He stayed close to Mom and Dad but did enjoy the play time during dinner a couple of nights so he didn’t have to “dress up” every night. On are cruise to Alaska our son and his cousins had a blast being left alone from parental eyes in an area exclusively their own. And, even enjoyed dressing up on formal nights as the wait staff fussed over them every time. Of course, the ties were disposed of as soon as dessert was finished.

Enjoy your family exploring new places and time together.

[menajr8]

Many, many threads on HAL's "kid appropriateness" if you do a quick search. Most filled with the same as this thread, but some gems in there.

In short, kids/families who entertain themselves will do well on HAL. Kids/families who are looking for a lot on the daily program to jump from activity to activity will be bored. From what you wrote, your family will do fine.

The kids program on that week will probably have a dozen or so kids. Maybe two dozen. If you ask me, I'd rather have 15 than 150, as you might actually get to know someone outside your comfort zone.

Have fun! What week is your cruise?

We are going the Saturday after Thanks Giving (27th)
I agree with the 15 rather than 150

[menajr8]

From reading your posts, I am sure you and your children will have a marvelous time. It is apparent your attitude about travel and your expectations for your children will insure that all that come in contact with your children will be pleased with their behavior and presence on the ship.

I agree with the posts about kid friendly ports, tours and activities. My wife and I are looking forward to zip lining in PV on our Panama Canal tour. It was recommended by some friends that took their young daughters to on their land trip to PV. Our son was much younger on his first cruise to Mexico. He stayed close to Mom and Dad but did enjoy the play time during dinner a couple of nights so he didn’t have to “dress up” every night. On are cruise to Alaska our son and his cousins had a blast being left alone from parental eyes in an area exclusively their own. And, even enjoyed dressing up on formal nights as the wait staff fussed over them every time. Of course, the ties were disposed of as soon as dessert was finished.

Enjoy your family exploring new places and time together.

Thank you! I have thought about this for some time, checking prices as well and I was tempted to do a RC cruise, rock climbing wall etc, but we can do that at home. I really like the atmosphere on Celebrity and HAL, more formal. These are "lessons" I can't show/teach my kids at home. My 14yo has wanted to experience a 5 star restaurant for a long time. He is really excited. For his 13th b-day he wanted lobster, went to Sizzler...HA! What a joke! Yeah, I think some of the other lines would have been fun, but this was a bargain price and too hard to pass up...and I think in the long run a great choice. I'm excited and so are they!

[SwissMyst]

My 14yo has wanted to experience a 5 star restaurant for a long time. He is really excited. For his 13th b-day he wanted lobster, went to Sizzler...HA! What a joke! Yeah, I think some of the other lines would have been fun, but this was a bargain price and too hard to pass up...and I think in the long run a great choice. I'm excited and so are they!

There is a nice formality to the main dining rooms, but this is still a mass food delivery system here so the cuisine while good and often very good is not five star. The waiters will love to fuss over your kids and have fun working with them as they learn their formal dining manners. Good table manners can make or break important job interviews still, so good for you for putting this into their Early Learning Channel. I hope you all have a lot of fun.

[lazey1]

For a 5 star restaurant experience you and your boys need to go to the Pinacle Grill. I believe the cost is $20.00 per person but it is well worth it.;)

[Route6A]

We have sailed the Oosterdam Mexican Riviera cruise three times, and it's a lovely ship for a family vacation. On all three voyages, there have been a good number of children, and they seem to have a wonderful time.

The crew dote on the children, especially in the dining room, where I have seen all sorts of fun tricks and special treats produced for the younger passengers. Have a wonderful vacation!

[menajr8]

You guys have me so excited! As far as 5 star, its way above what we have around here lol.
The point about making or breaking a job interview...good point! We have focused on them getting their Eagle as this can be a deciding factor in jobs and graduate school applications. I think this is going to be much more fun than helping (pushing ;)) them on getting their Eagle.
Hey, what about the entertainment/ shows? The 18 yo is really into that, well they all are but he more than the others. Then there are the ports to plan...better get busy! lol

[LMB01]

I am one of the opinion that there are not any 5 star restaurants aboard including a the Pinnacle. It is nicer than the MDR and there is an opportunity to teach a lesson there but it is not 5 star.

[SwissMyst]

Oosterdam had a pretty amazing magician last Christmas cruise. The musical floor shows tend to appeal to more "seasoned" musical tastes -- you know when you could hum along and actually understand the tuneful lyrics.

I think a lot of us are really looking forward already to get your full report when you get back, so we are excited with you and how you make this all work out for your kids exposure to this very wonderful and unique experience.

Another activity to look for is the back stage tour of the kitchens - check you daily announcement for this, usually on a sea day. Fascinating to see the size and scale of what it takes to put out all that food all day and night long, plus feed the staff as well. The HAL tour offers snacks along the way as you move through the kitchens and a photo op with the head chef in all his finery.

[menajr8]

Oosterdam had a pretty amazing magician last Christmas cruise. The musical floor shows tend to appeal to more "seasoned" musical tastes -- you know when you could hum along and actually understand the tuneful lyrics.

I think a lot of us are really looking forward already to get your full report when you get back, so we are excited with you and how you make this all work out for your kids exposure to this very wonderful and unique experience.

Another activity to look for is the back stage tour of the kitchens - check you daily announcement for this, usually on a sea day. Fascinating to see the size and scale of what it takes to put out all that food all day and night long, plus feed the staff as well. The HAL tour offers snacks along the way as you move through the kitchens and a photo op with the head chef in all his finery.

A kitchen tour would be really awesome! So I just look for it in the daily paper? I don't ever remember seeing this offered on a cruise I've been on. I think I have read about people doing that but thought you had to have some connections to get in on that.