Prior Thanksgiving Cruisers Questions

[JmzandJojo]

My DH and I just booked our 2nd HAL cruise for the week of Thanksgiving. Being a teacher, this is the only real time to do a cruise before school's out. I don't want to try spring Break, fearing way too many teens.

Who has done this holiday on the high seas? What activities did the ship hold? I anticipate more children than our alaska cruise. What was your experince with the number of children?

Any other comments would be enlightening.
Thanks

[AZjohn]

My DH and I just booked our 2nd HAL cruise for the week of Thanksgiving.

Hi,
Which ship, date, and itinerary are you booked on? This might help with responses.;)
John

[Bill S]

Jmz & Jojo: With respect to the number of children, it might really depend on the itinerary and length of the cruise.

We have done 3 Thanksgiving week cruises, and have really enjoyed them. HAL does offer a traditional American Thanksgiving entree on the memu for dinner but I do not recall any other Thanksgiving-related activities or themes.

We did a 10-day Thanksgiving week cruise from FLL to Acapulco through the Panama Canal and there were very few children on that cruise. Our second Thanksgiving-week cruise was a 7-day cruise to the E. Caribbean and there were a lot more kids on board than the Panama Canal cruise. Our last Thanksgiving-week cruise was a Mexican Riviera 7-day cruise and there were fewer children on-board than the E. Caribbean cruise but still more than on the PC cruise. Hope this helps you a bit!

We curtailed our Thanksgiving week cruises after our first grandchild arrived! :)

[JmzandJojo]

Hi,
Which ship, date, and itinerary are you booked on? This might help with responses.;)
John

We are booked on the Veendam out of Tampa Nov 18th. It's a 7 day Car. Grand Cayman, Ochio rios, and Costa Maya.

[newmexicoNita]

Yes you will experience more families than on cruises that are not part of holiday times, but not as many as Christmas or spring break as many schools do not get the entire week off and frown on kids taking the extra couple of days. As far as any special celebrations on the Connie (Celebrity) you would never have known it was thanksgiving except they did have turkey on the menu as well as several other choices. NMnita

[booboo29]

We spent last Thanksgiving on Maasdam and liked it so much we are spending this Thanksgiving on the Westerdam. On the Maasdam, the Lido was decorated all day with Thanksgiving decorations and they had a traditional Thanksgiving Dinner available on the menu, brussel sprouts and all.:eek: I ordered it, but this year I will probably enjoy a steak or something else instead. This was a 10 day cruise and there were quite a few families on board, but it was not a problem. I seem to recall the adult and family pool rules were followed. We had some rough weather so the pools were closed a lot anyway.

They even had the Thanksgiving Day NFL football games on in bars and staterooms, so I could watch football to my hearts content.

Have fun!

Frank and Jennifer

[cruznon]

What a great way to spend Thanksgiving! Our family did the Mexican Riviera (7-day) three years ago. Lucky you!

[ashuma]

We will be cruising over Thanksgiving but in Australia and New Zealand in 2007 on the Statendam. I wouldn't expect too many children then. Hope I'm right. Our last cruise was a Caribbean cruise and we decided never again during a school holiday.

[KAYEF]

We had a wondeful TG dinner and when we were on the "O" in October, HAL even celebrated the Canadian Thanksgiving with turkey.......of course you don't HAVE to order the turkey.
Funny thing, the Canadians at our table were the only ones who did NOT order turkey.:o
Enjoy your cruise/break. One day you will be like me, a retired teacher and free to go anytime/anywhere.:p

[Judyjay]

We were on the Ryndam last Thanksgiving. There were about 135 children under 18 on board. The entertainers help out with the kids club until they could get a few extra staff on board. That is an unusually high number of kids, but I never felt over run with children. The number of kids on our ship was nothing, The Carnival ship that was following us into several of the posts had over 900 kids on board. I spoke to one of their kids club staff and they were pretty overwhelmed. We had a great time and would sail over Thanksgiving again.

[funat55]

Hello all. My sister and I along with my two grandchildren ages 10 and 11 will be on the Navigator of the Seas for Thanksgiving. The kids have the whole week off. Since this was a short work week for us we decided that it would be a good time for all of us. My sister is a teacher and I am self employed so I try to take time off where I can miss the least amount of work days. I am curious about the weather in November if anyone knows. We will be in the Eastern Caribbean.

[SeaGypsy1]

We have spent the last two Thanksgivings on a HAL ship with our Daughter, Son-in-law and four Granddaughters. We all had a wonderful time and look forward to doing it again. It is a great way to spend Thanksgiving as a family. The first year we were on the Ryndam and then the Oosterdam. Last year there were about 200 kids on board and they were never in the way. They always had something fun to do. The adults could relax and enjoy watching them have fun or join in. You can do as much or as little as you want and everyone has a good time. I would like to make it every year.

[LAFFNVEGAS]

We were on the Ryndam last Thanksgiving. There were about 135 children under 18 on board. The entertainers help out with the kids club until they could get a few extra staff on board. That is an unusually high number of kids, but I never felt over run with children. The number of kids on our ship was nothing, The Carnival ship that was following us into several of the posts had over 900 kids on board. I spoke to one of their kids club staff and they were pretty overwhelmed. We had a great time and would sail over Thanksgiving again.

Judy, we will be on the Zaandam for the 10 day cruise over Thanksgiving. The Zaandam is doing exactly the same itinerary as the Ryndam did last year. How was your weather? We have we have done the Sea of Cortez a week earlier in November and have done the Oosterdam in October. We are looking forward to our first 10 day cruise. I guess when I ask how was the weather I actually mean how was it in Acapulco, was it a bit warmer than P.V.?