Volendam 10 night Panama Canal out of FLL - young kids question?

[jaysue]

Hi all, we have cruised once on RCL and are considering the 10 night western caribbean out of Ft Lauderdale on the Volendam (transit Panama Canal) - we have two boys - will be 8 and 4 1/2 at time of cruising. We are a reasonablly active family and we did enjoy the RCL Mariner of the Seas (7 night West Caribbean).

Looking for your opinions on whether HAL is a good choice for our young boys and of course then is the ship a good choice and finally is the itinerary a good choice?

Thanks in advance
jaysue

[middle-aged mom]

Hi all, we have cruised once on RCL and are considering the 10 night western caribbean out of Ft Lauderdale on the Volendam (transit Panama Canal) - we have two boys - will be 8 and 4 1/2 at time of cruising. We are a reasonablly active family and we did enjoy the RCL Mariner of the Seas (7 night West Caribbean).

Looking for your opinions on whether HAL is a good choice for our young boys and of course then is the ship a good choice and finally is the itinerary a good choice?

Thanks in advance
jaysue

Oooh, that's a tough one, especially when we don't know that much about your preferences and interests. What time of year are you considering?

I am going out on a limb here, and please take my response for what it's worth (only an opinion), but I would say that if you and your family enjoyed RCL, then HAL may not be for you. I mean that in a kind and helpful way, not a snooty way at all:). I think HAL has a product that appeals and is good for some families, but not for others.

(My family and I did a 14-day Southern and Western Caribbean/Partial Panama Canal transit on the Amsterdam in late December/early January, and my 8-year-old daughter had a wonderful time. The itinerary was an excellent mix of sea days and port days).

I wish you well in your research:), and hope you find the best cruise for you and your family.


Karin

[Krazy Kruizers]

Partial Panama Canal -- good choice -- have done it a couple of times. Have had some good and bad times on Volendam - so can't really advisee you on the ship.
As for children - you didn't mention when you would be sailing -- there may or may not be a lot of children which influences how active Club HAL will be.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Partial Panama Canal -- good choice -- have done it a couple of times. Have had some good and bad times on Volendam - so can't really advisee you on the ship.

As for children - you didn't mention when you would be sailing -- there may or may not be a lot of children which influences how active Club HAL will be.

[jaysue]

We would be sailing on the Jan 2-12, 2008 out of FLL if we choose this cruise

Thanks in advance for your responses

cheers
jaysue

[jaysue]

Oooh, that's a tough one, especially when we don't know that much about your preferences and interests. What time of year are you considering?

I am going out on a limb here, and please take my response for what it's worth (only an opinion), but I would say that if you and your family enjoyed RCL, then HAL may not be for you. I mean that in a kind and helpful way, not a snooty way at all:). I think HAL has a product that appeals and is good for some families, but not for others.

(My family and I did a 14-day Southern and Western Caribbean/Partial Panama Canal transit on the Amsterdam in late December/early January, and my 8-year-old daughter had a wonderful time. The itinerary was an excellent mix of sea days and port days).

I wish you well in your research:), and hope you find the best cruise for you and your family.


Karin

We liked the activities on the ship - the kids loved the Ocean Adventure program and the arcade and the pools, DW liked the spa and pools on the Mariner and I liked being on deck, and the promenade and the activities - basketball for example - the ship just felt wide open. Now, we are looking at the routing of this cruise and thinking it would be a really nice one to go on and since DW is on a one year sabatical, it is a cruise we wold otherwise not be able to go on.

Thanks - HTH

Cheers
jaysue

[peaches from georgia]

If you are concerned about other children being onboard, especially for your 8 yr old, I doubt there will be many. Most school districts will be back in session after the holiday.

[jaysue]

If you are concerned about other children being onboard, especially for your 8 yr old, I doubt there will be many. Most school districts will be back in session after the holiday.

Thanks Peaches - I passed this info on to DW

Cheers
jaysue

[voyeurism26]

We just did the April 12-22nd sailing on the Volendam...its was a floating retirement village! I'm 39 and my travel partner is 40 and we were one of the younger ones onboard. There were a few kids and teens onboard our sailing and spoke to there parents and it seems there kids were having a horrible time onboard....they couldn't wait to get off the ship!

As far as the cruise, it was okay. The service was not the greatest and the portion of food has decreased. Panama canal was incredible and so was costa rica, aruba was nice...just don't book the natural bridge tour, the bridge is now a pile of rocks which they don't tell you on the ship.

Good luck and have fun whatever you choose!

[jaysue]

We just did the April 12-22nd sailing on the Volendam...its was a floating retirement village! I'm 39 and my travel partner is 40 and we were one of the younger ones onboard. There were a few kids and teens onboard our sailing and spoke to there parents and it seems there kids were having a horrible time onboard....they couldn't wait to get off the ship!

As far as the cruise, it was okay. The service was not the greatest and the portion of food has decreased. Panama canal was incredible and so was costa rica, aruba was nice...just don't book the natural bridge tour, the bridge is now a pile of rocks which they don't tell you on the ship.

Good luck and have fun whatever you choose!

Thanks for the info - does not look like a good option for our situation

Cheers
jaysue

[middle-aged mom]

We just did the April 12-22nd sailing on the Volendam...its was a floating retirement village! I'm 39 and my travel partner is 40 and we were one of the younger ones onboard. There were a few kids and teens onboard our sailing and spoke to there parents and it seems there kids were having a horrible time onboard....they couldn't wait to get off the ship!

As far as the cruise, it was okay. The service was not the greatest and the portion of food has decreased. Panama canal was incredible and so was costa rica, aruba was nice...just don't book the natural bridge tour, the bridge is now a pile of rocks which they don't tell you on the ship.

Good luck and have fun whatever you choose!

Thanks for the info - does not look like a good option for our situation

Cheers
jaysue

Jaysue:

While HAL may or may not be the best choice for you and your family, neither is it the "floating retirement village" depicted by Voyeurism. Our 8-year-old daughter has enjoyed Club HAL children's program very much. The crew and staff onboard the Holland America ships provide outstanding service, and, in our experience, have bent over backwards to accommodate our young daughter and her 17-year-old sister. My family and I have found plenty of excellent dining options available to us, including a children's menu in the main dining room. Nobody in my family has ever had a "horrible" time on a HAL ship. Just wanted to give you our perspective.

Karin

[jaysue]

Thanks again for posting Karin - much appreciated

Normally I would not fret so much over a cruise choice but since there are a number of at sea days, I have turned up the planning a notch or two to ensure a good family experience.

By way of example if it was let's say a 6 nighter on RCL Jewel where there is a "new" port every day, I would have zero concerns about the population distribution on the cruise as I would know if the on-ship scene was not working for the kids, we would go on an excursion every day. But there are back to back sea days and thus my concerns. I have great kids who are quite happy to do their thing - I just want to make a good choice for them and ensure value for $$$ paid.

Thanks again! :)

[middle-aged mom]

Thanks again for posting Karin - much appreciated

Normally I would not fret so much over a cruise choice but since there are a number of at sea days, I have turned up the planning a notch or two to ensure a good family experience.

By way of example if it was let's say a 6 nighter on RCL Jewel where there is a "new" port every day, I would have zero concerns about the population distribution on the cruise as I would know if the on-ship scene was not working for the kids, we would go on an excursion every day. But there are back to back sea days and thus my concerns. I have great kids who are quite happy to do their thing - I just want to make a good choice for them and ensure value for $$$ paid.

Thanks again! :)

Jaysue:

I understand, and think that you are very wise to take all the many factors of itinerary, ship, cruiseline, time of year, and port/sea day combinations into consideration. I salute you for ensuring that you make the best choice for everyone in your family. Bon Voyage!:)

Karin

[voyeurism26]

Hey Jaysue don't listen to Middle age Mom's post...she has NO clue! Not to inslut her a bit and she does have her opinion but if your going to do a 7 day HAL cruise, you and your family will have fun! We noticed on the longer 10 day cruises that HAL is a floating retirement village. My table and the area that my table was in the dinning room was placed near the families and all the kids were complaining the parents felt bad for there kids because nobody told them that there will not be much activities for them. The fact of the matter is HAL is known for lots of elderly on there ships!

On our 10 day HAL cruise, the biggest entertainment was cross word puzzles and reading books and it was very quiet. If your going to do a 10 day or longer HAL cruise please be warned, if your going to do a 7 day on HAL, you will have a great time...but if your looking for a longer cruise keep on searching.

Sorry Middle age Mom......!!!

[bookworm0911]

From all I have seen for sure I would take children on a 7 day HAL during school break time or in the summer.

I would never take children on a HAL cruise if it wasn't a definite school vacation period and never on a 10 day or longer. Just too many seniors and not enough kiddies.