1st time Cruising for Family

My wife is very apprehensive, but I so want to cruise. Do not even know where. We live in Arkansas and would cruise our of the Gulf for Florida coast. Advise for traveling with family -- me 38, wife 38, son 9, son 7, daughter 4.

We do not have a preference for cruise line or itinerary. Where do we start? How do we choose a line.

We are not drinkers or gamblers -- best for my family. what are our options besides Disney, which is soooo expensive. Summer travel is our only option.

Welcome to Cruise Critic! :)

What time of year are you considering cruising?

Finding a good Travel Agent would be a "world of help" to you. ;)

LuLu

Welcome to Cruise Critic! :)

 

What time of year are you considering cruising?

 

Finding a good Travel Agent would be a "world of help" to you. ;)

 

LuLu

We would travel on the Summer of 2016.

Welcome to Cruise Critic! :)

 

What time of year are you considering cruising?

 

Finding a good Travel Agent would be a "world of help" to you. ;)

 

LuLu

I would agree with this. Ask your friends, relatives, co-workers if they know of a "cruise specialist" -- that's a travel agent who is knowledgeable about cruising. You can tell him/her when you would like to cruise, what your budget is, if there's any islands you want to go to (of course, if you go during hurricane season during the summer, there's no guarantee that your itinerary might change for everyone's safety).

There's many family-friendly cruise lines that aren't as expensive as the mouse.

I think you should try carnival, maybe out of NOLA, since it is the cheapest line. You can see if cruising is for you without shelling out a lot of cash. It Worked for us and now we are jumping ship (pun intended!) to royal Caribbean. Not because carnival was bad, actually just the opposite. Carnivals been great, but we want to see what else is out there in terms of ships and destinations! Just be warned. Theirs a 90% chance you'll get addicted to cruising!

First, welcome to Cruise Critic, hawkinsh! You have a great start by looking around on the boards here as there is great information for just about any cruise/ship/port question you could ask!

Since you have no idea of where you want to go, that might be a good place to start. Look at several itineraries to both the eastern and western Caribbean and see if any catch your interest. There are amazing ports in both. Next, see which cruise lines have itineraries that visit the ports you are interested in and where they sail from. I agree with the previous post that sailing from New Orleans might be a good first option for you since travel will be much less cumbersome. Because you will be traveling with a 4yo, I think I would look at either a 7 day or less cruise. A 4yo could be a handful if she does not appreciate your choice of vacation on a ship! Carnival does have some great entertainment for kids the age of yours, just as a FYI.

Once you have some idea of where you want to go and which cruise line goes there, you're almost ready to pull the trigger! Don't worry, you WILL suffer from information overload before you have reached the point of actually booking a cruise, but there is lots of help on CC, so ask questions!

I hope you find a cruise you will enjoy and you and your family will have a blast on that first cruise! Oh, it is addictive so don't start looking for ways to avoid it! :D

My wife is very apprehensive, but I so want to cruise. Do not even know where. We live in Arkansas and would cruise our of the Gulf for Florida coast. Advise for traveling with family -- me 38, wife 38, son 9, son 7, daughter 4. We do not have a preference for cruise line or itinerary. Where do we start? How do we choose a line. We are not drinkers or gamblers -- best for my family. what are our options besides Disney, which is soooo expensive. Summer travel is our only option.

Aloha hawkinsh :D

First you have to understand what it means to cruise. The ship is a moving hotel room with some entertainment & restaurants. Most of the cabins are small, check out the square footage on the websites. The hotel moves from location to location (ports) and will let you off for a few hours to explore & experience (excursions) the immediate area (remember it is very limited time in port, just hours). Drinking & gambling are not required activities. They are provide to make money for the cruise line. So if you think that you will get to know a particular area, think again.

I'm not trying to discourage you from cruising, but you have to be realistic and understand what cruising is about. Some people cruise to just enjoy the ship & don't leave the ship in the ports. Some people like to just sit & read on board the ship or like to go to the restaurants every night. The ship itself is the destination for these people & you might be surprised to find out how many actually don't leave the ship in the ports.

Cruises (excluding Disney) are not designed for kids. There may or may not be kids clubs (which costs, so you can do stuff without them) with activities. You may need to babysit your own kids on the ship & on shore. The ship is not a playground where you just turn your kids loose.

So just think about these thing before you decide to cruise with or without your kids.

Aloha :D

I'm going to go against the flow here. I think you should go with the expectation of experiencing/exploring cruising. Use the ship as your destination. Take whatever itinerary fits your time and budget.

You are a family of five with young children. Most cruise lines/ships would not have cabins for that number. You would have to book two cabins, unless you could get a family suite which could be expensive. I have no idea of your budget. But there is a cruise line that can take care of you. Carnival Dream class ships , Carnival Breeze out of Galveston and Dream out of NOLA, have cabins for five. There is a twin/king for the adults, two uppers and a couch for the children. There is a split bath, two sinks and showers, one toilet. They are ocean view cabins. Their kids programs are free, though some activities may have a fee (Build-a-bear type stuff). Programs in the kids area after 10pm do have a fee. Carnival Magic also has these cabins, but she is sailing next summer from Port Canaveral, a longer trip to departure port.

EM

I'm going to go against the flow here. I think you should go with the expectation of experiencing/exploring cruising. Use the ship as your destination. Take whatever itinerary fits your time and budget.

You are a family of five with young children. Most cruise lines/ships would not have cabins for that number. You would have to book two cabins, unless you could get a family suite which could be expensive. I have no idea of your budget. But there is a cruise line that can take care of you. Carnival Dream class ships , Carnival Breeze out of Galveston and Dream out of NOLA, have cabins for five. There is a twin/king for the adults, two uppers and a couch for the children. There is a split bath, two sinks and showers, one toilet. They are ocean view cabins. Their kids programs are free, though some activities may have a fee (Build-a-bear type stuff). Programs in the kids area after 10pm do have a fee. Carnival Magic also has these cabins, but she is sailing next summer from Port Canaveral, a longer trip to departure port.

EM

Aloha Essiesmom :D

WOW! I didn't know such a cruise existed. Must cost a small fortune for this cruise for 5 people 38, 38, 9, 7, 4, unless kids are half price. I can't even begin to imagine the total for a 7 day cruise.

What about the gratuities? Like on our RCI cruise in Sept. the "voluntary/mandatory" gratuities are $12.95pp/day so on our 9 day cruise for two it's $233.10 in gratuities. If it's the same amount for the kids, the daily family rate for 5 is $64.75 in tips, $453.25 for a 7 day cruise. Plus port fees & taxes.

When our 3 were those ages, we were socking away everything we could for their college educations. As it is now, our last is 23yo & the land grant college he attends is over $16,000/year in resident tuition alone plus room & board & books, etc. & this is undergraduate school. I hope he doesn't tell us he want to go to graduate school (btw, he works part-time for his spending money). Graduate school will be cutting into our cruise/retirement moneys.

Might I also suggest that you get a babysitter & just the two of you take a short cruise first to get a real idea what a cruise is like. The babysitter has got to cost less than the fare for the 3 kids.

Aloha :D

You really need a good travel agent. The person who said cruising (aside from Disney) isn't for kids is WAAAY off base. All of the mass-market lines welcome kids, and have kid's clubs to keep those kids busy! All of the lines have something for 3 year olds and up...some have nursery services for those under 3....

Go to a travel agent...get brochures and talk to an agent. Read the brochures, and you'll get a "feel" for which line might suit you.

After you do that, come back with some specific questions.....but ultimately, YOU need to decide which line/itinerary seems right for your family!

I highly second the suggestion to try the Carnival Dream Class of ships (Dream, Magic, and Breeze). I also think that the Breeze (newest and most kid friendly) is moving to Galveston (closer than FL to you?). The Breeze is a wonderful ship and the perfect 1st cruise for a young family. And yes, try to stay in 1 cabin! Easier with young ones running around!

My wife is very apprehensive, but I so want to cruise. Do not even know where. We live in Arkansas and would cruise our of the Gulf for Florida coast. Advise for traveling with family -- me 38, wife 38, son 9, son 7, daughter 4.

 

We do not have a preference for cruise line or itinerary. Where do we start? How do we choose a line.

 

We are not drinkers or gamblers -- best for my family. what are our options besides Disney, which is soooo expensive. Summer travel is our only option.

Since you have young children, I would recommend limiting yourself to the family friendly lines, such as Carnival, Disney, Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) and Royal Caribbean.

You are correct, Disney is very expensive.

The new and bigger ships have more kid friendly things to do. On the older ships the kids might be limited to a pool and a water slide (if tall enough) or a pool and a rock wall. On the newer ships there would also be miniature golf, a small water park, a merry-go-round, a ropes course and bowling (NCL).

Our first post-baby vacation was, of course, a cruise with our little 23-month old on Carnival. She absolutely loved it even though she was a month too young for Camp Carnival. Since then she was on seven more cruises, including three two-week ones. Other than that, one or two day vacations that didn't involve a cruise. And next up is the road trip to take her to college (without a cruise booked, oh well).

So absolutely, cruising is a great way for a family to vacation. Once you get on board, you unpack once and you don't pack up again until the last day. All of the mass market lines have a kids' program. If you can narrow down which lines, go on those cruise line's websites with your wife and check out the kids' programs and all the fun activities (aside from a few activities such as the Build a Bear mentioned above for one line -- all free!) your kids will enjoy. And once school lets out for the summer, there will be plenty of new friends for them (make sure to take them to the orientation meeting the first day).

As for which cruise lines will go to Caribbean ports during the summer, it won't be an overwhelmingly long list as many will send their ships elsewhere for the summer (for example, Princess concentrates many of their ships in Alaska -- which BTW is a great itinerary for kids, believe it or not, and Europe). Again, as suggested before, seek out a cruise specialist to help you come up with potential cruises. They are happy to help (especially if you end up booking through them -- at no extra charge to you).

I SO disagree with the suggestion to hire a babysitter and leave the kids behind. My Grandson started cruising when he was just shy of his fourth birthday. He LOVED it. He loved staying in the same bedroom with the adults. He loved the pullman bed. He was the one that would ask if he could go to bed. By the end of the day, he was pooped from all the activity. The dining room staff make a BIG fuss over the kids and keep them entertained during dinner. They also make sure the little ones have their favorite drink and cut up fruit or snacks as soon as they reach the table to keep them from getting restless. We knew his tips were the same as for the adults and budgeted for it. He's now 21 and in college and is Diamond on his own status, soon to reach Diamond+ on Royal Caribbean. He now takes a friend along with us and they have their own cabin and meet us for dinner in the evenings. It's taught him etiquette, to enjoy different foods, cultures, languages, and to enjoy new experiences. He will be going with us on two upcoming cruises. On our last cruise, the friend he took had never been on a cruise and prior to the trip. I heard him say how much his friend was going to love waking up in a new port every morning without having to pack. It gives them so many wonderful family memories and later they learn so much without realizing they are learning. Any itinerary you choose will be fine. You'll be going on another one to check out the other itineraries as soon as you get home. We always travel during the summer because of school schedules (teachers and students in the family). You'll love it.

If the OP wanted suggestions on whether to bring the kids on a cruise, he/she would have asked that question, so I will not comment on the prior poster's suggestion to leave the kids behind, except to say that cruising is a GREAT way to show the world to kids.

To answer the OP's question, take a look at NCL, RCI and Carnival, as they offer great onboard amenities for kids and are more reasonable for families. Look at getting 2 connecting rooms or one room that will accommodate the 5 of you, whichever you are most comfortable.

Figure out which itinerary would be best for you. Research "best things to do" in each port. Once you find the cruise you think you would like, then read the CC reviews for the particular ships. Reviews are extremely helpful. They will give you some insite into the onboard kids programs, excursions in port, types of cabins, etc. However, read at least the last 10 reviews to get a good feel. One negative review should not be the only one you read, as what is horrible for one person is heaven for another.

Good luck, and let us know what you decide.

Aloha hawkinsh :D

Cruises (excluding Disney) are not designed for kids. There may or may not be kids clubs (which costs, so you can do stuff without them) with activities. You may need to babysit your own kids on the ship & on shore. The ship is not a playground where you just turn your kids loose.

 

Aloha :D

This is absolutely wrong. Carnival and Royal Caribbean each will carry more kids than Disney. Carnival has waterworks ...

and Royal Caribbean has the H2O Zone ...

Built specifically for kids.

Many cruise lines, including Royal Caribbean and NCL have family cabins designed for families with children.

The cruise lines offer a children's program.

Cruises are as much fun and enjoyable for kids as they are for adults.

A travel agent could help you find a promotion where kids sail free or for reduced price.

My children are all grown now but their favorite vacation out of all of our vacations (including a trip to Disneyworld) was a cruise to Alaska on HAL. Find a good TA to get the best prices and help guide you through the process. When our grandchildren are old enough to remember we plan to take them on a cruise as well.

My children are all grown now but their favorite vacation out of all of our vacations (including a trip to Disneyworld) was a cruise to Alaska on HAL. Find a good TA to get the best prices and help guide you through the process. When our grandchildren are old enough to remember we plan to take them on a cruise as well.

HAL is a good line where kids are concerned.

I have 2 daughters 12 &10 & they have been on 5 cruises with us. It is our favorite family vacation because we are what I call "lazy vacationers". We like to relax & with cruising they tale you to a port drop you off, feed you, take you to the next port, etc.

You can get a cabin for 5. With the NCL 1/2 price special, or Royal Caribbean's BOGO you can get a fairly good deal for the 5 of you. Remember, it includes, food & entertainment, etc & is generally much less than an all-inclusive resort.

We love the Royal Caribbean kids clubs because they have many activities. Their ships also have great activities for kids including ice skating, rock climbing, boogie boarding, put-put golf, plus a variety of appropriate shows.

We also did Disney when the girls were younger. Not as much for adults (no casino) but lots for kids, fantastic service, but more expensive. Carnival we found to have worse food quality.

Last year we planned a Spring Break cruise with our friends (39 people including 22 kids) & everyone had a great time & thought it was a fantastic value.

The larger RCI ships are our favorite as they have more on board. You have great Cruise options out of Houston.

Aloha Essiesmom :D

 

WOW! I didn't know such a cruise existed. Must cost a small fortune for this cruise for 5 people 38, 38, 9, 7, 4, unless kids are half price. I can't even begin to imagine the total for a 7 day cruise.

 

What about the gratuities? Like on our RCI cruise in Sept. the "voluntary/mandatory" gratuities are $12.95pp/day so on our 9 day cruise for two it's $233.10 in gratuities. If it's the same amount for the kids, the daily family rate for 5 is $64.75 in tips, $453.25 for a 7 day cruise. Plus port fees & taxes.

 

When our 3 were those ages, we were socking away everything we could for their college educations. As it is now, our last is 23yo & the land grant college he attends is over $16,000/year in resident tuition alone plus room & board & books, etc. & this is undergraduate school. I hope he doesn't tell us he want to go to graduate school (btw, he works part-time for his spending money). Graduate school will be cutting into our cruise/retirement moneys.

 

Might I also suggest that you get a babysitter & just the two of you take a short cruise first to get a real idea what a cruise is like. The babysitter has got to cost less than the fare for the 3 kids.

 

Aloha :D

Any vacation for a family of five will come with a good price tag! Have you been to an amusement park or a zoo lately? You're easily looking at a few hundred dollars a day at many of those places. Second, if you do some research and/or work with a good travel agent, you can find great deals! We take shorter cruises, look at the off season, and limit what we spend on board and on shore excursions. And we always tip above the automatic gratuities. We've worked hard and saved for our children's education. Our oldest will begin his freshman year of college in September and his first semester is completely paid for, including room and board, thanks to scholarships and our 18 years of saving and investing. No grants and no loans needed. But, I'm not sure what that has to do with a family vacation. :rolleyes:

To the OP, our older two kids had their first cruises at 10 and 12. It has been consistently what they've asked to do every year since then. I was unsure of cruising, so we booked a 3 day from Port Canaveral and drove from Ohio to FL over 4 days with stops at parks, roadside attractions, etc., then spent the night before the cruise in Orlando. Our kids loved the children's programming and the family time we had. Our family always has breakfast and dinner together. We also have set family times (a show, mini golf, dive in movie) each day. While there kids are at their club or with friends, we planned parent time, too. Our only port we as Nassau and we went to Junkanoo beach which was free (it is much nicer now than it was then but we still had a great time!) and the strawmarket. Our second cruise was out of NY to Canada. We lived in New York so getting there was super cheap and our daughter was a huge Titanic fan so it was a no brainer. We liked it so much, we went back the next year and took my parents :) Our oldest chose not to go with us this November because he wants to spend that week with his girlfriends family (we won't bring girlfriend on the cruise) but our youngest will have his first cruise at 18 months :) There's a family cruise board on here I encourage you to check out :)

Aloha hawkinsh :D

 

. . . You may need to babysit your own kids on the ship & on shore. The ship is not a playground where you just turn your kids loose.

 

I am not sure if you intended to sound rude, but I do not consider time with my kids babysitting. They are my children, and the GREATEST gift God has trusted me with. I am not looking for a place to "turn them loose" or babysit them. I enjoy them and want to spend time vacationing with them. They are not a burden or a nuisance. Now, that is not to say they don't make me crazy sometimes, but that is just part of parenthood.

As a new cruiser I am interested in the kids clubs and activities, as I think the kids might also enjoy them.

I know it has been a while on this follow up, but that is the busy life of a family I guess. I did follow many of your suggestions. I am the "vacation planner" in the family, so I have been doing my research. Here is where we are at this point.

I knew we wanted to travel in March of 2017 over Spring Break. My wife and I are both teachers and all 3 kids are in school, so that was our time frame.

NOLA is the closest port to us, so we will leave on a 5-night cruise headed to Cozumel & Pregresso. We were not picky on the ports as we have not been anywhere outside the US, so any port will be an adventure.

We selected Carnival purely because of the cost. I do have concerns about it being a "party ship" as I have read in some places. But it seemed to have things for everyone to do. The Triumph is not the newest or biggest, but I thought it would be a good start for us.

We will have 2.adjoining cabins. My mother-n-law will travel with us so there will be three in each room essentially.

We have just about paid off the cruise now and are looking at excursions at port. So I would love recommendations.

hawkinsh, that is great news. I'm sure you're going to have a blast!

As far as excursions are concerned, you may want to check out the boards for Progreso and Cozumel. I've not been to Progreso, but my family had a terrific time in Cozumel. We hired a driver for the day and got a chance to see a lot of the island--San Gervasio (Mayan ruins), the east (undeveloped) side beaches, hit a couple of beach clubs and ended with some shopping in town. There are many options for kids! Good luck, and enjoy your cruise!