Kids on Viking or other lines?

Does Viking or any other lines have a room large enough to accommodate a couple with 2 children, ages 5 and 9?

I am not aware of any but their website has the room descriptions and details and a good TA can best advise options.

In 7 river cruises I have only once had any children aboard and that was at Christmas. There were two older children aboard.

Some lines offer lines as Family Cruises - Uniworld and Avalon both have these.

Not that I know of. In fact, many river cruise ships don't even accommodate triples. Some do, but they are few & far between and sell out very early. For a family of 4, you can put one parent with each child in a double cabin. It's expensive and one of the reasons we didn't do river cruising with our kids.

On all the river cruises we have been on, I think I saw one or two at the most, and they were in their teens.

The demographic for river cruises is mostly retired people, with some 30's on up scattered.

I think Tauck does Family sailings! But nothing I have read will accommodate 4 on a River Cruise boat...2 cabins. I'm also not sure anyone will take a 5 yr old ?

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I looked into both a Tauck Bridges cruise (family trips) and Uniworld for one of their "Family Friendly" cruises. Neither line have cabins that accommodate more than two per cabin. Uniworld does have a few connecting cabins if you can snag them. I am trying to plan a multi-generation trip and for our group of 9, it's an expensive proposition.

This question has been asked many times. Most lines have no acomodations for children. Viking states that children under 18 must be in cabin with parent. Some lines have suites large enough to add roll aways.

There are no provisions for small children on these boats-no children's menu, no high chairs, no safety devices in place on decks. Dinners usually last up to 2 hours and this is cruel for small children (IMO). There is nothing for them to do on board.

Have you considered an all inclusive type resort for your multi generations. We have been on 19 river cruises on most of the lines and have yet to see young teens or younger children.

Try the search function for travels on rivers with children. All read the various lines' T&Cs

Good luck finding a good fit for your family. Pat

This is a quote from the Scenic T&C

4.8 Young Passengers

(a) Passengers under the age of 21 years (as at the Tour Departure Date) must be accompanied by an adult and share their accommodation with an adult.

(b) Children under the age of 12 years are not encouraged (with the exception of Christmas tours and cruises) and are accepted or rejected at Our sole discretion.

There are no cabins that take more than 2 people on the Scenic River boats and I have not seen any on other companies deck plans either.

I think young children would be very bored on a river cruise. There is no childrens clubs like on ocean cruises.

Have you ever been on a river cruise? I'm sorry, but I think this is a really bad idea for a multi-generational trip. Even if Viking will take them (and reading Stratheden' post I think it's unlikely they will accept a 5 & 9 year old) these poor kids will be bored stiff and miserable. There are no facilities or entertainment for children, as someone else has said the meal arrangements are unsuitable and the demographic is even older than on the average upmarket ocean cruise line. Please think again.

I would advise against taking kids on a river cruise, they would be bored to death. Ocean cruise are much better for multigenerational groups, people can split up and do a variety of onboard activities. Riverboats are tiny, especially with the sun deck closed at times.

We had two families with teens on board our river cruise, there wasn't much for them to do besides board and card games.

If I remember correctly, Tauck's minimum river cruise age is 8 yrs. old for their family trips.

Thank you everyone. I was afraid this would be the case.

Sue

Thank you everyone. I was afraid this would be the case.

Sue

No fear, they'll age up . . . :)

We have been on river cruises with multi-gen families that included mid-teens. Those kids did well and seemed to enjoy themselves.

As has been stated, most lines don't have accommodations for more than 2 people in a cabin. Most also have a minimum age for children, which is usually at least 12. River cruising is just not designed for children. You will have to actually contact the various river cruise lines to see if (1) they allow children of the specific age and (2) what their suggestions are for cabin arrangements. Most lines require an adult to be in the cabin with children. If you are travelling with your spouse, you really can't put the children in the 2nd cabin. You each would have to be in a cabin with a child, which doesn't sound like a fun vacation to me. I would recommend either Ocean cruising or an organized, escorted land tour.

To clarify my post, I am not looking to take our family (6 adults and three granddaughters) on a regular river cruise. I was only looking at those that are SPECIFICALLY for families, i.e. Tauck Bridges, the family trip arm of Tauck and Uniworld's "Family-Friendly" cruises. These cruises are designed especially for families, although Tauck offers more than Uniworld. I assume that adult river cruisers would not be interested in these specific cruises and would choose one not likely to have children on board.

I appreciate all your suggestions. However, we have no interest in an all-inclusive resort or a mass market cruise with all the hoopla. Our cruises have been on Windstar and Oceania neither of which cater to children. I am not looking at either of those lines for this trip.

As has been stated, most lines don't have accommodations for more than 2 people in a cabin. Most also have a minimum age for children, which is usually at least 12. River cruising is just not designed for children. You will have to actually contact the various river cruise lines to see if (1) they allow children of the specific age and (2) what their suggestions are for cabin arrangements. Most lines require an adult to be in the cabin with children. If you are travelling with your spouse, you really can't put the children in the 2nd cabin. You each would have to be in a cabin with a child, which doesn't sound like a fun vacation to me. I would recommend either Ocean cruising or an organized, escorted land tour.

The minimum age of the lines I've looked at is 8. The lines are required to book 1 adult and 1 child per cabin. Once on the ship, you can rearrange you group.

Riverroad - maybe you should look at Crystal Cruises. They have dedicated areas for kids as well as teens. If you have cruised Oceania before, you should like Crystal. I think Crystal may include more in their fares than Oceania. I also know that Crystal has cabins that hold 3 passengers.

Good luck to you.

Riverroad - maybe you should look at Crystal Cruises. They have dedicated areas for kids as well as teens. If you have cruised Oceania before, you should like Crystal. I think Crystal may include more in their fares than Oceania. I also know that Crystal has cabins that hold 3 passengers.

 

Good luck to you.

Thanks. Will look into it. Does Crystal still have formal nights? That would be a deal breaker.

Formal nights ... Yes. But you do not need to participate.

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Crystal has changed their formal nights to Black Tie optional. Here is the information, taken directly from Crystal's website with their descriptions:

> Elegant Casual (Informal)

Suit or slacks with a jacket over a sweater or shirt for men. Ties are optional. Cocktail dress, skirt or slacks with a sweater or blouse for women. Jeans are not appropriate.

> Black Tie (Formal) Optional

While Elegant Casual is always appropriate in the evening, a Black Tie Optional evening offers a celebratory opportunity to dress more formally on a special evening(s). For men, this includes a dark suit with tie or tuxedo; for women, this includes a formal cocktail dress, evening gown or dressy evening separates. On Black Tie Optional evenings, we request that jeans not be worn in any dining venues or lounges, including the Casino.

As you can see, on the black tie optional nights, you can always go with elegant casual if you want to dine in one of the restaurants. There is also the option of room service on those nights.

Uniworld's minimum age is 4 years for their family program. The website is very vague and pretty much requires you to contact them for specifics regarding the scheduled activities.

We have a multigenerational Viking river cruise booked for next summer. Grandparents, parents and grandkids. The youngest is 10. We have traveled all over the world together. It's a great way to spend family time together. We went on a previous river cruise and the kids had a good time.

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We have a multigenerational Viking river cruise booked for next summer. Grandparents, parents and grandkids. The youngest is 10. We have traveled all over the world together. It's a great way to spend family time together. We went on a previous river cruise and the kids had a good time.

 

Which cruise are you taking with Viking? Does Viking require you to book an adult in a room with a child? I didn't think Viking offered any trips geared to families. Is this just a regular Viking cruise?

We are doing the Amsterdam to Basel trip. It is not an 'official' multigenerational trip. The only trip of this kind I have seen is the uniworld family trip. We booked rooms next to one another. One adult and one child in the rooms. We didn't feel it necessary to book the family trip and it was only for one specific week. Our kids were never the kids club type, so we really don't need those types of amenities . Many people discourage children on river cruises, but I feel it is an individual decision based on your family and how you enjoy to travel together.

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We are doing the Amsterdam to Basel trip. It is not an 'official' multigenerational trip. The only trip of this kind I have seen is the uniworld family trip. We booked rooms next to one another. One adult and one child in the rooms. We didn't feel it necessary to book the family trip and it was only for one specific week. Our kids were never the kids club type, so we really don't need those types of amenities . Many people discourage children on river cruises, but I feel it is an individual decision based on your family and how you enjoy to travel together.

 

 

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Bellarose, thanks for your helpful response. One additional question. Once on board, will you move the children into a room together so the adults can be together? Uniworld told me I could do this but would like to know Viking's position.