We have 3 children, now ages 14, 7 and 4. We have taken them on Carnival Dream and RCCL Freedom of the Seas both out of Port Canaveral. My younger ones absolutely love RCCL's Adventure Ocean and would ask to go to "class" every day. The kids participated in everything from singing with the staff in the dining room, being in the talent show (everyone wins first place), participating in the Christmas Story program, being pirates that did a little skit/song, watching the Madagascar parades, you name it. The oldest one who at 12 could sign herself in and out of the kids program also loves cruises and still stays in touch with a couple of the kids she met from Great Britain and one from Australia. One night she asked if she could eat dinner with a friend she had made and her family instead of ours : ) Key here is to make sure the kids go to the meet & greet/open house on the first night. That way they see and meet many of the other kids on the ship.
For accommodations, the first cruise we took the little ones on were 2 connecting cabins (ocean view). You will have to list one adult in each cabin but they dont care about your actual sleeping arrangements. We also used a baby monitor to listen in on the kids so we could hear when they awoke etc. But they usually just came in through the connecting door. Last cruise in 2012, we had 2 cabins next door to each other but not with a connecting door inside. It was still perfectly fine. Used the baby monitor, had key cards to both rooms since the little ones didnt hold their cards, etc. Even then they were newly 3, 5 and 12, we had no issues with the rooms. I don't think I would do across the hall because the rooms don't always line up as perfectly as the deck plans but the adjacent cabins were perfect for us. For lots to do on the ship for your kids I would recommend the Freedom of the Seas out of Port Canaveral.
1st Family Cruise - 40's w/ 6 & 11 YO
in Family Cruises
Posted
We have 3 children, now ages 14, 7 and 4. We have taken them on Carnival Dream and RCCL Freedom of the Seas both out of Port Canaveral. My younger ones absolutely love RCCL's Adventure Ocean and would ask to go to "class" every day. The kids participated in everything from singing with the staff in the dining room, being in the talent show (everyone wins first place), participating in the Christmas Story program, being pirates that did a little skit/song, watching the Madagascar parades, you name it. The oldest one who at 12 could sign herself in and out of the kids program also loves cruises and still stays in touch with a couple of the kids she met from Great Britain and one from Australia. One night she asked if she could eat dinner with a friend she had made and her family instead of ours : ) Key here is to make sure the kids go to the meet & greet/open house on the first night. That way they see and meet many of the other kids on the ship.
For accommodations, the first cruise we took the little ones on were 2 connecting cabins (ocean view). You will have to list one adult in each cabin but they dont care about your actual sleeping arrangements. We also used a baby monitor to listen in on the kids so we could hear when they awoke etc. But they usually just came in through the connecting door. Last cruise in 2012, we had 2 cabins next door to each other but not with a connecting door inside. It was still perfectly fine. Used the baby monitor, had key cards to both rooms since the little ones didnt hold their cards, etc. Even then they were newly 3, 5 and 12, we had no issues with the rooms. I don't think I would do across the hall because the rooms don't always line up as perfectly as the deck plans but the adjacent cabins were perfect for us. For lots to do on the ship for your kids I would recommend the Freedom of the Seas out of Port Canaveral.