Advise for Cruises with Children
 

Hello,

I want to get some advise for taking a cruise with children. Here are a few questions:

1. Are Alaska cruises a bad idea with children.

2. What are the kid friendly cruise lines, also I would prefer to stay away from Carnival (I don't want my kids on a ship with a ton of drunk college kids).

3. Will the cruse lines seat families with children together or do I have to ask.

4. Which cruse lines do not provide a nursery (this is a must, but does not have to be open 24/7).

In case this matters, the children are 6 months and 7 yrs old.

Thanks,
George...

Your best source for all of the answers regarding cruises can be found on two cruise websites. One is Cruisemates.com and the other is Cruisecritic.com. Both of these websites have staff that will answer any question regarding cruising. They are very helpful. Good luck. Arlene

Thanks Arlene,

I have looked at a few websites on cruises. Although, I am having trouble finding actual peoples experiences and recommendations on babys/kids on Alaska cruises. There are a ton on southern cruises though.

I will look further though http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...orum/smile.gif

George...

It's been a few years since my daughter was a "child" but we had great luck with Princess.

Princess always had a dedicated area for the kids. One for the small ones and one for the older ones. They had credentialed teachers who provided supervision and activities for the little ones. My daughter never failed to meet other girls her own age on Princess cruises.

The reason we avoided an Alaskan cruise was the fear that my daughter would not be able to use the pool and other deck facilities. Remember that the ship in traveling at a good clip. Thus. there is always a distinct breeze which is less inviting on cool weather cruises than say in the Carribean. While the stereotype of an Alaskan cruiser is someone well past middle age, friends who have done Alaska say there are families on the ship.

We once sailed from NYC to Burmuda on a Royal Viking ship. It was very plush but very few children.

Very plush ships like the Viking have one setting for dinner. We actually preferred two seatings when my daugher was young. I'm sure the older passengers appreciated the slow pace of dinner on the Viking ship but it was a little too slow for a young girl.

George
IMHO, of the cruise lines operating in Alaska, Royal Carribean and Princess offer the best children’s programs. All of the lines offer some level of kid’s program, but none of the Alaska cruise lines match Princess or RCL for children.

1. Is an Alaskan cruise a bad idea with kids? I don’t think so, the ‘average’ Alaskan cruise passenger is 10 years older at 60 than the ‘average’ Caribbean cruise passenger, but folks of all ages cruise to Alaska, including young children. If you take a Native American and natural history approach to the cruise it could be quite rewarding for your seven year old.
2. RCL & Princess are your best bets.
3. You can ask to be seated with other travellers with similar demographics. When my wife and I cruised last week with RCL, they had matched us with other couples around our age (We sailed without our kids on that trip).
4. I don’t know of any lines that have nurseries, I know RCL’s kids program is for toilet-trained children over 3 years of age. Princess’ program takes kids 2 years and older but I don’t know if they have toilet-trained restrictions.

FYI, I work in the cruise industry in YVR, but I am not employed by any specific cruise line. I’ve sailed with Holland American and RCL and have visited and toured most of the ships from Carnival, Celebrity, NCL, Radisson, Crystal and Princess that cruise to Alaska. I hope this helps.

http://www.cruisecritic.com/newsletter/newspopup.cfm

Give this a try. It had quite a few ratings for kids.


Best Children's Programs :
1. Radiance of the Seas 4.6
2. Adventure of the Seas 4.6
3. Carnival Spirit 4.3
4. Spirit 4.3
5. Explorer of the Seas 4.2
6. Disney Wonder 4.2
7. Disney Magic 4.1
8. Golden Princess 3.9
9. Carnival Destiny 3.9
10. Patriot 3.8


Oops, I should know better than not to read all the posts - sorry Marysunshine.


[This message has been edited by drtravels (edited 10-19-2001).]

Thanks for all the advise. I have been going over the web sites with my wife. Looks like a cruise with kids is going to happen http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...orum/smile.gif

George...