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Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

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Original poster

Are cruises really for the under 60s?

21 replies

Bluemarlin · 10/03/2011 20:40

Help! I was looking at the possibility of a cruise but my DH thinks I am nuts and is not sure about being stuck with loads of people on a boat. Should I leave this for another ten years(we have DS age 11 and are 40 somethings)?

OP posts:

Ooopsadaisy · 10/03/2011 20:44

Friend of mine (late 30s), her DP (same age) and their two dcs - 11 and 8 - are regulars.

They say it's the best thing ever.

Two weeks away and you struggle to do all the things you want to do.

I was my idea of hell until she told me what a fantastic time they always have.

RenniesFromHeaven · 10/03/2011 20:46

Nuts.

Unless you like getting norovirus, and not being able to get away from the annoying couple wearing matching shoes... and wondering where that nice old chap went and finding out he's cooling in the ahem "auxiliary" freezer.

Buy hey, tever floats your boat.

GwendolineMaryLacey · 10/03/2011 20:49

Fantastic. We've only done transatlantic crossings so were on the ship for 6 days at a time without getting off but we love it. The whole family goes so parents in their 60's, us lot in our 30's and kids ranging from 8 years to 2 years. Every one of us adores it. People who criticise it have never been, otherwise they wouldn't talk about not being able to get away from people. Some of these ships are as big as small towns.

geordieminx · 10/03/2011 20:50

Dh, ds(3) and I went on our first cruise last year. It was amazing.

Went with royal carribean, service/food/boat/everything was top class. It was fab being able to explore a different city every day, we met some lovely people top.

Original poster

Bluemarlin · 10/03/2011 21:00

Is it very expensive compared to a package trip?

OP posts:

GwendolineMaryLacey · 10/03/2011 21:12

Again, I can only speak for crossings but considering it includes travel, accommodation and all meals it's very good value and not as expensive as you'd think. On the ships we use (Cunard) there is an $11 per person per day service charge which is basically your tips for absolutely everyone on board from kitchen staff to cleaners to bar staff to waiters etc. I'd imagine it's the same on most ships although I don't know for sure.

geordieminx · 10/03/2011 22:47

They tend to come in under 2k for a family of 3 for a week, but ob depends on time of year/boat etc. Travelzoo have some great deal on just now.

The only things you have to pay for on top are drinks and trips. Soda card usually $40 for the week, and you can organise your own excursions a lot cheaper than the boat will offer.

Only problem is, it will ruin every other holiday you have as nothing will be as good

marbeth · 13/03/2011 09:21

We Cruise with 1 DS. Started when he was 8,now 13. Only go with PO. The facilities for children are excellant.Prices variey. We found you need to book early to get best price as family cabins go quickly. As DS now 13 if we went to hotel abroad we would have to pay full adult price for him.Whereas on next cruise over May halfterm we got Child price for 10%. Child prices go up to age 16.

thekidsmom · 11/04/2011 14:17

We cruised with Royal Carribean on a 7 day western carribean trip last Easter and it was the best holiday I have ever had. Our DCs are 18, 16 and 14 and they agree with me.

Different cruise lines cater to different types of people and different age ranges. (you should nip over to cruise critic and investigate more there)

I wont rest unitl I've been again - it was amazing.....

Isla77 · 30/08/2011 22:31

My brother is on a cruise at the moment as his wife was really keen to try it. He was very dubious about it but I have just had a text from him saying they are having a fabulous time and he is so glad his wife persuaded him to give it a go. I felt like he did but obviously I was wrong in thinking he would hate it and they would have a miserable time. Will never get the chance to try it myself as DH is dead against it. The only boat he would ever consider going sailing on would be one he owned himself and was sailing himself. Dream on DH!!

ArtyJennie · 19/10/2011 11:18

We went on a Royal Caribbean cruise in Aug. I'm 30 DH is 29 DD is 3. It was amazing and a real mix of ages. There is sooooo much to do. DH was dubious before we went but by day 2 he wanted to book another cruise!

The kids clubs are so organised and all included in the price (until 10pm so we even got to have evenings in the bars/clubs/casino/shows) then $6 per hour after 10pm.

We will definitely go on another cruise.

I went on one with Thompson in 2006- this however was a much older crowd. More like over 50s. Still had a fab time though.

Justine2912 · 15/01/2012 14:25

Defiantly not my husband DS and I love cruising. We are off again in 4 weeks to the caribbean and cant wait. The children's facility's are excellent and the food is great. I couldnt recommend it enough for a family holiday your kids will love it. As other posts have said different cruise lines cater for different age groups so you might want to do a bit of research before you book.

Warlock · 15/01/2012 14:38

If you can avoid fly cruises then do so. It means that you have no luggage limits and no airport stress to spoil the chilled out feeling from the cruise.

Mum2be79 · 04/02/2012 16:46

YES!

I went cruising for the first time aged 28. Although ALL of our table guests have been older, we've noticed more families cruising and younger people giving it a go. Despite our annual time share in Madeira, we holiday no other way. Except for the next three years as we feel cruise ships don't cater well for the under threes and our activities will be seriously hampered.

ItWasThePenguins · 28/02/2012 21:59

Hopefully! DH and I have booked southern caribean cruise in april for honeymoon (doing a few days in puerto rico first as well) Looking forward to it, but very apprehensive. Only issue is for me, I'm 20, so can't drink on board! (Though don't want to anyway, pg, and unlimited soda is £26 a week)

Will report back when we get back!

harbingerofdoom · 15/05/2012 23:17

I've just come back from a cruise that took in Istanbul,Athens,Mykonos and Kusadasi for Ephesus. We wanted to go to these places and this was the best way of doing it. We didn't go for the cruise IYSWIM but to travel with minimal hassle!
Lovely to wake up in a new place each morning.No unpacking,no cooking ....wonderful.
You can engage or not with others. But be friendly.
It was good value as we only booked 3 weeks ago!

Aftereightsaremine · 17/05/2012 07:48

I love cruising as do dcs 13 & 9, in my humble opinion it's the only way to holiday! We've had lots of great holidays but we all agree that there is nothing quite like a cruise!

AndreaDawn · 20/07/2013 21:29

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by Mumsnet for breaking our Talk Guidelines. Replies may also be deleted.

Fluffy1234 · 21/07/2013 19:41

I love a real mixture of holidays but think cruises are hard to beat. So much to do and great seeing a new place nearly every day. I travelled with Royal Caribbean twice, Disney, NCL and am trying Carnival in a couple of weeks. Disney was the best but the others were great too.

Anthracite · 22/07/2013 05:27

We are just back from a cruise with our 3 DCs 10 -16.

There were lots of more mature people, but also plenty with children.

We really enjoyed it and already looking for next year.

motheroftwoboys · 01/08/2013 14:48

Cruises are incredibly varied. Just like the difference between a cheap b and b and the best hotel in the world. some cruise lines - say Carnival - I know I would hate. Some - say Saga or Fred Olsen I would guess would have a lot of older passengers. P and O are brilliant for families. RCI is brilliant for teenagers (although don't agree with American cruiselines alcohol policies. Some - like Seabourn and Windstar - sadly - I doubt we will ever be able to afford. Half the fun is the choice and the specialist websites like cruise.co.uk are incredibly helpful. Best holidays ever! I dream of taking a world cruise when we retire.

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