Family Cruising - Where To Start?

[JimenezJnr]

Hello,

I'm looking to start planning a cruise with our wider family for next year so there's lots of things for me to consider such as: things for the children to do, make sure their grandparents (My parents) have a good time, choosing the right ship for everyone etc etc.

I've tried to complete some of my research online, but lots of the websites I've used so far only really give information for 2 Adults?

Could anyone advise where else I could look for advice? Any good cruise agent recommendations? Any websites that are really useful (have look at CruiseCritic).

We don't get to travel as one big family very often and it's getting very stressful already!

I just want to make sure we get everything right...

Thanks,
JJ

We have been on a couple of cruises with extended family (ages 2-80) - a Mediterranean one with Disney Cruise Line and the Norwegian Fjords with Princess. Disney as you would expect was amazing for the children and we did this one with my mum and aunt both of whom get a lot of pleasure from watching the little ones have fun. On Princess there was much more for the older people to do and the kids clubs were fine (probably would have said good had we not been spoilt by Disney!).

We’re trying a P&O one next month. I’m dying to try Royal Caribbean but that will be by ourselves as my mum has tried it previously and didn’t love it - said it was too loud and too much for her (she’s 73) but it looks fantastic for young families.

You may have seen it but there’s a cruise programme on ITV that follows the Princess ships, that gives you a good idea of them as a company. Happy planning! We spent several years assuming cruising was for older people but we’ve actually had some of our favourite holidays, you just cannot get bored.

Finally I cannot recommend the Norwegian Fjords more highly, they are stunningly beautiful and we had a brilliant time wandering around the ports (we didn’t do the planned excursions).

Oh also the Jane McDonald cruise programme on 5 is worth watching as she travels on a different cruise ship/company each programme.

Thanks LikeSilver, that's really helpful and insightful information.

I've been looking at Disney and they're ships do look amazing and should cover all of the family, a little on the pricey side mind!

Can I ask if you booked direct with the cruiseline or did you use an agent to help?

I'm not too keen on going through multiple sales calls but guess an agent might be able to advise me at this early stage.

Lots to consider!

Direct. I’ve heard that the best prices are immediately after the cruise dates are released or at the very last minute, although obviously if you need family rooms you’ll have to book pretty early anyway.

Disney are just amazing with children. My daughter still talks about the time her kids club group sat on the carpet ready for story time and Snow White wandered in to read to them! The pools on Disney were much better than Princess too.

We've only been with Disney so I can't comment on any of the others, but Disney were amazing! Lots of older people on too, not just kids.

I’m biased as I am one but go to an independent agent who isn’t tied in to any particular cruise lines as they’ll be more concerned with finding the right thing for you. Prices are the same direct or through agents, if a discount is offered it’s out of commission so something you definitely won’t get direct! Thomas Cook, for example, offer 5% off all P&O cruises out of their commission. Tui shop staff are only targeted in selling certain lines so will always push those to you first. A true independent shop or homeworker won’t have those restrictions. Fwiw to cover all bases for different ages I’d look at Princess, some of the NCL ships and the smaller Royal Caribbean ones (Freedom class or smaller). Celebrity are great but with kids would probably stick to the Eclipse.

I would recommend booking as soon as possible after the dates are released if you are taking under 18s during school holidays, as the places available for each age group fill up very quickly. I usually book on the day they are released. I'm taking DD for a week next month which has cost us £2,100, but a cabin of the same grade is currently priced at £3,500 for two. Bolsover Cruise Club and Igloo get very good reviews for customer service, but I usually book direct.

Don't forget to factor in tips with some cruise lines and the price of any excursions you wish to take. They can quickly add up - our tips will be £49 per person for 7 nights as DD is a teenager and a couple of trips adds another £200. Some families cut their costs by booking a larger balcony cabin for their parents and an inside cabin for themselves & their kids, then share the balcony. 2 weeks in the Med for next summer on a fly cruise would cost £3,500 pp for a balcony but only £2,000 pp for an inside cabin, a huge saving.

Disney are very expensive sailing in Europe- more affordable in the Caribbean but then you need to purchase airfare. Ok they’re not as much as the six star lines, but way out of reach for most people.

I disagree about booking direct being cheaper. I think prices with P&O are just as good direct but in my experience with price comparison, an independent travel agent can be better for other lines. Personally I like using Vacations to Go, but they are not Atol- but I’m willing to take a risk. After 6 cruises through them, I’ve had excellent service and they price match up until final payment. They are US based but number is free phone and the people are lovely and so knowledgeable. I find Non specialist U.K. agents can’t answer my specific questions (some of the lines themselves not good either!!)

Lines I would recommend are Norwegian Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean for a mixed family group- you safe with organisation, food, drinks and entertainment. NCL is much cheaper than RCL (I would only book Oasis, Quantum or Voyager class )

But if you’re willing to try something Italian/Spanish, I liked Costa- the food was pretty good. MSC (Italian line) the food is on a par with P&O so perfectly acceptable, but their ships are fantastic- the entertainment is good too. You can get good deals on Costa and MSC newer ships. It’s a risk though. Don’t overlook Princess- their kids clubs are reportedly very good.

A solid safe choice would probably be RCL or NCL.

EnglishGirl why would you recommend the smaller class of ship with RCL? My family sailed on the serenade recently and were very disappointed. Said it was a bit dull and food not up to par with bigger ships. They have been on the Allure though.

bluekittens I should probably say mid sized really. Clients I’ve booked on Harmony, Anthem etc have enjoyed them but gone back to Freedom class. General feedback is sheer numbers have made them lose their friendliness and public spaces struggle to cope with the amount of pax on sea days.

EnglishGirl that makes a lot of sense.

Can I ask, which ship/ itinerary would you recommend for med next summer for a 3/4 year old who would absolutely love the shows. I heard some are on ice! She’ll sit still for ages and copes with staying up late on holiday. So as well as all the usual cruise ship delights, I’m looking for something which can accommodate her love of dancing/ music being so young. Also a kids club which would take her in the evening (this will be the first time she will be going into kids club, so not quite sure how it all works).

bluekittens we went on Independence of the Seas when DS was four and he loved it, we had a lot of tears disembarking! It has an ice show (and you can skate at certain times), Grease as the main musical but there were a few different options. Kids club was fab and loads of family stuff to do together so a really nice balance. There was a nightclub that hosted a mini disco but the ships just been refurbished and it’s an escape room now so not sure if the disco is still on? It’s now not trampolines, waterslides as well as the splash park etc it had when we went on.
Kids club opened I think until 10? They do early family dining then the kids team come to the restaurant and take them off to club while you have desert and a drink, it was fab!

Oh and kids club aren’t set times which we liked as we had loads of flexibility- just sign them up on the first evening and then you can sign them in and out as you like. You get a daily rundown of what they’re doing the night before so DS would choose what he fancied from there. Also forgot to mention there’s an outdoor cinema screen above the pool we loved sitting out watching movies

Ooh that sounds wonderful! Glom just in two minds about sailing from Southampton- prefer to embark in Spain or Italy. But this is food for thought!

Our cruise last year was on Pullmantur. We booked on a whim because the itinerary was so good (Adriatic and a port everyday). It had basic facilities for our then 2 year old, the ship was old but it has wraparound promenade and the food was amazing- as good as Celebrity, the service really good and drinks all free. We had a fabulous time. Just goes to show... don’t judge a book by its cover!

Glom? I mean I’m

^ thank you so much for all the details about kids clubs and sorry to derail OP

Oh I love sailing from Southampton there’s something lovely about watching the UK fall into the distance!

Yep nothing beats sailing from the U.K. with no flights, however I love Italy and it just takes too long to get there from the U.K. Too many sea days!