Is a cruise with 2 dc 10 and 13 going to be disaster

[Whitegrenache]

Currently thinking about our holidays next year.
I'm of the option now that I want to spend some money on a lovely holiday.
This year we had a private villa with pool in Portugal and spent every day around the in pool then went into various resorts on an evening for dinner using ubers which were dirt cheap.
I love the sun, nice food and drinks. Kids love pool and exploring. DP loves us to be happy so he doesn't get nagged
The thing is, I got bored lying around the pool all day. Even the kids retreated to the villa for the WiFi when they got too hot.

Was therefore thinking for doing a cruise next near...possibly Mediterranean/Europe

So questions for you seasoned cruisers please..

Can I sunbathe (for some of the day?)
What do the kids do? Can they wander the ship unattended? Are there activities?
What do people do when the dock in the ports?
Is it all inclusive?

Thanks people

There's loads to do on a cruise - kids clubs, activities for kids, adults & families, some ships have a cinema and there are pools, sunbathing areas, cafes & bars.

We've done a mix of booked excursions or just getting off and doing our own exploring. The ships usually provide shuttle buses to the town.

All inclusive depends on who you go with and how much you want to pay.

Also have a think whether you'd prefer a more formal cruise (dressing up & tuxes a couple of nights a week) or something more relaxed

Yes you can sunbathe.
Kids can go round the ship unattended and many do on the cruises I go on but I don't like my youngest doing it so she doesn't.
When you dock you can go on booked excursions to places of interest or if you dock right in the city - and many med and European ports do, you can just wander the city. I've only ever booked an excursion twice and that was because I wanted to visit a site of particular interest in Canada and another that was a day trip to an area of total beauty that we couldn't reach without booking the boat excursion. The rest of the times we just go into the city and do our own thing.
You will have to pay extra for alcohol and on some cruises there'll be restaurants you can pay a subsidy for with more specialised or luxury food. However I have found the food to be excellent in the AI areas on all the cruises I have been on and have never felt the need to pay extra.

I'd say your children's ages are perfect for a cruise. There'll be clubs and activities directed at their age groups, they'll make friends and you'll never see them.

Love a cruise

Where do I book? What should I expect to pay for 7-10 days (may take them out of school)

Last week school holidays in July

School term!

I took mine out of school twice for cruises, in primary.

Depends what kind of cruise you want as to who you book with. Book direct on their sites ime you get the best deals that way.

Be careful who you book with and get lots of recommendations for cruise companies.

We went on a cruise, entertainment was poor, sparse and certainly not aimed at anyone under 50. It's put us off forever!

Also find out how many sea/shore days there are, if you can do independent exploring (we were given no local info on the locations we docked at so they could try to sell us extortionately priced excursions.

we were given no local info on the locations we docked at so they could try to sell us extortionately priced excursions

Well to be fair, it's not really their responsibility to do that is it? It wouldn't occur to me to expect that. I did tons of research before we went on every port we were going to in order to find out what we could do there. Just like I would on any other holiday I was going on.

Other cruise companies I'm told have given presentations about the destination for the following day, plus a map showing where the port is in relation to the city/town (often a few miles away, certainly not in the centre).

The excursions are often to specific places instead of wandering around the area. Completely different activities.

Will I get it any cheaper than £4K for all 4 of us? For a week

Still, I would and did find all this out for myself before I went. I just don't think it's up to them to do that for you.

Depends what cabin you want, inside, exterior, balcony etc. In term time, it could be doable. Do some searches. I recommend Royal Carribean and Disney

We went at Easter with 15, 12, 10, 9 and 6 year olds who are all seasoned cruisers and adored it. Half of them are currently at sea again.

Have a look at Royal Caribbean on Independence or Navigator out of Southampton. Indy would be best though. Lots to do for families though take note - WiFi is poor and VERY expensive so the kids would have to be prepared to go cold turkey!

Thankfully data roaming is now free in most places in Europe but obviously this would be data allowance limited too.

But, yes, I'd take kids of that age on a cruise. They'd love it. That time of year there would be plenty of kids around (Scottish schools break up earlier) so they'll make loads of new friends. You'll probably barely see them!

Take a look at the Families board on Cruise Critic forums. There's a wealth of information there.

Price wise, you should get a 7 day cruise in for £4K but be warned, you'll have a window at most.

Take a look at the cruise line direct or we've previously used iglu a couple of times. Only time we went direct with RCI was when I wanted to use my Tesco Clubcard vouchers.

Just had a quick look. Problem with RCI at that time of year is that they're 14 night cruises. And they're very unlikely to be under £4K.

You can get a week on the Norwegian Epic out of Barcelona next July for 4 people sharing a balcony rom for under £3400 (from an online company Vivavoyage). This would include almost all costs on board, so food, excellent drinks package, service charges, kids clubs, most activities, most shows, some limited WiFi etc. It doesn’t include things like speciality restaurants, shopping etc, but there’s no need to spend any more on board if you choose not too.

You would have to pay flights and perhaps a night in Barcelona on top of this. Also allow for spending on excursions (expensive if booked from the ship), although some of the ports are easy just to wander around the town without having to spend too much

P&O are great for kids. They have clubs aimed st specific ages and cater their activities. My 2 (they were younger than yours) loved the club and went on days when we were at sea. Didn’t see them! We did a 7 night Med cruise, flew to Malaga, great stops too, Monaco, Barcelona, Palma and a few others I can’t remember. Check that the ship is geared towards families.

Have a look at TUI Marella cruises. The Explorer & Discovery 2 are good for kids. Cinema, climbing wall, mini golf, excellent kids clubs.

Thankfully data roaming is now free in most places in Europe but obviously this would be data allowance limited too.

Continuation of this will very much depend on what happens with brexit of course..

I've been looking at cruises for next year. Currently P & O seem to be charging full adult price for children. I'm sure last year they offered a discount for kids in the same cabin as parents (which lots of other cruise lines do) - am going to check with a travel consultant friend to find out when deals get released. Could potentially make it a lot cheaper.

Try Royal Caribbean. Lots to keep young people happy and not too pricy.

The thing is, I got bored lying around the pool all day

So do we, but cruising seems a bit passive (I'm probably being unfair as the only people I know who do it are well into retirement) ... have you considered an activity holiday as an alternative, such as those offered by Neilson? They're brilliant for kids of all ages (especially the sort of age as yours and up) and also for adults who want a mix, in any proportions, of lounging round the pool or doing stuff.

If you've never been on a cruise ship and want to know more, check if the line offer day visits. You get to see the rooms and facilities and quite often, there is a sales assistant on board who will offer discounts not available elsewhere. :)

We’ve booked through Iglu on line before now. Readers Offers is also supposed to be good. We went to a local travel agent when we first thought about a cruise and got some excellent advice on the different lines and what to expect.

We are big fans of Fred.Olsen just because we are anti social buggers who like small ships with plenty of space and no razzmatazz but they are not at all geared up for children let alone young teens so give them a swerve.

People who have neevr be on cruises often wrongly assume that they are boring. The opposite is true. There is more than enough to keep people of all ages busy.
In fact, when a friend of mine took her first cruise, she read the daily planner and almost burst into to tears as she couldn't figure out what to choose.
You can do as much or as little as you want. Have a look at cruisecritic.co.uk