Cruising with 2 next door 2 berth cabins instead of 1 4 berth

[Otterspotter]

Looking to book a holiday for a special birthday. Would really like to have a bit of, ahem, privacy in the evenings especially.
We can book 2 x 2 berth cabins on the proviso that it is 1 adult and 1 child per cabin but in reality I would want the adults and children in separate cabins. Do you think this is doable? (On the quiet I presume). Children are 12 and 8 and sensible. We would be right next door and apparently can open up a shared balcony between us when not sailing.

Sounds perfect to me and Wray what we’d do.
Not sure of the legalities as such. Don’t know what they’d do even if they noticed.

www.cruisecritic.co.uk/articles/your-guide-to-cruise-line-age-policies

This suggests it might not be an issue?

Hmm yes, looking at P&O so looks like officially should be an adult in the cabin

My only issue with it is that the steward would know unless you make a big effort to hide it with belongings etc. What they do with that knowledge I don't know.

I wouldnt make it a balcony cabin either no matter how sensible your dc.

www.pocruises.com/essential-information/family-cruising#

I Guess of the cabin steward suspected you'd have a problem

Most lines have adjoining cabins - moreso than just the balcony.
The issue we found was with keycards / drinks and not having our own key.
If it's a special holiday, how about a different cruise line and a suite with a separate bedroom or two?

Yes, I’d definitely consider other cruise lines but equally I’d really like the children to enjoy using the kids club sometimes and thought it sounded like P&O has the best kids clubs..?

I think it would be irresponsible to have unsupervised children in a balcony cabin. How could you relax? No matter how sensible they are at home you don't know what they might be tempted to do while away on a ship.

P&O kids can’t have their own cabin until 1 of them is 16. We went this year and our 17 and 14 year olds had their own cabin. Not sure whether they’d notice if you swapped round or not, the cruise cards will be allocated to the cabins as per the booking though.

To add we had a balcony for us and an inside across the hall for them

We cruised with celebrity this year. I booked 2 cabins with an adult and child in each, then asked the steward to make one cabin with twin beds and he also took the divider between the balconies away for the whole cruise. So essentially we had 2 rooms but I could use my card and go through the kids' room on to the balcony and into ours. Worked well. Kids are older than yours though.

I think there are inter connecting cabins but you might not be able to book them online.

I have children the same age and personally would not be comfortable with this. I understand the need for privacy but would look to get adjoining rooms.

It's what would happen in an emergency, in the middle of the night, would you children know what to do, how would they react, what if you couldn't wake them, what if they go to a muster station without you and you are still trying to locate them, there's just too much scope for things to go wrong at sea.

But I also wouldn't do separate hotel rooms at that age, especially 8 is too young imo, I'd do a suite, apartment or adjoining rooms.

I'd just book adjoining cabins with the link door. P&O do those and they/'re marked on the deck plans.

Disney Cruise standard staterooms have a big thick room dividing curtain between the double bed and the bunk beds, if that might work?

Four people in one cabin is hell on earth so rule that out for a start! I wouldn't be happy with children of any age in a balcony cabin on their own, even if I was next door. Mine are 15 and 11 and I wouldn't trust either of them not to boot the other one over the balcony in a temper. It really depends on your children.

To me royal Caribbean have the best kids clubs and facilities. We found P&O a bit adult and boring to be honest. MSC is also good

Having listened a couple of weeks ago to a podcast about stupid things people did as kids, one of which was a woman’s brother locked her on the balcony of their cruise when they were kids, I’d probably recommend no balcony for the kids room. She apparently refused to beg to be let in, and actually climbed out and round the divider to her parents balcony. You might think yours wouldn’t, but no kid really assesses risk well.

Sorry but 12 and 8 seems young for that set up - and I'm no fan of everyone sharing rooms.
Definitely see if you can get interconnecting ones.

Disney is the pinnacle of lines catering to children IMO, plus it is excellent for adults too.
Royal Caribbean also has very good facilities and has some fab family rooms. I am less keen on MSC, the volume is too high for me (outside Yacht Club).