First time cruise with young children

[RiverFlowers]

I am considering booking a cruise for August or October this year, two adults and two children who will be seven and four.

After having a really crappy year with medical issues, we want to have a big special holiday after years of not doing anything more exciting than Butlins and Haven!

Budget is up to £5k for 14 days and we would want to sail from Southampton just so we don't have the hassle of flying out as well.

Does anyone have any recommendations for a cruise that would be family friendly?

Also in terms of rooms, I noticed some have pull down bunks which look quite high up so is there any cruises that have more suitable bedding?

Thanks

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MNHQ update: If you’re short on time, here’s a summary of the best cruise lines Mumsnetters are recommending on this thread:

⚓Celebrity Cruises

⚓Holland America

⚓Disney Cruise Line

⚓MSC Cruises

⚓Royal Caribbean

⚓P&O Cruises

For more inspo, check out our guide to the best family cruises, featuring more recommendations from Mumsnetters.

you don't have to attend the shows if you don't want. but no music at all may be harder to come by. If you want something more adult and less flashy I'd probably go with a line like Azamara or Oceania etc (but they come with a hefty price tag). they don't ban kids but they really aren't geared to them either. but most ships will have some form of entertainment in the evening. Not sure what else you would like to do?

@Bells3032 I’m up for some form of entertainment but not musical theatre type stuff. I was just asking if anyone knew what alternatives there were to the main shows which I wouldn’t bother with at all. There must be some alternatives, just wondering what they are.

Oh there are usually loads. Sorry I thought you meant you wanted a ship with no entertainment.

They all have music playing in the bars etc plus depending on the ship they may have game shows, quizzes, midnight buffets. Some even have acrobat shows

Also casinos are usually popular!!

Fab thanks! That sounds great. Might not risk the casino 🤣

@jins, when we went on our cruise there wasn't any musical theatre type shows I don't think. There was a magician, an ice skating show, a dancing show, singers, a juggler.

Jins · Today 13:48

*Does anyone know of any cruises that don’t have the ‘shows’? Or could say what’s available as an alternative in the evenings?

I’m after minimal formality, good food and zero musical theatre/songs from the shows but don’t want to spend all my evenings in the cabin with my kindle*

You may like river cruising.

We went on a 14 night cruise last summer and one thing I didn't expect to be a factor was feeling sea sick.
You can pick and choose your evening entertainment, loads for the children to enjoy and it's great waking up in a different place every day.
Pack Kwells though.

The Two Celebrirty ships and the Holland America we have been on both had plenty of quiet areas and quieter bars.
I feel the others did too but they stood out best