Caribbean cruise

Pammela2 · 2024-01-14T23:11:44+00:00

We’re thinking of booking a Caribbean cruise (Princess cruises) and have 2 children- under 7. The boat sails from Fort Lauderdale and we’re going to fly to the US a week early as a double centre holiday. so we’re trying to figure out what to do the week before the cruise. We had considered NY, but many people have put us off this because of the age of our kids. we’re now thinking of going straight into Florida. We have done Disney and previously drove down the coast so trying to see if anyone has any good suggestions? thanks!

Original poster

Pammela2 · 14/01/2024 23:12

Also if anyone has any experience of cruises, please let me know your thoughts!

OP posts:

budgiegirl · 14/01/2024 23:23

How about going down to the Florida Keys? Lovely places there to explore. Or across from Fort Lauderdale to the west coast of Florida - Naples or Marco Island areas, via the Everglades. Or head up the coast from Fort Lauderdale to any of the beach resorts.

Stackarack · 15/01/2024 06:20

Don’t let people stop you going to NYC. Plenty of things for kids to do. Plenty. Not for a week though. I’d split it, 4 nights in NY and then 3 in FL.

Cruise wise, join the forums on cruise critic and find your actual cruise on there. What ports are you visiting? We love to cruise. You do the we to do the formal stuff if you don’t want to. We never do. Can’t be bothered taking the extra clothes to wear for a couple of hours. There should be loads to do onboard for the kids.

HermioneWeasley · 15/01/2024 06:33

I’d say royal Caribbean or carnival would be better lines with kids. Disney obviously the best for kids but tends to be more expensive. Whatever line and itinerary you choose, I’d recommend one that has a day at a private island so you get beach and sea swimming time

THisbackwithavengeance · 15/01/2024 06:47

I would do a week at Disney/universal after which you'll be knackered and will enjoy your lovely cruise even more.

Make sure you get the DCs into the kids clubs on the boat and get the drinks packages sorted. You will have a whale of a time. I actually cried when I left my Caribbean cruise I loved it so much.

Original poster

Pammela2 · 15/01/2024 07:57

budgiegirl · 14/01/2024 23:23

How about going down to the Florida Keys? Lovely places there to explore. Or across from Fort Lauderdale to the west coast of Florida - Naples or Marco Island areas, via the Everglades. Or head up the coast from Fort Lauderdale to any of the beach resorts.

We have considered this. We did the Keys pre kids though and the beaches weren’t great! But definitely still an option.

OP posts:

Original poster

Pammela2 · 15/01/2024 07:58

Stackarack · 15/01/2024 06:20

Don’t let people stop you going to NYC. Plenty of things for kids to do. Plenty. Not for a week though. I’d split it, 4 nights in NY and then 3 in FL.

Cruise wise, join the forums on cruise critic and find your actual cruise on there. What ports are you visiting? We love to cruise. You do the we to do the formal stuff if you don’t want to. We never do. Can’t be bothered taking the extra clothes to wear for a couple of hours. There should be loads to do onboard for the kids.

Yeah, this is what we’re thinking. Do you have any recommendations for kids in NY? Central Park? Museums?
we’re going to San Juan, Tortola and a private island (I can’t remember the name!)

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Original poster

Pammela2 · 15/01/2024 07:59

HermioneWeasley · 15/01/2024 06:33

I’d say royal Caribbean or carnival would be better lines with kids. Disney obviously the best for kids but tends to be more expensive. Whatever line and itinerary you choose, I’d recommend one that has a day at a private island so you get beach and sea swimming time

We have looked into this but the stops for royal Caribbean and carnival aren’t as good as the princess ones. Disney is prohibitively expensive and we’d rather just spend that going to actual Disney if it’s costing so much!

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Original poster

Pammela2 · 15/01/2024 08:01

THisbackwithavengeance · 15/01/2024 06:47

I would do a week at Disney/universal after which you'll be knackered and will enjoy your lovely cruise even more.

Make sure you get the DCs into the kids clubs on the boat and get the drinks packages sorted. You will have a whale of a time. I actually cried when I left my Caribbean cruise I loved it so much.

Hi, we aren’t going to do Disney, but might do universal. We did Disney in 2022 and think if we wait for a couple of years, then the younger one will manage more rides.

Good to hear about the cruise! Do you get long on the ports? We’d probably aim to go to beaches on port days tbh.

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Stackarack · 15/01/2024 08:04

Central Park is amazing. Museum wise take a look and see what your kids would like. The Public library has the original Winnie the Pooh soft toys to see. The ferry to the Statue of Liberty. Any of the viewing towers. Usually stuff for kids happening at Bryant Park.

ZzzzCravingMum · 15/01/2024 11:32

We're doing this the other way round with a 5 and 7 year old, we fly into Miami on good Friday, have a 1 week long cruise with Royal Caribbean around the Caribbean and then we're getting the new Brightline train from Miami to Orlando which was a decent price and seems quick at 3.5 hours. I've done a Caribbean cruise pre-kids and I think they'll enjoy it, my kids love the beach though which will help.

We have 6 days in Orlando and have decided we'll just do Universal this time, with maybe a visit to Disney Springs. We got a 2 day + 2 day free ticket from the Universal US site for the 3 parks, including the water park (you just change to the gb to us at the end of the universal URL), it still cost a fortune mind! There seems to be plenty of other stuff around Orlando we can do if we get fed up with Universal, I'm hoping to take the littlest to the Crayola bit.

Cruise wise, I really enjoy and have been on 3 since I had DC and they're a bit hit and miss...MSC and Costa are a no for me but we enjoyed Royal Caribbean last summer around the Med. If there are lots of Tenders these can be challenging with small children (this is where the ship doesn't dock and you take a boat from ship into port)...My little one loves the pools, likes trying the different foods and LOVES the shows. She hasn't liked the Kids club so far so I don't get much of a break but I'm hoping she'll give it more of a go on this holiday. The cabins can be tight for space, so pack light and try and avoid the pullman beds from the ceiling and get the sofa bed option if you can. I always take Magnetic hooks from Amazon and a shoe organiser hanger to give me some more storage options.

SeaToSki · 15/01/2024 11:37

What time of year are you going? That would rule in or out many places for me as NYC in Feb with small dc could be a nightmare if there were blizzards and subzero temps and lots of Florida in August is a steamy swamp and heaving with people

Vanillalime · 17/01/2024 22:22

What about Savannah, Georgia and drive down the coast to Fort Lauderdale, maybe spend a couple of nights in St Augustine too?

My other suggestion is New Orleans and then across the panhandle and down towards Clearwater/Naples and then over to Fort Lauderdale.