BEEN ON CRUISE? WOULD YOU RECOMMEND

[jumpingjackflash]

The op. has come up for us to go on a short notice cruise to Italy just us for a week. I have not been well and we have found a cruise very cheap (THomson) Never done this before and the kids are ok about being with friends for the week amazingly! I cannot believe it as we have been camping for the last 10 years!! Can anyone tell me their experiences and whether its worth the money or should we just go for a hotel in Spain?? Cruise sounds crowded! Any tips or advice before we part with the money? Thanks!

hi ya hun i did the thomson celbration cruse with my kids when one was 1 and the other was 4 and i did not rate thomson cruse ships at all if u like having to run around after ur kids if they r as young as mine was i was allways worries my lills ones would be manover bord all the time and at night was the worse when the deck party was going on my 1 yerold was llway straped in the buggy as if she was out she would have been over bord and would never have found her plus there is not a lot to do for kids on the boat like they tell u there is kids club is only for a houre in the morning and at night but they have to be 5 or over which we was not told then we was told by ppl on the boat that we should have our kids in bed by 9 as its the adults time i was so mad [angrey] but when i cam bk i did get compinsation from them i did 2 weeks on the boat which cost me 3400 for 2 ad and 2 kids

but would defo say stay in a hotel not saying i would not cruse again coz i would but if my children was 10 plus then u dont have to allways watch them or worry they will be to near the edge lol

I have never cruised Thomson with children but I'd suggest having a look at www.cruisecritic.co.uk (main forum for crusing) and get their opinion there.

cruiseforums.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=497

and the family cruising board is here

cruiseforums.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=49

The cruises I have been on in the past have always catered very well for children and I can hand on heart say not the experience kee27 has given above.

Cruises I have found never to be crowded and certainly less crowded than a resort type holiday.

i would say it was a defo exspirenss and would not tell u not to do a curise it juts i had a bad time when i went but ike i say the boat was lovley 5 star with plentey to for the adults if i did one with the kids again then i would choses a more relaxed boat that caters for kids to

thanks for all your comments!

thanks for all your comments!

Sorry kee but Thomson is definitely not a 5 star cruise ship. 3 star max.

Have fun planning jumping.

We went on a cruise with Thomson last year - the result is now 3 months old and upstairs in her cot! And that was after 18 months ttc - cheaper than ivf and more fun... Having said that I'm not sure that it would be an ideal holiday for kids - there isn't much for them to do - but if your children are going to be with friends for the week it could be a really nice way to chill out with your dh. I think worked so well for us because the whole experience forced us to slow down and relax - on the "at sea" days the most exciting thing happening tends to be napkin folding or ice carving - not exactly an adrenalin rush. Most of the other passengers were much much older than us but that didn't really matter. We were just glad to have the time together.