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Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

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Original poster

am I daft to think about a cruise holiday with dcs aged 4 and 6?

33 replies

gemmiereindeerlegs · 20/12/2008 20:54

Has anyone done this with children or know anyone who has? Who are the best companies for family cruises?

I am thinking somewhere Med, and definitely with good child friendly facilities.

I think this would suit me as I am easily bored on holiday and I went on a cruise with my family when I was a teen and apart from the one stormy night at sea off the coast of Israel, it was great

OP posts:

Podrick · 20/12/2008 21:03

Thomsons would be good. I would be concerned about kids this age falling through the railings into the sea but I think this is a bit paranoid tbh and also depends on the child. My child is a climber by nature but she managed to survive!

The low point is the cabins (nowhere near as good as a hotel room) and if you have young kids you will spend more time in your cabin than you would otherwise.

Original poster

gemmiereindeerlegs · 20/12/2008 21:06

my kids are more the fraidy pants type than the climbing type! Where did you go Podrick?

OP posts:

Podrick · 20/12/2008 21:13

Round the Med in August. It was nice but too hot for us really!

SnowballsintheSky · 20/12/2008 21:25

I've bored everyone with this before but we took 2 nieces, 4.5 and 18 months on the QM2 for 6 days. It didn't stop anywhere as it was a transatlantic crossing but they were absolutely fine, loved it and still talk about it 18 months later. I wouldn't hesitate to go again and take dd with me.

Original poster

gemmiereindeerlegs · 21/12/2008 08:56

ooh not sure I would go transatlantic - i like the idea of getting off every once in a while! I have been looking at ocean village and they seem pretty family friendly

OP posts:

inscotland · 21/12/2008 13:37

I can't wait to take my little boy on his first cruise! We go on loads and the kids always seem to have a fab time!

Children can't fall into the sea. The barriers are always enclosed and quite high!

Not been on a Thomson cruise but stay well away from the likes of Island and Ocean Village. Unless of course you like Benidorm and blokes with England t-shirts drinking lager at 8 in the morning!

If it were me, I'd look into Royal Carribean and Princess Cruises around the med.

Also, have a look at www.cruisecritic.co.uk. They have brilliant forums including a family one.

ilovetochatupsanta · 21/12/2008 13:40

oh i had looked at ocean village as i thought they were family friendly, cross them off the list then?
i want to take dp for his big birthday october but we are an active family and dd will be 2.3 then so need a good pool and play area and don't want to have to wear a ballgown to dinner every night.

PuppyDrunky · 21/12/2008 13:42

I've been thinking of this, but I suffer very badly with travel sickness... will that be bad on a cruise ship?

ilovetochatupsanta · 21/12/2008 13:45

i get travel sick too and always on those little boat trips to see dolphons etc.

SnowballsintheSky · 21/12/2008 13:52

I am always travel sick, I get sick reading the brochures! And yes, I was as sick as a dog for the entire time. I was pg though so couldn't take anything. If I go again it'll be an injection in the bottom and off I go. I'd love to go again.

mumto2andnomore · 21/12/2008 13:58

We are going with Thomson around the Canaries in February with our 9 and 5 year olds so will let you know how we get on if you like.

Original poster

gemmiereindeerlegs · 22/12/2008 10:35

yes please mumto2

have u been on an ocean village cruise inscotland ? I have had a gander at their website and the itineries look good as well as the child friendly bit - I don't want anything too formal either, for dinners etc

OP posts:

bambi06 · 22/12/2008 10:52

we did ncl with our two kids and they LOVED it and didnt want to go home and three years on still talk about the cruise all dreamily!!! and ask when theyre going again..i couldnt fault them..they were brill with the kids..couldnt do enough..my ds has food restrictions and they accomadated them no probs and told all the restaurants on board to giv eus whatever we wanted!!! the clubs were brill for kids plus the entertainment was like going to the west end in london every day and seeing shows..every day[we did western med] we went ashore to visit various places inc sicily..pisa/rome/naples..and monaco!!! food was out of this world and def put on weight!!!they had a chocoalte night where EVERYTHING was made out of chocolate ..absolutely amazing..eg eiffle tower..statue of liberty all ..horses head and various animals ALL made entirely of chocoalte...and you could eat as much as you wanted ..trust me it was sooo rich you could nt eat much... during the day we would chillout by the pools or hot tubs,they was plenty of places round the pool too!! cant wait to save up and go again..if i had the money i would go every year..you really get hooked!!!

Original poster

gemmiereindeerlegs · 22/12/2008 11:00

that sounds great bambi who did you go with?

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inscotland · 22/12/2008 11:30

Bambi went with NCL who I have been with as well. Good cruise line. Yes, I have been with Ocean and personally, I didn't like it. That is not to say that you won't though. They do have a good reputation with children though but they all do. They all have fab kiddies clubs. babysitting services are fab - especially those who have a babysitting room rather than a stranger in your cabin.

My advice is to go for a cheaper cabin on a better class of ship than all out with other cruise lines.

Most cruise lines are not formal anymore with the exception of a few so dressing for dinner isn't necessary. They all have buffets and restaurants where you don't need to wear posh clothes.

Reasearch it as much as you can. Have a look at the Ocean Village boards on the cruisecritic website I gave you.

The best place to start is by having an idea of what ports you want to see. Our first cruise was easy because we both wanted to see Rome and Monaco so we found an intinery with those stops on. Then our next one was more of Italy so we went with Costa.

Give me a shout if you need anymore help though - I love looking at cruises! Our next one will be when DS is a little older around Asia.

inscotland · 22/12/2008 11:32

BTW I get travel sick in the car but never on a cruise liner. The ships are way to big for that. If you want to be sure then make sure your cabin allocation is in the middle of the ship or towards the back. Don't go too far forward.

bambi06 · 22/12/2008 11:43

NCL is Norwegian cruise lines...

Original poster

gemmiereindeerlegs · 22/12/2008 12:01

ah thanks banbi, I am Cruise Naive!

OP posts:

nannyL · 28/12/2008 23:38

the childrens facilities on P&O are simply amazing

have been on Aurora with a 2 and 3 year old and Oceana with a 4 and 5 year old

ventura is supposed to be pretty fantastic as well

you and the chidlren WILL have a fab time... and they can sleep in night nursary until 2am if necessary

forevermore · 02/01/2009 18:24

just got back from a two week cruise with Royal Caribbean with my three year old. its her 4th the first being when she was 15 weeks old. it sour 8th cruise and we are officially hooked. its the best holiday ever. Our dd would wake up and instantly ask to go to her club, we had to restrict her ime there so that we actually see her. the level of childcae was better than any nursery / facility here i can tell you. we even left her on the ship one day whilst we scuba dived in grand cayman for the day. i am throughly sick of being back here and its only been week!

i would reccomend going on a upscale cruise liner in the cheapest cabin. i have spoken to many other people and RCI is unbeatable i think. i won't chance spending my hard earned money on any other now!

Bunch · 06/01/2009 16:12

NannyL, we're going on Aurora in May with a 9 yr old and a 5 year old. Do you think we're mad? We were wondering about meals (we've booked the earlier sitting) and about the dress code for the children. We've cruised before and I've got suitable long dresses etc but do the children dress up too?

inscotland · 06/01/2009 20:46

The first sitting thing is when you want to eat in the formal restaurants for dinner. There will be loads of other restaurants to eat in if you don't want to get dressed up and just have something more relaxed.

When they say dressed up I've seen men in anything from a pair of trousers, shirt and a tie to black tie and kilts. Women in anything from a pair of trousers and a blouse to a ball gown!

Kiddies will be fine in anything smarter than jeans.

motheroftwoboys · 07/01/2009 16:38

P and O offer children's meals in the buffet restaurant before the evening dinner sittings in the formal restaurant and often the children eat with their holiday club anyway. We hardly ever saw ours! Some parents take their children with them to dinner but most don't. Our older son started joing us when we was around 15 but usually dashed off straight after the main course. Couldn't wait to get back to his friends. Remember the clubs go on until the early hours! You can always choose to eat in the buffet restaurant instead any night and, on Aurora there is also a lovely brasserie type restaurant you can eat at in the evening but you need to book for that. I am deeply jealous. (we have been twice on Aurora) Enjoy. Btw - what inscotland said about formal nights is true (sadly imo). Many people don't bother so much with the dress code on formal nights. However I LOVE getting dressed up!!

Justine2912 · 13/01/2009 19:36

We have booked to go on the Ventura in May round the med, and I am not really sure what to do with the Formal Nights as we have been told that there will be 4 in total ( we are going for 2 weeks) We have cruised before but was child free then and loved it and really looked forward to May when we can go again and show our DS a great time.

DS will be 2.4 then and just wondered for those that have cruised with Children what did you do with them on an evening, I have been told that there is a night nursery but not sure whether I fancy leaving him there?

Bunch · 13/01/2009 19:43

That's just what I'm wondering Justine2912. Can anyone advise us?

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