LuCruise

Thanks. We're actually thinking of April, but wanted to explore summer months due to our kids being out of school. And locations outside of Caribbean ir Bahamas would be too $$$ (including flight to get there)

Anyone ever travel in July or August to Caribbean cruise? My understanding that is not good time because of hurricaine season but want to make sure I"m not misunderstanding (although DH and i did go on a cruise first week in July for our honeymoon)

So basically wondering most about

1. weather
   
2. price (i.e. does it go up since kids are out of school?)
   

Thanks!

Looking at a cruise for April 2016. Considering it's only Dec 2014, is it way too early to book? i feel crazy locking in a trip that far in advance (and so want to tell my kids but that would be torture of them asking for 16 months when we're going).

PS - Posting another thread about months for travelling as an aside sicne not 100% sure at this point

When my kids were 9 and 11 (average heights for their ages) they weren't tall enough for the stand up surfing, just the one their knees boogie boarding. That was just fine with them anyway. They loved it!

Cool , when we travel our DS will be a few weeks away from 11, so he should be good. I think he's 54" now so in a year and a half he should be tall enough. However, I'm totally find with him kneeling. It looks dangerous standing so as long as kids don't typically get hurt and he wants to, I'm ok. My DD is tall now (about 44"), will be 6.5 by then but doesn't sound like she'll be tall enough.

It's amazing how people can find a way to rationalize almost anything. The kids belong in school when school is in session. Pulling them out of school for a vacation is absurd, there are plenty of vacation time during a school year for a family vacation.

Just to show you why people take their kids out of school (including us)

The costs is for one of Disney & Royal Caribbean's bigger ships - Interior smallest room, 7 day Easter Caribbean trip. Cost is for family of 4; with 2 adults and 2 kids.

Taxes are included. But the cost does not include ground transportation, trip insurance or flight cost (another $2000-$3000 for us....and even probably more at Christmas time)

Disney Fantasy

Dec 19, 2015 - $7130

April 09, 2016 = $4783

Allure of the Seas

Dec 20, 2015 - $5548

April 10, 2016 = $3598

March and Easter school breaks are similar mark ups.

July and August are too hot, more chance of rain and even hurricaine season.

So all of the above shows why we chose April vs Dec or other school breaks. One week out of school is worth this comprimose when our kids are still pre-high school. At that point, we wouldn't take them out. But it's a personal choice for every parent .

From the pictures, the FlowRider looked like something kids would have fun on. But now that I'm looking closer, it looks quite dangerous.

Is it for kids? And if so, what age?

I've been on the Grandeur of the Seas and Voyager of the Seas and we're looking at going on a cruise with our kids on the Allure of the Seas.

If you've been on multiple RCL ships, what is your favorite and why? How is it in terms of dining? Activities? Shows?

Would love to hear.

Yes, there is currently a children's menu. This is a current example:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=40009959&postcount=3

Cool Thanks...but not seeing any kids menu....but think I found the original post. Thanks!

Yes, I agree on the travel thing being a learning experience in itself. And for us, travelling offseason means lower prices (and not sure it's the same for a cruise, but for land trips, its less busy).

So sounds like it'll be ok for our kids...there will be other kids, but a smaller group, which is often a good thing. I want to ensure too that kids activities will be running (i.e. not cancelled due to not enough people)

One other question....I assume they have a children's menu???

Right now Allure has a complementary main dining room with a combination of both traditional (two fixed seatings) and My Time (pick you dinner time) Dining. There is a different menu each night.

 

However, after dry dock (May 2015?), Allure will transition to Dynamic Dining, and traditional dining will be eliminated. There will be no fixed dining times. The current main dining room will be split into 3 different complementary dining rooms, each with a different menu that may change only once per week.

 

With Dynamic Dining, you can make reservations in advance, but Royal will no longer automatically assign the same people to your table each night. If you want to eat with the same people each night, you will have to arrange that yourself.

We're looking at April 2016. So basically if you want a different menu each night on a one week cruise, you can book the main dining room 3 times....and then the other 4 times, the ones that are additional cost? Guess they are really encouring you to pay more. :(

Got a question about how dinner works on the Allure of the Seas. I've heard that there are quite a few restaurants but a lot of them are for an extra fee.

1. Is there regular dining room where you select main vs. late dining?
   
2. If so, is it like other cruises where you get a different menu each night?
   
3. Are the additional dining options worth it? (And hope that doesn't mean that the dining room included is crap)
   

I've been on the Grandeur of the Seas and Voyager of the Seas (both many years ago) and both had really great menus...different one presented each night. And on both those ships, we had a set dinner time and sat at the same table.

I took my kids, ages 9 and 11, in early May of last year and there were about 120 kids of all ages registered in the kids' club. Most of the kids, like mine, went to private/alternative schedule schools or were homeschooled. It was a good amount of kids because mine had the chance to meet kids their own age but there wasn't an overwhelming amount of kids on the boat. When they had specific rock-climbing times for kids there wasn't usually a very long line.

 

We went in May because the prices were a lot lower. We sailed out of Galveston and here in Texas most of our schools have spring break in late March.

Thanks. This makes me feel better than the previous post

April and May seem like good weather for Caribbean cruises and prices wouldn't be super high if not a holiday. Our kids are in regular school so they would miss a week, which we're ok while still in middle school.

March/April is Spring Break. Depends on age of kids. Older kids have more risk of falling behind, and families are more inclined not to let them miss a week of school when in HS, preparing for finals, or year end testing etc.

Guess I should specify that our kids are still young...DD would be in Grade 1 at 6.5 years and DS would be in grade 5 at 10 years (just about 11).

oh...would it be spring break? Thought I was picking an off-season. I know it's not Easter weekend that year.

We have done both Disney and Royal. My daughter was 6 on the Disney cruise and 8 on Royal's Allure. By far her favorite kid club was Royal. She loved the activities and how the counselors made sure every child was involved. Lots of different activities to suit all interests. She even went with the club to the sports deck one night and sports aren't her favorite thing. On Disney, she felt like she had to entertain herself.

 

 

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This is great to hear. We are strongly looking at Allure of the Seas vs Disney Fantasy ship. Both look great but its a $1500 price difference for same itinerary. Was a bit worried Allure isn't kid friendly enough..so am happy to hear you daughter actually prefers Royal

Are there a lot of school age kids when you travel on RCL offseason (say mid April)? I know on Disney line, there would be kids for our kids to meet all year round but will they be "the only ones" as the kids club on a Royal Caribbean ship that time of year? (Or do many other families also take their kids out of school)

See AO program link in signature, some idea of what to expect and what is offered.

DD has been going to AO since she was 6 months old, now 13 and loves the place.

Staff are great and we have never had any issues with the program on any RC ship.

 

Hope this compasses help give you an idea on the program

 

Happy Days!

Graham

Thank you. This is super helpful! And it looks like they have lots of stuff going on. I'm assuming it varies from ship to ship, but this is a general idea?

Looks like my kids would be in different groups based on their ages (10 and 6)

Is there enough to do with youngish kids for below on Royal Caribbean cruises (we're specifically looking at Allure of the Seas if anyone has specific experience)? Our kids will be 10 (almost 11) and 6.5 (almost 7)

• kids clubs
  
• activities you can do together
  
• evening shows
  

We love Royal Caribbean line (travelled before kids so never paid attention) and it's quite a bit less than Disney so trying to see if this cruise would be a good option.

Thank you. I do see the info on their website.

Guess I'm more looking for info from parents whose kids have actually attended...what it was like and if their kids like it. Or was it more just like a babysitter. (Personally I want this to be a family trip, but in case they would like some fun time on their own with other kids)

Hi,

Can someone please tell me more about the youth or kids clubs on the Royal Caribbean ships (and let me know too if anyone has experience on the Allure of the Seas). My DS will be just about 10 years (a few weeks shy of 11) and DD at 6.5)?

Can you elaborate? For instance:

• Would we be able to see a show every night with our kids(I love the dinner and show that other ships provide)?
  
• What is the kids club like?
  
• Do they have kids / family activities?
  
• Are there waterslides?
  

We're thinking of going on a cruise in April of 2016 when our son will be a few weeks away from turning 11 and our daughter will be 6.5 (close to 7). The specific cruise we're looking at is Eastern Caribbean on Allure of the Seas.

Does this ship have enough to kids of that age? Or would we be better off on a cruise line such as the Disney? What kind of activities and shows does it have?