DisneyExpat

On our British isles tour last summer, our independently booked excursions saved us a lot more than that over Princess excursions. For example, we took an excursion to Blarney Castle with eCoach (Butlers) that cost us around $120 total for the two of us. The Princess excursion was $99 per person. The Princess excursion went to Blarney Castle through Cork. Our excursion also went to Kinsale. We had a couple of extra hours compared to the time of the Princess excursion. Our ship was late docking in Cobh due to leaving Guernsey late and a technical problem. The folks at eCoach adjusted the timing to give us the full tour.

We didn’t mostly independent as well in that cruise as it was substantially cheaper. I’m finding with our cruise this year the Princess prices and the independent prices are not and Princess at times is cheaper! We are going to the Mediterranean this year.

Hello,

We just got off Princess this week and the kids club was wonderful. They did so many activities we needed half a suitcase if we brought all of their stuff home! They wanted to be there every second the kids club was open! Due to the nature of this cruise there were 2 days our boys stayed on board when at port and we had 2 sea days. The other 8 days we were touring non stop.

What I liked about Princess Kids Clubs is that it had availability for the kids to go during port days and that there was only a 1 hr. break for lunch and dinner.

How are the other kids clubs hours for NCL, RC, HA, P&O, MSC?

I have purchased a PACK gear for each person in my family. We hang each of these in the closet area. It has enabled our family of 4 (age 3 and 7 kids) to only do carryon.

I also roll entire outfits into our socks as shown on

For the plane we purchased the CARES system. It's a 1.5 pound portable flying harness that takes the place of a car seat. On the big couch tours, no car seat is necessary. If you'd still like one, every tour I booked I asked if they have a car seat and many do!

Hello All,

Thank your for all of the responses. We just returned from this trip. There were two days we left our kids on board in the kids club, Dublin, and Edinburgh. The walking of Edinburgh and Dublin would have been too much.

As far as the other tours, the Normandy tour we booked was a full bus and the guide narrated as we walked around the site. This is the only tour that my youngest did not fare as well because he did not want to listen, so I just took him to the grass and let him play.

All of the other coach tours were wonderful and our boys did great. The bus tours were great for the littles when it wasn't a guided tour off the bus and we could do our own thing. Also since it has many stops, it added variety. The drive also gave them their naps :) On every tour at least one person complimented our boys on their excellent behavior.

I'd also say that if anyone else with kids is doing the all day tours, buy the water bottle pack for your room so you can have water with you at all times. Also during breakfast we made sure the get the little cereal boxes to take off the ship. We brought 2 for child each day and they were eaten.

What sailing are you on? We are on the Sept 10, 2017

 

 

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We are in June.

Hi All - We've booked the 12 day Princess British Isle cruise. We have two boys 3 and 7 year old. I'd like to book things that will be fun for all of us and that won't break the bank.

The ports we're visiting are: Guernsey, Cork (Cobh), Dublin, Belfast, Glasgow (Greenock), Invergordon, Edinburgh, and Normandy (Le Havre).

What ports can be a DIY port that we wouldn't need to book an excursion? What attractions or excursions would you recommend for a family with children?

My thoughts so far:

Guernsey - DIY - underground military museum and Castle Cornet

Cobh - can be DIY - I was thinking of going to Blarney, not kissing the stone, but visiting the grounds and exploring the castle. Good idea? Any other great kid attractions?

Dublin - DIY - This is two days and one day we were thinking of DIY and one day doing a farm type excursion

Belfast - ?? - My husband and I were thinking of a Game of Thrones tour, which the kids wouldn't really get anything out of, but they are quite pricy

Glasgow - ??

Invergordon - I was thinking of booking an excursion for Loch Ness and Urquhart Castle

Edinburgh - DIY - Castle and royal mile

Le Havre - Book a Normandy tour - This would be the longest day out with the kids.

Any help is appreciated!

Hi! I wrote a trip report after our British Isles cruise that may answer some of your questions. It's linked down below in my signature under "Trip Report" in green. Hope this helps! You'll have an amazing time!

I'm just reading your trip report and it's a great read! We are going on that same cruise this summer.

My main questions is what ports can we get off and find local transportation/DIY it? What ports are a must to book an excursion with?

Is this an easy DIY port or one that we should book as an excursion with our cruise company?

We are also going on that cruise this summer :)

If you want a budget place to stay that is in central London and includes breakfast, London School of Economics is the best deal around. We stayed there a week last summer. If you just want a place to sleep and no luxury, it's perfect.

We got the London Pass. There is so much to see in London you really have to pick and choose. My family's favorite was the Transportation Museum and going to a really nice Afternoon Tea.

If someone wants a cheap, safe, central place that will be used to just sleep (no luxury) London School of Economics has availability during the school breaks. It comes with a free breakfast and was perfect for our family.

Hi, wondering if we can take snacks off the ship with us when we go onto the islands? We are traveling with our children who are always eating/hungry at different times and would make things much easier if we can bring food (muffins, sandwiches?) off the ship with us in the backpack? We will be on royal princess and have never cruised before. Thank you

 

 

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Thank you for this question. I have traveled all over the world with my children (not on a cruise) and have never been stopped for muffins or other snacks. I would have thought it was OK. We're going on a 12 day cruise in the UK and now I know to purchase packaged snacks or buy local.