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I did a search and found an older post that someone started and thought it was brilliant and members were so helpful.  Never been on a cruise, want to take the family but am scared to death that there isn't a match for us.  A Caribbean cruise is out first attempt...Alaska bc of price would be second cruise. 

1. Married  in our 40's with two junior high age kids what I call teens.

2. Crowds wear on us quickly.  The holding the chair game makes my blood boil and I am not shy about diplomatically saying something to you about it.  

3. We will both have a glass or two of wine.  If we want a party, we would go to New Orleans. We are not hear to party.  

4. As a family we attend the symphony, plays, musicals, movies, concerts from T Swift to Weezer, we love sporting events, NFL...eh not so much and adult content and language for isn't a concern as parents, Eddie Murphy Raw or a burlesque show...ok not so much...

5. We love healthy food and a great dessert!  Kids love to eat 24-7 if allowed.  We won't eat bags of chips and put ourselves in a carb coma.  Chocolate anything is good anytime of day.

6. Decent coffee is the life blood of the adults.  

7. Kids are one year apart.   They will swim all day (when I mean swim I'm talking laps, diving games, the deeper the water the better.)  they love the ocean and the pool and are afraid of nothing.  They will also play video games or watch youtube all day, but we don't want that for them.  There does need to be other kids on board.

8. Attire....suit and tie are for funerals, weddings and fundraisers, not vacation. A polo and dockers with tennis shoes are not out of the question if required for a meal.

9.  When it's time to port...let's rent a car or get an uber and get away from the tourist trap crowd while remaining safe.  We want to experience the country and the people, not the tourists.

10. Sleeping arrangements....1 room...kids MUST have their own sleeping bed, no sharing, this is #1 on our list of keeping the family happy.

Priority 1: Sleep arrangements see #10. 

Priority 2: Ship gets quiet at midnight....the night owls are couples just hanging out telling stories about life and laughing, not dancing and drinking until they pass out.

Priority 3: See #5 regarding food...keep my kids fed, its vacation they eat what they want, when they want and the adults are happy with great food along the way.

Do you have a ship our first time should be on?  A cruise line in general we should focus on? A shorter cruise doesn't scare us, we will find a way to have a great time at our port of call, so that's fine too.  Thank you for your help!!

I'm hoping people that have been on the Edge can help.  Interested in an stateroom for four people.  2 adults and 2 teenagers.   I keep seeing options for convertible sofa and nowhere do I see mention of sofa AND berth  or two berths.  Here is my question, please understand, I appreciate the attitude of anything is possible, I get where you are coming from and I already know the answer, sure, anything is possible and I don't have the budget for 2 separate rooms on the Edge.  I'm not going to spend a week and listen to she's snoring, OMG her farted on me, he stinks, she stinks, she won't turn off her book reading light, etc....it happens trust me, that's what "camping" in small cabins is for.  So I will be as specific as possible with the phrasing of my question..........  Can a family of four, two of which are teens have their own sleeping space on the Edge in any cabin that isn't a suite?  Thank you very much in advance for your responses.

My family is pushing for a cruise and I have a rather long and admittedly picky list of musts for a cruise, it is my big vacation and I usually don't like people/crowds (I like peace and rest). I am willing to cruise and take kids out of school for 1 week in January/February if this means less crowds.

Can I get some feedback and recommendations even if it means avoid a cruise.

Budget: Under $5,000 total out the door when the cruise is done (not including my airfare to get there)

Cruise Location: Caribbean and Mexico only

Family of 4. Kids will be 11 and 10.

I am rather tall at 6'6" and need to fit in a room along with the kids or get them a connecting room as long as it fits budget.

Port of calls are indifferent as long as they are not elbow to elbow people.

I have no desire to lay on a lounge chair and listen to the adventures or misadventures of people around me. I just want my wife and kids around to chill. If there are things the kids can do together, great. As tweens they love swimming and video games and that is about it.

I don't drink, booze cruise isn't important.

We don't dance the night away, we read the night away.

Regarding food, we are surf and turf and potatoes kind of family.

Thank you all for your expert feedback.