My wife has always been a skeptic of cruising as a vacation, but I finally convinced her to give it a try!
Now I need to make sure this is the best experience possible so this is not a one time event. However, I'm struggling to decide between two options in order to do so.
Here's the deal. I decided for sure to do RCL and I know I want to go early April 2024 on either a 5 night on IOS in a grand suite or 7 night on WOS in a guarantee OVB . We are going with our two girls, aged 3 and 5 at the time. Price is very similar between the two and right in line with the budget.
The reason I'm going back and forth is this:
The 5 nt for IOS with the suite perks makes the traveling easier with the kiddos. With the shorter trip, it is long enough to get settled in and a good taste of what it's like to go on a family cruise, but won't have the feeling of being too long. If anything, it may leave them wanting more. The ports are Nassau and Labadee which I feel both have good options for younger kids. On the down side: we're spending just as much $ for a shorter duration cruise, fewer included dining options, the flights are more $ and fewer direct to FLL/MIA than Orlando, and the ship is older (but amped a few years before COVID).
For the 7 nt on WOS, the ship is newer and has many more unique onboard things to do for younger kids (carousel, play space, etc). Newer ship. Easier to travel to Orlando than Miami. Also, adventure ocean seems larger and more robust on WOS. Downsides include having a OVB guarantee instead of the grand suite ( as opposed to IOS- picking the room and the suite benefits would sure be nice with the young kids), I'm worried about the length of cruise with the young kids wearing us out and thus making my wife not want to Cruise again (is this silly??), also size being more overwhelming for a first time cruise for my wife.
So please tell me RCL experts and/or parents who cruised with young children... which is the best way to wow my wife and make sure my daughters have a great time??
Side note: I looked at other itineraries for Oasis and Freedom class ships that were amplified or had amped specs- none of them reached the value of the above two for $ spent vs amenities and ports. I also have a small window where kids sale free promotion is active and also the kids are 3 and 5 (and can thus be in adventure ocean together). So these are really the two best options- I'm not considering any others at this point.