blessedwithfour

Hi! We are taking our four children (ages 9-15) on a cruise with these ports. Do you have any suggestions for activities/tours they might enjoy? Private or with the cruise ship (RCCL)? Thank you for any and all help!

We have done western and eastern med cruise. Our kids ages from 4-22 loved it. Croatia, we booked an excursion that did cliff diving and kayaking. Highly recommend it. Turkey, we did carpet weaving. On board, the kids hung out w the other kids. We went 2nd week of June. I only wish we could do it again! Enjoy!

My kids would LOVE cliff diving! I didn't see that as an option? Maybe not available in Dubrovnik? Was that through RCCL or independent?

I took my kids on the Rhapsody July of 2016. We did Greece, Croatia and Turkey from Venice. My kids were 18 (loves travel/history/exploring new ports) and 13 (doesn't like museums/history prefers the ship activities). Both loved this cruise each for different reasons. Hands down both of their favorite ports was Katakolon. We did a great tour to Olympia that included a stop for at a local shop where they were able to taste different oils, honey, Greek candy, etc. This was the 13 year old favorite part. Then onto Olympia where my history buff 18 year old loved every minute and finally to a beach where both of them got to enjoy a swim in the Aegean.

 

Both were able to find other teens to hang out with at night, although very few American teens so they were able to meet people from all over the world, some of whom they are still in contact with!

 

Overall, I would do it again, and in fact did the Western Med the following summer with the same teens! There is a link to a full review of both cruises in my signature if you would like to see our day by day activities.

thank you I will go check out your reviews! I would love for them to connect with other teens and create long term (long distance) friendships.

Thank you for the responses! This is very helpful. I love the idea of having them help pick port activities. My husband and I LOVED the ports, so I hope they see the beauty and culture and people like we did, and couldn't wait to share with them. Our ports are Kotor, Katakolon, Santorini, and Dubrovnik. The disney ship we were on didn't even have a waterslide (older ship) but my teenage boys loved the basketball court and spent most of their time their - and of course the nightly family shows - those were great to conclude a day, but it's hard to live up to those. I'm hoping we'll all be too tired from the long day in port too. Because it's a Med cruise too, I thought it would be neat for them to meet kids not from America. They are necesarrily "sulky" teens, and have enjoyed all our travels. I think picking the right port activities will be key. It's going to be HOT there.

Thanks! I did do my research, but unfortunatley there are no "big and fancy and fun" ships that sail to the Mediterranean. If we were going for a ship and just a cruise, we certainly would have picked a different ship. We are going for the ports, but being that we do have three teens and a younger child, we want them to enjoy the cruise. I believe we only have one day at sea.

Thank you! We are set to sail the end of June. We are really excited about the ports, just not sure what the kids will do in the evenings on the ship.

I'm starting to second guess myself on the cruise I booked this summer. My husband and I have been to the ports before (Greece and Croatia) and loved it and wanted to experience it with our kids this time - I just worry they will be dissapointed with the ship. It's definitley not a Disney Cruise! I already have our airline tickets so part of me thought of looking at tours. Am I crazy? Cruising would be so my easier. My kids are three teens and an 8-year-old. Thank you for any advice!

Hi! We are a family of six flying into Marco Polo and cruising out of Venice next summer. Being that we are six, it's usually less expensive to get a VBRO rental - although I am used to five star hotels so I'd like something nice. I'd like to not spend more than $1,000 for two nights (but would need two rooms if staying in a hotel). Does anyone have any suggestions? We are hoping to not rent a vehicle either - so walking distance to the cruise port. We'll be there two nights before we depart. Thank you again!

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I would also ask on the port of call forum: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=595.

thank you!

Hi! I'm not sure if this is the best place to post this, but we are a family of six cruising out of Venice next summer. Being that we are six, it's usually less expensive to get a VBRO rental - although I am used to five star hotels so I'd like something nice. Does anyone have any suggestions or know of a better place to post this? We are hoping to not rent a vehicle either - so walking distance to the cruise port. We'll be there two nights before we depart. Thank you again!

Hi! We have four kids 8-15 and want to go to the Mediterranean (preferably Italy, Greece, Croatia) with them, but all the ships seem smaller and less "family friendly". Not even slides or basketball courts. I realize we are going for the ports, but don't want the kids to be bored on the ship. We did a Disney cruise last year and they loved it, but I don't love the ports Disney offers. Any advice appreciated!

Thank you! We will need a two bedroom as we are a family of six with four kids. I'll look into it some more!

We are considering the Haven on the Escape. I called for pricing and she wouldn't give me a cabin number - just said it would be the 17 or 18 floor. Do they all look the same and have the same views? I watched a video online that had windows overlooking the ocean in the bathroom - looked nice! Also, does each room have their own, private butler??!! Any suggestions or advice would be great! Thanks!

Does anyone know how to start a new post/thread? I can't find it anywhere?!

Thanks for the info! Do you think the DCL would still be good for my 13,13, and 12 year-olds? They are all boys, and my daughter will be 6. I just don't know what my boys will do? I have to say the pools on the Wonder on DCL look lame :(. And I do love the "magic" of Disney...so I know we will love the nightly shows...but sorry...the other cruise entertainment looks so cheesy to me! I hope I'm wrong!:D

Hi everyone! Trying to decide on our first family cruise...we are a big family of six with four kids ranges 6-13. I currently have a DCL on the Wonder booked, and a RCC on the Adventure of the Seas (Southern Caribbean) booked, and just now noticed NCL! Ahhh! I know...too many choices and I'm way indecisive. Honestly I haven't heard much about NCL....I feel after DCL, RCC comes up next...BUT the idea of cool, NEW ships on NCL has me thinking. There is an Escape cruise that would work with our schedule. And I imagine it's like the Getaway, which has good reviews, right? What are your experiences? Why are you choosing to cruise NCL over the others? Thank you for any help!:D

I'm curious...especially with RCL...there are SO many ships and itineraries...do you search by destination or ship? Which ship would you recommend for kids ages 6-13?

Hi! We are going to do our first family cruise - me, husband, and fours kids ages 6-13, and I can't decide between a 7 night RCL to Southern Caribbean OR a 5 night Caribbean (Cozumel and Castaway Cay) on the Disney Wonder. With RCL we would have connecting balconies, but with Disney only thing left is connecting inside state rooms. :(

Has anyone done both and can you offer any advice? A LOT of my friends swear that Disney is better, and I don't doubt that, but honestly the itinerary on RCL sounds more appealing. The Disney cruise is about $1,000 saving over the RCL one...which is appealing too....but two nights less of course. And we have to fly into San Juan for RCL, which is expensive...but so is Miami I'm finding. Airfare is a killer.

I also know that the Wonder is an older ship for Disney. The RCL ship is Adventure of the Seas. I'm not sure if they are comparable?

Any help appreciated!!

I wasn't sure of the best place to ask this question. We are going to do our first family cruise - me, husband, and fours kids ages 6-13, and I can't decide between a 7 night RCL to Southern Caribbean OR a 5 night Caribbean (Cozumel and Castaway Cay) on the Disney Wonder.

Has anyone done both and can you offer any advice? A LOT of my friends swear that Disney is better, and I don't doubt that, but honestly the itinerary on RCL sounds more appealing. The Disney cruise is about $1,000 saving over the RCL one...which is appealing too. And we have to fly out of San Juan for RCL, which is expensive. I also know that the Wonder is an older ship. The RCL ship is Adventure of the Seas. I'm not sure if they are comparable?

Any help appreciated!!

How do I find that info out?

Thank you! I'm most concerned with getting to the top and long lines in Santorini - which private opposed to the cruise ship tour.

Hi everyone! I'm going on my first cruise with stops at Santorini, Ephesus, Dubrovnik, and Katakolon on Splendour of the Seas in a few weeks. The shore excursions that RC provides don't have ANY reviews? A group we are going with has arrange the same tours that RC provides but with another company for a little less. I'm debating between booking with RC and the other company.

What are your thoughts/experience with booking shore excursions with RC compared to another company? Is not getting off the boat first a big deal? And what excursions have you done that you loved on this cruise. Thank you for any and all help!!!