Cruise4Fun2Sun

Christmas cruise on Disney Dream 2011 with 5yo and 13 yo kids. Christmas Eve in Castaway Key, Christmas Day as a sea day. Perfect weather. Fun cruise. Kids enjoyed. Atrium was nicely decorated, Santa visits, special food on Christmas Day, and a whole box of chocolates and lithograph as a gift (balcony cabin, not concierge). We brought some gifts for kids stockings which we hung in the room, with a note from Santa indicating remaining gifts at home (which were laid out when I "forgot something" as we were about to leave home). Overall, a great change of pace for that year! Enjoy whatever you choose!

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Thanks for the replies! The responses and links have really helped since I am new to Celebrity. While planning I realized the trip was conflicting with another event, so I'm now looking at March dates. Glad to hear the good and varied experiences!

An opportunity of time has become reality and I am looking into taking a cruise vacation. A couple of Celebrity options look interesting with their ports, however, not having travelled Celebrity before, I'm not sure what to expect. Although married, our travel party would be my youngest child (age 10) and myself - we've got the ability to make the trip, whereas the rest of the family is otherwise occupied. We've travelled on Disney Cruise line before, although it has been a couple of years since our last one.

Currently Celebrity Silhouette and Celebrity Equinox have a Feb dates that work for our schedule. What is it like traveling as an individual adult with a child? What can my 10yo expect in the kids club on either of these ships? This child has enjoyed the Disney clubs, but anticipating that Celebrity would offer a different experience - theming, of course, but hours and staff...what are these like? Child is pretty easy going, so if counselors are good, I would expect a good experience for child, overall.

Thanks in advance!

Would like to do a PC cruise. However, with new locks now open there is the opportunity to go through the old locks or the new ones. Should this be a deciding factor when choosing the cruise?

A secondary question relates to full vs partial transit. Ports would be different, of course, and missing the Pacific side locks and the Bridge of Americas. But any other pro/ con arguments for full or partial?

Currently booked on a WBPC in 2018, full transit Florida to San Diego going through new locks (ship too big for old locks), however, dates may not work so am looking at other options. Expect to travel with 10/11yo child.

Thanks in advance

While the 3-4 cruises are short, you should decide for yourself. It is a new experience and short at that, so a less stellar experience is short lived. Also, If you get on a boat with more bells and whistles later, you'll have a comparison. For the record, there is a definite group of cruisers (even with kids) that enjoy a smaller ship and the sights and experiences of being on the water rather than having a "mall" to shop in, etc. I've not been on an Oasis class or similar ship, but in reading these boards, there are some that do not prefer the "larger than life" / constant activity experience, FWIW.

If these ships have different itineraries, and you think you'll go ashore, then pick from the itineraries you like. If not, then go to the different cruise sections on here (CC) to ask your question per cruise line.

FWIW, my oldest was 13 when we cruised first time. As an introvert and a young teen, she didn't care much about the activities, it was all about the freedom we gave her while on the ship - she was allowed to be without us (rules, timeframes given, of course) and that remains one of the highlights and good memories for her.

Good Luck, and enjoy your experience.

While I am not personally sensitive to fragrances (other than disliking some of them), I've witnessed some distinct reactions as described by PP with exception of the anaphylactic reaction. Personally, I do not wear perfume and any personal care products I use are lightly scented, so at least I am not adding to the problem. I've had coworkers and relatives that are huge offenders though, and given that some of them have worn what I describe as "awful" smells I can only imagine the plight of those with true reactions.

With regards to the fragrance industry, there is limited regulation (with some chemicals banned I believe), but since the mid-century there has been health and safety research and the industry self-regulates via organizations such as RIFM and IFRA. Take that as you will -self regulation seems a bit of an oxymoron, but in looking at the few thousand chemicals listed, many remind me of the GRAS ("generally recognized as safe") compounds that are allowed in foods and cosmetics as regulated by the FDA. I am not a regulatory specialist so no need to try to argue with me, but I have worked with industries impacted by these regulations.

Irregardless, others wearing more than a touch of perfumes and fragrances is very much a real and physical issue for those people with fragrance sensitivities.

Hi babs135, so glad to hear of your booked trip! It sounds very exciting!

Like PP, my parents put off their travel plans to just work a little longer, etc. Dad got sick and passed away (age 75), and now my mom still works full time at age 78 just to fill her days. Admittedly, she is a homebody without any great desire to travel very far, but will visit places she has familiarity with (beach 3 hours away, or her hometown 5 hours away as examples). She laments often about not traveling when dad was alive as he was the one who loved to go new places.

Enjoy the Christmastime cruises-we've done one on a different line and it was really very special!!

I just called Carnival 2days ago to ask this question since I'm interested in traveling for my birthday that year too! They did not have a date, but thought that by the end of this year there would be more info on when it will actually sail, and indicated the same as PP, that reservations will likely be available on the usual schedule of release dates. Here's to both of us getting to celebrate in 2018!!

I agree that a family vacation can be great! Given the long trip/flights and what you may be interested in doing while in port and on the ship, you should carefully think about how they handle being hungry, being tired, sleeping on the go, needing to be with a parent/ability separating from you, likelihood of tantrum (which may change as you get closer to sail date!). My kids are older than 3, but the oldest was the worst combination of all of these when young (unable to handle hunger/tired/exponentially stubborn/a runner/a climber/you get the idea) so we would not have considered a trip like yours with that one. But another of our kids is very easy going, travels super well from birth, handles all sorts of usual travel stressors well. Good luck with whatever you decide -the trip does sound fun.

Thanks! Since I'll be a new cruiser on a line, my first concern was if I should be aware of any first timer discounts (as I had not seen any on my own). I have cruised on Disney, and it was a good experience, but with only a few ships they are not the only line I would consider and not sure I'll manage a meaningful number of cruises with regards to their loyalty program. I'll keep doing some research and I've been reading reviews - which are helpful although trying to keep a balanced outlook and not get too wrapped up in the negative reviews.

Thanks for the quick responses. While doing research, I was coming to this same conclusion: repeat cruising gets more rewards vs being a new-to-the-line cruiser, but wanted to get experienced feedback.

Of course, now I wonder if there are lines with more generous perks or are they all basically similar (realizing there will be some variation in the specifics)? Also, the way the lines tally up the "points" may matter as well - I think I read there is a line that provides double points if you are in concierge/suite as an example. Others don't count nights on board, but only the number of cruises (irregardless of nights on board).

Curious if there are discounts offered by any cruise lines for a first time cruise with them? At any time I can go to the various websites and can see offers, or find last minute deals, but anything else? Also, in general, do I need to sign up with an account on any of the cruise line websites in order to get any additional offers? Right now, I am considering the major lines for a few destinations (primarily Panama Canal and Eastern Caribbean) during 2017-18.

Thx!

Good to know Kitty9. Is this kind of thing something that can be found out before the cruise? Are cruise lines willing to give this info out if asked? For the most part, I would think there wouldn't be a problem, but would like to be aware of any large groups/ partial charters ahead of time.

What are the chances that a PC cruise could turn into a themed cruise? For example, I was reading a review on here (not on a PC cruise) where the passengers enjoyed many aspects of their cruise, but it was negatively impacted in several ways due to the cruise being a themed cruise around a particular music group and so many groupie types and events around it (and behavior of other passengers). At no time prior to boarding were they aware of this being a themed cruise, so they had no opportunity to change their plans if they had desired. Anyway, a 10-14 day or longer PC cruise doesn't sound like it would lend itself to being taken over by a large group anyway. Anyone know or have experience with this?

Thanks Floridiana. Good to know about the library on HAL. And to research prior.

Thank you for the link, Clarea ! It is not working on my phone, but I'll try it when I'm on my computer.

Thanks for the port info Essiesmom .

Thanks for the book reference! Also, CruiserBruce has indicated a Panama Canal board. Is this on CC? I had done a search on CC and I don't think this came up, maybe I was in the wrong section?

Many cruise lines have very knowledgeable presenters who do extensive presentations on the Canal. Look over on the Panama Canal, there is a book recommended that would be a good assignment prior to sailing the Canal.

Hi Bruce, Is there a particular book you are referencing? When we do trips I try to get a few applicable things to read/do on the trip - where possible. In this case, the Panama Canal is a pretty great thing to learn about and to experience so I'm interested! Thx

With regards to the lectures - if 11yo attended one with a good attitude - I would feel accomplished! I think I would be more likely to attend the lectures. I do have a personal memory of attending my sibling's college graduation when I was about 10 - still ranks as one of the most boring few hours of my life (well, until the various grads came up to get diplomas and they had all decorated their caps/ gowns with paint, etc and my mom said something like "if she did that to the gown I paid for...." and then it got interesting!)

But the heat/humidity of Panama we will both remember, I'm sure!

Thanks for the thoughts. I might be homeschooling that year as we expect to be moving (but don't know exact dates) and may choose to homeschool for that year. If not, we don't live in an overly strict area, so we can work with the school to satisfy any requirements of missed time.

The partial transit does come with the benefit of leave/return to same port, so I might consider that.

Does anyone have recent experience with what the educational part of a PC transit might include? I have seen at least one cruise review where there was a retired caption (or similarly experienced) person onboard to give lectures/slide shows regarding the PC, and I would be interested in something like this.

Thanks!

During fall 2017 - 2018 I am considering taking a cruise with then 11yo child through the Panama Canal. This would be for the experience and some learning/education.

Traveling with a child- I would like to go on a line that would have some options for the child to enjoy, although I'm not sure that all lines would have a kids club or if so, many kids on board.

From some basic research I have done, some lines appear to use the PC to repo to the East or west just 2x per year. Others go this route several times, and still others look like they go through one set of locks to then turn around in the lake area and go back through the same locks.

What lines & ships would be recommended for travel with an 11yo child? Missing school is not an issue - we can work around this.