Beppevroomvroom

Hi everyone

I'm new to MSC.

My kids are 6 and 8 but wont go to kids club if they will be separated into different clubs. This was a big problem on our last (Carnival) cruise so we're hoping that MSC aren't as strict with this?

I have asked MSC and the email says just to check once on board but this could be a booking deal-breaker for us.

Does anyone have any experience of them allowing siblings to stay together across the age splits?

Many thanks

Any recommendations for U.K. Cruiser doing Caribbean itinerary? 

My cruise will be in October (so the very end of hurricane season)

TIA

Can anyone talk to me about the kid's clubs (looking at Symphony)?

I've only ever used kid's clubs on Disney (which are amaaaaazing) so not sure how it works on RC in comparison.

How do they contact you if your child wants to leave? is it an app, or text message?

Also, are they likely to allow my 4 year old into the same club as the others in our party (they are 5, 6 & 7 and would appear to be in a different kid's club to him according to age).

Thanks in advance :) 

5 hours ago, kkyyylllaa said:

We have about 8 ocean view balcony cabins booked for September. There are 4 on each side of the ship (port and starboard) and they all connect by balcony - for sure 2 rooms connect by interior door as well. I believe we are on deck 8. We are cruising with my 2 young kids and upon booking... our TA told us to book 2 connecting canins and put 2 of us in each because it was much cheaper than booking 1 ocean view balcony rooms for 4 of us .

That's really interesting,  I wouldn't think to ask ask about the cost of 2 connecting 2-person cabins!

RC told me that there are no  connecting cabins of the same grade that will sleep more than 2 in each. I've just found out that there aren't actually 2 cabins even next door to each other (in any category) on our sailing so it looks like we'll have to be one cabin apart regardless 

On 1/6/2019 at 10:29 PM, brillohead said:

I can't even imagine a scenario where you'd want to have seven people in two rooms.... if you're a couple of parents traveling with five very small children, you're probably going to want to bring another adult (or at least a responsible teenager) to help you with herding and corralling all those beasties.  

And if you're all adults, or if some of the kids are older, there's no reason to need connecting rooms.  

My husband and I will be with our 6 and 4 year old. We are travelling with a friend with her 7 and 5 year old. 

The kids are too young to be in their own cabins so this is the only configuration that will work for us unfortunately....

There would be 4 in one stateroom and 3 in the other so those rooms may work then. It looks to me like it's not possible to get two rooms of the same category though (they are always coloured differently)? 

6 hours ago, JohninDC said:

Unless you stay in Miami Beach again you will not be near a beach and the ocean.

 

Hampton inn Mary Brickell is reasonably priced, includes breakfast, has a pool and is near many local dining options .  Doubletree is in a quieter part of downtown, has an amazing pool and some rooms with a view of the port, as well as nearby dining.

 

Dates and budget would help the suggestions to be closer to your target.

 

Have a great cruise. 

Thank you! 

Yes I just wasn't sure which stretch of the beach coast would be most suitable. From memory, South Beach itself didn't appear too family friendly (ironically, this is what I loved about it all those years ago 😂). Just wondered if Mid beach or North beach area would be better, albeit further away from the port. 

I'll certainly check out those two hotels.

looking at mid October and hoping to keep it under £300 for 2 nights if at all possible

Please put my mind at rest - how has your weather been mid-late October in this region?

Looking at an Eastern iternery leaving 19th Oct but never cruised at that time of year before!

Many thanks 

Any recommendations for a pre-stay hotel in Miami with young kids? 

I've only ever cruised out of MIA without children (stayed in South beach) so not sure which area would best. Kids will be aged 4-7.

Must be near a beach, preferably have a pool and ideally be close to some cafes/restaurants etc.

Not too pricey either! 

Many thanks 😊

Does anyone know if there are connecting ocean view balcony staterooms on Symphony? 

It looks like only junior suites connect with balcony rooms but I'm ideally just looking for 2 basic OV rooms

Thanks in advance 😊

I figure you're asking about the Caribbean?

 

Hurricane season is June 1 through Nov 30 and I've cruised (not just DCL) through that area 7 times in the last 10 years during that window. I know I'm jinxing myself, but we've had absolutely no issues with hurricanes on those cruises.

 

Yes, there are hurricanes. Yes, your cruise could run into a hurricane. That said, the captain will do all he can to avoid the hurricane.

Thank you, that's really helpful!

Has the weather been good during those cruises? (bearing in mind I'm from the UK so anything in the 70's is considered good!)

Thank you.

I understand that it’s still hurricane season at that time. Has anyone cruised then? Is it very risky? (I’m from the UK so no experience of this).

We’d be looking at the 3rd week in October (tied by school holidays unfortunately)

Does anyone know when October 2019 itineraries are likely to be released?

I know that there are a couple of new ships on the horizon too, any ideas if these are likely to be going by then

Thanks in advance :):):)

We've just returned from the Fantasy and had our first AP rotation (Crush) on Pirate night. It was great, and made the pirate night even more memorable as a 'night'.

I have no experience of what the other dining rooms do on pirate night though!

We are flying out on Wednesday (from the UK) and would like to avoid having to fit our 4 bottles of carry on wine in our cases.

We are staying at WDW (All Star Movies) for 3 nights first but will have no car - using Disney transportation from airport and again to the port.

Can anyone suggest the best place to pick up a few bottles of wine and a case of water between landing and cruising?

(We're not fussy about the wine btw!)

Many thanks :):)

Thanks all, I’ve booked the later slot :)

They do want a phone call and I’m from the UK so I think I will follow your advice and ask a fellow passenger if they could kindly make the call for me (my roaming is permanently off!).

My phone provider has WiFi calling though, that may work in the terminal??

We'll be on the Fantasy in March from Port Canaveral.

I'm booking a shuttle with Cortrans but they need a pick up time (from the ship).

My itinerary lists that we will be back in port at 7.30am. Any ideas what time we will be realistically off the ship and at the shuttle pick up point?

I have the option of 08:00-0815 or 08:45-09:15

We're early risers so will def be up for the sail in anyway :)

It's really a tough question without knowing the children. For example, we've taken outgoing, animal-loving 2yo risk-takers out to Stingray City and they've loved it. However, we've also seen kids (of all ages) there, screaming and trying to climb up mom or dad to escape from the scary things in the water. :-)

 

What do your children like to do? Brave or timid? Animal-lover? Water Baby? Outdoorsy or prefers the indoors?

 

The only thing I can suggest without more info is for you to read some more of the threads here, read some more trip reviews other places online, then decide if that's something your children would like to do.

 

Where boats anchor out at Stingray City is largely dependent on the day, the weather conditions (wind direction) and who gets there first. You will have a better experience with some of the operators mentioned in this forum than with the cruise ship excursion or one of the random tours booked day-of at the port.

 

I'd also think about bringing your own life jackets for the kids so they have ones that fit and are comfortable and familiar. Waterwing-type armbands are not enough...for either child. If bringing your own isn't an option, then confirm with the tour operator that they have ones small enough for both kids.

Thank you - that's very helpful :)

They are confident kids and love animals and water. We'll give it some thought :confused:

My kids were just a year older the first time we went to Grand Cayman. We spent weeks before our cruise practicing snorkeling in the Y pool. We took along their own PFCs. They were so excited for this and jumped right in the water.

 

And then the rays came. Their size terrified my kids. They clamped on to me and wouldn't let go. We were lucky enough to get a photo before they were back in the boat, where they stayed for the rest of the day. They wouldn't even try snorkeling. I felt so badfor them.

 

My kids are now 11 and14 and we returned to Grand Cayman this summer and did the same excursion. Totally different story this time.

 

We did the Rays, Reef and Rum Point tour with NativeWays both times. Highly recommend them. Small groups, lots of attention and fun.

 

First time:

 

 

 

Last time:

 

 

Thank you so much for this!

Can I ak which time of year you went? The water looks so calm. I think if the sea conditions were like that my two would be completely fine with the rays. Choppy/murky waters might be adifferent story.....

I've read mixed reports about doing Stingray City with small kids. Some have mentioned that their kids were given floats etc. to enable them to go into the water but others have said that their trip just wasn't suitable. I understand that it can be very dependant on the sea conditions on the day but it does sound like some operators take you to shallower water where it may be easier to take kids in.

We will have an almost 3 year old and an almost 5 year old. Can anyone recommend a tour operator who would welcome (and include) the kids in the trip?

They are both very confident in water (albeit with armbands on the youngest) and love animals

TIA

Anyone know who is currently on the Glory? The schedule ended on the 26th Feb

Does anyone know who is next on the Glory?

The current guy is coming off next week and I sail in 6 weeks time :)

Love the piano bar, always a great atmosphere and great people in there!