Kid help please

We are taking our 5 year old on her first cruise over spring break in the Caribbean (Mar 2019). Celebrity is our (me and wife's) favorite cruise line out of the mainstream lines. We feel that the food and service is the best compared to Carnival, Princess, and RCCL coming in 2nd.

We would ideally like to go on Equinox (best itinerary and price). We originally thought about a RC oasis class ship because of all the things to do...... but my 5 year old is a mini-adult.... she would be scared of the water slides, florider, rock climbing wall, etc. Additionally, we are concerned about the crowds on a mega ship, which in fairness we've never been on an oasis class ship.

So I guess 3 questions:

1. For those of you who say your kids love Celebrity, what do they love doing? How do they spend their day?

2. Are my fears about crowds correct on the oasis class ships?

3. Equinox is going to dry dock April 2019, so a month after we would sail.... any update on the condition of the ship?

I'm not sure some of your questions are relevant. You would never allow a 5 year old to wander around on her own. There are appropriate children's programs on both lines. As long as you are selecting a trip of 7 days or less and at a time when school is not in session, there will be plenty of children on both lines to run the program. My daughter loved the program on Celebrity from a young age through her teens. When we went to Alaska though, there were very few kids on board. It was a very excursion-centric cruise though, so not a problem.

Even if she is not a dare devil and is mild mannered, I still personally think there will be more offered via RCI. She may have a great time on Equinox anyway.

The Equinox has a wonderful kids club program. I'm sure all three of you will have a wonderful cruise.

Fishlover - Not at all suggesting I would let my kid run around all day on her own. I'm certainly not like some parents on cruises..... But I also am not going to throw her into babysitting all day and not see her. So my question still stands..... for those people who have kids who say they love Celebrity, what do they love? What are they doing all day that they enjoy (I guess to clarify.... with their parents....)

We have been on the Allure 4 weeks. The only lines were for formal pictures and possibly getting into the dining room the first night.

We were on the Equinox on a 10 day cruise,sitting at the next table from a little girl of 5 or 6. She loved the kids club (even though there were not many kids) and fought to stay when her parents fetched her.

Fishlover - Not at all suggesting I would let my kid run around all day on her own. I'm certainly not like some parents on cruises..... But I also am not going to throw her into babysitting all day and not see her. So my question still stands..... for those people who have kids who say they love Celebrity, what do they love? What are they doing all day that they enjoy (I guess to clarify.... with their parents....)

There isn't much for young children to do with their parents, except: meals, outdoor PG movie, and the pool. Everything else they would enjoy is in the program. That's on Celebrity. I suspect the same is true of the other lines as well. No matter what line I have traveled on (Princess, Norwegian, RCC, Carnival, BRB), my kids had the very best time in the program. Never wanted to leave. You might want to consider Disney.

We have done two Celebrity cruises with our son, and have one booked now with two children. My son loved trying all the new foods, he enjoyed watching karaoke, dancing to the live music, chatting with all the staff, eating gelato, looking at the artwork, and just checking things out. The newness of it was enough to keep him entertained on both of his cruises. We will check out the kids club on this upcoming Equinox trip and report back.

Sent from my SM-G930U using Forums mobile app

I'm sorry if this doesn't directly answer your question, but I'll chime in with my thoughts. We are taking our first Celebrity cruise with our 10-year old son in December. He is also a "mini-adult" and is more than content playing chess, swimming in a pool, playing basketball (we will be on the Summit with a basketball court - he's THRILLED!), exploring the ship, etc. He also considers himself quite the gourmand! However, when he was 5, I don't think Celebrity would have offered enough programming for him aside from the kids club and he didn't want to be in a kids club for hours on end either. We have looked at RCCL a few times and the size of the ships is really unappealing to us. I think it would be sensory overload for our entire family. What did work well for us when our son was younger were the smaller Disney ships - the Magic and Wonder. The kids clubs are far less chaotic than on the bigger ships and there is family programming all day long so there is always something you can all do together if your daughter doesn't want to be in the kids club. I know a lot of people don't want to be surrounded by Disney all day long and I get it, but they do have family cruise programming down to a science and we all had a great time together.

Fishlover - Not at all suggesting I would let my kid run around all day on her own. I'm certainly not like some parents on cruises..... But I also am not going to throw her into babysitting all day and not see her. So my question still stands..... for those people who have kids who say they love Celebrity, what do they love? What are they doing all day that they enjoy (I guess to clarify.... with their parents....)

Well our daughter (now in her 30’s—-gasp) did then what she still does today—watched the sea, read her books, and enjoyed eating “fancy” meals in a “fancy” restaurant, going to the Broadway type shows, and getting served breakfast in bed. Of course, on port days, swimming and beach! She was never a joiner of kid clubs and still managed to enjoy herself on all of our cruises when she was young! Know your child and if she keeps herself entertained easily at home, she will do fine at sea.

I'm sorry if this doesn't directly answer your question, but I'll chime in with my thoughts. We are taking our first Celebrity cruise with our 10-year old son in December. He is also a "mini-adult" and is more than content playing chess, swimming in a pool, playing basketball (we will be on the Summit with a basketball court - he's THRILLED!), exploring the ship, etc. He also considers himself quite the gourmand! However, when he was 5, I don't think Celebrity would have offered enough programming for him aside from the kids club and he didn't want to be in a kids club for hours on end either. We have looked at RCCL a few times and the size of the ships is really unappealing to us. I think it would be sensory overload for our entire family. What did work well for us when our son was younger were the smaller Disney ships - the Magic and Wonder. The kids clubs are far less chaotic than on the bigger ships and there is family programming all day long so there is always something you can all do together if your daughter doesn't want to be in the kids club. I know a lot of people don't want to be surrounded by Disney all day long and I get it, but they do have family cruise programming down to a science and we all had a great time together.

It does answer the question. We would absolutely do a Disney cruise, but I think they are on crack charging $2800/per person for a balcony room. If I was gonna pay that price, I could buy a Micky outfit and still have enough left over to book us on Oceania.... I also think Celebrity Epic is ridiculous asking $3000/per person that week. Right now Oasis is $950 and Equinox is $1200. Both per person for a balcony....

It does answer the question. We would absolutely do a Disney cruise, but I think they are on crack charging $2800/per person for a balcony room. If I was gonna pay that price, I could buy a Micky outfit and still have enough left over to book us on Oceania.... I also think Celebrity Epic is ridiculous asking $3000/per person that week. Right now Oasis is $950 and Equinox is $1200. Both per person for a balcony....

LOL! Yes, DCL is quite pricey! Oh my gosh - walking around an Oceania cruise in a Mickey suit - so funny!!

I hear you! When I priced out cruises for December, DCL was off the charts as was the Epic. The Summit was quite affordable, so off we go and we are really looking forward to it.

Honestly, if I were in your shoes and those were the prices and choices presented to me, I would do Equinox especially since you know you and your wife will enjoy it and especially if there are interesting things for your daughter to do in the ports. If there are only a few sea days, you really won't have that much time to fill on the ship.

We will be on the Summit in December. Although my son is 10, I will try to remember to report back on how he enjoyed the ship and keep my eye out for any other family-friendly programming I happen to notice.

Also, maybe keep an eye on the DCL prices? My son's spring break typically starts a week before most other spring breaks and we got a pretty good deal on a March DCL cruise last year. Oceanviews on DCL are nice as well, if you would consider going that route to get the price down?

The Equinox is a great ship. Your child will have probably more fun than you. The camp at sea offers 3 free times a day. 9-12, 2-5, 7-10. The activities vary by time and day. Each age group offers different activities, and then there are family activities you can join in on or she can do with her age group. Some family things (again you can go with her for more family time or she can go with her club) were family bingo, family camp out (s’mores, various group games, teepees, face painting, bracelets, hula hoops) usually it is done on the lawn at night, family silent disco, family karaoke, family scavenger hunts, talent show at the end of the week. In the club they do arts and crafts, various games, science experiments, various themed activities like pirate scavenger hunts and games. Story time, sometimes movies. Aside from the club there is the pool to swim in, my kids like some of the shows, they love to go around the ship and look at and take pictures with various pieces of artwork. A typical sea day...They will have breakfast with us. Then either go to the pool with us, and have lunch then go to the club from say 2-4. Other’s they will go 9 or 10-12 in the club, have lunch, then swim. We go by what activities excite them the most. On port days they always get off with us and we go on a tour together, have lunch and they might go to the club for an hour before getting ready for dinner. Every night unless they want to see a show, they typically head up to the club between 730 and 8 after dinner. They stay until 9 or 10. Nights typically have the more exciting activities and you find have the most kids participating. Our rule is we want them to eat all meals with us, they must do all shore excursions with us, and some swim time. Honestly it tends to balance itself out. Most kids would be in a hurry to go and not want to leave at the end. We never use the paid times. You do not have to go for the whole free block. You can go for as little or as much as your child wishes. So mine would go sometimes just for an hour before coming back to shower and dress for dinner. The staff is amazing with the kids and we have had some on several cruises we have done. They always remember our girls and always are fabulous with them. The club is what you make of it. My kids say there are kids who are in there all day every day, and others who only go 1 hour a day. If you want more time you can pay for lunch 12-2, dinner 5-7 or slumber party 10-1. I believe it is $6 an hour. They have a vip package where you get a bridge and backstage tour, goody bag and unlimited paid times for a set price, but we have never used it. My kids have done 7 Celebrity cruises starting at ages 2/4 and now 9/11. We were on the Equinox twice, once last June and this past April.

Sent from my iPad using Forums

We mainly cruised RC when our son was younger. He was in his teens before we moved over to Celebrity.

Strength of bigger RC ships for children/families are the activities. After breakfast in the morning we would play on crazy golf, wonder around watching the flow rider. Our son did do the zip line and wall climbing but once done....We would all join in some of the little competitions that took place during the day (bean bag throwing etc). He never wanted to go to the kids clubs and we did not particularly encourage him. He would socialise with other kids pool side but it was very much a ‘family’ holiday. The variety of shows (ice, Aqua theatre....) are a real strength of RC and very family focused. The MDR is large and can be quite noisy. The variety of speciality restaurants is good although food quality we found below Celebrity. Also on the negative side we did an Oasis cruise during the Summer and there were lots of children poorly supervised around the ship. Pressing all the lift buttons, running and chasing in the corridors....This was perhaps our least favourite cruise ever. Out of peak season (schools in session) a much nicer experience.

Re Celebrity after breakfast we still enjoy a family game of boules on the lawn although our son is now a young adult. When he was younger we made sure we booked a range of excursions on port days that had appeal and interest then on sea days he was just happy to relax. Again he wasn’t interested in going to the clubs but did socialise poolside. Always took cards and chess with us and the latest electronic games thing although rarely used them. The MDR is a pleasant experience and the staff are great with kids. Whilst there are is less variety of speciality dining venues the food quality is better on Celebrity. On the negative side re Celebrity I don’t think the shows are wonderfully appealing to children (they are not all wonderfully appealing to adults either!).

Knowing both ships I would happily cruise on either with a 5 year old....There is certainly more family entertainment on RC but lots of opportunities for quality family time on Celebrity. Hope this makes sense!

Oh and get the unlimited photo package. We do it every cruise. You get photos of every picture they take. We average 150-200 over our trips. It includes boarding and all photos taken on the pier at each port, roaming photographers (including meals) and all pictures taken on decks 3,4, and 5. It does not include the special studio pictures they do in the photo area that are black and white. Most nights they have 3-8 backdrops running and each one will take about 6 photos. So if you plan well you can have fun and get some nice family pictures. It only is good for those in the room who purchased it. But for example we travel with my parents so it includes photos they get in with our kids or our family. We get a package that includes digital and hard copies. Grandparents gets the hard copies we use the digital.

Sent from my iPad using Forums

What do you do with your 5 year old at home? Well, that's pretty much what you'll be doing with them on the ship! Lots of folks bring their little ones on Celebrity so no worries about that.

Of course, RCI is more "family focused" with parades and on Oasis class, the merry-go-round, shows, etc..... The ship is huge compared to Equinox, so crowding really isn't an issue.

The Equinox is a great ship. Your child will have probably more fun than you. The camp at sea offers 3 free times a day. 9-12, 2-5, 7-10. The activities vary by time and day. Each age group offers different activities, and then there are family activities you can join in on or she can do with her age group. Some family things (again you can go with her for more family time or she can go with her club) were family bingo, family camp out (s’mores, various group games, teepees, face painting, bracelets, hula hoops) usually it is done on the lawn at night, family silent disco, family karaoke, family scavenger hunts, talent show at the end of the week. In the club they do arts and crafts, various games, science experiments, various themed activities like pirate scavenger hunts and games. Story time, sometimes movies. Aside from the club there is the pool to swim in, my kids like some of the shows, they love to go around the ship and look at and take pictures with various pieces of artwork. A typical sea day...They will have breakfast with us. Then either go to the pool with us, and have lunch then go to the club from say 2-4. Other’s they will go 9 or 10-12 in the club, have lunch, then swim. We go by what activities excite them the most. On port days they always get off with us and we go on a tour together, have lunch and they might go to the club for an hour before getting ready for dinner. Every night unless they want to see a show, they typically head up to the club between 730 and 8 after dinner. They stay until 9 or 10. Nights typically have the more exciting activities and you find have the most kids participating. Our rule is we want them to eat all meals with us, they must do all shore excursions with us, and some swim time. Honestly it tends to balance itself out. Most kids would be in a hurry to go and not want to leave at the end. We never use the paid times. You do not have to go for the whole free block. You can go for as little or as much as your child wishes. So mine would go sometimes just for an hour before coming back to shower and dress for dinner. The staff is amazing with the kids and we have had some on several cruises we have done. They always remember our girls and always are fabulous with them. The club is what you make of it. My kids say there are kids who are in there all day every day, and others who only go 1 hour a day. If you want more time you can pay for lunch 12-2, dinner 5-7 or slumber party 10-1. I believe it is $6 an hour. They have a vip package where you get a bridge and backstage tour, goody bag and unlimited paid times for a set price, but we have never used it. My kids have done 7 Celebrity cruises starting at ages 2/4 and now 9/11. We were on the Equinox twice, once last June and this past April.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

Wow! This sounds amazing! I'm now more excited for our first Celebrity cruise in December. I think our son is going to love it! Thank you so much for posting your experience.

Oasis is crowded..all over. There is a really nice water spray activity area on Oasis, but they also have a spray area on S class on the pool deck....not run often.

Oasis has nice outdoor boardwalk, carousel etc., ice show, water show, characters,,.X has less of that but have heard the kids program is excellent so that will be fun for her, This will be a family vacation and she will enjoy your company when not busy with all the kid stuff!!

I'd pick X .,,Equinox is one of our favorites..

Or a diff Royal ship... We are looking at Mariner of Seas out of Port Canaveral.for cruise with grands...It's.only 4 days but ship looks awesome for kids, near the Space Center and Disney

Happy Travels,..

I was basically in the same position as Fish Lover, our kids loved Celebrity into their teens. My son has some learning disabilite and the staff was wonderful. As teens, our daughter hanged out with us and son did the groups so each child is different.

Another thing both kids loved was the slumber party. For a minimal fee the kids hung out with movies from 10 to around 1AM, great for the parents to have a night out and they had a fun time.

By the way, Equinox is a great ship.

Our kids were much older when they started cruising so unsure if this would be helpful but this was our experience.

On our first cruise which was on Celebrity Infinity 7 day to Alaska they were about 12 and 10. They were in the kid club but two different groups do to their ages. They both enjoyed it very much and each made several friends. Our younger one enjoyed it more as there we more structured activities at that time for her age group. We usually ate breakfast. lunch and dinner together and they enjoyed the same things we did when they were not in the club. Shore excursions, trivia, swimming, the food, etc.

Our next cruise was on Disney and they weren't interested in the kid clubs. They wanted to hang out with us.

As they got older when we asked if they thought they'd be more interested in Royal Caribbean due to the wider variety of kids activities they both said they'd be very happy sailing on Celebrity again.

Granted they were much older then your 5 year old but I think of similar disposition.

You know your child best.

Enjoy it whatever you decide.

Like many previous posters have already mentioned, I think it comes down to the interests of you and your child, who only you know best.

I’m taking my son (11) on his first Celebrity cruise next year. It’ll be the second time on Celebrity for me and DH.

My son has cruised twice before and the last was with Disney. Disney was great and we enjoyed that experience immensely. But it has increased in price so much, I can no longer justify it’s value over other cruise lines.

Like you, we went through a lot of contemplation of which company to take our son on next. I read a lot of comments (on various forums) suggesting that if parents want to ensure their kids will have a good time, then they should take them on xyz. So for a while I spent a lot of time ignoring mine and DH’s preferences, weighing up the pros and cons of ships with lots of water slides.

It wasn’t until I showed DS a couple of You Tube videos highlighting various ships, that I realised that I was so busy reading about what other people’s kids liked, that I was ignoring what I knew about my own.

After watching the videos, DS picked the Reflection as the ship he liked the look of. He like the look of the smaller kids clubs and their x-boxes, he was won over by the look of the buffet, and I think he could sense that his mother was hoping he would pick the Reflection over the ones with all the slides, and was keen to keep me happy. :D

Either way, my son is the kind of child who is happy doing quiet activities on his own or with us. Even though there are less kid-friendly activities on Celebrity, I’m confident he’ll be okay.

The thing I’m most conscious of is ensuring that he gets enough exercise each day. He won’t love going for daily walks around the ship each morning with his Mum, but he’ll just have to deal with that.