Crusinmama06 ~ some questions :)

[nyorkermom]

Ok on an previous post someone recommended looking at your list of activites on each cruise line for kids..could you give me a link to that ? I think it would really help as I am so stumped in trying to put together our first family cruise. We have 5 kids 16,13,8 and twins who are 5 so I thinking we would need 2 rooms or else a very large room and I am sure that would be very pricey nor do I know if any cruise lines have rooms that big. Any advice on crusing with kids would be soo APPRECIATED !!

Thanks a million :)

[uppitycats]

Ok on an previous post someone recommended looking at your list of activites on each cruise line for kids..could you give me a link to that ? I think it would really help as I am so stumped in trying to put together our first family cruise. We have 5 kids 16,13,8 and twins who are 5 so I thinking we would need 2 rooms or else a very large room and I am sure that would be very pricey nor do I know if any cruise lines have rooms that big. Any advice on crusing with kids would be soo APPRECIATED !!

Thanks a million :)

 

It would help if you tell us where you're going? :) I think 2 rooms, adjoining if possible, would be a good choice. The 16 and 13 year old, and maybe the 8 year old could be in one, parents and twins in another. Or sometimes folks get the 2 rooms, one with balcony (for parents), one across the hall, an "inside" cabin (no windows), for the older kids.

[A&Jfamily]

It would help if you tell us where you're going? :) I think 2 rooms, adjoining if possible, would be a good choice. The 16 and 13 year old, and maybe the 8 year old could be in one, parents and twins in another. Or sometimes folks get the 2 rooms, one with balcony (for parents), one across the hall, an "inside" cabin (no windows), for the older kids.

 

I would second this - and might even suggest 3 rooms - see how much is raises the price of the cruise...depending on the cruise, if Mom and Dad are in a balcony, the rate for the 3rd and 4th might be about the same as an inside.

 

The reason I say this is that the rooms are small. A balcony on CCL is like 180 sq feet - that is not a lot of room for 4 people, even if two of them are small. The bathrooms are likewise "one person" spots - so getting 7 people showered after a day of sun and to dinner is going to be a long process...the more baths the better!

[nyorkermom]

Well we wanted to do a closed loop cruise leaving and returning from baltimore or nj so we would not have to deal with flights and possibly not deal with passports..we would like the Carribean or Bahamas...just something warm with beaches really and things to do for the kids .. I am wondering if it will be at all possible to get a good deal with our size family because it seems like all the good deals you kinda have to do the last minute and by then the large rooms would be gone and it would be difficult to find adjoining rooms... like I was hoping we could find something for less than 500 a person, is that realistic at all ?

thanks so much for taking your time to help me out :)

Cara

[sjram]

Cara, I have been looking for my family of six. I don't know about the ships leaving ny but there are plenty of ships leaving the florida area that you could get for less than $500 a person! I am looking into a balcony room for dh and me ($660) and put the kids into an inside room ($389). But if you had to factor in airfare it would be more than that. I have been looking into many vacation options and cruising seems to be the most affordable for us because most things will be paid for. My kids are total beach kids and would be happy to get off at any ports and just play on the beach. Please share what you find because I am curious to hear about other large families that are cruising.

Sarah

[akcruz]

Here is cruisinmama's website with pics of the kids activities for many cruiselines.

 

http://s204.photobucket.com/albums/bb196/cruisinmama06/

 

 

We have sailed on Carnival and Royal and our kids prefer the activities and ships of Royal but they are now teens (19 & 14). Can't say anything about the other lines as haven't had the kids on them. We have done 2 cabins many times in the past (balcony for us, inside for kids) and its worked well for us. Whatever you choose enjoy.

[A&Jfamily]

Well we wanted to do a closed loop cruise leaving and returning from baltimore or nj so we would not have to deal with flights and possibly not deal with passports..we would like the Carribean or Bahamas...just something warm with beaches really and things to do for the kids .. I am wondering if it will be at all possible to get a good deal with our size family because it seems like all the good deals you kinda have to do the last minute and by then the large rooms would be gone and it would be difficult to find adjoining rooms... like I was hoping we could find something for less than 500 a person, is that realistic at all ?

thanks so much for taking your time to help me out :)

Cara

 

I would call a CCL rep and talk with them - are your dates flexible? Can you pull the kids from school and go in late May or early June? You can put 4 in an inside on 5/30 for $2300, under $600 a person. There is no doubt it is more expensive to cruise from Baltimore or NY - if you can watch flights on SW, you can fly for about $150/person to Miami. In Miami, you can go on the Glory in the first week of May for $1500 for an inside for 4...so you save by flying, and get a MUCH MUCH better vacation touring the Western Carribean than the Bahamas (which make for a nice get away, but are really just so-so compared to the other sights!).

 

More often than not CCL will be the best bang for your buck as cruise lines go.

[crusinmama06]

Sorry, I missed your post yesterday. I felt like a truck hit me so I spent the day in bed :( But I am back now. :D

 

I'll be totally honest. To do a cruise out of NJ, Balt or NY for $500 pp is kind of tough.

 

We've done Triumph out of NYC for a cheap price. But ships like Carnival Pride out of Baltimore and RCCL Explorer out of Bayonne NJ is not cheap during the Summer months.

 

The link is in my signature. So which month do you think you want to go?

[nyorkermom]

Thanks everyone :) I wonder why it is more $ to leave out of the east coast ports ?? I really need help with planning this so ANY advice I will just eat right up !! As far as not getting a passport is that doable ?? Where all could we cruise to without needing a pp ?? We are thinking Caribbean and I am wondering what parts (east,west) would be prettier ? Would the caribbean be nicer than the bahamas ??would one be cheaper than the other ?? Are summer months always higher ? It seems the only way I can get connecting rooms would be to call the actual cruiseline but then it seems like you miss out on the great deals ?? Sorry for so many questions but I am clueless to all of this. Thanks so much cruisnmama for the link..that was some great informating !!

Thanks again so much :)

Cara

[nyorkermom]

my husband has a week off on july 11th and then the first week of aug..he has a week off in april too around spring break time but I am not sure that would be doable..

[crusinmama06]

I'll try to break some of this down for you. :D

 

--North Eastern ports are expensive because of supply/demand. There is 1 ship per port per cruise line (or less) in the North East verses 30 ships out of Florida. ;)

 

--Most expensive times of the year - think like a parent - ANY time the kids are off, the prices are the highest. So the Summer, any holiday (including spring beak and presidents day), Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years - Higher prices.

 

--Least expensive times of the year - Last week of August (many times the first week of school for some kids). September/October and November UNTIL Thanksgiving. Then the week AFTER Thanksgiving until Christmas. There are some deals to be had the last week of Jan/first week of Feb.

 

--Bahama cruises are generally cheaper than Western Caribbean which are generally cheaper than Eastern Caribbean.

 

Just for a comparison. I WAS book on Royal Caribbean Explorer out of NJ in June 2010. Prices started at $899pp and even the kids were going to be $899 each. The cruise was 5 days with ONE day in Bermuda. The rest were sea days.

 

I cancelled it and rebooked on Royal Caribbean Grandeur of the Seas out of Fort Lauderdale on Sept 11, 2010. Cost starts at $229 per person. Still a 5 day cruise. We now have three ports. And the kids prices are $199.

 

So for the price of one person on a Royal Caribbean cruise to Bermuda out of NJ in June, I can now pay for 4. Or get a better cabin. :)

 

The airfare out of BWI to Florida is pretty cheap too. So don't rule out flying to Florida.

[boulders]

It sounds like cost is a significant factor in your decision. I just want to point out to factor in the gratuities which run about $10 pp per day. With a group of 7, that would be $70/day or $490 for a week. Don't forget additional items like drinks, shore excursions, the arcade for the kids etc etc. With no drinks, but with shore excursions, gratuities and a little shopping, our family spends $50 per person per day minimum. We probably fall in the mid range of cruisers. There are those who spend no more than the tips and there are those who spend much more.

[A&Jfamily]

Thanks everyone :) I wonder why it is more $ to leave out of the east coast ports ?? I really need help with planning this so ANY advice I will just eat right up !! As far as not getting a passport is that doable ?? Where all could we cruise to without needing a pp ?? We are thinking Caribbean and I am wondering what parts (east,west) would be prettier ? Would the caribbean be nicer than the bahamas ??would one be cheaper than the other ?? Are summer months always higher ? It seems the only way I can get connecting rooms would be to call the actual cruiseline but then it seems like you miss out on the great deals ?? Sorry for so many questions but I am clueless to all of this. Thanks so much cruisnmama for the link..that was some great informating !!

Thanks again so much :)

Cara

 

If you are doing a closed loop cruise, you can still cruise with just a birth certificate, I believe, but don't hold me to that. Western is far more exotic with stops in Mexico, Belize, Grand Cayman and Houndouras on CCL. Eastern is Nassau, St. Thomas and St. Martin - the last two are hilly ports that are very pretty.

 

If you are into shopping, beaching or walking sightseeing tours, you can keep the costs of your excursions cheap ($100 or less)- if you want to snorkel, see the dolphins, take a canapoy tour, see the ruins, etc, your costs will go up. (as high as $100/pp)

 

You will not miss out on good deals by calling the cruiseline...in fact, you might even find unpublished deals that are offered. And the bonus is if you book with the cruiseline directly, should there be a rate drop, a phone call or form will get you the reduced charge.

 

I would recommend that you set a budget. Factor in soda cards for the kids (approx $25/pp), unless you are like me and are willing to say no soda, drink the juice, tea and lemonade that is offered for free. You can take on 2 bottles of wine legally (or you can try to smuggle whatever alcohol you want illegally - see a million other posts on this subject). Your standard drink will run you about $5. Tips are $10/pp per day. If you can pass on the spa, casino and supper club, just about everything else is free. Figure out what you can afford and then call them to see if there is something that fits your budget - my guess flying to FL might be cheaper in the long run.