Just off Regent Navigator with kids.

[Jack Aubrey]

Just to chime in with another perspective, my daughter really enoyed this cruise 2 yrs ago as a 7 yr old (The Mariner did the route then). She enjoyed the kids club but didn't love it. She liked our shore excursions best. Really liked panning for gold, driving up into the Yukon and her number one highlight of the trip was dog sledding on the glacier. (I LOVED the helicopter ride back from the dog sledding, amazing to swoop over mountains, and down along the contours of the glacier). I would recommend Regent for people with kids that are below average on the "rambuctiousness" scale.

With regard to cruising with 2Yr old twin boys, I can't imagine how that would be a "vacation" on any line. My 2 yr old nephew is here this weekend, and he exhausts me all by himself:)) He's napping or I wouldn't be typing!

 

Finally. an earlier poster mentioned unusual motion on the navigator... I've sailed navigator in the carribbean and pacific (but not alaskan waters) and never felt any "weird" motion at all. Yes, normal motion of the ship, but nothing odd. Never heard of anyone getting sick on my cruises, but again, no big storms. I did feel quite nauseous on a trip on a bigger ship during a storm in the Med, so I'm not imune to seasickness either....

Hope that's helpful.

[Travelcat2]

Finally. an earlier poster mentioned unusual motion on the navigator... I've sailed navigator in the carribbean and pacific (but not alaskan waters) and never felt any "weird" motion at all. Yes, normal motion of the ship, but nothing odd. Never heard of anyone getting sick on my cruises, but again, no big storms. I did feel quite nauseous on a trip on a bigger ship during a storm in the Med, so I'm not imune to seasickness either....

Hope that's helpful.

 

The unusual motion we were speaking of only occurs in forward suites 601/602, 701/702, etc. The back and forth movement as well as side to side movement is typical of forward cabins. To add to this, we were on deck 10. . . . . the higher you are, the more you feel the motion. While I did fine. . . . my DH was in bed for a day (because he didn't take precautions before he started to feel sick). IMO, it is always better to pick a mid-ship cabin.

[ChatKat in Ca.]

Deck 6 forward had more motion - the ship was built to be a Russian Ice Destroyer - not a passenger cruise ship. Those first cabins do accentuate movement but their size is worth that disbomfort for those who can deal with motion. I've stayed in 603 and would do that again in an instant.

 

As for kids - we have hashed that about so many times. If you bring them, you need to prepare to entertain and care for them yourselves. I could not imagine 2 year old twins on that (I have twin granddaughters) and even on Royal Carribbean with their great kids program, it wasn't entertaining enough for them when they were 8

[AZCATSFAN]

Yes, Regent cruises are more adult than child oriented but, that said, the experience for them can still be spectacular. Over the past 5 years we have often taken two grandsons (now 9 and 6) without their parents on cruises on all the ships and various itineraries from 1 week to 1 month. They love the Club Mariner program and it really works for us, too, because it gives us a break during the day and evening. Of course, we modify our shipboard routine to accomodate the kids when we have them with us as contrasted to the voyages we take without them. We do not turn them loose to run around the ship on their own so they are always supervised and not bothering other passengers. We pick excursions with them in mind ~ shorter and activity based. By now many of the crew/officers on each of the ships know them and the kids enjoy the personal recognition. I would recommend Regent for children 4 or 5 or older who can behave in public and who can be left in superivsed programs without parents/grandparents being there.

 

We did take them on a Disney cruise and they loved that, too. Very, very kid friendly. Probably wouldn't do it again because it felt like chaos all the time with the other chldren being out of control. We'll let their parents take that on.

[BLJ1977]

If you have any questions about this ship or Alaska, fire away....

 

Thanks for all of the info on this--I leave on July 14 and I am wondering if the offer bingo for adults or bridge lessons. Since you had the kids--did you visit the casino at all? There's an avid blackjack player in our group. Did either of you visit the spa? I was looking forward tot he fitness center and it sounds tiny. Also, what was the weather like? We cruised Alaska July 2001 and it was chilly enough for jackets in the evening. Thanks for your great update! I am so excited.

[ededmd]

Thanks for all of the info on this--I leave on July 14 and I am wondering if the offer bingo for adults or bridge lessons. Since you had the kids--did you visit the casino at all? There's an avid blackjack player in our group. Did either of you visit the spa? I was looking forward tot he fitness center and it sounds tiny. Also, what was the weather like? We cruised Alaska July 2001 and it was chilly enough for jackets in the evening. Thanks for your great update! I am so excited.

 

Not the quoted person but here's my take:

Bingo (for all ages, though adults have to buy the cards).

Bridge? Not my game so can't recall.

Husband went to casino several times but never got a chance to play as the same 4-5 people on the one blackjack table during nearly all open hours. Poker tables available, some spots at the roulette and mini-craps table.

Friend and dtr visited spa for facials. Watch the suggestive selling upcharges but otherwise they were pleased with the experience.

Fitness center is tiny but if you can hit off-peak hours it is fine.

The weather was nice June 23-30. For the most part a long sleeve T shirt and a fleece pullover with cargos was my "uniform" during all outdoor adventures. It was windy and cool a few days while on the ship but if not on open decking (with the wind) it was sunny enough to be warm.

Happy travels!

[JoAnne B]

The up and down/side to side movement in the forward cabins, especially 600 and 601 is typical....it is when you add diagonals in storms or high wind that it gets interesting.

[Skallywag]

We were originally booked on the disney Wonder for their first trip to Alaska next June but on thinking about this seriously and being concerned about their change of itinerary which did not include the inside passage we jumped ship so to speak and are now booked on the Navigator sailing from San Francisco to Alaska and return to Vancouver next May.

 

Am a bit concerned as I have read about the bad vibrations in the rear cabins and this is what we have chosen and think perhaps we should reconsider this.

 

We have been getting disappointed with Disney although we have sailed with them 4 times. We decided against their cruise to the Baltics last June and instead sailing NCL and were definitely not disappointed by them as the food was much better than Disney give. We chose the Navigator as being all inclusive can budget better and wonder if anyone has some tips about this and best trips to do.

[Travelcat2]

Am a bit concerned as I have read about the bad vibrations in the rear cabins and this is what we have chosen and think perhaps we should reconsider this.

 

.

 

I would suggest changing to a mid-ship suite as there is an aft vibration. Since you are doing the cruise from San Francisco (great itinerary -- we've done it twice), there is a possibility of slightly rougher seas than if you were only sailing in Alaska. The vibration can be fairly strong -- some people have no difficulty with it, others can't sleep from the noise of things rattling. Also suggest selecting a cabin on a lower deck. Many people were getting seasick (even those who are not normally affected by the movement of the ship) on the upper decks.

 

Since you have sailed on Disney cruises, I assume you have children. You should be aware that Club Mariner is not running in May. In fact, there were no children at all on our May, 2010 cruise. Just something to consider.

[Skallywag]

Thank you so much for your reply and we have changed to room 625 as we did not wish to have things banging around all the time.

 

We only have grown up children and Disney were the first cruise we ever went on.

[Travelcat2]

Thank you so much for your reply and we have changed to room 625 as we did not wish to have things banging around all the time.

 

We only have grown up children and Disney were the first cruise we ever went on.

 

Good location! You will enjoy the cruise very much:)

[bev'sid]

We were originally booked on the disney Wonder for their first trip to Alaska next June but on thinking about this seriously and being concerned about their change of itinerary which did not include the inside passage we jumped ship so to speak and are now booked on the Navigator sailing from San Francisco to Alaska and return to Vancouver next May.

 

We have been getting disappointed with Disney although we have sailed with them 4 times. We decided against their cruise to the Baltics last June and instead sailing NCL and were definitely not disappointed by them as the food was much better than Disney give. We chose the Navigator as being all inclusive can budget better and wonder if anyone has some tips about this and best trips to do.

 

Hi, Scallywag. I remember you from the DIS board. Sorry to hear your DCL cruises have not been up to par. We just completed the Baltics w/ them & also did the EBTA a few months back -- with Regent in Greece in between!

 

We still have wonderful times with DCL & have been fortunate to have great meals & great service with DCL, but...... I think it's safe to say that you will love Regent's food more! That is where the difference for us was most notable -- all that "kid friendly" food on DCL! lol Although we did find food to be on the bland side w/ Regent, we found the service equally great - the same willingness to offer choices & options.

 

Have a wonderful time - it's a very pleasant, relaxed atmosphere!!

[kabukijuul]

I am so glad that this thread was posted! We were about to book Navigator for a 2011 Alaska cruise with our 3 and 5 year old sons. The agent on the phone made it sound like the cruise would be very child friendly...after reading these posts, I think that a larger cruise line would be a much better choice.

[Travelcat2]

I am so glad that this thread was posted! We were about to book Navigator for a 2011 Alaska cruise with our 3 and 5 year old sons. The agent on the phone made it sound like the cruise would be very child friendly...after reading these posts, I think that a larger cruise line would be a much better choice.

 

You may want to get a travel agent that has more experience in booking cruises:o Hope the find dthe right one for you and your family.

[ededmd]

I am so glad that this thread was posted! We were about to book Navigator for a 2011 Alaska cruise with our 3 and 5 year old sons. The agent on the phone made it sound like the cruise would be very child friendly...after reading these posts, I think that a larger cruise line would be a much better choice.

 

I took 5 and 7 yr old boys. They had fun. With your sons' ages, I would be more concerned about the 3 yr old than the 5 yr old but even 5 is "iffy" and child dependent.

 

Disney will be sailing its first season in Alaska starting in 2011. If you haven't already sailed DCL, you will be pleasantly surprised at how many snippets of "adult" time you can have on the cruise because children in general really like the kids clubs. I would include them in your expanded search as a "good bet".

 

Best wishes!

[RachelG]

Time to find another travel agent if they are recommending Regent as child friendly. It is ok for older kids who are the type that can entertain themselves with a book, but definitely not for 3-5 yr olds.

[Queasy Cruiser]

We were on the same cruise as you! I'd agree it isn't the cruise of choice that I'd pick for a child under five. However, my daughter who is 7 had a blast. She says it is was her favorite of her nine cruises so far. The kid program was great!

 

Our kids, then ages 8 and 13, both had a fabulous time on our Mariner Alaska cruise. The Ambassadors of the Environment program was wonderful. And the ship was the perfect size for us to feel comfortable giving our young teen some freedom to hang out and have fun with her new friends. Maybe it would have been different for them if they'd cruised on more kid-oriented ships before, or if they weren't used to dining in nice restaurants and behaving accordingly. But we all had a fantastic cruise and would do it exactly the same way again.

[Travelcat2]

Our kids, then ages 8 and 13, both had a fabulous time on our Mariner Alaska cruise. The Ambassadors of the Environment program was wonderful. And the ship was the perfect size for us to feel comfortable giving our young teen some freedom to hang out and have fun with her new friends. Maybe it would have been different for them if they'd cruised on more kid-oriented ships before, or if they weren't used to dining in nice restaurants and behaving accordingly. But we all had a fantastic cruise and would do it exactly the same way again.

 

It's great that your children had a good time on the Mariner in Alaska. The Alaska cruises are more or less set up for families. The rest of the year, however, there are basically no children on board and no programs for them. On our November Regent cruise, there was one child (about 5) on the whole ship. It was sad.