What to do with kids off the ship

[golf4tonys]

Hi,

 

First time cruisers doing the Voyager of the Sea in July. We are traveling with a 4, 5 and 6 year old. We are definately bringing the kids to Labadee. If we take them to the other 3 ports, what (besides the beach) would be good for the kids? Anyone have their own experiences with kids off the ship?

 

Thanks for the help.

[sleepybert]

What are the other islands?

Jeep safaris can be really fun with kids.

[TheWog]

submarine rides can be fun.

[boingy300]

Hi,

 

First time cruisers doing the Voyager of the Sea in July. We are traveling with a 4, 5 and 6 year old. We are definately bringing the kids to Labadee. If we take them to the other 3 ports, what (besides the beach) would be good for the kids? Anyone have their own experiences with kids off the ship?

 

Thanks for the help.

 

If you are going to Cozumel you could consider a sub-sea explorer, where you go into the bottom of the boat, but it doesn't dive (and is cheaper than the submarine) or even a glass bottom boat. We did a sub-sea in the Bahamas w/ our 4 year old twins. We got to see a hammer head shark chasing a school of fish. He was so big that he bumped our boat and and swayed. They said it was very rare to see.............but the kids don't remember it! We do! Very fun excursion. Pack a plastic bucket and 3 shovels make a fort/have a beach day.

At Labadee walk to Dragon's breath point- very cool for kids to hear. A sound of a dragon breathing is cool!

Karen

[golf4tonys]

Ports are:

 

Labadee

Ocho Rios

Grand Cayman

Bahamas

 

Thanks for the help!!!

[jonsmom]

Hi

 

We are sailing on the VOS in June and are doing the same ports as you. I have a 7 year old.

 

We are planning on climbing Dunns River falls in Jamaica and then going to Margaretiville.

 

In Grand Caymen we are doing the Nativeway Stingray Tour.

 

Labadee - we have already booked the Aqua Park

 

Grand Bahama Island - we are up in the air about this. Not much to do there. We will probably stay onboard.

[Travelgrrl]

Second on Nativeway in Grand Cayman. Half the price, half the people, and twice the fun as the ship's excursion's to Stingray City!

[Nliedel]

At those ages I would think harrd before I did the Stingray City tour in Grand Cayman (it is a hit or miss port right now anyway). The water is chest high to adults. They also probably will not get in the water (the 6 year old probably will) because the stingrays can be intimidating to a small child (they are large). A good alternative would be the Turtle Farm. We had planned a cruise that included Grand Cayman with our boys (switched itineraries) but they are 6 and 8. Four would be awful small.

 

In Ocho you should do the Dunn's River Falls climb> Rafting on the Martha Brae is boring for kids (it is more romantic than anything else).

[boingy300]

Hi

 

We are sailing on the VOS in June and are doing the same ports as you. I have a 7 year old.

 

We are planning on climbing Dunns River falls in Jamaica and then going to Margaretiville.

 

In Grand Caymen we are doing the Nativeway Stingray Tour.

 

Labadee - we have already booked the Aqua Park

 

Grand Bahama Island - we are up in the air about this. Not much to do there. We will probably stay onboard.

 

Grand Bahamas is where we saw the hammer head- I just wish we could recall the name of the company. It was near the market area. That would be high on my list to do over. River tubing in Jamaica might be a cool option. I have to agree about Sting Ray city. The water is about 4 feet deep and the kids may not want to get in at all once the rays come in. They do however like that dreaded turtle farm at that age (don't tell them it's soup farm!Yuk!)

Karen

[Alikona]

I think the submarine excursion at Nassau/Grandn Bahama Island is called the Seaworld Explorer and I think it is an excursion offered through Royal Carribean. Not 100% positive, but I researched this myself for my 6 and 9 year old daughters to do.

 

 

Allison

[golf4tonys]

great ideas so far. keep them coming. thanks

 

bump....

[Travelgrrl]

They put the little kiddos in life jackets at Stingray City. We even brought a disabled kid once and were able to carry him about and have him interact with the rays - without touching the bottom, as it were.

 

I did pause a bit to recommend the Stingray City thing, as even teenagers and adults often wig out once with the rays - but everybody calms down within a few minutes. I would keep the kids on the boat until everyone calms down and then bring them into the water with the stingrays. But expect the kids to crawl up on your head anyway! ;)

 

It is a one of a kind experience - if your kids are a little adventurous.

 

Nativeway charges about $25 a person - don't know if they have a discount for kids.

[jonsmom]

Its $20 for children with Nativeway.

[TheWog]

Your kids would probably enjoy the white river tubing in Ocho Rios, but I am not sure about climbing the falls for the younger ones. You know your kids so you can decide on that. There are catamaran sails in Ocho Rios as well they may enjoy or just beach it.

[boingy300]

I think the submarine excursion at Nassau/Grandn Bahama Island is called the Seaworld Explorer and I think it is an excursion offered through Royal Carribean. Not 100% positive, but I researched this myself for my 6 and 9 year old daughters to do.

 

 

Allison

 

The thing I'm thinking of is a semi-submersible and it's not offered through RCCL, just through a Grand Bahamas tour group. I have done the submarine in Barbados, and honestly liked this semi-sub much better and it was only like $20 per person, w/ room for the kids to move a little. Have you checked the Ports of Call boards/Bahamas? I bet that's loaded w/ info! I liek Grand Bahamas- always a relaxing beach day.

Karen

[jonsmom]

Karen

 

The Ports of Call area has absolutely NO information on Grand Bahama Island. I have tried several times to get replys to question to no avail.

 

I stand corrected - someone added a post today that was entitled "Freeport Answers".

 

After being unable to find something to do in Freeport, he & his family went to the taxi stand at the end of the pier and boarded a van with others who went to Lucaya Beach. He said it was a beauiful beach and they were able to use the facilities @ the Sheraton. He said not to stay onboard but to take advantage of this free beach. The cab was $5 p/p each way.

[boingy300]

Karen

 

The Ports of Call area has absolutely NO information on Grand Bahama Island. I have tried several times to get replys to question to no avail.

 

I stand corrected - someone added a post today that was entitled "Freeport Answers".

 

After being unable to find something to do in Freeport, he & his family went to the taxi stand at the end of the pier and boarded a van with others who went to Lucaya Beach. He said it was a beauiful beach and they were able to use the facilities @ the Sheraton. He said not to stay onboard but to take advantage of this free beach. The cab was $5 p/p each way.

 

Darn- I wish the ports had more info. We went there 6+ years ago, and my friend lives on the island (He would dive for our lobster dinner- very cool.) And took us to a beach where the locals hang. Best food ever and the beach had trees at the edge, and the kids could climb in them. Just a very quiet relaxing place- AND I CANNOT THINK OF IT'S NAME!UGH! I have also stayed at the Casino hotel and can't recall that name! I do recall there was lots to do and I felt VERY safe there. (We even went through a Cat. 1 hurricaine!)

I would get a good taxi driver and tell him what you want- tip well. Or consider going through their board of tourism. It's 1 of my favorte,quiet islands!