1st timer with kids...small ones. Please help!

[Skyguitar]

Hi,

 

I am in Northern California(next to San Francisco).

My whole family consist of me, wife and two little boys age 6 and 2.

Planning our vacation for late summer but We are kind of tired of Theme park vacations such as Disney, Lego land, sea world etc. I'm thinking cruise for change.

 

We would like to depart Southern California (long beach, San Diego) to minimize traveling and cost of flight to East coast.

 

Mexico would be good destination and minimum of 5 night to maximum of 8 nights would be ideal. Unless y'all think 8 days in cruise with 6/2 yr old boys will be living hell. :)

 

Here are the things I like/don't like. please recommend a ship and itenary for someone like me with two kids and a wife.

-kids activity, security, and safety is very important to us.

-about 5-8 days cruise

-must depart California.

-I prefer new and modern to vintage.

-with kids some parts of day time able to have nice dinner with wife alone. Play little poker late night.

-around August or September is our dates

-I like guitars. Live music perhaps?

-I prefer not to be in a ship full of College students or like party. I don't want to and I sure don't want my kids expose to people throwing up, acting crazy/wild in public. I'm in my mid 30's and don't mind little kids or mature couples. Just trying to avoid Spring break in Daytona Beach atmosphere.

-budget has not been set as I don't what normal or average cruise costs. I'm thinking we want to spend under $2500 for our family of 4.

 

Questions:

-is cruise not an ideal vacation for family with toddlers? Should we wait until they are older?

-which ship would you recommend?

-are there better time in a year to be on a cruise to Mexico? Say august/September consider good or bad month?

-which itenary would you recommend?

-do kids pay same amount of $ as adults ?

-let's just say the cruise it self costs $500. How much more would I be spending with tips, tax, other charges? I know this is subjective as some drink more than others etc. I'm just curious as to what the realistic cost I should expect after spending example $2K on cruise.

 

Thank you very much for your help.

 

 

 

-

[buglver066]

I can't help with a whole lot because I am no where near CA and have never been anywhere near there :). What I can help on is the kids aspect. Last year we did a 7 day cruise with our 1 & 3 year olds. We had a BLAST. As long as you know your day is going to revolve around their schedules and you are ok with that then you will be fine. I won't say it's anywhere near easy but it was worth every second of it. We will be taking them back next year when they are 3 & 5 :)!

[CurlyCali8]

There aren't a ton of ship/choices/itineraries out of So Cal. We are going on our first-ever cruise this July on the Splendor, which is a 7-day out of L.A./Long Beach. Stops in Cabo San Lucas for 2 days, and Puerto Vallarta for 1. I don't think there's an 8-day choice, unless maybe Hawaii.

 

Our 2 kids are a little older, (10 & 7) but we also are tired of the usual theme parks/road trips and are excited to give cruising a shot! :)

[sparkleroxy86]

There are limited selections on the west coast as to the ships..basically there is only Carnival and Princess. I took my little one on the Catalina and Ensenada cruise and felt safe. We also took her on the Cabo spirit cruise (not too sure how long the Spirit is going to be here though) and felt absolutely safe in port. If you can afford it I really would do Disney! That's my ultimate goal for our next family cruise. Sails out of San Pedro, has a great kid friendly atmosphere. The months of August and September would be great for cruising, August might have more kids though and be a little more pricy.

[SadieN]

Check the Family Board for ideas about cruising with kids.

[Kerry's Girls]

Cruising was my favorite kind of vacation when my kids were toddlers. Carnival is a good choice because the 2 year old can join the kids program. The only problem is kids must be potty trained to use the pools or splash park, but you can bring a blow up pool for splash play on sea days. Mexico will be really, really hot during the summer. You may want to consider Alaska for that time of year. There are lots of Alaska cruises leaving out of Seattle - not sure about Carnival. You just want to make sure that any ship/cruisline you choose offers some kind of childcare for 2 year olds.

 

Best,

Mia

[dadof2boys]

I think it's the best vacation option for young families. We too live on the West Coast and have a four and two year old. Our little guys have been on four and three cruises respectively. We have only done Mexico cruises and do really enjoy them. We have just booked the Splendor for Novemebr and the boys are super excited. I have a review below in my signature that might give you an idea of things to do. If you have any questions, just ask.

[skiman1]

Selection will be very limited in August and most of September since most ships move north to Alaska for the summer and sail out of Seattle or Vancouver, BC.

[S.S.Oceanlover]

Hi,

 

I am in Northern California(next to San Francisco).

My whole family consist of me, wife and two little boys age 6 and 2.

Planning our vacation for late summer but We are kind of tired of Theme park vacations such as Disney, Lego land, sea world etc. I'm thinking cruise for change.

 

We would like to depart Southern California (long beach, San Diego) to minimize traveling and cost of flight to East coast.

 

Mexico would be good destination and minimum of 5 night to maximum of 8 nights would be ideal. Unless y'all think 8 days in cruise with 6/2 yr old boys will be living hell. :)

 

Here are the things I like/don't like. please recommend a ship and itenary for someone like me with two kids and a wife.

-kids activity, security, and safety is very important to us.

-about 5-8 days cruise

-must depart California.

-I prefer new and modern to vintage.

-with kids some parts of day time able to have nice dinner with wife alone. Play little poker late night.

-around August or September is our dates

-I like guitars. Live music perhaps?

-I prefer not to be in a ship full of College students or like party. I don't want to and I sure don't want my kids expose to people throwing up, acting crazy/wild in public. I'm in my mid 30's and don't mind little kids or mature couples. Just trying to avoid Spring break in Daytona Beach atmosphere.

-budget has not been set as I don't what normal or average cruise costs. I'm thinking we want to spend under $2500 for our family of 4.

 

Questions:

-is cruise not an ideal vacation for family with toddlers? Should we wait until they are older?

-which ship would you recommend?

-are there better time in a year to be on a cruise to Mexico? Say august/September consider good or bad month?

-which itenary would you recommend?

-do kids pay same amount of $ as adults ?

-let's just say the cruise it self costs $500. How much more would I be spending with tips, tax, other charges? I know this is subjective as some drink more than others etc. I'm just curious as to what the realistic cost I should expect after spending example $2K on cruise.

 

Thank you very much for your help.

 

 

 

-

 

looks like late summer there is only Carnival Splendor 7 nights and carnival Inspiration 3/4 day cruises from Long beach.

 

Bill

[Lady_Jag]

My daughter was barely 3 when we took her on her first cruise. She LOVED it!

She's 6 now, and about to go on her 6th cruise in June. She is soooo excited! Cruises are her favorite vacations, even over Walt Disney World. :)

 

Sorry,I can't recommend a itin. from CA as we sail from FL, but I will say that the summer months in Mexico are HOT! It was in the upper 90s in Cozumel when we sailed the first week of June a couple years ago. :eek: Also, cruise rates are higher and kids cost the same as adults. A passenger is a passenger, no matter the age, although you will get discounted 3rd and 4th passenger rates.

 

Good luck on your search and Enjoy your cruise!

[boltnut55]

My daughter was almost 4 when she went on her first cruise. It was a 7-day one in Hawaii, and she did fine. We were able to travel during non-school time, so she was only 1 of 3 kids on the ship (this was a older ship, the MS Patriot). She had a lot of fun... and attention from the other guests. Subsequently, we did 4 more cruises before she became a teenager. For the most part, she stayed in the kids area on sea days unless it was meals (always had meals together) but not during port days as we always got off the ship. We never had dinner just as a couple, but they do have club time available (from what I remember) so that you can. You should check to see if 2 years old is too young or not for the kids' program though.

 

When our daughter was school age, we took her out of school in order to travel in order to avoid the Spring Break and summer crowd, but that's not for everyone. Plus it also means that there will be a lot less children in the programs. She went to a private schools, so they got our money regardless, and she was able to bring her schoolwork with her to complete.

 

If you're worried about whether cruising is a good idea, you should start with a shorter cruise, either 3 or 4 days, just in case. I set the bar that my daughter would suck it up and not make things difficult, but we only have 1 to deal with (no spurring the other on, etc.).

 

We have done 2 Spring Break cruises in order to travel with my husband's brother's family. It's very different :D I just got back two days ago, and I declared that I was never doing this again at which point my brother in law reminded me that I had said that 5 years ago too (but really, I'm not doing that again).

[Colorado Kat]

I would look at the Family Cruise board, as well as looking at reviews. You can use the search function. I think the kids would have a great time on a cruise.

[Skyguitar]

Thanks everyone!

 

Couple more questions.

 

-2 year old have to be fully potty trained before being able to join Kids club? Are two year olds typically fully potty trained? My child is currently 1 yr and 10 months old (2month shy of being 2 yr old). I don't see him fully potty trained in few months. Does this mean he has to be with my wife or me the thole time?

 

-So Carnival takes kids 2 yr and older but with Royal Caribbian kids have to be older?

 

-Say something happens to kid while at Kids club where they need parents to come and get him. How do they find you or contact you?

 

thanks

[kimmimom]

2 year old have to be fully potty trained before being able to join Kids club? Are two year olds typically fully potty trained? My child is currently 1 yr and 10 months old (2month shy of being 2 yr old). I don't see him fully potty trained in few months. Does this mean he has to be with my wife or me the thole time? My kids (3 girls) were trained at between 2.5 and 3 yrs old.

 

2 YO on Carnival can't go to kids clubs in diapers, but they can't use pool.

 

-So Carnival takes kids 2 yr and older but with Royal Caribbian kids have to be older?

Only sailed Carnival, so know they take 2 YO.

 

-Say something happens to kid while at Kids club where they need parents to come and get him. How do they find you or contact you? You carry a beeper on Carnival if you have 2-5 yr old and they beep you (maybe cell phone now so they can call you?) My kids are 9, 12, and 18 now so been long time since "beeper" days. :)

[H82seaUgo]

i never understand why some parents make it sound like vacationing with kids is a chore?

 

just like on land, we have our responsibilities to them, and i guess i'm the odd one enjoying performing those responsibilities.

 

and neither kid has stepped one foot in any ships "camp". they are by our "sides" the entire time, until we retire to to our balcony, and visions of sugarplums dance in their heads.

[marshalltp]

dfe

Hi,

 

I am in Northern California(next to San Francisco).

My whole family consist of me, wife and two little boys age 6 and 2.

Planning our vacation for late summer but We are kind of tired of Theme park vacations such as Disney, Lego land, sea world etc. I'm thinking cruise for change.

 

We would like to depart Southern California (long beach, San Diego) to minimize traveling and cost of flight to East coast.

 

Mexico would be good destination and minimum of 5 night to maximum of 8 nights would be ideal. Unless y'all think 8 days in cruise with 6/2 yr old boys will be living hell. :)

 

Here are the things I like/don't like. please recommend a ship and itenary for someone like me with two kids and a wife.

-kids activity, security, and safety is very important to us.

-about 5-8 days cruise

-must depart California.

-I prefer new and modern to vintage.

-with kids some parts of day time able to have nice dinner with wife alone. Play little poker late night.

-around August or September is our dates

-I like guitars. Live music perhaps?

-I prefer not to be in a ship full of College students or like party. I don't want to and I sure don't want my kids expose to people throwing up, acting crazy/wild in public. I'm in my mid 30's and don't mind little kids or mature couples. Just trying to avoid Spring break in Daytona Beach atmosphere.

-budget has not been set as I don't what normal or average cruise costs. I'm thinking we want to spend under $2500 for our family of 4.

 

Questions:

-is cruise not an ideal vacation for family with toddlers? Should we wait until they are older?

 

My son has cruised since he was two, and enjoyed it every time. Your six year old will probably want to spend all of his free time in Camp Carnival kids program. Your two year old will be old enough to go to age specific activities at the camp but will likely be more interested in spending more time with you.

You will certainly be able to utilize the Camp/babysitting at night to pursue adult endeavours if you wish....(casino, dinner, shows, wtc...)

-which ship would you recommend?

 

The Carnival Splendor and the Carnival Inspiration both do Mexican Itineraries out of CA. The Spendor is a significantly newer ship, that said Carnival maintains and updates their fleets routinely. I would expect the pricing to be better on the Inspiration but would choose based on schedule and itinerary.

-are there better time in a year to be on a cruise to Mexico? Say august/September consider good or bad month?

 

Average daily temps. do not vary in Mexico significantly thorughout the year although August is the hottest month.....Rainy season can extend anywhere from June through October.

-which itenary would you recommend?

 

Anywhere that did not include Ensenada

-do kids pay same amount of $ as adults ?

 

3rd and 4th passengers in a cabin regardless of age, typically pay about half price

-let's just say the cruise it self costs $500. How much more would I be spending with tips, tax, other charges? I know this is subjective as some drink more than others etc. I'm just curious as to what the realistic cost I should expect after spending example $2K on cruise.

 

Recently, my wife, my son(6), and myself had an onboard sign and sail account balance of about 500.00. That included drinks, a night at the steakhouse, and some gift shop items. We didn't attempt to minimize our spending and drank a fair bit of alcholic beverages.

Tips are additional would average you $35/day for your family of 2+2. Hope that helps

 

Thank you very much for your help.

 

 

 

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