Children on cruises in summer holidays - help!

[Essexlass2]

We are a couple of seniors considering booking a cruise during the summer holidays on Azura, a ship we love. We recently cruised on adult-only Arcadia and found we missed young people and well behaved children as there were more 'wrinklies' like ourselves than anything, plenty of walking sticks, zimmer frames and mobility scooters. However, although we are part of the retired brigade (having worked very hard to get here and determined to enjoy it!!), we do still love to mix with folk of younger generations and like to think of ourselves as being young at heart.

 

Having said all that and whilst appreciating that there are likely to be quite a few children on the Azura during summer holidays, we would appreciate the opinions and comments of those experienced in summer holiday cruising. Would we be happy or would it be too much? Is experience in general of well behaved children rather than hoards of screaming kids chasing everywhere?

 

We do love children but at the same time wouldn't want to feel overwhelmed by them if you know what I mean. Young families are as entitled as anyone to enjoy cruising and all that it offers and we have no problem with that.

 

Should we book now or should we leave it until after the summer holidays?

[SuzyPaulB]

Good evening Essexlass, we have cruised on Azura in the May half term with our children and it was mixed with all generations. Having said that, there were clearly more older children/teenagers onboard as it was school holidays. Each cruise has fixed places for each age group 2-4, 5-8, 9-12 and 12-17 as staff to children numbers have to be covered. I would ring P & O and ask how many children spaces are offered on the cruise you are looking at. My parents have cruised on Arcadia and Adonia and also prefer the family friendly ships due to the spread of ages, they miss seeing children!!

If the itinery is also offered on Azura in September maybe choose that one as there will still be young families with preschoolers!! Whichever you choose it will be brilliant - I'm sure!

Suzy

 

 

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[Thejuggler]

It depends on the destination. You can expect 500-700 children on a western Med cruise in Summer school holidays. Cruises to northern ports, fjords, baltic etc don't attract as many families, we had 150 children on our Princess trip to Scandanavia in June last year.

 

Our first cruise was in September along the Atlantic coast and our daughter was one of just 50 children on board.

[davecttr]

There will be about 300 kids aboard Oceana for my cruise at the end of July as it is the start of the summer hols. The lower average adult passenger age will be a welcome change over the aged passengers on Arcadia. I got a good price as well as lots of people don't like cruising with kids.

 

I don't anticipate any problems as i am not a pool person and they are not allowed in the casino. :D

 

It was amusing on Ventura as all us beached whales on the deck above the pool were snoozing away only to be awakened now and then as all the youthfull screaming synchronised and reached a cresendo.

[amajaa]

Our first cruise was on Ventura in July where there were over 500 children on board but we hardly saw them as they were all at the kids clubs. The kids clubs did perhaps monopolise the pools, which wasn't a problem to us especially as although it was July and to Iberia it was quite cold.

[wilson2579]

I also sailed on Ventura with 500 children and hardly knew they were on board. The clubs really look after them. It does get busy round the main pool but that is only to be expected. I am off again on Ventura in the summer holidays so couldn't have been too bad or I wouldn't be coming back for more.:)

[ronay2006]

We have also been on Ventura when there was "supposedly" over 500 kids on but the only time we saw more than a handful was at their pirate party, around tea time, when they walked round some of the decks together. It was terrific!

I think the kids clubs are really great for them & keep them amused all day. I have heard some couples say the kids are up with the lark to get into the clubs & even if the parents want to do things as a family the kids still prefer the clubs.

R

[rubydoobydoo]

700 kids on one cruise , yikes !!!!:eek:

 

We only take holidays in term time, avoid school holidays like the plague, and the prices jump up in the holidays

 

I am sure that the majority of kids will be well behaved

[ronay2006]

You will never see them!!!! They really don't want to be with "US" do they?

In the 4 cruises I've been on I can honestly say there have been a few by the pool, not every day, & some absolutely adorable ones at the captains party with dickie bows etc. A credit to their parents, I can assure you.

[Essexlass2]

Thanks for all your comments folks, we knew we could rely on you all to help us. Looks like we're on our way then!! :D

[Scriv]

On our recent Adults only cruise, which was perfect for us in a 'post kids pre grandkids' phase, children on board was quite a popular theme of conversation.

 

Essexlass2, you might be reassured to know that everybody we met who had been on a family cruise said they were hardly aware of the children on board. It seems it is all so well organised!