Which lines to consider-2 adults and a toddler

[Kris74]

Hi

 

New cruisers here trying to figure out the best ship and line for us. We are 2 adults and a toddler. We are both also english speaking but our toddlers mothertongue is not english so she knows only a couple of english words at this moment. I hate drunken people and abhore waiters and such trying to make you buy drinks and also travelling with a toddler the environment needs to be childfriendly. I am also a very light sleeper so would hope the ship to be fairly steadygoing without too much noice. It doesnt have to be cheap but we cant arrord luxurylines either. And i hate nickel and diming, which i guess almost everyone hates. And i appreciate clean rooms but we dont need anything extra or super. Dont have to be WOW factors but no dirty corners please.

So i guess a lot of nos and donts but ive been reading reviews a lot and am a bit afraid ending up in a horrible cruiseship...

 

So which lines should we consider? Which would be safe regarding our wishes?

[Krazy Kruizers]

Welcome to Cruise Critic.

Don't know how old your child is, but you might want to check out Disney.

[Bonnie J.]

You don't say how old your toddler is. Ships have fantastic kid's programs but earliest a child can go is 2 or 3. Some ships also have babysitting at night. This is not in your cabin but where kid's program is- its like a slumber party. I have seen toddlers and even older kids asleep on Dad's shoulder as late as midnight! Disney would be a good choice for you.

Our kids are grown but Disney may have babysitting for under 2. Disney is a bit more $$ because they do not have a casino- they are family ships.

As far as noise in a cabin we have been cruising since the mid 80's and the only noise we have heard might be a vacuum in the hall or kids running down the hall. Cabins are quiet but don't get one under the dining room or a lounge. On some ships you might hear them moving chairs etc. above your cabin.

[Kris74]

Thanks for the replies.

Yes disney I have been thinking too. Our daughter will be under 3 years but even if she were older i doubt she could join by herself any kidsclub because of the language barrier still in force. We dont need any babysitting either. But is it possible to go with her to any kidsclub there would might be? Just would like her to enjoy herself.

 

Also about this noicething. Are there motor noices from the ship in the lower decks? I know this might sound stupid but since I have never been on a cruiseship and only have experience from smaller ships and ferries in which there are disturbing motorsounds, it is a concern for me.

 

And does it matter which disney ship to go for or are they all kinda similar some just bigger than some?

 

And what would be a second choise if there is any?

[dorisis]

Second choice could be Oceania, Celebrity ,Holland America or Princess.They are more "adult" than other lines with less of a party atmosphere. Passengers will be much older and, like grandparents, will dote on your child.

[Kris74]

Yes older fellowpassangers would be kinda nice too, i simply love when my daughter gets smiles and attention. The only thing im afraid is would they think us too noicy, our daughter is fairly quiet but there is no such thing as a noiceless 2 year old :D Also are there any playgrounds for kids in that cathegory of ships?

[wickedlady08]

We are young grandparents (50's) and took our 6 and 8 year old granddaughters on Celebrity. We are both foodies and I need peace and quiet so Celebrity wanna good choice for us.

 

I was a bit worried that the children wouldn't enjoy themselves because of the age group this line caters too. There's no slides, kids areas or other activities you would find on RCL, Norwegian etc.

 

We put the girls in the kids program and they absolutely loved it. They hardly wanted to spend time with us. We would go dancing in the grand hall after dinner and loved the attention they got from the older cruisers. Since they enjoyed dancing people loved to come and watched them. Everywhere we went people would stop us either asking us if they were in dance class (no formal training at all) and saying how they enjoyed watching them performed. Yes they are not shy and loved to party like their grandma. LOL.

 

For myself being picky with stuff I found Celebrity to be a 5 star ship. The food was delicious, the girls ate from the adult menu, the service exceptional and the staff made you feel like you were a VIP.

 

We just came back from another Celebrity cruise and had an even better experience as we had more time to meet another people and made some friends along the way.

[Gail & Marty sailing away]

Carnival Princess Royal ..

[wickedlady08]

We are young grandparents (50's) and took our 6 and 8 year old granddaughters on Celebrity. We are both foodies and I need peace and quiet so Celebrity was good choice for us.

 

I was a bit worried that the children wouldn't enjoy themselves because of the age group this line caters too. There's no slides, kids areas or other activities you would find on RCL, Norwegian etc.

 

 

We put the girls in the kids program and they absolutely loved it. They hardly wanted to spend time with us. We would go dancing in the grand hall after dinner most nights they*enjoyed*the attention they got from the older cruisers. Everywhere we went people would stop us either asking us if they were in dance class (no formal training at all) and saying how they loved watching them performed. Yes they are not shy and loved to party like their grandma. LOL.

 

For myself being picky with stuff I found Celebrity met all my needs. The food was delicious, the girls ate from the adult menu, the service exceptional and they made you feel like a VIP.

Both cruises we took surpassed our expectations and that is saying allot since I am not easy person to please.

 

 

 

We just came back from another Celebrity cruise and had an even better experience as we had more time to meet people and made some friends along the way.

Edited February 7, 2014 by wickedlady08
typos

[wickedlady08]

Sorry I was editing my post and it seemed to post both of them. Tried to delete the old one but it wouldn't let me.

 

Still fairly new to the boards so please be patient with me.

[Shmoo here]

Thanks for the replies.

Yes disney I have been thinking too. Our daughter will be under 3 years but even if she were older i doubt she could join by herself any kidsclub because of the language barrier still in force. We dont need any babysitting either. But is it possible to go with her to any kidsclub there would might be? Just would like her to enjoy herself.

 

Also about this noicething. Are there motor noices from the ship in the lower decks? I know this might sound stupid but since I have never been on a cruiseship and only have experience from smaller ships and ferries in which there are disturbing motorsounds, it is a concern for me.

 

And does it matter which disney ship to go for or are they all kinda similar some just bigger than some?

 

And what would be a second choise if there is any?

 

On Disney, for the under 3 age group there is the nursery. I would suggest giving it a try, there are many crew members of different nationalities onboard. If you mention it on your reservation that your child only speaks (whatever), they will try to accommodate that.

 

The Oceaneer's Club (generally for ages 3-12) does Open House times during the cruise, where you can take you child to participate, buy you must remain with her.

 

We've only been on deck 2 on the classic DCL ships (Wonder & Magic) and, while there is some noise (not sure I'd really call it that). It's more like the sound of an engine running in a car. More forward it's less noticeable.

 

Most of the Disney ships are similar, but the classics are smaller. The Dream & Fantasy are larger. Many Disney characters onboard for meet and greets, and very family oriented.

[boulders]

Yes older fellowpassangers would be kinda nice too, i simply love when my daughter gets smiles and attention. The only thing im afraid is would they think us too noicy, our daughter is fairly quiet but there is no such thing as a noiceless 2 year old :D Also are there any playgrounds for kids in that cathegory of ships?

 

You will find children on almost any ship.

 

There are no playgrounds on ships, except for inside the kids clubs. Some cruise lines such as Disney, Carnival and Princess allow young children to enter the kids club with their parents at certain times of the day. Disney and Royal Caribbean have nurseries for children aged 3 months to 3 years (Disney) or 6 months to 3 years (Royal Caribbean). Carnival takes 2 year olds into its camp program. Other cruise ships take 3 year olds.

 

Some ships have waterslides, waterparks, mini golf, carousels, rock climbing, skating, bowling alleys. You won't find all of these things on one ship however.

 

Cruise lines that will have more drinking and/or nickel and diming are Carnival, Royal Caribbean and NCL. These are also the cruise lines which have all the amenities in the paragraph above.

 

Different people prefer different cruise lines. There are advantages and disadvantages to each one. I would choose the cruise line that fits the adults requirements, rather than the child's.

Edited February 7, 2014 by boulders

[cb at sea]

No engine noises.....the engine room is DECKS below the lowest passenger deck! Directly below the "bottom" passenger deck will be crew quarters, then storage, then the engines and such...you are nowhere close to the engines!

 

However, on some ships, being too far forward can transmit the sound of the anchor, if and when it's dropped....so if you stay midship or aft, you can avoid that.

 

No ship will be totally quiet....no more than a hotel or even, your home! You will hear if loud people pass your cabin....that's true on EVERY ship! If it's rough, you will hear creaking, as the cabins flex....can't be helped!

 

You need to know that ship cabins are nowhere near the size of hotel rooms....that doesn't sound like a problem, but some folks are quite surprised at how small cabins are!

[boulders]

No engine noises.....the engine room is DECKS below the lowest passenger deck! Directly below the "bottom" passenger deck will be crew quarters, then storage, then the engines and such...you are nowhere close to the engines!

 

However, on some ships, being too far forward can transmit the sound of the anchor, if and when it's dropped....so if you stay midship or aft, you can avoid that.

 

No ship will be totally quiet....no more than a hotel or even, your home! You will hear if loud people pass your cabin....that's true on EVERY ship! If it's rough, you will hear creaking, as the cabins flex....can't be helped!

 

You need to know that ship cabins are nowhere near the size of hotel rooms....that doesn't sound like a problem, but some folks are quite surprised at how small cabins are!

 

This is true. Ships have noise. The hangers in the closet may clang together. There will be creaking. There are weird thuds in the night. Our last cruise, a month ago, was in a suite. It sounded like we were under a bowling alley one night. Sigh.

 

A regular hotel room is 400 sq ft. Cabins can run from 140 sq ft on up. A good sized cruise ship cabin is 200 sq ft.