What's Your Favorite 7 Day Carribean Cruise Line for 3 generations!

[ramled99]

Family of 4, me, my spouse, our active 5 year old, and my mom (in her 70s). We did Disney and LOVED it. But we want to try something different this time for a variety of reasons. Any recommendations or personal stories of non-Disney cruise lines that travel the Carribean? I saw Adventure of the Seas with Royal Carribean, but the ship seems pretty old. I hate travellin on a ship when everyone is bragging about the series of newer fleets with all the new bells and whistles. But I can be flexible on the ship as long as its not too dated, or too small or too old, or smelly.

 

If I had to list my main wishes, I'd say:

 

1. plenty of kids activities and a good, well-staffed kids club

2. a casino for my mom

3. some night adult clubs or bars or shows after mom and kid are sleep

4. newer ship (not a huge deal but no ship with old smelly carpet and horrible water pressure, etc.)

 

Ports don't matter to me. I can make any of the excusions work. I really don't know the differences or pros/cons of the other non-Disney cruise lines.

 

IM SURE this has been covered before. But I'm getting a headache scrolling through these titles. I figured I would just ask in a new thread. Thanks in advance for your insights!

Edited January 21, 2016 by ramled99

[Essiesmom]

When you want to sail will determine your choices. Also where you want to sail from. And how long you want the cruise to be. Cruise lines generally use their older ships on the short cruises. But just because it is older does not mean it is not well maintained. Ships go to drydock at least every three years, and they then get a complete overhaul of interior soft goods. But the are constantly replacing worn and stained carpet, etc.

Are you all going to share the same cabin? If so, you will want a newer ship with larger cabins if sailing Royal Caribbean. Does your mom want her own cabin? If so, you will want to consider the newest NCL ships with solo cabins.

Lots of things to consider. EM

[ramled99]

We want to sail this summary anytime in july or early August. We want to sail out of anywhere in the States, but I am assuming the two choices are Florida or Texas, both are fine with us. Are there are options in the States?

 

We want two separate cabins, my spouse and I in one cabin and my mom and kid in another cabin anywhere on the same floor. Need not be connected.

 

I want to cruise for 7 or 8 days.

[cb at sea]

None of the ships are "smelly"! They are huge investments and are well kept! Water pressure has always been fine, on every RCI ship I've sailed! No worries! Any of the RCI ships will have what you're looking for, unless you must have a zip-line or carousel....then you'll need an Oasis class ship.

[ramled99]

Thanks for the advice. I didn't intend to sound harsh when describing the ships. But I've certainly read multiple reviews on here of not so great ships with odor issues and poor water pressure in the bathroom.

 

I'm going to start with the RC Adventure of the Seas ship as a start. If anyone has any personal favorites for others, let me know!

 

Thanks again!

[Keith1010]

Good idea to start with RCI.

 

Also take a look at Celebrity and Princess.

 

Keith

[cello56]

I would do Freedom of the Seas out of Port Canaveral (Orlando). Freedom is our favorite ship - perfect blend of size and bells and whistles! Awesome kids water play area for your son, and lots of pools and hot tubs. Wonderful cantilevered adult hot tubs! The dining room is beautiful, and the shows are some of my favorites. Once Upon A Time and Drew Thomas Magic are both great shows. Cabins are good sizes, and the water pressure is strong. Freedom alternates eastern and western voyages. Personally I would favor eastern myself.

[tinkr2]

I like your answer but your signature is the best cello56.

[kitkat343]

My son really liked the kids clubs on NCL and Princess, and HAL's kids club was okay for us (it was a cruise with very few children and they mostly glued things to paper plates) but others have reported much better experiences with HAL's kids clubs. People have also written very nice things about the kids clubs on RC and Celebrity, so honestly there are a lot of options given your criteria. Everyone except Disney has a casino, and they all have shows.

 

I know you don't care about ports, but here are some recommendations if you are trying to narrow this down. If you are on the West Coast, I'd give Alaska some consideration, as children really love the animals and it is quite special. If you enjoy history/culture, Princess has a 10 day roundtrip Panama Canal cruise leaving from Ft. Lauderdale that visits Cartagena, Panama, Aruba, Costa Rica and Jamaica. Cartagena is beautiful and has lots of really interesting churches and museums, and the canal is interesting, and Aruba has lovely beaches. It doesn't visit the nicest part of Costa Rica (that's on the other side of the country so they couldn't get there), but you can still see a rainforest. If you want to visit beaches in the Caribbean, you have a ton of options since all of the main cruise lines should work for you. If you are in the Northeast, there are new ships in NYC on NCL and Royal that can take you to the Caribbean.

Edited April 5, 2016 by kitkat343

[SadieN]

West Coast cruises are out of Seattle, San Francisco, San Pedro, Long Beach and San Diego

 

Seattle and San Francisco go to Alaska.

Cruises out of San Francisco, San Pedro, Long Beach and San Diego sail to the Mexican Riviera.

 

Princess and Carnival both do 7 day cruises out of the local LAX ports. Carnival has three different MR itins. Princess does similar and California Coastal cruises.

Edited April 5, 2016 by SadieN