Oceania cruiser wants to do a family cruise...which cruise line?

[edgee]

We are a retired couple who normally cruise on Oceania, Celebrity and Crystal, so the excitement of very large mass market cruise line ships are not normally our cup of tea. However we are looking to take our children and spouses and grandkids ( 5 boys between ages 5 and 14) on a family cruise. We enjoy some time in the casino, so Disney is out. Would appreciate advice in choosing between NCL (non Haven) and RCCL for our family cruise. Thanks!

 

Ed

[Tatka]

Our favorite lines are Celebrity and Princess, but we cruise with them all except for Carnival anymore.

Out of RCCL and NCL I'd pick RCCL. Rooms are larger, new Oasis class ships are simply amazing even for us who usually prefer 90-120k tons ships.

Our jaws were literally dropped whole week long on Allure. It was very unusual ship.

We enjoyed production shows, especially Mamma Mia which was better than Broadway's version. Also Oceanaria was terrific.

 

With kids you might want to take a look at Harmony on which slides and waterslides were added.

 

Food in mdr and buffet on RCCL and NCL will be weaker than on Celebrity and other premium lines.

[RJB]

Our favorite lines are Celebrity and Princess, but we cruise with them all except for Carnival anymore.

Out of RCCL and NCL I'd pick RCCL. Rooms are larger, new Oasis class ships are simply amazing even for us who usually prefer 90-120k tons ships.

Our jaws were literally dropped whole week long on Allure. It was very unusual ship.

We enjoyed production shows, especially Mamma Mia which was better than Broadway's version. Also Oceanaria was terrific.

 

With kids you might want to take a look at Harmony on which slides and waterslides were added.

 

Food in mdr and buffet on RCCL and NCL will be weaker than on Celebrity and other premium lines.

Would agree with RCCL for the family size you are talking about. Should have a great time.

[BUgrad]

While I personally would not again do RCCL for my husband and myself were I to do a family journey, I would choose them. If you want a decent meal. For dinner you will have to go to the supplemental venues. Lots to do for the kids and entertainment is excellent. Kids generally just want pasta, at least my grandkids do. Pasta is pasta.

[Caroldoll]

I agree with both of the above. We have done several family cruises, but we also liked NCL. Either would be good. The thing about RCL and those big ships, they don't go to many ports, but the ship IS the experience, especially for the kids.

[twochromic]

We are doing exactly this, lining up a family cruise of about 23 people next summer for our 50th anniversary. We've mostly cruised Crystal, Oceania, and Seabourn this past few years, and quickly realized that those lines are not the best choice for the people we have coming along. We'll have a wide age range.

 

We looked at all the majors, and settled on NCL mainly because of (1)The "stuff to do" is abundant; (2)The Alaska itinerary we found; and (3)They are running a mid-size vessel, not just the 3500 and above type.

[wannaberetired]

My 2 cents: I thought the food on RCCL in the MDR was pretty good and they were very accommodating with menu choices and quantities. The buffet was so-so. The elevators were extremely annoying - too many people waiting and took forever to get an elevator. Check-out was a bit of a mess too with long lines.The room was large (junior suite) and the entertainment was decent. For a family, I think they are a good idea. Just don't be surprised by the sheer numbers of passengers. After sailing on Oceania, it is hard to get used to so many people and having to wait for things.

[Tatka]

I agree about food in mdr vs buffet (mdr food is weaker than on Celebrity, but still is good, buffets are not so good)

Same with NCL

[BarbaraM]

We also enjoy Oceania and Celebrity -- just returned from a week on Harmony with our 11 year old grandson and his mother. This was a July sailing, and the ship was packed. It was impossible for him to get in the pool on sea days. We checked out the little kids pool, and it was also packed. The lines for the water slide, zip line, and flow riders were very long, an hour for the zip line. The hours for the zip line and flow riders are very short. It was better on the port day when we stayed on the ship, but the hours were even shorter and they don't open all the slides. He managed to go down the zip line once (hated it), and missed the cut off for the flow rider. We paid extra for specialties a couple of nights, and they do offer a kids menu for $10 for under 12. The dress code is very casual now, so that was a positive for him. He enjoyed the shows, surprisingly. We took him to the kids program once, and he passed on it. most of the kids were at the low end of his age range. We took two shore excursions, and found them reasonably priced when compared to Oceania.

I found the ship to not have much soundproofing in cabins -- people seem to yell in the halls at all hours, kids run around and unaware of other people in their path. There is a charge of around $8 for room service, plus extra fee if you want a hot breakfast. The buffet is insane, peak times like breakfast on a port day there are no tables. This was in no way a relaxing vacation. I had a plan of taking all of my kids and their families on a ship like this, but that is not going to happen now. Yes, it had the wow factor, but it came at a price. I wondered if one of their older, smaller ships might have been a better choice for us. We chose this for the slides, etc, but ended up being a minimal activity for us. You might get lucky and it won't be as crowded as our sailing. Also we talked to a Pinnacle member, and she said that she prefers Allure and Oasis, the cabin size and soundproofing were issues for her. Sorry for the lengthy reply.

[Bootman4U]

We like Celebrity, we have sailed in The Haven on NCL, and we have been sailing with RCCL for years. There is no doubt in my mind that given all the amenities on ships like the Harmony of the Seas that the kids will enjoy going on that ship or on the new Symphony more than the others.

 

I'm not going to get into the "decency" of the food issue since that is subjective. Sorry, but your kids will LOVE the food.

[Tatka]

Room service now isn't free on both ncl and RCCL

[Bootman4U]

Tatka, your statement about RCCL is incorrect. The room service charge is WAIVED in certain stateroom levels.

[Tatka]

Thank you for correction.

Maybe at certain stateroom levels.... but not for everyone.

 

Not a big deal for us as we like to explore what buffet offers. And use trips to buffets to get an additional exercise. :)

[West Windsor girl]

Thank you for correction.

Maybe at certain stateroom levels.... but not for everyone.

 

Not a big deal for us as we like to explore what buffet offers. And use trips to buffets to get an additional exercise. :)

 

 

 

We love Seabourn, silversea and Oceania, but they are not appropriate for kids we have done family cruises on Celebrity, RC and NCL and have had a great time on all. The Haven is great on NCL and Royal Caribbean is also great for kids. The specialty dining on both is quite good and not that expensive. Enjoy!

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

[Mura]

We don't have children, hence no grandchildren. But in years past we were on the QE2 and NCL, both of which had wonderful programs for children. (Even though we didn't have young ones in our circle we still went to the kiddie's talent shows and they were very charming.)

 

I can't speak to the other lines that have been mentioned since we haven't been on them.

 

I agree that O is not the right venue for a family vacation. But there are quite a few that ARE.

 

Mura

[Loracpin2]

We are a retired couple who normally cruise on Oceania, Celebrity and Crystal, so the excitement of very large mass market cruise line ships are not normally our cup of tea. However we are looking to take our children and spouses and grandkids ( 5 boys between ages 5 and 14) on a family cruise. We enjoy some time in the casino, so Disney is out. Would appreciate advice in choosing between NCL (non Haven) and RCCL for our family cruise. Thanks!

 

Ed

 

Ed, we also had the same dilemma when choosing a cruise to celebrate our 50th Anniversary with our children, spouses and eight grandchildren ages 8 to 18 last month. After much research, we chose RCCL's Anthem of the Seas 5 night cruise to Bermuda out of Cape Liberty NJ. First, since it was only a three hour drive for everyone, it didn't involve air fare for 16, which was a great bonus since we were booking 7 balcony cabins. Second, it has more bells and whistles to keep every age happy....simulated sky diving, a flow rider for surfing, indoor roller skating, indoor bumper cars, flying trapeze lessons, and more. All our children and grandchildren loved it and were sorry it was only 5 nights. It's was a great feeling to know that after a year of planning and organizing, it was the best way to celebrate.

 

I see you're from Rockville, MD. The only RCCL ship that sails out of Baltimore is the Grandeur. It is one their older ships that has nothing to do for the kids so I wouldn't consider that.

[edgee]

Loracpin2...Thanks. Did you experience long waits for key attractions? Reviews indicate this is a problem on RCCL megaships during school vacation time.

 

Also, was 5 days really too short such that you would rather have done the Anthem 9 day cruise, logistics permitting?

[Loracpin2]

Loracpin2...Thanks. Did you experience long waits for key attractions? Reviews indicate this is a problem on RCCL megaships during school vacation time.

 

Also, was 5 days really too short such that you would rather have done the Anthem 9 day cruise, logistics permitting?

 

Ed, would have rather done 7 nights but, since 9 nights didn't work between adult kids work schedules and grandkids camp. sports, etc schedules, the 5 night was the best option for their families.

 

Made reservations for IFly, Northstar and shows as soon as they opened on line...advantage of being retired with plenty of free time. Because I booked the entire cruise, I had everyone's reservation numbers so I was able to make them for all seven cabins.

 

Another important issue. Since we knew we needed 3 sets of two adjoining cabins (2 sets needed one cabin that held three) for our kids and grandkids, plus the one for us, I made the reservations more than a year in advance. We were all on deck 8 portside with a few cabins separating each family. Cabins for 3-4 going very quickly for sailings during school vacation times.