xmas & newyear cruises

[cmds]

I'm just wondering how crowded it gets with kids on board around the christmas holidays, we're planning to do either a celibrity or royal caribbean cruise to the caribbean/panama canal or south america. any suggestions or do's and don'ts will be greatly accepted. We have a 9 & 12 yr old, and we're just back from a Mercury cruise wich was great, what is the Royal Caribbean like compare with this ship? There were only about 45 kids onboard wich was great and not to crowded.

thanks

[mii]

After reading many , many reviews on cruises that were taken during the holidays, yes there is alot of children on board. Now you mention S. America and panama Canal which would be longer than a7 day. I have read though that the 15 day one that goes to Hawaii was loaded with kids just this last xmas. I think it depends on how long the cruise is, especially S. America

 

marilyn

[cafe rose]

Just did the cruise. It left Miami 12/24/05 and returned 12/31/05. Ship filled to capacity but you would never really know it. Alot of kids. My three had GREAT time. 11 year old girl, 13 year old boy and 19 year old son that brought along a friend since I booked in September and there was limited occupancy (only 2 to a room) We got him an inside Promenade room (has a window overlooking the inside promenade). He and his friend had a great time. Two years ago, did the 8 night Panama Canal on Coral Princess over Christmas--smaller ship but still alot of children. Have a good time!!!:)

[ZZROX]

We did the 10 night AOS Xmas/New Years cruise..Yes, there were lots of childs/teens every age..Your kids will have a great time.

[Cruisin' Chick]

We were on the Island Princess during the holidays and it had about 250 kids. The problem on this cruise wasn't the quantity of kids. There was an extended family of about 52 who seemed to think it was their cruise. The parents let the kids run around while they hit the casinos, etc. The kids didn't go to the kids' program, according to my 8-year-old, and just seemed to hang around the staircases and take over the pools. Just about the rest of the kids behaved themselves, which has been the case of every cruise we have gone on.

 

I think the key is the parents. In this case, there was a couple of sets of parents here who didn't care what their kids did.

 

BTW, one of these parents dropped her toddler overboard. Even if it was an accident, no one seemed surprised. (check out my review on the Princess thread for more details about the holidays/kids program on Princess:)

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=285469