Where to start...?

[sunnysavannah]

Where should I start learning for cruising with kids?

Ok, DH & I have cruised 5 times, but this will be our first with our kids! YAY! They are 4 & 6 and we'll be doing RCCL's Monarch on March 16th. We'll be with a big-ish group including my In-laws.

 

Where's the best place for me to start reading on here to do this with kids? I'm a serious planner (from the DIS) and I love this board! I've read and read for previous trips, but I don't know anything about cruising with kids! Yikes!

 

I have so many stupid thoughts that I need to look through! lol. Now mind you, I'm not the panic type, just curious and like to be prepared.

For example, kids and railings... My kids are drawn to them, and even if I go over and over it with them, I'm nervous they won't listen.

ETA: I just found the thread about this! lol.

[fisherhum]

Hi, Welcome to this great board FULL of info. We travelled on RCCL Rhapsody when our kids were the same age. They loved it. I would recommend just reading through a ton of the posts, especially if you can find them relating to RCL and Adventure Ocean.

As for the railings here's link to a thread talking about exactly that http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=913372

 

Cruisin Mama Michelle has a blog with tons of info on cruising with kids. and a link to a variety of the kids program sheets. Here's the links from her signature

 

Kid's Activity schedules for different cruiselines are posted here...

http://photobucket.com/cruisekidpages

 

My Cruising with Children blog...

http://cruisingwithchildren.blogspot.com/

 

As for my personal experience, they both loved AO and wanted to spend all their time there. The instructors were fantastic and did lots of great activities with the kids and did a talent show on the last day. We took the kids off the ship with us each port but I know they wanted to "stay at camp" one day although we made them come ashore to see where we were.

I would recommend getting a room with a balcony if it's in your budget as we found we did spend more time in it than if we had been without the kids. Having the balcony was a great "escape" to sit and read, have a drink etc. while the kids were relaxing or taking a nap.

We took them for dinner iwth us in the dining room each night and ordered their food as soon as we sat down (the waiter was great about this). Then after we had finished our main course I took them up to AO while so we could relax and have coffee and desert. This worked really well.

Hope that helps a bit.

[cb at sea]

Don't worry about the railings unduly---they're high and the kids won't be alone anywhere, right? So far, NO child has ever "fallen" off a cruise ship--that seems to be reserved for drunks!

[crusinmama06]

They will have a wonderful time. :D

 

fisherhum posted the links to the Adventure Ocean pages that we collected here. So make sure you check out the activities for each age group. Yes you 4 and 6 year old will be separated in the Adventure Ocean.

 

The kids menu is there too.

 

You already found the answers to the balcony question. :D

 

What other questions do you have? We have info on kids and car seats. Kid friendly excursions. Main verses Late seating. Soda card for kids verses no soda card.

 

Fire away and we will help you. :)

[sunnysavannah]

Awesome! Um, let's see...

Coke card for kids - How much on RCCL?

What are my cost efficient hydration options for them other than coke? (not buying bottled water, refillable is much better, we can bring our own) Can I ask for ice water at the bar? Is that wrong? My kids love ice water.

[sunnysavannah]

How old are kids before they need to carry their cards with them?

[sunnysavannah]

Awesome! Um, let's see...

Coke card for kids - How much on RCCL?

What are my cost efficient hydration options for them other than coke? (not buying bottled water, refillable is much better, we can bring our own) Can I ask for ice water at the bar? Is that wrong? My kids love ice water.

(ETA: ok, I see $4 per day + 15%, Do they add gratuity each time they refill?)

[imsmpls]

Funny, my DH and I are taking our kids (4 and 5) on their first cruise leaving March 16, too! Unfortunately, on NCL (not unfortunate that's it's NCL but that we won't be together!). I must be separated from you at birth. I've been on these boards non-stop for 2 weeks. Switching from NCL, to Family Cruising, to each of the ports.

 

Anyway, I was at the grocery store this morning and found a huge section of packets that can be added to water to make "juices" etc. My kids don't drink soda but aren't that fond of water either. I'm sure we'll take juice from the morning buffet back to the room but this packet thing is easier on the go. There was Kool-Aid, Ocean Spray, flavored water, lemonade, etc. Both sugar-free and full sugar choices. I have heard that the water on NCL tastes great (but I bought a Brita bottle filter thing). I've cruised RCL but I can't remember what the water tastes like. I'm pretty picky about water and maybe didn't even taste it!

 

I'm really excited and think this cruising with kids thing is going to be genius!

 

Have a great trip!

[sunnysavannah]

On Coco Cay day, what's the routine for AO? I mean for checking them in?

[sunnysavannah]

Funny, my DH and I are taking our kids (4 and 5) on their first cruise leaving March 16, too! Unfortunately, on NCL (not unfortunate that's it's NCL but that we won't be together!). I must be separated from you at birth. I've been on these boards non-stop for 2 weeks. Switching from NCL, to Family Cruising, to each of the ports.

 

Anyway, I was at the grocery store this morning and found a huge section of packets that can be added to water to make "juices" etc. My kids don't drink soda but aren't that fond of water either. I'm sure we'll take juice from the morning buffet back to the room but this packet thing is easier on the go. There was Kool-Aid, Ocean Spray, flavored water, lemonade, etc. Both sugar-free and full sugar choices. I have heard that the water on NCL tastes great (but I bought a Brita bottle filter thing). I've cruised RCL but I can't remember what the water tastes like. I'm pretty picky about water and maybe didn't even taste it!

 

I'm really excited and think this cruising with kids thing is going to be genius!

 

Have a great trip!

Fun! You sound a lot like me! lol Ok, you must go look and find the CLEAR kind! My DH lives on those packets and the clear ones are great! No Stains on clothes or red mustaches!

[sunnysavannah]

When is the earliest you can sign up for Johnny Rockets with AO?

[imsmpls]

Fun! You sound a lot like me! lol Ok, you must go look and find the CLEAR kind! My DH lives on those packets and the clear ones are great! No Stains on clothes or red mustaches!

 

Now you tell me.. I bought grape kool-aid today! They never get that kind of sugary stuff at home but it is vacation!

 

Also, I see your 4 yr-old is a boy and your 6 yr-old is a kindergaten girl. Mine, too (although Josie won't turn 6 until right after the cruise. They couldn't care less about being in the same group but get along fine when they are.

 

Maybe not separated at birth but living parallel lives?!

[sunnysavannah]

TOO funny! Is your DH begging you to get of the computer and go to bed? Mind is! TTYL!

[imsmpls]

TOO funny! Is your DH begging you to get of the computer and go to bed? Mind is! TTYL!

 

Mine is playing on his own computer in his office while I'm on the laptop in my bed!

[crusinmama06]

Soda Card

If your kids don't drink alot of soda at home, then a soda card is not needed on the ship. You can give them white milk/chocolate milk, some juices (like apple and fruit punch) in the Windjammer and iced tea is free too. You will have ice in your room. You can bring those single powders to make all kind of juices (we do that alot around here)

 

Carrying Cards

Your kids don't need to carry a card yet. They won't be anywhere on the ship without you. They can't charge in AO at that age. So you carry their cards for now. Not until they get into the older groups will they need/want their cards.

 

CocoCay

You take them to the island and can check them in there. Just make sure you pick them up for lunch. AO closes at that time. I don't leave my kids in AO all day there because it is a great family beach day. The one time I left them (on Disney's island) we were going on a wave runner tour for an hour.

 

Johnny Rockets

There isn't a Jonny Rockets on Monarch is there????? If they have kid dinners (maybe in the Windjammer) then you can start to sign up the night before. Make sure you are signed up by noon the day of. Space is limited, so you want to be one of the early ones to sign.

[sunnyshine]

We're taking our son 10 with us in September. This will be his first cruise. I'm not sure he will enjoy the kids programs. If he doesnt know someone he usually doesnt enjoy stuff like that so I'm a bit worried we wont be able to go to the casino at all. Is there anyone whos experienced this? Their kids not liking the childrens programs?

[crusinmama06]

Is there anyone whos experienced this? Their kids not liking the childrens programs?

 

You should start a new thread. I bet you will get alot of support. :) I have seen some say that their kids preferred to hang with them during the cruise.

[sunnysavannah]

Thanks Michele,

about JRs, I guess I was remembering the Soverign...

[imsmpls]

TOO funny! Is your DH begging you to get of the computer and go to bed? Mind is! TTYL!

 

Hi "Sunny"! I have been compiling a Word document of snippets of info (big surprise!) It's a bunch of random stuff including some NCL info that would be worthless but also has info on travelling with kids, excursions, etc.

 

Feel free to e-mail me at imsmpls@aol.com.