sandkps

Hello!

We are cruising to Alaska next week and looking for budget & kid friendly (boys ages 12 & 9) activity ideas while in the ports of Juneau, Ketchikan, and Skagway. They love animal sightings and would really enjoy seeing a glacier up close as well as panning for gold.

Due to employment issues we are on a much tighter budget this cruise than we’d originally planned and must keep our spending as low as possible, but still want to provide our kids with memorable experiences as this really is a once in a lifetime trip for us.

Any suggestions or advise would be very much appreciated!!

Thank you!

Awesome review so far! We are Carnival cruisers headed for our first RCI on the Oasis in January. I'm really enjoying your review so far! Your pictures are great!!

Check out the obstructed OV rooms on deck 3. They are not much more than an interior and much more space!

If you are only using the hub app do you need to get a internet plan?

Internet not needed for Hub. If you want to use the on board chat feature for Hub you will have to pay the $5/device for that, but still no internet needed.

We just did Carnival's Unimog excursion and my boys (almost 9 & 12) loved it. Great tour of island, nice visit to a small farm, beautiful view of a Blue Hole, bumpy & fun off roading, and a great lunch at a beautiful beach. Not to mention the fantastic and entertaining tour guides, Lia & Avery. We all had a great time!

These are part of teen growing pains. My boys are also almost 6 years apart and my son at 12 was also pretty shy and didn't spend much time in Circle C, but did go for the social things like games such as Apples to Apples. Even my younger who is very athletic and more outgoing didn't care for camp at 12 - it's just the age. Now at 13.5 I am sure he will have a blast. And yes, he will be meeting people and hanging out with his 19 yo brother who misses the structure of camp. He's not a drinker or gambler, so hangs out with little bro.

 

On another note, personally, my parenting style would not have me asking as the age groups are 6-8, 9-11, 12-14 and 15-17 on Carnival. So really, to put a 12 year old with his brother, you are putting him with the 6-8; not only is that kinda looking inappropriate but 2 groups down. My parenting style would also have me telling my tween that its his vacation and spend it like you want, and not worry about it. Who knows, he may find other similar quiet kids. But at 12, it really should be his choice. JMHO

Great point about his brother being TWO groups down, I hadn’t thought about that. On previous cruises the 6-8 & 9-11 get dropped off at the same place and do a lot of things together especially night owls, so I’d forgotten they really are 2 age groups apart now.

It will be his choice, I just want him to enjoy himself!

It has good reviews on CCLs website, but looking for opinions from CC. It will be DH & I plus our 2 boys, ages 12 & 8.

Thanks!

There was one post I read not to long ago where kids did not want to go to the camp. Parents told him to try it although he still balked at that but he went. They came about 10 minutes early to pick him up and he sent them away saying he still had 10 minutes--he loved it when he went and gave it a chance.

My son is a lot like that, once he tries something he usually ends up enjoying it, but it's the getting him to try it part that's difficult. In the middle school group it's less structured and the kids come and go as they please, so that's where the problem lies. He won't initiate conversations with people he doesn't know and if he gets uncomfortable he'll just leave and go to the cabin rather than sticking it out and giving it time for him to warm up. He'a used to using his outgoing little brother as the bridge between new him and new people. The little one breaks the ice and starts the conversations and then eventually my older one will join in. LOL Obviously, I know he needs to get over this and start branching out more on his own, it's just tough to convince HIM of that!

We've been on the Sunshine 3 times and the Steakhouse always has 1 night that is more casual than the others (we ask specifically for that night when we book). My husband has always worn nice shorts and a polo on that night and we've never had an issue.

My boys are 8 and just recently turned 12. My 8 year old is the super outgoing one that will make friends with anyone that will listen to him. Our older son is the complete opposite. He is very shy and will not initiate conversation with anyone that he doesn't know. Our older son is very upset that he can't go to kids club with his younger brother anymore and refuses to try out Circle C. We have 2 weeks and I'm going to continue trying to encourage him, but I have a feeling he will be sitting in the cabin by himself watching TV when his brother goes to Kids Club rather than going to Circle C alone.

All that to say, what are the chances I could get kids club to bend the rules a tad and allow him to come in, especially in the evenings for the Night Owls parties? He's less than 3 months too old. Or would it be a waste of time even asking?

We've been many times, usually just walk around port for a bit or stay on the ship.

This time we're doing a short Bahamas sailing and only going to Freeport & Nassau so we're looking to maximize our 2 port days and find something fun to do with our family of 4 (me & DH, 2 kids ages 12 & 8). We don't want to do anything too active (like long walks, kayaking, river tubing). My kids enjoy shore snorkeling, but I can't find anywhere for snorkeling that has decent reviews. We were also looking at the Jeep Safari, but that has bad reviews too.

Is there anything worth doing, or should we just cut our losses and stay on board?

We're leaving on a 5 night sailing Oct 30. We'll have 2 sea days & 2 port days, with the first sea day being Halloween. I know this first Sea Day is typically formal night, will it be changed due to Halloween?

On a 5 night sailing, does anyone know which night is casual night in the steakhouse?

Has anyone been there in January? We’ll be in Cozumel Jan 12 and want to do snorkeling and dolphins, but worry the waters may be too cold (for me - kids will swim in anything! Haha).

Buy the package for whoever will be drinking the soda. The internet can be used by anyone with the access code.

That's what I was hoping. Thanks!

I need the internet package to stay connected with work, but don't want the soda package since I'll have all drinks covered by the casino. However, we always buy the soda package for our kids. Since the combined voom & soda package is cheaper than buying each individually, can I buy it in either mine or my sons name and have me use the internet plan while he uses the soda package?

Hello! We just booked an Oasis sailing for January. I know it will be impossible to do & see everything during our sailing so I'd love some advise from some RCL/Oasis vets. We will be sailing with our 2 sons, ages 12 & 9. What would you say would be the DON'T MISS activities, restaurants, shows etc for our family & kids?

Do her parents or another relative live close to the area in which she was born? Perhaps someone could go get a copy of her BC for her and then fax it to her at a location (such as kinkos or an office store) close to the port?

We are debating between 2 hotels for the night before our Alaskan cruise. Both are less than 2 miles from the port. Option 1 is Courtyard Seattle Lake Union and option 2 is Courtyard Seattle Pioneer Square. We'd like to be close to sightseeing activities since we'll be arriving early the day before. Which would you prefer?

Thanks!

If it was me, I would pay the $25.00 per suitcase and just bring two suitcases. I'm assuming it is 7 days, it will be colder, you will be bringing more clothing, and it's just too much work having to have 4 carry on, and 4 backpacks. Plus, you need to pack all liquids in small tubes etc, when checked bags, you can just pack any size stuff you want. Example, one large toothpaste, instead of 4 small tubes.

My husband agrees with you, so that's probably what we'll do!

I hope it comes back soon! We really want to try RCL but the cost to add 3rd & 4th guests seems to be much more than it is with Carnival!

We're new to RCL and are wondering if there's typically a pattern as to when these deals are offered or are they just random? Looking to sail January 2018.

We are long time cruisers, but have never had to fly for our cruise before. We are doing an Alaskan cruise next May and will be flying with our 2 boys, ages 12 & 9. Our goal is to get everything we need in our 4 carry-ons and personal bags. I'm usually a great packer (for Caribbean cruises I pack all 4 of us in 1 large suitcase, plus backpacks for myself and my boys (which usually just contain electronics, boarding info and bathing suits for the kids). However, I know we will need bulkier clothes and such for Alaska. Any tips on packing and traveling with kids on a flight? I haven't flown as an adult, so please let me know any important no-no's for flying. For example, can we have lighters? How to pack toiletries? Are we allowed to carry on our own snacks? Any and all tips appreciated!

We are looking at doing Carnival's excursion there.

I read that the inflatables are an additional charge - anyone know how much?

Also, I read that you can rent cabanas or clam shells. Does anyone know the prices on these? My kids absolutely love going to the beach, but I cannot be out in the sun for very long, so a cabana would be great!

Thanks!

My boys were 11 and 12.

We rented a car and did Mendenhall and Eagle beach. Very inexpensive and laid back.

Skagway we did Chilkoot tours with the bus up and train back.

Ketchikan we did snorkeling. It may be more endurance than you have but my boys enjoyed it.

The boys liked everything.

Snorkeling in Alaska?! I didn't realize that was even an option! :o