gavinfromlondon

Ha got you... yep I'm only doing NCL if I do Haven so I can join the genpop before returning to some sanity...

It's Easter we are going so will be lots of other kids.

I was in Haven on the epic in October 2017. Our first Haven experience. It was the school half term and the ship was full. The Haven Courtyard never had more than 15 people in it any one time. It was too quiet for me. I regularly went down to GenPop

 

 

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Thanks... excusing my ignorance, what's genpop?

So thanks to the helpful input from people on this forum, I'd managed to decide on a 2 bed courtyard suite for my Epic cruise.

However I've realised that the Courtyard pool area isn't that big and that children aren't allowed in the other suite deck areas (if I've understood correctly). A big reason for me booking this suite on this (Easter) cruise was to avoid the crowds around the main pools but presumably if the Courtyard sunbeds are all taken that will be my only option?

What have the experiences of others with children been?

Ah that's helpful, I was trying to work out why 17 seemed to be totally available but not one on 16!

After much deliberation, (and help from this board!) decided to book a Haven 2 bedroom suite on Epic for an Eastern Caribbean cruise.

But totally stuck on which one to go for... pretty much all are currently available so struggling to choose one. Or all equally good on deck 17?

Also vaguely considered paying the extra ££ for the deluxe owners suite, but with a child think the 2nd bedroom is more useful for.

Many thanks for any advice.

Gavin

Sounds amazing... you had me on gummy bears!

Thanks all. We would be travelling with our daughter (7) so not too worried about noise etc though understand why it's an issue for those travelling with out kids.

Thanks both, good to hear.

Apologies, as I'm sure that these questions have been much asked.

Thinking of doing our first NCL cruise (on Breakaway) and looking at the Haven. Have cruised RCI a lot more, mainly in suites.

How easy is it to get space by the Haven pool or on the Haven sundeck (we'd be travelling at Easter)? Are bookings necessary for the Haven restaurant or do you just turn up. Keen to understand this as the main reason for booking is to have a stress free trip compared to the scrum for sunloungers on the main sun decks...

Also very happy to hear any other Haven related tips/ must knows for a newbie...

Considering this itinerary in April 2019 on Explorer and wondered if anyone has done this route around this time of year. Particularly interested in sea conditions and weather... which looks good in ports. Does the ship put on extra entertainment with so many sea days?

Any comments gratefully received!

Thanks all, very helpful!

I wondered if anyone could advise what channels are available on the stateroom TV (we are going on the Wonder). In particular, are there Disney channels and movies? Ordinarily we would take Disney DVDs for my daughter to watch but if there's going to be a regular supply on the TV we won't bother.

Many thanks

We are going on Disney Wonder in just over a month and loving your photos and narratives, making us even more excited than we are already!

Thanks for the rapid responses.

Think I am gravitating towards the Four Seasons for various reasons, with the Mandarin Oriental a close second.

My wife, 3 year old daughter and I are looking to stay in Miami at one of the nicer hotels for two nights before a cruise.

We are thinking that downtown is probably better for us and are trying to work out which of the Four Seasons, Mandarin Oriental or Epic is likely to be better for a family, particularly given we are likely to want to spend some time sitting by the pools. Epic looks good and is cheaper, but we are worried it is going to be noisier and less family friendly.

Alternatively, have considered say the Ritz Carlton in South Beach, but again don't want anything too loud and partyish.

Any thoughts much appreciated from those in the know.

Thank you

Well, we have done it! Yes it's a long flight, but my daughter was great on a shorter flight earlier this year and the lure of Mickey and Princesses should be enough to keep her going. The Disney European cruises only really operate on "warm" routes for August, which is prime holiday season in Europe, so this works well for us, especially as means we can get a few days in Miami too. Can't wait to get on that ship now :)

Considering a fairly impulsive booking to go on a five night Disney cruise out of Miami in October (with a couple of nights in Miami too).

We would be flying from the UK with our three year old; do people think we would be mad to do all this for a Disney cruise or is it worth the effort?

We have cruised RCCL, Princess and Silversea in the past but our daughter is Disney Mad!