phillygirl63

tips for sailing with 3 teen girls? Watch out for 3 teen boys!

lol!

Welcome to Cruise Critic! Do you know what cruise line and itinerary yet? If so, you can read the member reviews for your ship, visit the cruise line forum and the ports of call forum here on the message boards to get invaluable information. Do a search for the answers to your questions, as they may have already been answered in another thread. If you don't find the answer that way, then ask away.

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Ok, thanks Chip, we've semi decided to push Alaska back a few years til our DS is a bit older and more appreciative of an Alaskan trip....the good news is we are going to do a 7 night Disney out of Port Canaveral, which is in driving distance for us and 1/2 the price and allow us a balcony. Thanks for all the wonderful feedback from everyone as Alaska is not forgotten just delayed.

I think you have made a very smart decision. The most important thing is that your 6 year old DS will enjoy and remember that Disney cruise so much more. Just a little advice, when your DS is over 10 years, you should consider taking him on a Western Mediterranean cruise out of Barcelona. We did that cruise twice -- first time when our DD and DS were 13 and 11 and then again 2 years later. They are 24 and 21 now. It was the most wonderful thing we did for our kids -- starting their journey of exploring the world. They loved it. Since then, DD has been to Germany, traveled again to Italy and spent a year studying abroad in China. DS has been to China twice.

Anyway, have a wonderful time enjoying your cruise and your DS. They grow up so fast.

Nothing against Oceania. It's a great line, which I am sailing on for the first time next month. However, since the OP asked what lines would be more kid friendly, I do not believe Oceania is the answer, especially for a 6 year old. No kids programs at all. Also, a more "mature" and well-traveled clientele. I would suggest NCL, Royal Caribbean or Carnival. Disney too if you want to spend a little more.

When I read your post, I immediately thought of NCL Pride of America in Hawaii. Both of you could fly to California to meet there and then take the second leg together directly to Honolulu where you would get the ship, which sails roundtrip from Honololu. Since the ship flies under an American flag, it does not have to visit a foreign port, so no sea days. You would have 7 days of fun in the sun. If you like casinos though, you would be out of luck. No casino on POA. We enjoyed this cruise a lot. Another thing is that the timeframe you are considering would be the whale watching season.

As some of the others have said, maybe cursing is just not for you. However, some of the things you mentioned were my exact concerns also before I took my first cruise, and I just found ways to deal with them. Maybe this time you will be better informed, and will decide to make your family happy and try it one more time.

First, I really don't know if I would suffer from seasickness or not, because I have always taken 2 Bonine every night before bed, beginning at least 2 nights before getting on the boat. I know you said you don't like to take medication, but these are just like taking a baby aspirin. Orange flavored and chewable. No big deal really.

Secondly, I am also slightly claustrophobic and would not stay in anything but a balcony cabin where I can open the door to the outside. Since you are going to have your 3 year old, I would suggest a mini-suite on NCL. (I think Sauer-kraut's recommendation also). The room has a balcony and is a little larger, which will alleviate your claustrophobia, and a bathtub, which will be easier for bathing your child.

I also don't like formal nights, especially if traveling with children. Some of the cruise lines still have them, but many have opted for "dress up or not" nights (like on NCL). Celebrity, which is the cruise line we took to Alaska, had formal night only in the main dining room. If you wanted to be casual, you could make a reservation in the specialty restaurant or go to the buffet. With any cruise line, even if you choose a line that still has formal nights, you can always just go to the buffet.

As for having busy days in port, you really don't have to do anything if you don't want to, but I found that the excursions in Alaska were rather laid back anyway. We did a whale watching expedition, 2 floatplane rides, the Gold Rush train ride (a must-do IMO). If you visit Glacier Bay, you will have a full day on the ship there as well.

I would also recommend NCL, as they have great programs for kids.

Good luck and report back your decision.

My PC emailed to me a comprehensive pdf of the shore excursions just after booking, which was over 7 months in advance. There should be no problem with a TA doing the same.

To get the best answers, you need to tell us where you are going and what cruise line. In some destinations, like Alaska, when we sailed on Celebrity, I found that the ship's excursions were pretty reasonable and not much more than DIY. In Hawaii, I found that renting a car was the best. However, when we were in Europe on RCI and NCL, we wanted to take in as much as possible in the short amount of time, so organized tours were the best for us. The ships' excursions were very expensive, in large bus groups and did not really cover as much as we wanted to see. Remember, you only move as fast as the slowest person in the group, and that can be pretty slow when there are 40 or so people in the group. We did private tours for a fraction of the price. However, we had six people, so we did not need to share. If you have less than 4 people in your group, like the others have said, it's better to join your roll call and try to get in with a group for a private tour. Our private tours in Europe were limited to 6 people and we got to see so much more than what the ship's tours were offering.

TripAdvisor is an extremely good tool for researching the top things to see in each port and the top tour companies in those ports. Then go to the Ports of Call forum here on CC and search out those companies. I am sure you will find a lot of information to aid in your research. If you don't just open a new thread and ask away.

Good luck.

I was on the Breakaway, so here are my suggestions.

1. First, make your reservations for specialty dining ahead of time. With 4,000 passengers, they may be difficult to get after you board.

2. If Howl at the Moon is one of the shows on your ship, which I believe it is, then definitely get tickets. It is a great show, and your teens will love it.

3. Get the soft drink package for your teens.

4. An over-the-door shoe holder is great for the bathroom to hold all those hair products, brushes, etc.

5. Have a great time!

We did an Alaska cruise last July on Celebrity Millennium, northbound from Vancouver to Seward with a visit to Glacier Bay (a must-see). We stayed in an Aqua suite, which is not really a "suite" but an aft balcony room with a larger deck and some extra perks like eating in Blu Restaurant. The views were fabulous, and our room was just above the outdoor bar, which was very convenient. It was our first cruise on Celebrity, and also our first "adult" cruise without the kids. We loved it. I would do it again by myself in a minute. The ship is really nice and has a "mature" atmosphere without being stuffy. I thought Blu was the perfect atmosphere for the single traveler, although the main dining room was also very nice. We were invited to the Chef's table, which was a great experience and would be nice for a single traveler too. The wine bar was our favorite hangout, and they have the wine dispensaries too.

If you don't mind spending a little more money, then I would suggest looking into Oceania.

In any event, whether you choose Celebrity or HAL or Oceania, I would choose only those itineraries that offer Glacier Bay.

Good luck. I know there are so many things to take into consideration, especially when you are traveling alone.

Thanks, everyone, for all the great advice.

My ship will be arriving at the port in Rostock on Saturday, August 29, 2015 at 8:00 a.m. and departing at 11:00 p.m. We have decided not to do the long day tour to Berlin. We would really love to see Schwerin Castle though, but the estimated time for an organized tour looks to be about 10 hours. We really don't want to spend this much time on a tour, so we are thinking of DIYing it, but we are a little nervous about that. How far is the train station from the port? Do I have to purchase our train tickets in advance online or can we get them at the station? How much time should we allow in Schwerin before our return ticket? Thanks in advance.

I don't know of any way to search for a cruise just by cabin type. Usually cabin type is not one's main priority when booking a cruise. You could possibly just google "best aft balcony cabins." There may be some articles to help choose which ship. Then you would need to search for the itineraries for that ship and then the deck plans for that ship to see what categories the aft cabins are. Keep in mind that the aft cabins are in high demand and sell out rather quickly and are usually priced higher than other balcony cabins. I know that when we were on Celebrity Millennium in Alaska, we were in an aft cabin which was classified as an aqua suite. Not a suite at all though, just a standard cabin with a larger balcony and some other perks like access to Blu restaurant. It cost a bit more too, but we loved it.

Good luck!

I may be the only one that had this happen, but on my last Mediterranean cruise a few years back, I used my ATM card on the ship. The next day, I went to use it again on the ship, and my card was declined. Turns out that, although I contacted my bank and advised that I would be traveling in Europe, the ATM charge came through as Miami because that is where NCL is located. My bank shut my ATM card down for the rest of my cruise, because they said I couldn't be in two places at one time. Luckily, my husband's debit card was ok, because he had a more extensive travel history than me.

So, when you contact your bank to advise of your travel plans, make sure you tell them which cruise line you will be on and where they are located so that city can also be noted. I haven't had a problem since that time, but thought I should put my experience out there.

You won't know until you try it. However, I will tell you what I love about cruising, and maybe it will help you. First, cruises are a great way to see as many ports as possible in a short period of time. We think of the ship as our floating hotel -- no traveling on land and no packing and unpacking in each town. Sure, all-inclusive resorts are great, but you only get to see one place. Cruises are totally different. Your days do not have to be jammed packed with sightseeing if that is not your thing. You can choose to spend a few leisurely hours in the morning going into town and then return to the ship to relax by the pool before dinner time. Of course, some cruises are more port intensive like the ones in the Mediterranean, but they are probably not what you are looking at anyway.

As for the add ons, even all-inclusives charge for photos, bingo, gambling, etc. If you enjoy a few cocktails each day, consider purchasing a beverage package so that you don't have to worry about that cost at the end. Pre-pay your gratuities. All of these things will make the cruise resemble your all-inclusive resort in Mexico.

As for scheduling, Celebrity offers flexible dining times, so no watching the clock there. The only time we had to watch the time was if we wanted to see the show in the evening and when we wanted to make it to happy hour!

Celebrity is a very nice cruise line, so relax and enjoy. You may find that you are sorry you did not cruise sooner.

I hope that you are planning to spend an extra night in Barcelona before returning home. It is a great city. I have been there twice for pre- and post-cruise overnight stays before having to fly home. We just love walking around on Las Ramblas and seeing the street performers. Many of the restaurants have outdoor seating in the center of the street where you can enjoy a drink and some tapas.

Since I am not due to take my first cruise with Oceania until August, I cannot answer many of your questions, but I am pretty sure that Oceania offers a free shuttle into the towns. You can verify this by calling Oceania directly. I do recall my PCC mentioning that to me. Also, to answer some of your other questions, you might want to post them on the Ports of Call forum for Europe and ask the specific questions for your ports. You won't be limited to just Oceania cruisers there.

I would also mention that Barcelona is well known for its pickpockets, so take the proper precautions and be aware of your surroundings while you are there. It is also a great city to hire a private guide for a day.

If the OP wanted suggestions on whether to bring the kids on a cruise, he/she would have asked that question, so I will not comment on the prior poster's suggestion to leave the kids behind, except to say that cruising is a GREAT way to show the world to kids.

To answer the OP's question, take a look at NCL, RCI and Carnival, as they offer great onboard amenities for kids and are more reasonable for families. Look at getting 2 connecting rooms or one room that will accommodate the 5 of you, whichever you are most comfortable.

Figure out which itinerary would be best for you. Research "best things to do" in each port. Once you find the cruise you think you would like, then read the CC reviews for the particular ships. Reviews are extremely helpful. They will give you some insite into the onboard kids programs, excursions in port, types of cabins, etc. However, read at least the last 10 reviews to get a good feel. One negative review should not be the only one you read, as what is horrible for one person is heaven for another.

Good luck, and let us know what you decide.

Comped limo, captain's table … so what? I would really like to know if Lady2 is a member of CC, and if so, if she has read this thread. I would hope so, and that she thinks twice about her attitude. So, Lady 2, you know who you are. Shame on you!

If you are considering the NCL Dawn from Boston, then I would recommend that you consider going on NCL Breakaway from NYC to Bermuda during the summer or the Caribbean during the winter (that is, if you can take the kids out of school for a week). The Breakaway is a huge ship that offers a lot more things for your kids than the Dawn, although the Dawn is still a nice ship. The water slides are fantastic.

Since, if you do leave from NYC, you won't have to pay for airfare, you can use that savings to book some of the specialty restaurants on the ship and excursions in the port. Bermuda is a must-see IMO and offers breathtakingly beautiful beaches, great golf courses, and is absolutely the cleanest island I have ever been to. You won't go wrong with that choice.

As for passports, as others have said, you don't need them since it is a closed-loop cruise, but IMO everyone should have a passport, especially if they are traveling to a place that would normally require one if you were flying. Your kids' passports would be good for 6 years and yours would be good for 10. So, with that taken care of now, you would not have to even think about it when you book your next cruise, which I am sure you will want to do after taking your first one. Who knows, you may even book it while still on this cruise. Just so you know, if you do book a future cruise while on the current cruise, NCL offers OBC for the current cruise. Another plus toward your concern for saving a little money.

Good luck, and please check back to let us know what you have decided to do.

You will be docked at the Royal Naval Dockyard. The ferry to Hamilton is very close to the ship and is an easy 20 min. ride each way. Keep in mind that the last ferry to leave Hamilton on Harbour Nights is at 10:30 p.m. Taxis are all around though if you want to linger in town a little longer. Enjoy!

Ok, I have confirmed this with my PCC before responding here. Since my husband is an executive with Pepsico, when I booked my upcoming cruise, I asked whether O was a Pepsi or Coke account. I was told that they were neither, but they do stock more Coke products than Pepsi products just because Coke seems to be more readily available in most of the ports of call. However, they try to fulfill all of their clients' wishes, so there was absolutely no problem with them fulfilling my request for diet Pepsi and caffeine-free diet Pepsi. Again, I did make my request at the time of booking, which is key if you want something other than Coke products. My PCC said that she gets just as many requests for Pepsi products as she does Coke or Dr. Pepper products. No surcharge on either products, as soft drinks are included in the cost of the cruise.

If you want a specific soft drink that may not be so popular in the ports of call you are visiting, then there may be an issue with O getting it for you.

Therefore, if you want something other than Coke products, you should make the request in advance of your cruise so that O can try to fulfill your request. Otherwise, if you wait until you get onboard you may be out of luck and you may have to settle for Coke!

I'm sure if you make your requests in advance, you will be told of any surcharge, if any.

Miadia, I did not want to stray away from your original post, so I responded in our roll call.

GO HERD!

Thanks, Mura. Sorry for the confusion, but I did say "so long as a table is available." Therefore, I don't think I was assuming anything.

I would highly recommend Aldo Monti's company Your Tour in Italy. We used them a few years ago and they were great. Aldo was our guide in Rome and was wonderful. Like you, my family had already been to Rome before, but we had my parents with us who had never been. We chose not to do the Vatican museum because it is very time consuming and there were so many other things I wanted my parents to see. We had a wonderful day and saw all of the major sites, as well as doing the scavi tour of the necropolis and St. Peter's Basilica.

Good luck as there are so many companies to choose from.

Just a friendly warning, so you don't say you didn't know. If you are planning to take a hydrofoil or jet boat to Capri, I would highly recommend taking some sort of seasickness medication if you are not already taking it for the cruise. The waters around Capri can get very rough. We were on a cruise a few years ago and took a hydrofoil from Sorrento to Capri, and 90 percent of the people on that boat got sick. It was terrible. We ended up leaving our tour behind and immediately boarded an auto ferry back to Naples. It was a little slower but much more comfortable.