Need recommendation - cruising w/ 73 yr mom & 2 yr daughter

[eden910]

My husband and I are trying to plan a 4 - 5 nite carribean cruise with my 73 year old mom and our 2 year old daughter in Feb. Our options are: Celebrity Century, NCL Norwegian Sky, Royal Carribean Majesty, Monarch, or Navigator, and Carnival Sensation, Imagination, or Destiny. My mom has limited mobility. She doesn't need a scooter or wheelchair but she has emphysema and sometimes uses a cane. My husband and I have cruised twice before, both times on Celebrity, which we liked very much - elegant decor, good service, excellent food - although the nightlife was a little lacking and I saw very few children. Seemed to attract an older crowd, which might be good for mom but not so much for my daughter. Seems like Carnival and RC are marketed as being more "fun" and maybe more child friendly. But I don't have any 1st hand experience and I'm wondering if they would be appropriate for my mom. Can anyone offer suggestions/recommendations???

[boulders]

With a 2 year old, I would recommend Carnival. RCCL and Celebrity will not allow a 2 year old in the kids clubs. Carnival and NCL will. Carnival will change diapers. NCL will not. On our one and only Carnival cruise, a large portion of the cruisers were over 65, and this was during March break. You will see people of all ages on both Carnival and RCCL. The one thing that I did not like about Carnival was the prevalence of smoking, which may be an issue with your mother's emphysema. Celebrity has the most strict policies regarding smoking.

[eden910]

Thanks for the suggestions. I didn't even think about the smoking issue. Definitely something else to consider.

[notentirelynormal]

Also, at 2 you DD can easily be entertained like you would at home. Just being on the ship with all the new things to see and do is entertaining for them. My DGS was awed by the stairs with the holes in them (so he could see down to the floor below) and the glass elevator. He loves the sounds of the casino. Activity of any kind interests a small child.

[AlanAllyn]

Of all the ships you mentioned, the Navigator is the newest & has the most things to do, but it is also the largest, which might be a problem for mom. It is however very handicapped friendly.

 

Most of the ships on all lines on the short cruises are older ships.