Suggestion for family cruise out of Orlando - Summer 2012

[Cruisin2009]

Hi all -- We have cruised Disney Cruise Line several times and love it... but summer after next, we are thinking of doing 5 nights at Universal Orlando and maybe a 4 (or possibly a 7) night cruise afterwards to finish off the vacation -- just to relax and have a little more fun in the sun. DCL is crazy expensive in 2012. What line/ships/itinerary would you all recommend for a family of 5? (kids ages 6, 9, 12?) We'd like a newer, fun ship with lots to do. I'm not super concerned about the itinerary.... But I would like a nice ship.

 

Thanks!! :)

[JennLuvs2Cruise]

I'd highly recommend Carnival Dream - Eastern Caribbean :) I love that ship! It has great things for anyone at any age! Many dining options, fun activities, great kids programs, excellent food & a super fun Water Works park. For adults, they have the casino, an adult's only area on deck, dance club, comedy shows & so much more. My family & I all had a fantastic time & can't wait to sail her a second time :)

[Cuizer2]

Hi all -- We have cruised Disney Cruise Line several times and love it... but summer after next, we are thinking of doing 5 nights at Universal Orlando and maybe a 4 (or possibly a 7) night cruise afterwards to finish off the vacation -- just to relax and have a little more fun in the sun. DCL is crazy expensive in 2012. What line/ships/itinerary would you all recommend for a family of 5? (kids ages 6, 9, 12?) We'd like a newer, fun ship with lots to do. I'm not super concerned about the itinerary.... But I would like a nice ship.

 

Thanks!! :)

 

I would go with either the Carnival Dream or the Freedom of the Seas. Both sail out of Port Canaveral. The Carnival Dream goes Saturday to Saturday and the Freedom of the Seas goes Sunday to Sunday.

[rebeccalouiseagain]

You could also check out cruises out of Tampa or even Ft. Lauderdale. If you have a rental car it really isn't that big of a deal.

[ladeeesquire]

I'd recommend the carnival legend, western itinerary, which leaves out of tampa. We did the 7 day last year with my dd who was then 2.5 yrs old and my adult kids. We had a blast. I really liked the ship, the ports and its very reasonably priced.

 

Good luck!

[kayaraelyn]

oops good luck

[livingskies78]

Were doing the same idea, we are doing WDW from Feb 29th - Mar 8th Then doing a cruise out of Ft. Lauderdale on the Oasis of the Seas, March 20th 2012, we will do two nights in Ft.Lauderdale prior cruise. Day of rest by the pool.

 

We haven't decided if we are going to do Amtrak or renting a car.

 

There are lots of options don't limit yourself to Port Canaveral.

 

We are doing a One Way to Orlando on a Red-eye and then we will probably fly out of Ft. Lauderdale back to Seattle

 

Good Luck :D

[dohertm1]

If you intend to cruise out of Port Canaveral, Royal Caribbean's Freedom of the Seas is a great choice for families with children.

 

Freedom has added the Dreamworks characters experience and a huge movie screen above the pool to a ship that also offers the FlowRider surfing, ice skating and ice show, the H2O zone water "park", rockwall climbing, mini-golf, parades in the Royal Promendade, family-friendly shows, an excellent kid's program, and superb food and service in the Main Dining Room and the Windjammer Cafe, as well as a Johnny Rockets, Sorrento's Cafe for free pizza, appetizers and desserts and so much more.

 

My kids loved the 7-day Eastern caribbean cruise which visited three ports - St. Thomas, St. Maarten and Coco Cay, the line's private island in the Bahamas. Royal is so much better than Carnival and NCL and we love that fact that smoking is more more limited (in most public areas and it is not permitted in any cabins).

[ahamill]

Drive to Ft. Lauderdale and do Oasis of the Seas or Allure of the Seas. AWESOME for families!