Best Cruise Choice with Few Children

[barb-ottawa]

At the risk of offending those young parents who bring along their children on cruises, this "silver" would like to hear some suggestions about the best time to take a cruise where there is an opportunity to travel with the least amount of children. I have cruised out of Miami twice, once in March and once in November and had great cruises with a small amount of children that didn't interfere with my privacy and enjoyment. This past spring, I sailed out of New York in April and it felt like there was 3 kids for every adult on board. The pools and hot tubs were packed with screaming children. You couldn't find a quiet place to read on the decks where kids weren't running around. Parents even brought them into the casino and had to be asked to remove them! I couldn't even find solace on my own balcony because the cabins on both sides had young children and balcony doors were left open with kids running in and out. So is a New York departure more likely to attract families with kids or is it the time of year or should I stick to Florida departures?

[VideoTech]

At the risk of offending those young parents who bring along their children on cruises, this "silver" would like to hear some suggestions about the best time to take a cruise where there is an opportunity to travel with the least amount of children. I have cruised out of Miami twice, once in March and once in November and had great cruises with a small amount of children that didn't interfere with my privacy and enjoyment. This past spring, I sailed out of New York in April and it felt like there was 3 kids for every adult on board. The pools and hot tubs were packed with screaming children. You couldn't find a quiet place to read on the decks where kids weren't running around. Parents even brought them into the casino and had to be asked to remove them! I couldn't even find solace on my own balcony because the cabins on both sides had young children and balcony doors were left open with kids running in and out. So is a New York departure more likely to attract families with kids or is it the time of year or should I stick to Florida departures?

 

I don't think you could easily say that one port or another might have more families and kids boarding. School holidays should have more to do with it than anything, but I've seen many kids on ships that I've been on even when school was in session in most of the country.

 

The best you can probably do is not to cruise around any holidays, and also look to the longer itineraries. There seems to be a consensus that there are fewer kids on 10 or 14 day runs.

 

The last alternative would be another, more expensive cruise line, one with smaller ships.

[fiftyguy]

One theory I have, and it may or may not be correct, is to look at the longer cruises. We took a 9 day this past march and yes there were kids, but not too many. We have a 10 day scheduled for 2012 and looking at an 11 day in 2013. Maybe 7 days work better for you, given time & money, but something to consider. All of the cruises we've booked or looking at are sailing from Miami.

Happy planning!

[winste]

I understand your sentiments. My wife and I are in our 40's and do not have children. We also travel to places that might have kids during off season.

 

I think April may have been a decent factor. When I was in grade school in Michigan, spring break was always early April. March tended to be Spring Break for college kids and therefore not cruisers.

 

Here in Indiana spring break is earlier for the grade schools but I would imagine alot of more northern school systems have their spring breaks later in Spring.

[Lovely_Star]

I would think cruises during the off season and longer cruises >7 days have less children. That's why we love vacationing during our anniversary in September :D

[DinaS]

I would think cruises during the off season and longer cruises >7 days have less children. That's why we love vacationing during our anniversary in September :D

 

That's why we picked September... I'd rather deal with hurricanes than kids :)

[candygirl27540]

I hear you! I love kids,have 5 of my own,3 grandchildren. When DH and I cruise its to get away from all of them and be with friends our own age and with the same interests. I get tired of the people that label us "kid haters"..that's not it at all. I just have no interest in anyone's children when I'm with my friends and have paid a lot of money to enjoy my vacation.

 

I have found the best time to have the minimal number of children is when they are in school.I know that it will differ greatly from what we older people consider traditional school calender.Our grandchildren are on "year round " schedules,which means they attend 9 weeks and then are off 3 weeks all year round. The best time we have found is right after Labor Day, just before the Christmas Holidays, Early Jan.thru Middle Feb. After that you start to run into the other holidays and the end of another 9 weeks.

 

Some of the best times we have cruised is that part of winter when its mostly adults and a few young children thrown in that we have really enjoyed being around.

[STARFISH*4]

December 2009 Panama Canal cruise 30 under the age of 18....average age 65+ we were youngins at 50:D......WONDERFUL CRUISE:)

[dtiger]

I agree with the previous posters comments. Cruise when school is in session. Don't cruise during the holidays, school breaks or the summer. If possible choose a longer cruise, more than 7 days.

[Richie2pies]

It's not the kids. It's the parents who think their kids are the perfect angels. Of course the parents let them run amok because they're "on vacation".

[avidreader13]

I would also suggest you find out if the cruise you are taking offered the Kids Sail Free promo as we have two young children and are cruising when school is in session (taking our daughter out) as this promo was too good to pass up.

[more cruises]

Princess 16 day transatlantic this last May - there were 4 kids onboard.;)

[bryanjaync]

The weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays are the absolute best.

[melissaga]

Last year, we cruised out of New York the week after Labor Day (something we are doing this year). The number of children on board was significantly less than any other time we have cruised. Far less. Our then 13 yr old did accompany us. I believe the number of teens on the entire ship was around 20. A few were on board for a wedding. Others were just missing a day of school. Our daughter does not go to school, at least not in the traditional sense. We purposely schedule our vacations for this week, whether it be a cruise or DisneyWorld or what have you. (Disney is wonderfully empty this week too!)

 

Many schools have breaks in April, so there will always be more children then. Same for March. I am sure it is definitely the time of year that had an effect on the number of children on board.

[yoyocruiser]

I do not think the place matters. I think that it is all about the time of year, and as others mentioned the length of the cruise and the cost of the extra persons in the room. NCL had a free kids sail offer and so of course this would attract families. Also, if you check out the cost of the extra people in the room--if it is like 99 or 199 it is going to attract budget conscious families.

 

While there will certainly be fewer kids while schools are in session, it is a little hard to avoid all the differing vacations (the spring vacations in particular seem to vary by region). Also, may families will take their children out of school. However, there are times of year that parents are very unlikely to be taking their children out of school for a week. The best month is September. Literally no one wants their child to miss one of the first weeks of school.

The person above noted that the weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas would be good--and I would agree with that also. It's jsut a really inconvenient time for parents as there is so much going on.

 

We have taken the Bermuda cruise twice in September/first week October--there are really no children on this cruise.

 

Finally, I don't think there is any way to sail in the spring and avoid kids--all the vacation weeks are different, so many families are trying to to vacation, and then you have the college spring breakers mixing in all through March and April. Maybe May as the school year is winding down--but now msot colleges are out in mid-May so there is another influx. While you didn't mention college students--I can only think that their antics are equally as annoying as screaming kids!! LOL. And there is nothing wrong with trying to avoid kids on vacation. As a mom I have thoroughly enjoyed September cruises--DH and myself!!

[Got Tequila?]

You might also want to avoid the JEWEL or the EPIC since they have the on going NICK theme (advertisement) and seem to have more younger children who are into Spounge Bob, and Dora.

[fergusonvt]

We cruised Jan 1st of this year and there were very few children on board the ship. Our 18 year old son came with us and there were very few teens also. We found it a great time to cruise. The weather was a little cooler but it was still warm enough for us.

[acadran]

If you must cruise in the Spring I'd check out when Easter falls that year. Sometimes it falls in March; sometimes April. Some school systems schedule their spring breaks either the week before Easter or the week after. Avoid both. Then there's the issue of college Spring Break which can be anytime in March or April. (there's actually a website that shows all the weeks of colleges spring breaks.) College kids tend to hit the shorter cruises with cheaper itineraries---they have one week off.

 

I do agree that the longer cruises are the way to go for fewer kids. We did an 8 day Southern Carib out of FLL in mid March and there were hardly any kids on the ship. It was lovely.

[Izzybeff]

When I plan our vacations, cruises or anything else, I stay away from all school breaks & holidays.

 

So basically I will vacation from the week after labor day till about mid October, then from mid january through mid february, and also from the end of april to about mid may. Doesn't sound like a lot of time, but we've been pretty pleased with the lack of children on our vacations.

 

Oh and were not kid haters, we just don't have any of our own and would prefer not spend thousands of dollars to put up with anyone else's!

[DAGVBSB]

With most states having no uniform statewide school calander, it is very hit and miss throughout the country as to school breaks. In Ohio, it is not uncommon for spring breaks to stretch over 6-7 weeks depending on when Easter falls. Schools in the Columbus area alone vary from mid March (for those school districts that match their spring break to Ohio State University's) to the last week in April if Easter falls late.

 

The amusement park industry in Ohio is pushing for our legislature to pass a state law that would restrict schools to Labor Day to Memorial Day in order to open up the summer for "family trips."

 

We also have more and more schools adopting "year round" schooling, which is 9 weeks of school then 3-4 weeks off, etc. throughout the whole year. These are the ones which really create the confusion as to when schools are off.

 

New York is also known for their January break when many families head out of town.

 

Here are some general guidelines:

1.) Nearly every school is in session during the month of September until mid October. (our district takes a mini break in mid October for example). This is probably the best time to go.

2.) Late October to a week before Thanksgiving is another good time

3.) Thanksgiving to a few days after New Years is a bad time. Several districts try to finish up in early December. Parents also seem to have no problem pulling kids out of school during this period either. (one of the most crucial parts of the school year!)

4.) January to mid-February is another good time as long as you stay away from New York departures.

5.) Spring breaks start in late February (many colleges have breaks then) and will run all the way until after Easter which can be late April. If Easter falls early, then begining a week after Easter is another good time.

6.) Week after Easter to mid May is another good time.

7.) School districts begin letting out in Mid May and many families in those districts go right away on vacation in order to avoid the main season rush.

 

 

Another factor to consider is longer cruises attract less children. Most families either can't afford longer cruises or don't want to risk bored children if they take a longer cruise. So cruises over 10 days is another way to avoid children.

 

And if you can get longer cruises during the school year (Labor Day to Mid May), you can also escape a lot of kids because parents hopefully won't pull their kids out of school for that long and breaks are normally not that long except at Christmas.

[Europecruising]

I am going on the Epic on September 4th out of Barcelona. Realize the Epic has the Nick program and all the water slides etc so I am not expecting a kid-free ship. But does anyone know whether a cruise over Labor Day week will be especially bad or are most kids at school already?? I am a bit concerned that mealtimes and pooltimes are going to be unpleasant.

[retired rascal]

We too are "silver." We actually like watching kids, but it seems as though far too many parents are totally irresponsible when they get on a ship.....thus their kids become menaces [runnning, not looking etc.] or obnoxious to be around. It's these parents we seek to avoid....our experience is that the longer the cruise and the farther it is from traditional school vacations, the more responsible the parents. There are fewer kids and those on the cruise tend to be well behaved. Last year we did a 15 night Panama Canal cruise. Although it was over Thanksgiving, there were not THAT many kids. Those who were on the ship were noticeably well-behaved. We're doing a 25 night TA and Mediterranean in April and expect much the same kind of environment. We're doing short Alaska [because that's all NCL does on that route] in three weeks. We picked mid September thinking we'd minimize the unruly kids crowd. Our only really bad experience with children was on the Pearl out of Miami a few years ago...short cruise during February school vacation time....and the kids in the buffet made if treacherous.....ditto the pool decks....where were their PARENTS????? Maybe parents of minor children should be forbidden any alcohol beverages between the hours of 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. if they are unwilling to responsibly supervise their offspring.

[ededmd]

I would avoid any cruise out of NYC during Jersey Week. For 2012, this is the week beginning Nov 3 and particularly anything late in that week / weekend.

[DAGVBSB]

I am going on the Epic on September 4th out of Barcelona. Realize the Epic has the Nick program and all the water slides etc so I am not expecting a kid-free ship. But does anyone know whether a cruise over Labor Day week will be especially bad or are most kids at school already?? I am a bit concerned that mealtimes and pooltimes are going to be unpleasant.

 

I would guess that children load on that cruise will be low. Most schools start before Labor Day or the day after Labor Day. So a cruise that leaves on September 4 would mean that many kids would miss the first day of school. Add to the fact that it is a cruise IN Europe and that will reduce the kid factor as well.

The first day of school is so important that I doubt many parents would be stupid enough to have kids miss it for a cruise. (and besides...didn't we all love the first day of school...lol)