Taking Adult children on first cruise and leaning on cruise critic.

[CanadaRob]

Have 3 kids at time of cruising will be 21,22, 24

 

DW and I really want to show them an Oasis Class ship(which we haven't gone on either)

Allure/Oasis Western with regular Jamaica, Haiti, Cozumel

 

Or Freedom with the extra stop in Grand Cayman. We like cayman a lot and would like to show them 7 mile beach and sting ray city.

 

Couple of other questions, we could do adjoining balconies but I am wondering if doing insides or OV would be better(for them they can come to our aft balcony)so they can work up to balconies or Suites on their own and not expect it.

With the extras the Oasis has to offer it is appealing and no real difference in pricing vs Freedom and Grand Cayman which admittedly it has been a few years since I've been is it worth passing up for Oasis class?

First world problems....

[mollyeilis]

"so they can work up to balconies or Suites on their own and not expect it."

 

Since they are in their 20s and you have cruised but haven't taken them, I can't imagine they would expect even to cruise, let alone what sort of room they've been in.

[LadyLion_AP]

Have 3 kids at time of cruising will be 21,22, 24

 

 

 

DW and I really want to show them an Oasis Class ship(which we haven't gone on either)

 

Allure/Oasis Western with regular Jamaica, Haiti, Cozumel

 

 

 

Or Freedom with the extra stop in Grand Cayman. We like cayman a lot and would like to show them 7 mile beach and sting ray city.

 

 

 

Couple of other questions, we could do adjoining balconies but I am wondering if doing insides or OV would be better(for them they can come to our aft balcony)so they can work up to balconies or Suites on their own and not expect it.

 

With the extras the Oasis has to offer it is appealing and no real difference in pricing vs Freedom and Grand Cayman which admittedly it has been a few years since I've been is it worth passing up for Oasis class?

 

First world problems....

 

 

We've cruised both Oasis & Freedom and they're both great ships. I cruised Freedom class (Indy) prior to Oasis and was blown away by the ship. It is stunning & the entertainment was very good. I cruised Freedom after Oasis and still enjoyed the ship very much. Oasis is (in my opinion) a MUST try so here's my suggestion...

 

IF this is more for YOU...choose Oasis. The ship will definitely WOW everyone & the entertainment can't be matched! & you've been to the Cayman Islands before!

 

Your adult children will most likely be blown away by either ship! & If they are, will most likely choose to cruise again on their own. [emoji4]

 

Rooms...I've only ever been in balcony/verandah staterooms but my children (currently16 & 18) have sailed in inside & promenade staterooms. They have NEVER complained about a room-type. They LOVE cruising & love even more that we pay. [emoji6]

Edited January 9, 2016 by LadyLion_AP

[windra06]

In regards to room choice I think it would depend on your children personalities, whether they are well traveled or nervous travelers?

 

My partner and I did our first cruise a few years ago, we were mid 20's and had an inside cabin.

Having not been on any kind of large ship before I was blown away by the scale,decor and size of the ship, the grandeur really made an impact.

 

I am a nervous traveler and really found it difficult to get used to sleeping in an inside room without a window, particularly when the seas were rough and I had sea sickness. We will definitely go for a balcony next time to avoid the discomfort.

[Lionesss]

OMG

 

Our DD is a seasoned 21 year old cruiser and she will always cruise with mom and dad because we pay the way and she has the time of her life meeting others on board. We see her at dinner and sometimes when she sleeps.

 

Now when she was 19 and 20 she was fearful she would not meet anyone, but the first night they post a mixer announcement and to say the least she always found someone to hang out with dance and just have fun.

 

Now mind you when we are in ports of call she is with us, we do not let her take off with friends.............too many scary tv shows out there.

 

Safe travels

[BecciBoo]

Did you consider the Eastern route, just as good beaches and better than Jamaica IMHO. Since you'd be skipping Caymans on Oasis anyway.

 

If you're going for the itinerary Freedom, for the Wow factor/ship Oasis...simple.

[CanadaRob]

Did you consider the Eastern route, just as good beaches and better than Jamaica IMHO. Since you'd be skipping Caymans on Oasis anyway.

 

If you're going for the itinerary Freedom, for the Wow factor/ship Oasis...simple.

 

I actually like the Eastern better too, my DW is Jamaican and we will have escorted tours to Dunns and some 'real' Jamaica with her well to do family connections so can't pass on JA the first time.

 

I had been leaning to Oasis class with adjoining balconies just because I think it's probably the WoW factor for everybody and I will be cruising again and Freedom will still be cruising to Cayman to next year

[BecciBoo]

Sorry, didn't mean to offend.

 

One of our fondest memories is eating Jamaican style "Chicken and peas" that Eddy our Peat Taylor guide bought us on the road. But apart from that we didn't care much for Jamaica. Frankly, not much for Cayman either, I like the St Martin and St. Johns beaches. But with family there, its a given! Good luck:D

Edited January 9, 2016 by BecciBoo

[cb at sea]

Young adults will be out and about...not sitting on a balcony! Get them an inside cabin...they will be too busy to notice!

[CanadaRob]

Sorry, didn't mean to offend.

 

One of our fondest memories is eating Jamaican style "Chicken and peas" that Eddy our Peat Taylor guide bought us on the road. But apart from that we didn't care much for Jamaica. Frankly, not much for Cayman either, I like the St Martin and St. Johns beaches. But with family there, its a given! Good luck:D

 

Becc not offended just agreeing with you. If I had to choose eastern or western I would do eastern. for a first time cruise want to have them love it as much as we do so maybe not seeing distant 'family' on a vacation is a good idea!

[reney313]

Young adults will be out and about...not sitting on a balcony! Get them an inside cabin...they will be too busy to notice!

 

That was my first thought too. Heck, we rarely use our balcony when we have one.

 

I would definitely get them an inside cabin.

 

You really can't go wrong with either ship class. On one hand, I think Freedom class is better for a first cruise to help acclimate new cruisers. ON the other hand, for their ages, Oasis would be so much fun with all the entertainment options. I don't know...hard decision but fortunately no wrong decision!

 

Any chance you want to adopt a 40 something as a child to go along? I'm feeling the "no cruise booked" blues right now ;)

[CanadaRob]

That was my first thought too. Heck, we rarely use our balcony when we have one.

 

I would definitely get them an inside cabin.

 

You really can't go wrong with either ship class. On one hand, I think Freedom class is better for a first cruise to help acclimate new cruisers. ON the other hand, for their ages, Oasis would be so much fun with all the entertainment options. I don't know...hard decision but fortunately no wrong decision!

 

Any chance you want to adopt a 40 something as a child to go along? I'm feeling the "no cruise booked" blues right now ;)

 

Save some serious $$ booking them an inside which could be used for excursions or daddies liquor 😀

[h-sar]

Just got off Oasis last week with kids 16 and 18, so hands down, Oasis! Same, usual itinerary. They will love Labadee; Cozumel - find a great beach, taxis are so cheap, awesome Mexican food everywhere; Jamaica - had the best jerk chicken at Club Nazz for $5 with a friend while kids and hubby went off on an ATV/zip line excursion. Agree with everyone - no point getting kids that age a balcony.

 

They will have an awesome time. Best vacation ever for northern Albertans! What part of AB?

[A&L_Ont]

If you think that they would be using the flow rider I'd suggest an Oasis Class ship. Don't forget that Grand Cayman can be hit or miss depending on tendering weather.

 

I think they'd be excited enough to go that an inside might be best for them.

[trigger]

As a Christmas present to our son and his girlfriend (ages 28 & 24), we went took a short cruise to Cozumel from Tampa on Carnival. Their first cruise and our 16th.

 

We have had an inside, outside and balcony (won't go less than a balcony again...EVER,

!) Since we were on an older ship, balconies weren't available and we got oceanviews. Since they had nothing to compare it to, they were ecstatic with it.

 

The cruise itself, they did their thing and we did ours, after all we were on our own vacations. We did have dinner and took pictures together.

 

Our son told his Mom, "Now I know why you love your cruises."

 

Atleast get an oceanview.

Edited January 9, 2016 by trigger

[Big_G]

My only advice is don't try to keep up. :eek: We took our 30 something kids and their spouses on Freedom. We were young parents and we thought we could keep pace. Didn't happen. After the second port, we decided Mom & Dad need some quiet time in the next two ports. They'll want to do EVERYTHING. Pace yourself and you'll have a blast.

[squadron]

Young adults will be out and about...not sitting on a balcony! Get them an inside cabin...they will be too busy to notice!

 

Agreed! Remember - "He who pays the piper calls the tune!" They should be thrilled at getting any room. Most young adults their age travel alone so don't worry about them.

[BecciBoo]

If you think that they would be using the flow rider I'd suggest an Oasis Class ship. Don't forget that Grand Cayman can be hit or miss depending on tendering weather.

 

I think they'd be excited enough to go that an inside might be best for them.

 

Freedom class has Flow Rider

[A&L_Ont]

Freedom class has Flow Rider

 

Yes, but two can make a big difference. Especially if you only want to do stand up or only just boogie board. With three young adults they might just try it and love be it or they might not even bother.

[CanadaRob]

Good point about the Flow riders. 2 kids are athletes and outgoing and the other is in engineering physics....and would probably care more about voom

.😀

 

Good point about the Cayman tender too!

[Mark-Sheffield]

We have cruised with our adult children and have had some wonderful memories,whatever class of ship you go on, it will be a fantastic time.

[A&L_Ont]

Good point about the Flow riders. 2 kids are athletes and outgoing and the other is in engineering physics....and would probably care more about voom

.😀

 

Good point about the Cayman tender too!

 

The zoom is amazing. It sounds like each of your kids have something they'd love on Oasis class. I bet mom and dad can find enough to do as well. ;)

[Neeny12]

On a Med cruise last year we took our son 19 and our daughter 22 on Allure. We didn't see them except for dinner and photos and on our port intensive shore excursions. We also had 4 days in Rome with them prior to the cruise. They are night owls and met others on their own at the bars (the 19 yo could drink on the ship in the Med) or casino and had a great time with their new friends. We knew we would never see them for breakfast and occasionally ran into them on deck during the sea days. We signed DH and DS for Flow Rider lessons and when they were on ship, that's mostly what they wanted to do - my DD doesn't like to get her hair wet. DS did both stand up and kneel board. Two Flow Riders so not too much of a wait. DH and DS loved doing Flowrider. When DD first got on the ship, she wanted to make sure she could get a life vest and her room steward said he would get her one if she really wanted it. By the third day she was no longer afraid of being on a ship AND trying to figure out how she could convince her friends to take a cruise with her! We did get them a balcony but two rooms down from us as I didn't want to hear them late at night. They shared a room and seemed to work it out well. :D

[cincicruisers]

My parents took all my adult sisters/sister in laws on a cruise on Jewel years back. They booked a Grand Suite and OV for us. My sister in law and I upgraded to balcony, the others decided to stick with the OV. We each were responsible for our charges on board. It worked out great.

 

It was an amazing cruise. So many memories that will last a lifetime.