Cruise line suggestions for family

[namest]

Interested in finding a cruise line besides Disney that will accommodate 7 year olds, 4 year old and 2 year old. Also need a cruise line to be sensitive to Vegans and food allergies. Suggestions please.

 

Thanks,

[mjkacmom]

Interested in finding a cruise line besides Disney that will accommodate 7 year olds, 4 year old and 2 year old. Also need a cruise line to be sensitive to Vegans and food allergies. Suggestions please.

 

Thanks,

 

 

RCCL and Carnival.

[Shmoo here]

Interested in finding a cruise line besides Disney that will accommodate 7 year olds, 4 year old and 2 year old. Also need a cruise line to be sensitive to Vegans and food allergies. Suggestions please.

 

Thanks,

 

 

Have you checked Princess?

 

I believe you'll find that most major market cruiselines are more alike than different.

[mjkacmom]

Have you checked Princess?

 

I believe you'll find that most major market cruiselines are more alike than different.

 

 

They definitely are, but some kids clubs start at 2, some 3, some lines have nurseries, some don't, only DCL and RCCL have splash pads for diapered kids.

[SuiteTraveler]

RCCL has babysitting so mom and dad can go to dinner or a show (extra fee). You can also pre-order stuff like diapers, wipes and cream to be delivered to your cabin on the ship.

 

All cruise lines are sensitive to food allergies. They all have vegetarian meals, but if you are vegan, then you should notify the cruiseline and Maitre'd so that you can pre-order your meals. The Maitre'd will bring a menu to your table for the next night every night and you can choose what you want. If there is nothing vegan on the menu, then they will work to accommodate you. In the buffet, ask the manager what is vegan and they will tell you.

 

Carnival can also accommodate food allergies and a vegan diet- again, let the cruise line know and also speak to the Maitre'd upon boarding so you can pre-select your meals. They have camp Carnival available for kids 2 and up and it's free.

[Grandma Dazzles]

Definitely recommend Royal Caribbean. Be aware that all the main cruise lines would work - Disney, Carnival, Princess, etc. However, check out the specific ship of the line you are considering. RC has numerous different ships. They do not all have water areas for diapered kids, and some have more "whistles and bangs" than others.

[easyboy]

Interested in finding a cruise line besides Disney that will accommodate 7 year olds, 4 year old and 2 year old. Also need a cruise line to be sensitive to Vegans and food allergies. Suggestions please.

 

 

Most cruise lines handle special dietary needs.

For Kids, Teens & Family Cruise Activities, check what Princess offers:

 

http://www.princess.com/ships-and-experience/onboard-experience/kids-and-teens/

[cb at sea]

ALL of the lines can "accommodate" everyone! All also have "special needs" depts. for special diets! However, not ALL lines have an activity club for 2 year olds....and NO cruise line allows diapers in the pools.

[MrsP_29]

Avoid spring break cruises headed for the Caribbean or Mexico. Too many almost adults.

[namest]

Thanks for all the suggestions. We spoke with our travel agent and people at Disney way in advance of our sailing. They did try and accommodate but we were very disappointed with the way they handled all our food needs. Given that they were given advanced notice and explained everything on day one the vegan choices were less than minimal.

[SuiteTraveler]

Thanks for all the suggestions. We spoke with our travel agent and people at Disney way in advance of our sailing. They did try and accommodate but we were very disappointed with the way they handled all our food needs. Given that they were given advanced notice and explained everything on day one the vegan choices were less than minimal.

 

 

I have read reviews here from people who sailed on Celebrity and were happy with the vegan offerings BUT there's not much for the kids onboard except the kids club. You really might be better off on a smaller luxury ship but it will cost a lot more. Here's information about vegan on Celebrity:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1328436

and another discussion about veganism at sea:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2329375

 

Here's a discussion about Vegan on Allure of the Seas:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1336231

[SadieN]

This is my standard allergy post. DD (peanut/treenut allergies) has never had an issue with Carnival.

Carnival has 2 vegetarian entrees every day, one is Indian.

Any Vegan cruiser tips?

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2454208

 

****

 

We travel with a group that combined has allergies to peanuts, treenuts, shellfish, egg whites, chocolate, MSG and liquid dairy. Only had issues with 'user' error, no issues with Carnival. If you have a nut allergy, know that Carnival classifies seeds as nuts.

 

If you have an odd allergy contact Special Needs before your cruise. If you have a 'normal' allergy no need to do so.

 

https://www.carnival.com/about-carnival/special-needs/dietary-needs.aspx

 

See the Hostess at embarkation when the Maitre 'd has hours. Hours will be in the FunTmes, usually starting around 1pm. The hostess will take that night's order. Each night the hostess or your waiter will bring you the next day's MDR menu-breakfast, brunch/lunch and dinner. If deciding between two entrees, order both. For brunch don't hesitate to order a breakfast and lunch if you want to eat both meals in the MDR.

 

For room service, they cannot make special for you but they can tell you the ingredients. No special area so there is always the possibility of contamination

 

Buffet is a minefield. Ask the Hostess or the Head Lido Chef or the Food and Beverage crew in the officer whites. DO NOT ask the line cooks or those serving desserts. They mean well but do not know the full recipes. Cross contamination is always a possibility.

 

Onshore--- we bring allergy cards. I made our own but you can buy some at selectwisely.com.

You can only bring off commercially prepared food. We bring cereal bars, boxes of cereal, bottled water, hard candy etc.

Many ports will check. Some will do a physical search, others use dogs. You do not want the cute Labrador to sit next to you. I've had them alert on my Lemonheads.

 

Kids clubs have a form to fill out. There are some snacks served at times. The younger kids meet up at the dinner buffet certain nights. Ask the counselors what's on the menu.