European cruise with children

[chubby_faye]

We are thinking about taking a European cruise (maybe Mediterranean) during June 2018. We have always cruised Disney with our children but we are interested in trying a new line. Our children will be 8 and 10 years old. Any family friendly lines you would recommend? Thanks.

[6rugrats]

I would just try and find a cruise that was visiting the ports you want to see. You spend so much time sightseeing, the activities on the ship are not very important, IMO. Any of the major lines would be family friendly.

[Clarea]

I would just try and find a cruise that was visiting the ports you want to see. You spend so much time sightseeing, the activities on the ship are not very important, IMO. Any of the major lines would be family friendly.

Totally agree. A Med cruise is usually so very port intensive that the ship itself matters much less than for a typical Caribbean cruise.

[pseudoware]

I disagree. We've been on a couple Med cruises w/our kids - one on an RCI Freedom class ship, the other on a ship w/o watersides, aqua park, Flowrider, DreamWorks experience, Royal Promenade, had smaller youth/teen program facilities, etc.

 

Each cruise had a sea day, plus a couple days where we only spent part of the day off the ship. The ship made a big difference to our experience, particularly our kids.

 

OP, I'm not familiar with many of the other lines, but where kids are concerned, I think an RCI Freedom or Oasis class ship would be a good place to start. Yeah, they're full on floating amusement parks, not for everyone, but we had a great time .

 

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[cb at sea]

All of the "mainstream" lines are "family friendly". You will be spending more time OFF the ship than on, so the "bells and whistles" won't be so important on a Med cruise.

[Keith1010]

When our children were young we faced the same question for our first European Cruise.

 

They can be port intensive so a suggestion. Be selective on booking excursions as it will be tiring after awhile and even harder for the children. We didn't book one greater then four hours because of the children.

 

As to the cruise line I would look at itineraries first and then make final choices based on cruise line and ship.

 

One of the lines I would look like is Princess. We found they had some very nice itineraries and the children's program to be terrific for the children.

 

No, it's not Disney but none of the lines are like Disney for the children but it will still be a lot of fun.

 

Keith

[Krazy Kruizers]

I would choose a Med cruise for it's itinerary.

[Essiesmom]

Think carefully about why you want to go to Europe. What do you want to see/do? Are those activities things that your children will enjoy? There aren't beach days, zip lines, water activities in Europe. It's all about history, ruins, museums... Shopping is entirely different. No recommended shops, no DI. Get a copy of Rick Steves' Mediterranean Cruise Ports and/or Rick Steves' Northern European Cruise Ports and read about the ports and activities. Decide if it's what you want to do with children 8 & 10. EM

[Toofarfromthesea]

We are thinking about taking a European cruise (maybe Mediterranean) during June 2018. We have always cruised Disney with our children but we are interested in trying a new line. Our children will be 8 and 10 years old. Any family friendly lines you would recommend? Thanks.

 

On the financial side, MSC has 'kids sail free' on a number of their sailings.

[navybankerteacher]

All of the "mainstream" lines are "family friendly". You will be spending more time OFF the ship than on, so the "bells and whistles" won't be so important on a Med cruise.

 

While a lot of your time on the ship might be spent sleeping, the fact is that you will be ON the ship more than off. Even if there is a port call every day, you are not likely to be off before 8:00 AM or after 6:00 PM. --- ten hours - leaving at least fourteen hours on board.