Best cruise Line for Parents + 4 children (age 9 and under)

[Itsour10thanniversary]

We are in the saving-up phase, but we will still not have much to spend on a cruise. Our max would be $350/pp INCLUDING port/taxes (or more for the adult price if the kid price is less than $350), because we'd have to consider the tipping and excursion costs on top of that. We'd look at a 5 or 7 night. We have a big family, us and our children, who would be 9, 8, 7, and 5 at time of travel.

 

Questions:

 

1) What's the most reasonably priced cruise line that has rooms (either connecting or 1 large room) that can accomodate a family of 6?

 

2) If we could catch an awesome deal, which cruise line would be flat out best for a family traveling with so many young children? Disney, or is there another one that is also good for kids without a bad environment (meaning a lot of hard partyers or big casino focus)?

 

3) What destinations/ports should we consider?

 

4) Do those of you that have cruised with young children consider the kid club/babysitting type offerings safe? I don't want to leave my children in the care of possible pedophiles or anything!

[nparmelee]

Boy are you brave!!! I would suggest also posting this on the Family Cruising board in the Special Interest section and you might want to look at Royal Caribbean since they have a lot of kid activities and kid programs. Ports is highly subjective and really depends on where and when you are looking at going. I'm not sure that too many ships have rooms that will hold 6 so two rooms that hold 3 and are connecting (not just adjacent) might be a better bet for you guys.

[MississippiMom]

We are a family of five, and are also hoping to cruise. We are willing to spend a bit more, about $700 per person, but that includes the port charges, fees and travel insurance expense.

 

I don't recall if you mention where you are from, and if you will need to include airfare in your cost. Also, you haven't told us what time of year you are looking at; the prices really, really vary based on the time of year.

 

Currently, we have two connecting cabins booked on the 7-night 12/16/06 RCCL Grandeur sailing out of New Orleans, because we can drive to that port. However, we are now talking about wanting to go this summer or next, instead. Talk about "breaking the bank"!! The summer rates for the cruises that work with our possible summer vacation will cost us almost twice as much as the one we already have booked. I am impatiently waiting for the 2007 summer sailings to show up on some websites, so I can look at those prices.

 

I have discovered that connecting rooms are not very easy to find, especially since we must have one that is a triple. With your family of six, you will need either two triples that connect or a quad and a double. Good luck!! I mean that, really. It seems that everyone either wants to recommend that I put my kids across the hall from me (not going to happen due to the ages) or that we pay an astronomical rate for a large two bedroom/two bath (and living room) suite.

[capecruzer]

Enchantment of the Seas has an oceanview family room that accommodates 8 and is very reasonable. I had it booked for last December (1st week) but the kids decided they wanted to do a 12-day Disney trip instead:mad: so I cancelled. I'm pretty sure it came out to less than $300 each for a 5-day Eastern. Wish I could say Disney was cheaper but... We've also done Carnival Glory which we all loved and Disney is even better but you'll never get it for the price you are willing pay. TBH, once on Disney was great but now that I've done Carnival and Princess I wouldn't pay double for the Mouse:D. Of course, take into consideration that we always travel off-season. The first week in December is great and we combine it with Thanksgiving weekend in one of the parks usually. I find that flying from the NE to Florida ON Thanksgiving Day has always been less than $150 pp with great flights and no crowds.

 

As for kids clubs, my kids have always taken advantage of these whether it be at Disney, at timeshare resorts or on cruises. I say they take advantage of them because THEY always ask... and I never argue, lol! If your youngest is five and will be with another sibling to "watch" over each other I wouldn't give it a second thought. Just tell them to use the buddy system at all times and emphasize that you can be called at any time if they want to leave. On cruises, I insist that we dine together most of the nights and it's like pulling teeth to get them to join us.

 

Have fun. Brenda