Need help choosing cruise line

[Ape90]

Looking at taking a family cruise and am overwhelmed trying to narrow down and settle on a cruise line. We are a family of 2 adults, then kids- 17,10, 8, 7, infant. Obviously by the time we cruise it will be 3 adults, 4 kids. From what I have read that means more than likely we will have to book two rooms, if not three just to have enough space. Would really like rooms with a port hole as the younger kids go to bed on the early side and wake up early (between 6&7). 

 

We never have cruised before and even vacations have been slim so we are open to anything but also not sure how everyone will handle a cruise, if it will be enjoyable or not. Mainly are looking at the Caribbean or Bahamas, although Alaskan cruises are appealing too.

 

The 10 year old is moderately neuro diverse, the 7 year old is mildly, so crowds can definitely be overstimulating at times. However they also get bored easily so I want to make sure there is plenty to do on board the ship. I talked to a travel agent but since we are still so up in the air about what we wanted was told to solidify our wants and settle on a cruise line and itinerary before contacting them again.  Please give me any suggestions and tips on cruise lines to consider as well as how to most easily book rooms for our family. 

Thanks

[Itchy&Scratchy]

Royal Caribbean if you can afford it (lately, their prices have been out of control), new Carnival and new Norwegian (NCL) ships.

 

Book 2 connecting cabins: 2 adults + 2 youngest kids in one, and 3 oldest kids in a connecting cabin. How old is the infant?

 

You may want to book it this way, though:  1 adult and 3 kids in one, and 1 adult and 2 kids in another cabin. Once onboard, you can have the oldest 3 sleep in one cabin and parents + 2 youngest in another. You can go to Guest Services to rekey your guest cards (to open doors). 

 

Most cruise lines will not let 3 minors to be booked in one room online, so you have to call them to book two connecting or adjacent (not necessarily connecting) cabins. But you can book one adult in each cabin with the kids. The cruise lines consider people under 25 to be minors for booking purposes.

[kitkat343]

Does the infant need child care?  If so, newer/refurbished RC ships have drop off nursery care for children aged 6 months- 3 years.  You have to pay, and hours might be limited but that's an option.  Disney also has a fee- based nursery but that's quite expensive.  Cunard and Princess let children under the age of 3 go to the regular day care with parental supervision, and I think babies can go to Cunard at night for free for drop off care.  Children can use the kids club at the age of 2 on Cunard and Carnival.  Cunard is a very formal line, with the fewest amenities for kids but has some interesting itineraries.

 

As far as the neurodivergent children are concerned, the kids clubs and children's areas will be much less crowded during the school year and on longer itineraries that are less likely to appeal to families.  

 

Essies mom made good points about the kids club near the bottom of this thread,  and after that I posted our family's favorite itineraries (when we traveled with young kids we tried to at least pick itineraries we would enjoy so we had something to look forward to with the difficulties of traveling with kids, but you might just need to stick to a ship that will make everyone as happy as possible.  Good luck!

 

 

Edited January 16 by kitkat343

[Kerry's Girls]

Princess has connecting obstructed view cabins priced just a little more than inside cabins.  That said, their ships have the least bells & whistles.  You will def want two connecting cabins, which is generally much less expensive than a suite and then you also have two bathrooms. 

 

I have a special needs adult teen and we've been cruising for years because she loves that we can stay on a schedule during a trip and not keep changing beds, restaurants, etc.  There were so many special needs/autistic, etc. kids on the last cruise we were on - I think many families have also found cruising works well for them.  I would choose where you want to go - if it's during the summer, Alaska is nice because there is so much to do and it's not blazing hot.  I would choose an itinerary with minimal sea days as those are hardest to occupy, but also keeping in mind where you're coming from since making the to/from easier is also important.

[Ape90]

To answer the questions... Infant is currently 4 months old. Yes, I would like the ability to have childcare for the baby as well as the three younger kids so a nursery is a must (even if it is an additional fee). I definitely am willing to look at longer itineraries or pulling the kids during the school year if it would make it less crowded. 

[mjkacmom]

Your then 18 year old will still need to be booked in a cabin with someone 21+, but guest services will give extra key cards, we always sail in connecting balconies with our 5. Keep in mind the majority of ships do not have pools for diapered kids (an infant won’t notice). We liked balconies so we had a place to hang when the kids were sleeping. We sail NCL but they do not have a nursery for under 3’s.