Why Cruise With Kids

[AlohaPride]

Hi ALoha (Mary):

 

Thrilled to "see" you here!!! How are you and Keaka doing? How is your little future HAL cruiser doing in there?

 

So nice to hear from you,

 

Aloha nui loa,:)

 

Karin

middle-aged mom

 

HI MAM (Karin)!!! I've actually been thinking about you and all the support you've given me over the past year. How are you doing??

 

Our little one is really growing. I can't seem to ever get full! :D The first trimester was really hard (thus the reason for the lack of posts). The second trimester is proving to be a challenge but not NEARLY as bad as the first. We will find out the gender or our little HAL cruiser next wednesday :D But I can tell you our little bean is a MAJOR mover!!

[Old As Dirt Mom]

HI MAM (Karin)!!! I've actually been thinking about you and all the support you've given me over the past year. How are you doing??

 

Our little one is really growing. I can't seem to ever get full! :D The first trimester was really hard (thus the reason for the lack of posts). The second trimester is proving to be a challenge but not NEARLY as bad as the first. We will find out the gender or our little HAL cruiser next wednesday :D But I can tell you our little bean is a MAJOR mover!!

 

Wonderful to hear that you're feeling better, Mary; please keep us posted about the baby! I'm doing great; I'm actually going to take a 7-day cruise this summer to Alaska by myself, if you can believe that! MAM goes solo:eek: ! I am so looking forward to it!!! I feel so guilty because I'm so looking forward to it!! I haven't done anything alone for centuries, literally centuries:D ! I will take my husband and any kids who want to come along for the ride on the next cruise after that, promise! (Maybe).

 

Looking forward to seeing you, Keaka, and your own little cruiser on a HAL ship in the future......although I have this feeling you and Keaka are going to end up with a whole bunch of little HAL cruisers.....:)

 

Karin

[AlohaPride]

although I have this feeling you and Keaka are going to end up with a whole bunch of little HAL cruisers.....:)

 

Karin

 

LOL!! OMG! I can't imagine. I'm having enough trouble growing number 1 much less little ones to follow. Keaka and I were just recently talking about cruising again. It's going to be a long while before we can (so little one isn't quite so little anymore). But when we do, you can bet it will be on HAL!

 

Wow, Alaska alone...You'll have to let me know how it goes! I don't remember the last time I did anything alone :-)

[fllady61]

What is so fascinating about HAL? From what i saw on line, it looks too overcrowded, cramped in public areas. Too dark. The rooms look nice, but prices were way more than I pay. Plus, I would have to travel to south florida, and from what I have heard about MIAMI port, it is a mess, and my anxiety disorder would make me want to walk away. I have a hard enough time getting thru muster station drill on Glory. If you like rock climbing, golf, basketball, and some of those other things like that, then HAL is the right choice. But we don't do sports, so why waste our time on a ship that offers so much we don't do, when we get just as good of service on a ship that has what we do.

[nurseblissful]

did i spell that right? hal has alot of different things to offer. not just the sports stuff. cooking classes, bartending class (which is hilarious) there are art auctions (no, i cannot afford them, but they are fun to watch). the different dinners, the boat building contest. all kinds of things. but, if you want, there is plenty of fun to be found. sandwiches or ice cream in the afternoon with folks you meet. all kinds of things. you will enjoy. it is all in what you are looking for. again, fun, fun, fun. have a blast. lauri:)

[Old As Dirt Mom]

What is so fascinating about HAL? From what i saw on line, it looks too overcrowded, cramped in public areas. Too dark. The rooms look nice, but prices were way more than I pay. Plus, I would have to travel to south florida, and from what I have heard about MIAMI port, it is a mess, and my anxiety disorder would make me want to walk away. I have a hard enough time getting thru muster station drill on Glory. If you like rock climbing, golf, basketball, and some of those other things like that, then HAL is the right choice. But we don't do sports, so why waste our time on a ship that offers so much we don't do, when we get just as good of service on a ship that has what we do.

 

1. HAL departs from Tampa and Fort Lauderdale.

 

2. HAL doesn't offer rock climbing or golf (A golf simulator is available only on the Prinsendam)

 

3. HAL offers wine tasting, art tours of the beautiful art collections on each ship, cooking classes, a great library with more than 2,000 books, guest speakers on topics such as history, science, wildlife, and culture, and an organized children's and teen program.

 

4.. Feel free to continue to enjoy cruising on the line of your choice, which is apparently Carnival. Bon Voyage! I just happen to prefer Holland America, which has always taken very good care of me and my family.:)

[jcrandle]

I wonder why a family would want to cruise on Holland America line with kids, young ones under 3-5 I can understand as they are to small to know or remember anything anyways. With so many other lines sailing and geared to familys (no need to list them) I question why a family would decide on this line. Its no wonder kids are running wild on board Ive looked over the ships and to be honest if I was a kid I think I would be bored after the first day. A family vacation is just that a family, meaning everyone not just mom and dad, I have sailed with my two daughters and the cruise line we picked had more then enough activities to keep all of us busy with out being a problem to other passengers. I would love to hear from some familys as to their reason for sailing on HAL.

Cause when I tried to leave them at the Fire Station, they said, "Actually the safe haven law applys to infants." "You cant leave 16 and 18 year olds here!":D

[tweetyb]

THis is a topic on which I feel strongly about, and I feel sure that there are some here that are going to get hot under the collar on the reply, but here goes. Cruises not so long ago were known as vacations for "newlyweds and nearly deads". Interpretation: young adults,old adults,no children and there is a reason for that.

 

My husband and I along with millions of other 40ish 50ish 60ish age group have worked hard most of out life, raised out children, many out there have raised grandchildren, and damn it-now that we can afford a quiet vacation and enjoy our new found intimacy all over again, every where we turn there is a child running down the hallways, screaming, crying, knocking on doors, running aroung the pool decks and dining areas whilst the governing adults are sitting and chit chatting and not having a clue where their children are or what they are doing.

 

I think most people take their kiddos because THEY want the cruise and don't have a babysitter. And history and culture lessons? Shore excursions are nothing more than a "taste" of geography, and are too rushed for enjoyment. No place for kids. If you want them to learn about Rome, take them to Rome.

 

Ultimately, I think cruise lines will ditch the "family thing" as fast as they have initiated it just as Vegas did. In the meantime, please do all of us retirees seeking peace, and newlyweds seeking romance a favor and go with Disney cruise.

[fllady61]

1. HAL departs from Tampa and Fort Lauderdale.

 

2. HAL doesn't offer rock climbing or golf (A golf simulator is available only on the Prinsendam)

 

3. HAL offers wine tasting, art tours of the beautiful art collections on each ship, cooking classes, a great library with more than 2,000 books, guest speakers on topics such as history, science, wildlife, and culture, and an organized children's and teen program.

 

4.. Feel free to continue to enjoy cruising on the line of your choice, which is apparently Carnival. Bon Voyage! I just happen to prefer Holland America, which has always taken very good care of me and my family.:)

 

 

So not only am i spending nearly 2000 on the cruise, but i have to travel to ft lauderdale a mear 5 hours away spend the night get on the ship, come back spend the night and drive another 5 hours. I think not. Oh and by the way, HAL is owned by Carnival, so Carnival offers a lot also. NO cooking classes, but Carnival is more Family cruising. They also have kids clubs, teen clubs, karokee, watermelon eating contest, boat bulding, treasure hunts, bingo, game show shows ie... american idol type thing, who wants to be a millionaire, the newly wed game, tv trivia, there is so much that i can not even name it all.

 

As for disney cruising with kids, WHAT DO THE PARENTS DO? there is no casino, only one bar, no karokee, and all activities is baised on children. Plus i see disney daily, i don't want to see the mouse while i am on vacation. Plus the same day cruise on disney even with the discount for cast members is more than I would pay on Carnival.

[RuthC]

HAL is owned by Carnival,

To be accurate that's not quite it. HAL and Carnival Cruise Line---as well as several other lines---are owned by Carnival Corporation.

[SmokinActuary]

In the meantime, please do all of us retirees seeking peace, and newlyweds seeking romance a favor and go with Disney cruise.

 

I have a better idea - just post which cruises you will be going on and I will make sure my family is not on it.

[Old As Dirt Mom]

Smokin:

 

I'm not sure why Tweety is actually posting here on the HAL board, as she is scheduled to cruise on Rhapsody of the Seas (Royal Caribbean) on April 8th, and to the best of my knowledge, has never been on HAL, and has no intention of ever cruising on HAL. I wouldn't take her comments to heart.

[fatcat04]

THis is a topic on which I feel strongly about, and I feel sure that there are some here that are going to get hot under the collar on the reply, but here goes. Cruises not so long ago were known as vacations for "newlyweds and nearly deads". Interpretation: young adults,old adults,no children and there is a reason for that.

 

My husband and I along with millions of other 40ish 50ish 60ish age group have worked hard most of out life, raised out children, many out there have raised grandchildren, and damn it-now that we can afford a quiet vacation and enjoy our new found intimacy all over again, every where we turn there is a child running down the hallways, screaming, crying, knocking on doors, running aroung the pool decks and dining areas whilst the governing adults are sitting and chit chatting and not having a clue where their children are or what they are doing.

 

I think most people take their kiddos because THEY want the cruise and don't have a babysitter. And history and culture lessons? Shore excursions are nothing more than a "taste" of geography, and are too rushed for enjoyment. No place for kids. If you want them to learn about Rome, take them to Rome.

 

Ultimately, I think cruise lines will ditch the "family thing" as fast as they have initiated it just as Vegas did. In the meantime, please do all of us retirees seeking peace, and newlyweds seeking romance a favor and go with Disney cruise.

 

Hey, you are brutally honest. I will be bruatlly honest too.

 

At least the kids have some excuse for acting up. They are little and immature. Most old folks just do it because the are nasty old penny pinching geezers.

 

I, for one, hate scowling old geezers who complain and whine constantly about kids or the amount of liquor in their drinks or the fact that the sun came up today. If a cruise line banned them, me and my kid would be the first to sign up for the next boat out!!

 

Us 70's, 80's, and 90's kid's actually enjoy spending time with our kids on vacations, multiple vacations every year too. Not just the occassional obligatory slog to Florida every 5 years. And our $$ is as green as yours and will be around longer too. I don't think the cruise industry wants to alienate a huge swath of it's customer base that will possibly be cruising for the next 40-50 years just to suit a few old fogies that have a couple decades left on their ticket. Not good business!!

 

And cruise ships ain't Vegas. Not by a long shot. I've done Vegas.. no place for a kid because all it is is nudie shows and casinos. No kid's clubs in Vegas.

[tweetyb]

As for disney cruising with kids, WHAT DO THE PARENTS DO? there is no casino, only one bar, no karokee, and all activities is baised on children. Plus i see disney daily, i don't want to see the mouse while i am on vacation. Plus the same day cruise on disney even with the discount for cast members is more than I would pay on Carnival.

 

I think you just made my point! In my time, parents didn't go to casinos and bars, parents raised their children. Also for those that think in a box, the Disney thing was meant merely as an example of a "family experience".

For aged-mom; you judge my past and future cruise and vacation experiences from a few posts on 1 message board on the internet?

[fatcat04]

As for disney cruising with kids, WHAT DO THE PARENTS DO? there is no casino, only one bar, no karokee, and all activities is baised on children. Plus i see disney daily, i don't want to see the mouse while i am on vacation. Plus the same day cruise on disney even with the discount for cast members is more than I would pay on Carnival.

 

Yeah, Disney is pretty pricey for what ya get in my book too and I am a confessed mouseaholic.. spent 32 days on property at WDW last year. Heck, you can stay at the CONT TOWER MK view and eat well every night and pay less than a cruise. Doesn't make much sense to me. But I will say they are supposed to have wonderful shows, superior food, and lots of activities parents can do WITH their kids. But I doubt we will do one since the value to $$ doesn't sem to be there. Heck, they go to Nassau and their private island, that's it!!

 

Personally, we spent most of our time on our first cruise as a family... not as individuals doing their own thing. Kiddo had some kid's club time, I had some spa time, hubbie had some casino time. Me and hubbie had a little couple time. But all in all, we were a family together as was intended by all... and yes, glory be and saints preserve us, me and hubbie managed tp parent the whole time. ;) Funny thing about that parenting stuff, doesn't end just because you have the gall to go on vacation, have a drink with an umbrella in it, throw a quarter in a slot machine, and enjoy yourself. Didn't when my parents managed to take us kids on yearly vacations all over the place.. still doesn't today. :D

[hammybee]

Cruises not so long ago were known as vacations for "newlyweds and nearly deads". Interpretation: young adults,old adults,no children and there is a reason for that.

 

Ultimately, I think cruise lines will ditch the "family thing" as fast as they have initiated it just as Vegas did. In the meantime, please do all of us retirees seeking peace, and newlyweds seeking romance a favor and go with Disney cruise.

 

I am not sure which planet you have been sailing on, but all the mass marketed cruise lines have been actively courting and obtaining family business for at least 25 years. Remember ole Kathy Lee what's her name on the fun ships, with her kids in the early 80's?

 

I think your prediction is wishful thinking. I am hard-pressed to think of a mass marketed cruise line that could survive without the highly lucrative family business, during school breaks.

[hammybee]

They should stay away from any sailing that involves more than a couple of days at sea. But to take a couple of active kids on a cruise where there are gonna be a bunch of sea days, with little to do on the ship ... well, at least to me, that's asking for trouble. If the kids are bored and underfoot whining all day, then mom and dad ain't gonna have a very good vacation either.

 

Just my opinion ...Blue skies ...--rita

 

The overwhelming majority of cruises with children are 7-10 day sails with limited sea days and lots of ports. I do not think the kind of cruise you most enjoy is at risk of being innundated with children.

[hammybee]

 

But that's what I mean ... the vacation has to be planned with the child at least partially in mind. If your kids go for the HAL-like environment, then you'll all probably have a great vacation on a HAL ship. But if they are very, very active ... and like the wild stuff ... they will probably be miserable and a parent has to be prepared for that.

 

Blue skies ...--rita

 

How long before a kid gets bored climbing a rock wall?

[hammybee]

I think you just made my point! In my time, parents didn't go to casinos and bars, parents raised their children. Also for those that think in a box, the Disney thing was meant merely as an example of a "family experience".

For aged-mom; you judge my past and future cruise and vacation experiences from a few posts on 1 message board on the internet?

 

How interesting. You and middle-aged mom are the same age, (if your profile is accurate) and both of you are younger than I am. I also noticed that your first cruise was just last year and the intinerary sounds wonderful. So I am going to conclude that it's your perception of cruising that this thread challenges, as opposed to the reality of the business.

 

If you prefer not to sail with children, stick to the longer intineraries and/or sail when school is in session. It really is this simple.

[kryos]

How long before a kid gets bored climbing a rock wall?

Depends on the kid.

 

Of course, I would imagine a family with active kids would want to sail on a line that had far more than just a rock wall going for it. :)

 

Blue skies ...

 

--rita

[kryos]

Ultimately, I think cruise lines will ditch the "family thing" as fast as they have initiated it just as Vegas did. In the meantime, please do all of us retirees seeking peace, and newlyweds seeking romance a favor and go with Disney cruise.

There's a big difference between Vegas and a cruise. Sadly (from my perspective) I doubt very much cruise lines will ditch the "family thing" ... in fact, I predict they will expand on it.

 

Families are big business. A travel agent can book a block of staterooms for a family cruise ... HAL even offers special group ammenities for family bookings.

 

Remember, while HAL may be a more elegant line than most, they are a mass market line. As a mass market line, they need to attract the family market in order to keep their profits up. So ... if anything, I predict HAL will become even more "family friendly" in the coming years, adding more ammenties such as expanded kids' club hours, kids' only shore excursions, etc. ... anything to encourage families to get on the boat and bring their little ones.

 

So, we had best change our attitudes now ... because frankly, no one cares what we think. If HAL can get the little ones on the ship, they will make sure the ship is a fun and happy place for them, and if the rest of us don't like kids running all over, well ... that's just too bad.

 

Like I said before ... just follow my strategy. Stay away from seven to ten-day cruises during school vacation periods. You'll generally have far fewer children onboard if you do.

 

Blue skies ...

 

--rita

[fllady61]

How do you figure that Disney is cheaper than a cruise? You have to take into account air flight, rental car, hotel, park admission, and food for the week. Trust me, it is cheaper to cruise. Especially if you want to spend your time on Disney property.

 

For Mouse Addicts, it is ok to go on a Mouse related cruise. But I am not a mouse addict.

 

In case you have not noticed the disney commercials, a family of 4 for 1600$ That does not include their food, or travel expense.. It mearly includes Hotel and Park Admission. Just to get a 7 day ticket for 4 people is nearly 800$. So don't try to tell me that staying with the mouse is cheaper than a cruise. I tried to figure it out because i play around on the web alot. My calculations came to about 2500 just for the hotel, tickets, and food. Since I do not need transportation to get there. With transportation, add about another 2000$ to that. If you are paying more that 4500$ for a cruise, More power to you.

 

I go for value, quality, and what my family likes.

[gizmo]

There's a big difference between Vegas and a cruise. Sadly (from my perspective) I doubt very much cruise lines will ditch the "family thing" ... in fact, I predict they will expand on it.

 

Families are big business. A travel agent can book a block of staterooms for a family cruise ... HAL even offers special group ammenities for family bookings.

 

Remember, while HAL may be a more elegant line than most, they are a mass market line. As a mass market line, they need to attract the family market in order to keep their profits up. So ... if anything, I predict HAL will become even more "family friendly" in the coming years, adding more ammenties such as expanded kids' club hours, kids' only shore excursions, etc. ... anything to encourage families to get on the boat and bring their little ones.

 

So, we had best change our attitudes now ... because frankly, no one cares what we think. If HAL can get the little ones on the ship, they will make sure the ship is a fun and happy place for them, and if the rest of us don't like kids running all over, well ... that's just too bad.

 

Like I said before ... just follow my strategy. Stay away from seven to ten-day cruises during school vacation periods. You'll generally have far fewer children onboard if you do.

 

Blue skies ...

 

--rita

I can't agree. Vegas went wacko with the family thing, then found it was a big mistake. They are still trying to get rid of the kids. :rolleyes:

 

Carnival's latest "Adult only deck" tells me the cruise lines are listening.

 

"Family Bookings" does not always mean kids.

[babyher]

How do you figure that Disney is cheaper than a cruise? You have to take into account air flight, rental car, hotel, park admission, and food for the week. Trust me, it is cheaper to cruise. Especially if you want to spend your time on Disney property.

 

For Mouse Addicts, it is ok to go on a Mouse related cruise. But I am not a mouse addict.

 

In case you have not noticed the disney commercials, a family of 4 for 1600$ That does not include their food, or travel expense.. It mearly includes Hotel and Park Admission. Just to get a 7 day ticket for 4 people is nearly 800$. So don't try to tell me that staying with the mouse is cheaper than a cruise. I tried to figure it out because i play around on the web alot. My calculations came to about 2500 just for the hotel, tickets, and food. Since I do not need transportation to get there. With transportation, add about another 2000$ to that. If you are paying more that 4500$ for a cruise, More power to you.

 

I go for value, quality, and what my family likes.

 

 

Glad you pointed that out, we saw the exact same thing.

 

Our cruise gang got together to plan our upcoming Oct. cruise. We were batting around a few different ones and one of them left out of Orlando. We always arrive a few days pre cruise, so my wifes GF (A BIG DISNEY ADDICT) thought that would be great because we could spend a few days at Disney before we sail.

 

Long story short those three days in Disney would have been just as much if not more than the whole 7 day cruise.

 

Plus the fact that all of us in the group are couples sailing without our kids so no one feels like spending vacation with a million kids in Disney, plus we have all been there too many times to count.

[Smartcookie]

Ultimately, I think cruise lines will ditch the "family thing" as fast as they have initiated it just as Vegas did. In the meantime, please do all of us retirees seeking peace, and newlyweds seeking romance a favor and go with Disney cruise.

 

BTDT, and while the Disney cruise was great, will you be chipping in the extra $3,000 it will cost to cruise them vs. HAL? Seriously, families on cruises is a huge and growing market, if you don't believe me, ask the cruiselines. If they want to stay competitive they have to cater to kids, that's the trend.

 

The kids aren't going anywhere with regards to cruises, in fact, more and more families are seeing that cruising is the perfect family vacation, so may I very respectfully suggest that retirees seeking peace and honeymooners seeking romance either A) Cruise while school is in session (it's cheaper too!), B)cruise on the upscale lines that don't cater to kids, or C) Vacation at an adults only venue.

 

Remember, cruises are GREAT family vacations, and the cruiselines know who their revenue is coming from......the families! :D