Luxury Family Cruise

[pauctions]

We are looking for recommondations for a luxury family cruise (kids are 2 and 6) for March 2008 Spring Break (7 nights) that ideally leaves from a U.S. port. Appreciate any insights. :)

[#1TravelMom]

Have you cruised before? I think you will find that many cruise lines offer a level of luxury that surpasses everyday life at home. It would help if I knew what you actually mean by "luxury" and if you've cruised before. I think Celebrity is great for what most consider a luxury experience. However, depending on your age and what activities you expect for the children, you may be disappointed. We've cruised with our daughter on several Celebrity ships and found the demographic narrowed to an older crowd with few children on board.

 

I prefer Princess. We choose "anytime dining" because we'd rather not adhere to one specific time for dinner every evening. The pools are freshwater. The kids club has lots of fun activities. I stay with my 3 year old and make crafts, play games, etc. She just loves it. Also, for the age of your children, Princess would be ideal, because the age for Pelicans is 3-7 years old(2 year olds are welcome if a parent remains with them).

 

Royal Caribbean has some newer ships with fabulous children's pools. These would be great if your children like playing in the water.

[crusinmama06]

Luxury family cruise? As in luxury cruiseline? Or luxury itinerary?

 

Some of the higher priced (truly luxury) cruislines do not allow children. So that is why I am asking.

 

Mainstream cruiselines like Celebrity and Cunard tend to cater to more luxurious settings/service (white glove service, chilled towels offered at the pool and on the tender boats, enrichment learning courses) while still having childrens programs.

 

What kind of vacation did you have in mind?

[pauctions]

Thanks

 

I have been on cruises before (Carnival Fascination and a Norwegian ship whose name I can't recall). We are looking for something a step above at least the Fascination in terms of rooms, service, and amenities. In other words, I would put the Fascination in maybe the Hyatt category and we are looking for something in the Ritz/Four Season category. My impression is that kids and luxury ships don't go together. However, I thought I would ask.

[crusinmama06]

Thanks

 

I have been on cruises before (Carnival Fascination and a Norwegian ship whose name I can't recall). We are looking for something a step above at least the Fascination in terms of rooms, service, and amenities. In other words, I would put the Fascination in maybe the Hyatt category and we are looking for something in the Ritz/Four Season category. My impression is that kids and luxury ships don't go together. However, I thought I would ask.

 

Well if you sailed the Fascination (older ship, not the best Carnival has to offer, and I would put that in the Comfort Inn Category)...then you would think you had died and gone to heaven on a new RCCL ship.

 

Sorry but every ship is a "step above" Fascination. And I know because I've recently been on her sister ships Elation and Sensation. I did it because it was a cheap cruise in between my "REAL" family vacation cruise (RCCL Freedom of the Seas)

 

So if you want "a step above Fascination" while still having awesome programs for the kids then choose any RCCL Voyager or Freedom class. Those ships are worlds above Fascination.

 

If you want a step above that, then go with Celebrity. But with Celebrity, you may lose some of the children's programs because there may not be as many kids sailing with Celebrity. And you also lose onboard ammenities.

[wrp96]

On a 7 night cruise during Spring Break even Celebrity will have kids onboard, just not quite as many as RCCL or Carnival. I've heard they offer a pretty good kids program with more individualized attention due to the smaller numbers of kids onboard.

[pauctions]

Thanks for the recommondations. We also don't want a ship filled with the spring break college kids. Do they tend to stay away from the RCCL and Celebrity lines?

[Kerry's Girls]

I love Princess - a step above Carnival, but still with a great kids program. I think the kids program is better on Carnival, but my twins still have fun on Princess and mommy likes that it's a bit more traditional/formal.

 

Best,

Mia

[crusinmama06]

Thanks for the recommondations. We also don't want a ship filled with the spring break college kids. Do they tend to stay away from the RCCL and Celebrity lines?

 

 

There are a few ways to stay away from "spring break college kids"

 

Times to avoid - Don't sail March/first 3 weeks of April. Don't sail during holiday times. Don't sail over the summer.

 

Ships to avoid - Avoid ANY 3-4-5 day cruise. Avoid any older/less expensive ships. Sailings 7 days and longer on newer ships or ships with more exotic itineraries (ones that leaves from San Juan) have less college kids.

 

So what you want to find is a ship sailing 7 days or longer on a newer ship.

[SleepingUgly]

We sailed on Celebrity last year during spring break, albeit it was an 11-night cruise out of San Juan. Not only did my husband and I love it, but our two girls (ages 7 and 4 at the time) also loved the experience. The kids club (Fun Factory) was great. It's true that there are not a lot of kids on board, but the Fun Factory was open everyday for consistent, long hours. The counselors were all incredibly attentive and arranged and participated in numerous activities for the kids. We got to know all of them personally and it was truly sad to leave them on the last day.

 

How great was the kids' program? On the second-to-last-day of the cruise, we offered our girls a choice of activity for the day -- We could go to the beach in Tortola or they can hang out at the kids club all morning. They chose the kids club. This from two kids who absolutely adore swimming and beach time.

 

We stay regularly at hotels such as Four Seasons and Sofitel and the Pennisula when traveling in the US and Europe and found the service on Celebrity to be quite comparable. We cannot recommend it enough. One thing to keep in mind -- the ships tend to be older / smaller, so you won't get anything like the 24-hour ice cream parlors or rock-climbing walls or ice skating rinks. But, at the same time, you won't get 3000 other people on board and you will enjoy excellent, personalized service.

 

Linda

[whale-watcher]

We prefer princess and RC because of the varied kids activities, but opt for "luxury" accomodations on board...book a Royal Family suite on RC and you will have access to special amenities such as priority boarding and tendering and concierge lounge; it is the best of both worlds.

[Bababooey Land]

We are looking for recommondations for a luxury family cruise (kids are 2 and 6) for March 2008 Spring Break (7 nights) that ideally leaves from a U.S. port. Appreciate any insights. :)

Celebrity is your best option. I would try to stick to their larger ships as there are alot more activities for your kids onboard the larger ships plus they are newer.

 

We really enjoy Celebrity...however, i wouldnt compare it to a 4seasons or Ritz. Even though for a cruise line it is "luxurious", it is nowhere near as nice as a top hotel. I think comparing it to a Hyatt with EXCELLENT service and very good food is a better comparison. The rooms are just not up to par vs a high end hotel. Just my opinion.

 

either way, Celebrity is a great line..and you and your kids should have a great time.

 

Larry

[wrp96]

Thanks for the recommondations. We also don't want a ship filled with the spring break college kids. Do they tend to stay away from the RCCL and Celebrity lines?

 

I would go for Celebrity over RCCL based on what you've said.

[hightownCO]

We did Princess over Easter and while there were hundreds of kids on board, it was like we rarely saw them! They do a great job keeping the kids occupied and even have their "Youth Security" that patrol the ship and make sure all is well.

 

Princess also has a nice size 'mini-suite' that will sleep 4 and one of those extra beds is a fold out couch so your 2 year old is not up in a bunk.

 

I much preferred Princess over Carnival as far as being more upscale and elegant. Different mix of passengers too.

 

Haven't tried Royal Caribbean. Haven't caught a good price for them and my daughter (will be 14) loves Princess too much to change right now.

 

This spring break, we're on the Grand Princess sailing 3/22/08, western Caribbean.

[cruisead]

I have to be very honest here with you. Fascination is in no way equal to a Hyatt. Those older Carnival ships are more Comfort Inns or Quality Inn. You said you wanted Four Season or Ritz? You won't find that in a mass market line. This is not snobbery, but reality in the cruise world. Four Seasons/Ritz would equate with Crystal, Seabourn, Silversea and Regent. Those lines are not generally kid friendly and are at least three times the price of a mass market line. And with the exception of Regent, who has huge rooms, none of their regular cabins can hold more than two or three passengers, so if your kids are going to share a cabin with you, the luxury lines don't have cabins large enough for a family.

[kitty9]

I think you may have a misinformed view of what cruise line corresponds to what hotel chain. I've been lucky to have cruised most every line out there and here's how I view the ship/hotel issue. Others may disagree, but here are my thoughts.

 

The older Carnival and RCCI ships and Costa are most like Comfort Inn and other budget hotels. And for me, I would also put the NCL ships here and I don't like their product but others are die-hard NCL fans.

 

The newer Carnival and RCCI ships along with lines like MSC and NCL (for those who like the freestyle concept--I don't at all) are more like Holiday Inn or Hyatt.

 

Princess, HAL, Cunard and Celebrity are like the fancy Wyndam Resorts or Intercontinental Hotels.

 

Seabourn, Silversea, Crystal and Regent are Ritz or Four Seasons.

 

The four luxury lines don't cater to kids and they don't give much of a break for the third and fourth person in a cabin. I know Crystal charges either 50% or 75% for kids sharing a cabin depending on time of year, which isn't a bargain. And with the possible exception of Crystal, who has a limited kids program in summer, none of the other luxury lines have any kid's programs.

 

If it's a more upscale experience you want, rather than full on luxury, I would recommend Celebrity or Princess. HAL tends to be more of an older passenger so that might not be of interest. Celebrity also tends towards a little older passenger, but not as old as HAL. The three have better than average food and service.

[Bababooey Land]

I think your comments are fair Darcie...a good guideline to use. my only comment would be..Holiday Inn and Hyatt in the same category? I think of a Holiday Inn as a budget motel and a Hyatt as a more upscale hotel. just my 2 cents. Maybe instead of Holiday Inn they are more like a Marriott or Hyatt?

[Bababooey Land]

I think your comments are fair Darcie...a good guideline to use. my only comment would be..Holiday Inn and Hyatt in the same category? I think of a Holiday Inn as a budget motel and a Hyatt as a more upscale hotel. just my 2 cents. Maybe instead of Holiday Inn they are more like a Marriott or Hyatt?

[SleepingUgly]

There needs to be a clarification in comparing ships to hotels. I don't believe you will ever find accomodations on a ship that will be comparable to land accomodations; there simply is not enough room. For instance, a standard cabin on Disney with just under 200 sq ft is considered to be large by industry standards. Meanwhile, you will be hard-pressed to find a room that small even at a Motel 6! Even when comparing similar-ranged ships and hotels -- say, a Ritz to a Crystal ship -- the penthouse suite at the Ritz most likely is far superior to the penthouse suite on a Crystal cruise ship.

 

When I compare Celebrity to Four Seasons and the Ritz, I was talking about service. Celebrity's service commitment is quite unmatched in the mass-market cruise industry. And believe it or not, Four Seasons cares much about its younger clients. They have special children's programs and have personalized greeters for the kids and all staff take the time to learn the children's names and to chat with them. And that is what I love about Celebrity -- it made my children feel special and welcome, yet at the same time, it made the cruising experience enjoyable for adults as well.

 

Linda

[lovesublime]

I recommend Regent Seven Seas. I've never cruised with them, but we have other family members who have. They have taken their children each time and had a wonderful time. It is definitely more upscale than the mass market lines like Carnival and RCI. They have children's programs as well although it isn't highly advertised. Also Regent is all inclusive-that includes all alcohol (if you drink or like wine with dinner). Check out their website. You'll find that's it more expensive, but not prohibitively so.

[SelectSys]

We are looking for recommondations for a luxury family cruise (kids are 2 and 6) for March 2008 Spring Break (7 nights) that ideally leaves from a U.S. port. Appreciate any insights. :)

 

I am not sure how many traditional, unescorted spring breakers. The minumum age for booking a room is 21. The lines will not permit packing a room in the same manner as possible on land. Additionally, some lines like RCCL are making it increasingly difficult to bring on alcohol on board which probably cuts down on the level of consumption.

 

What you are likely to find on any mass market cruise line are many kids traveling with their families over spring break. In some ways Disney is your best bet even though it doesn't fall into the luxury cruise camp is that is best for small kids and the relatively high prices will keep what ever spring breakers in low numbers. My expectation that this crowd will be on Carnival (i.e., the Fun Ship) and maybe RCCL or perhaps even COSTA.

[SelectSys]

We are looking for recommondations for a luxury family cruise (kids are 2 and 6) for March 2008 Spring Break (7 nights) that ideally leaves from a U.S. port. Appreciate any insights. :)

 

I think in some ways that Disney is the best bet for your family. They have great activities and their relatively high price and lack of casino will keep away most spring breakers.

 

If you want true luxury, Crystal and Regent are very nice. Crystal has kids programs - especially during holiday periods - but nothing for your 2 year old. Crystal also offers in room baby siting which might make some of your dinners more relaxed.

[lagbunch8]

I would look into Disney and Celebrity. Carnival is not for you and I wouldn't call RCCL "luxury" either. Although it is def up from Carnival. You might want to enlist the help of a good TA. Have a great cruise.

[rebeccalouise]

The more you spend on the cruise- the fewer the kids- as a general rule.

I loved Celebrity but it is not "luxury". It is pretty darn good though.

 

The kids program on Cunard was very good and they take infants and toddlers in the program. Celebrity doesn't. I thought the Queen Mary 2 was very luxurious and there is a four night out of NYC.

 

As for Disney- luxury not! I liked it but it wasn't my favorite cruise line.

 

I think the kids will have fun on any ship that offers a youth program and parents will enjoy a cruise that has childcare of some sort for the two year old.

 

Of the options out there- I'd do the 4 night out of NYC on the Queen Mary. I am familiar with the cruises during that time frame and that is the best as far as amenities. Fresh water swimming pools, a Plantarium, nice kids program- absolutely lovely ship. The best I have sailed (Ive been on 21).