Need help for family trip

[Big Bob]

WE are planning a family cruise this summer. One of our choices is Rhapsody of the Seas.
The children (8) will be 2 to 14 years old. I have never been on a RCCL ship. I have a few questions. The cruise would be out of Gavleston.

1. Does the ship offer a good children's program?

2. Can they handle the young (2 yrs)?

3. One child is handicapped, are there cabins available?

4. Do they offer connecting cabins?

5. Can some cabins take 3 or 4?

This board has been helpful and any additional comments would be appreciated. I am also posting this on another board.

Big Bob

[staylor]

1. I have heard excellent things and have seen many happy children doing group activities onboard. No personal experience, though. Our friends had young children and they loved the programs.

2. I know they have to be potty trained.

3. Yes, they have handicapped cabins

4. Don't know that one

5. Yes. They are called "quads"

[img]http://www.gifs.net/animate/dolphin.gif[/img]
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Ecstasy 1996, Fantasy 1997,1998,1999, Imagination 2000, Sovereign 2001, Fantasy 2002, Monarch 2003, Serenade 2004

[camreesmom]

Bob, RCCL only takes children 3 and above in their children's program. That is one reason that we will be doing our family cruise on Carnival next summer. Our youngest won't turn 3 until Dec of 2005 and we are cruising in July so Carnival was our only option if we planned on using the children's camp for her.

RCCL does have connecting cabins and also handicapped cabins.

I am not as much of an expert as a lot of others on the boards but from what I have read, the quad cabins tend to book fairly early.

Hope this helps some.

Julie

Fantasy 12/03
Splendour of the Seas 3/04
Ecstasy 7/05

[staylor]

On RC website, it looks like the programs start at age 3. It is 2 on Carnival.

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Ecstasy 1996, Fantasy 1997,1998,1999, Imagination 2000, Sovereign 2001, Fantasy 2002, Monarch 2003, Serenade 2004

[want2seaitall]

1.yes
2.3 and up
3.yes
4.yes
5.yes

[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=e9967a&cdt=2004;4;19;17;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]
until my Majesty of the Seas cruise!


Carnival Inspiration - June 2003

RCCL Monarch of the Seas - July 2002

[camreesmom]

Bob, RCCL only takes ages 3 and up in their children's programs. That is the main reason that we will be sailing on Carnival next summer for our family cruise. We are also planning on going out of Galveston with our 8 children (ages 2-23). Carnival will take children from age 2.

RCCL does have both connecting and handicapped cabins.

From what I have read on these boards, the quad cabins tend to book fairly early.

Hope this helps some.

Julie

Fantasy 12/03
Splendour of the Seas 3/04
Ecstasy 7/05

[camreesmom]

sorry for the double post....I thought I had lost the first one!

Fantasy 12/03
Splendour of the Seas 3/04
Ecstasy 7/05

[want2seaitall]

Sorry...I posted after people had already answered your question.

I've been on RCCL and Carnival...and as far as the kids' programs go...in my experience...Carnival had the better program. This was a definate strong point of the cruiseline. But in other categories...RCCL is stronger...or was...it has been a couple years since my last RCCL cruise...and it seems as if things have gone down a bit. I'll find out in a week!!! I'll have a great time regarless. Good luck with your search!

[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=e9967a&cdt=2004;4;19;17;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]
until my Majesty of the Seas cruise!


Carnival Inspiration - June 2003

RCCL Monarch of the Seas - July 2002

[staylor]

I think we were all answering at once! How's that for service!

Dentalchic, I am a dental chic, too. An assistant for 23 years. It is mostly a cosmetic practice, although we still do everything. Love those "emtreme makeover" before and afters.

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Ecstasy 1996, Fantasy 1997,1998,1999, Imagination 2000, Sovereign 2001, Fantasy 2002, Monarch 2003, Serenade 2004

[Big Bob]

Thanks for info on children.

staylor - thanks
camreesmom - 2 is better than none
dentalchic - thanks for short and long answer.

Big Bob