Cruise people, looking for advice

[Anonymous]

I want to plan a family vacation next year after my oldest graduates from HS. My kids will be 18 and 13 at the time, both boys. It would be them and me and hubby and I'd like to invite SIL and MIL to come on the cruise as well.

I'm a bit claustrophobic and so far I've shied away from cruising because I am not sure if I'll be petrified or if I'll love it. I've heard so many great things though, so I'd like to give it a try. Also, it seems like a very economical way to travel and see other places.

I'm not sure where to start. We've never traveled outside of the US with the kids and typically our yearly summer vacations are within driving distance so this would be a special treat for us.

What cruise line would you recommend? Also, which ones should we be sure to avoid? Where should we cruise to? I especially want to make sure it's something that my teens will enjoy - fun stuff for them. What can I expect from the rooms? Would the typical thing be getting a room for me and hubby and a separate room for the kids? I'm sure MIL and SIL will want to share their own room. How many days is a good amount of time to cruise? Which summer month would be the best, June, July, or August?

Also, do you typically book a cruise and make a full payment, or is this something you make payments on? I remember a few years a back a co-worker was going on a cruise and she said she was making payments - maybe she went through a travel agent??

I should also mention, a few years back we did whale watching boat trip in Boston. My youngest got sea sick and was miserable the entire trip. My oldest had done whale watching and already knew he wouldnt get sea sick so he was fine. Me and hubby both took the sea sick pill beforehand and we were fine. How do people avoid getting sea sick on long cruises?


I'm just now starting to research for this trip so I appreciate any advice or tips that you can share.

[Anonymous]

I have only cruised with Disney (and have a much younger child) so I can't say much there.

But, in response to a couple things in your post... I would get a balcony if you're claustrophobic. I can't imagine you'd like not having access to the outdoors.

Maybe start small (3-5 days) in case you don't like it.

We paid like 10% up front and the rest 90 days out but I'm not sure if there are other options.

I think Disney, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, Princess are usually recommended and Carnival is to be avoided.

In the summer I'd be tempted to do an Alaska cruise but it's all dependent on your budget... they are $$$$.

[Anonymous]

A couple more things -

- Costco has decent deals and offers Costco gift cards
- I think you could all fit in one room (on Disney, they're sort of divided with a bed on one side and bunk beds on the other). But, again depending on budget, you may be more comfortable with 2. If you plan enough in advance, you may be able to get adjoining rooms and have a common balcony.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I want to plan a family vacation next year after my oldest graduates from HS. My kids will be 18 and 13 at the time, both boys. It would be them and me and hubby and I'd like to invite SIL and MIL to come on the cruise as well.

I'm a bit claustrophobic and so far I've shied away from cruising because I am not sure if I'll be petrified or if I'll love it. I've heard so many great things though, so I'd like to give it a try. Also, it seems like a very economical way to travel and see other places.

I'm not sure where to start. We've never traveled outside of the US with the kids and typically our yearly summer vacations are within driving distance so this would be a special treat for us.

What cruise line would you recommend? Also, which ones should we be sure to avoid? Where should we cruise to? I especially want to make sure it's something that my teens will enjoy - fun stuff for them. What can I expect from the rooms? Would the typical thing be getting a room for me and hubby and a separate room for the kids? I'm sure MIL and SIL will want to share their own room. How many days is a good amount of time to cruise? Which summer month would be the best, June, July, or August?

Also, do you typically book a cruise and make a full payment, or is this something you make payments on? I remember a few years a back a co-worker was going on a cruise and she said she was making payments - maybe she went through a travel agent??

I should also mention, a few years back we did whale watching boat trip in Boston. My youngest got sea sick and was miserable the entire trip. My oldest had done whale watching and already knew he wouldnt get sea sick so he was fine. Me and hubby both took the sea sick pill beforehand and we were fine. How do people avoid getting sea sick on long cruises?

I would stay away from transatlantic cruises if you think someone might get sick or has before. Not like you are going to stop in a day and get over it. I would stay away from really high end cruise companies like Cunard cause they don't really have a lot of things for kids to do other than the pool. The Queen Mary 2 has more than the rest but still not a lot. Maybe Disney is the way to go.

I'm just now starting to research for this trip so I appreciate any advice or tips that you can share.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A couple more things -

- Costco has decent deals and offers Costco gift cards
- I think you could all fit in one room (on Disney, they're sort of divided with a bed on one side and bunk beds on the other). But, again depending on budget, you may be more comfortable with 2. If you plan enough in advance, you may be able to get adjoining rooms and have a common balcony.

OP here. I hadn't thought about Costco and we are members. Thanks!!

So after a little research I think I've decided on a Caribbean cruise and a balcony room. Everything else is up in the air.


To the poster that paid some upfront and the rest 90 days out, was that booked through a travel agent?

[Anonymous]

Most cruises, when you book you have to put down a refundable deposit, then at around the 90 day mark from the cruise you pay the balance.

Teens will probably enjoy the big , new Royal Caribbean ships if it's in your budget.

I prefer going early in the summer (June as opposed to August) because there is less chance for storms.

[Anonymous]

Also, I wouldn't worry that much about seasickness. The big boats have stabilizers that minimize the movement. It's nothing like being on a whale-watching boat. Bring seasickness meds but you may not need them.

[Anonymous]

What we learned when cruising is that the experience is all about the Ship - not about shore excursions that are like expensive cattle calls. You have a few hours on shore to see a few signts daily, but lots of time on the boat. Pick out a boat that looks like fun to you, and enjoy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Most cruises, when you book you have to put down a refundable deposit, then at around the 90 day mark from the cruise you pay the balance.

Teens will probably enjoy the big , new Royal Caribbean ships if it's in your budget.

I prefer going early in the summer (June as opposed to August) because there is less chance for storms.

I agree with this. June is better - less chance of hurricanes.

With your teens, look at the bigger ships. Allure/Oasis/Harmony on Royal Caribbean, Vista/Harmony on Carnival, Escape/Epic/Breakaway/Getaway on NCL, etc. These ships have all sorts of awesome things, in different configurations - water slides, ropes courses, climbing walls, sports areas, teen hangout spots, etc.

I am a fan of Carnival - they really are fun ships for a reason - but your teens will likely love any of the lines. They all have teen clubs, and will quickly make friends and disappear. Make sure they meet you for dinner!!!

As far as seasickness, I see lots of folks with the patches on cruises. I would talk to your doctor about getting a prescription in advance.

[Anonymous]

Royal Caribbean- choose a bigger ship allure, harmony, oasis

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Also, I wouldn't worry that much about seasickness. The big boats have stabilizers that minimize the movement. It's nothing like being on a whale-watching boat. Bring seasickness meds but you may not need them.

+1 I would fill a script for scoplomine patches which can be worn for three days and have it with me, but you may find they don't need it.

[Anonymous]

Bigger ships = less seasickness. Though we were on one cruise with stormy weather, lots of people (including crew) were sick. So definitely bring meds in case. Most people do adjust after the first day though, barring bad weather.

Re claustrophobia, the worst part for me is when everyone has to do the safety drill the first day, put on their vests, and stand tightly packed together. But it's brief.

I disagree that the ship is more fun than the excursions. What stands out for me from my cruise travel on family vacations when I was younger was all the excursions (so budget for those) and the big appeal is getting to see lots of places bc the ship travels while you sleep.

[Anonymous]

If you want fairly short, look into cruising to Bermuda.

[Anonymous]

FWIW- I am extremely prone to seasickness. Vomited all through a whale watching cruise off of Bar Harbor Maine- my brother and I ran the boat out of seasickness bags.
I love cruising. I have never felt seasick on a cruise ship- they are so much bigger.

[Anonymous]

I've been on a couple cruises, with the best and most recent experience being a Royal Caribbean cruise, in the Caribbean, for I think 5 or 6 nights. We booked through Costco which offered a lot of perks. I get seasick so we booked the largest ship (Oasis, at the time; there are bigger ones now) in non-hurricane season and I was just fine. Definitely book a balcony room, it's worth it. We had room service out there on the balcony, and saw dolphins sometimes. It was an awesome trip!

Plan the shore excursions through the cruise ship on your first trip, even if you hear that it's cheaper to plan independently. We went to Mexico and 2 islands and but honestly I would have been fine skipping 1 of those shore days and staying on the ship, which has a ton to do.

Budget to tip your staff, servers, tour guides, etc. It's a tourist economy that relies on tipping; a lot of these folks are away from home for 6+ months in order to make money, so help them out.

Finally, and this is not to scare you, but beware that there is sometimes crime (on ship and in port) and there are risks to being at sea. Talk to your kids about being safe, not doing stupid stuff like climbing on the railings, not going into any crew spaces or generally going off alone, etc. Have a good time but don't get stupid-drunk. Discuss what you will do if an emergency is announced (assemble as instructed, not look for each other), how you will check in with each other during the day, etc. Just, be smart.