We are interested in taking a Celebrity cruise in the Caribbean. We went on the Disney line and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves, in part because they had a great program for our 9 year old. Our agent is recommending Celebrity because we're looking for great food, too (although the Disney food was much better than I expected). <BR><BR>Looking through the Celebrity catalogue, I am hesitant because there is not a single picture of a child, and the kid's program info is hidden in the fine print in the back.<BR>Any insight is helpful.<BR><BR>Thanks,<BR>Brad<BR>

<BR>Hope you can link to this: If not, check out cruisecritic.com under their forum for Celebrity. I've never personally cruised with them, just RCCL. But it appears that Celebrity has a pretty decent kids program. Hope this helps.<BR><BR>http://messages.cruisecritic.com/2/O...912#1050916912

Answer: No, not ever

Have sailed on Celebrity and there were plenty of children aboard.

Brad,<BR>We've been to 3 Celebrity cruises and our 10 yr old son loves them. There are special programs for children all day long and they are great.

I will agree with Simone. My family has sailed just about every Celebrity ship and found the children's program excellent.<BR><BR>Paul

I would try Princess.<BR><BR>I sailed with a large group with many children. These kids were bored. They had all cruised previously on other lines and thought the children's/teen's program was inferior to RCCL/Carnival/Princess.Two of the families who had kids were getting on other cruise ships immediately after (doing back to backs) and couldn't wait to get off Millennium. They much enjoyed their second cruise so much better.<BR><BR>I would strongly reconsider.

I would say no, Celebrity is a cruise line for those who want to be pampered, and those who wish to enjoy a relaxing, carefree experience. Please don't take your kid, you can do Carnival. Carnival is geared towards families, you will not be welcome on Celebrity. There is a reason they don't picture kids in the brochure, they want to discourage them!!

I strongly encourage you not to book Celebrity. While it is personable to children, it is a line which caters to adults, not children, and quite frankly, that is why my husband and I prefer it. I do not want children at my dinner table, hanging out at the pool, running down the hallways and otherwise acting up when I am on vacation. Sorry if this sounds selfish, but we spend hard earned money on a vacation and do not wish it interrupted by children running amok. Please try Carnival, Disney or RCCL.

Oh no, please don't recommend RCCL, I love them and I wish they discouraged children as well! Aren't Disney and Carnival enough? Carnival has lots of ships, just leave the other lines to adults please!! I cannot stand children running amok either, they are loud and annoying. I wish they did have adults only cruises, adults only flights, etc. The same for families. That way, we won't be bothered by their terrible offspring, and they won't be bothered by our cold stares. Sounds like a solution to me!!

Being a Travel Agent, I would discourage you to sail Celebrity with children. Even though they offer a children's program most children are very bored on the Celebrity ships and really Celebrity does try to cater to adult passengers, not kids. These ships cannot and will not tell you NOT to bring your children because they would lose money and be sued for discrimination, but Celebrity is really a line for adults to be away from the kids and enjoy themselves in a kid-free atmosphere. My suggestion is to stick with RCCL or Carnival and save the Celebrity ships for a kid-free vacation, you will enjoy it much more.......

Although Carnival is rated as the best cruise line children's program I believe the Celebrity program is more structured and the children are more well-behaved.<BR><BR>Price is the factor. The more you pay for a cruise the lesser amount of children.<BR><BR>Cruise lines want families. This is why Holland America has expanded their children's program and have enlarged their rooms.<BR><BR>For those whose vacations were ruined by unsupervised children (parents are to blame) I do feel sorry, but there is no getting away from it unless you book an upscale cruise line who have few or no children. Of course you have to be willing to pay the price of a small automobile.<BR><BR>I once booked an elderly couple in the Bermuda Southhampton Princess and there was a high school graduation group that never slept and neither did the elderly couple.<BR><BR>Remember the old saying "kids should be seen and not heard." Times do change. And it is tough to be a parent these days. Can't slap 'em around like the old days.<BR><BR>Paul<BR><BR>

It is interesting to read such diametrically opposing views. One thing I would like to add is it depends on whether your cruise is scheduled during a school vacation or not.If your cruise is not during school vacation, I think there would probably not be many kids on any of the cruises.<BR><BR>My 2 cents. We have done only one cruise and that was a Mediterranean cruise on Celebrity during summer vacation. We chose it more because of the ports of call and itinerary, however, there were many children of all ages and an excellent children's program. Our 2 (well traveled and well behaved boys) ages 14 and 12 loved the cruise and I would definitely go on Celebrity again. I did not feel that it was specifically geared to adults. <BR>

Brad,<BR>Each cruise is different.If you take the same cruise, same itinerary, same date except for the year, they still will be different. We were on the Mercury last July to Alaske. They said there were 180 kids (teens inclusive) and we never saw a bunch of kids running from one side to the other. I think it's part of kids program keep them busy enough not to disturb other guests and they were able to do that very well and, at the same time, my 10 yr old son enjoyed himself a lot.

Brad, I'd trust your instincts. Having been on most of the cruise lines, I'd have to say that Celebrity is geared for a more adult crowd. The dinners in the formal dining rooms on Celebrity, for example, are excellent, but you have to be willing to spend 1-2 hours at each meal to enjoy the courses--a lifetime for most kids who are not used to that sort of environment these days.

I cruised on celebrity century last may and was happy to see only a handful of kids on the ship. I specifically wanted to avoid crying kids. If there were a bunch of rug rats on the century, they hid them well because i rarely saw a kid anywhere.<BR><BR>So, keep in mind that even if they have a decent kid program - of which i am oblivious - many people on the ship will rpobably not be too excited to spend time talking with you unless the kids are hidden.

We took our 7 and 11 year old on a Bermuda Celebrity cruise.. They declared it SUMMER CAMP at Sea. Celebrity had lots for kids and the program was wonderful... especially during the summer months or school vacation times.

I agree with Martha. The Celebrity children's program is wonderful. It is structured, learning and fun.<BR><BR>Paul

I can't believe this discussion! My husband and I have taken our 11 and 13 year olds on upscale vactions all over the world, for many years. The children are polite and well behaved and don't like screaming, unsupervised toddlers any more than adults do. What no one in our family likes are loud, drunken adults who use fowl language in front of other passengers. We always ask for a private table to avoid people like this. Re; cruises with kids. Sure, some cruises, such as Carnival, really cater to kids. But this is a budget cruise line - great for some, but not for a family looking for a quieter, more upscale cruise. So pick the cruise line that work for your family, request your own table, and have a ball. Remember that on many days you will be off the ship doing other activities anyway.

I was glad to come across someone who had same concerns I did after looking at the Celebrity cataloque. I would be curious to know what cruise you decided to go with. We also had been on the Disney cruise but were looking for something that was different but had a nice children's program yet would appeal to us. We like nice places but have to feel our daughter would be comfortable as well. I agree that parent's are the once who are ultimately responsible for there children's behavior in public.<BR>Have been to many upscale resorts and restaurants before children that I wouldn't take a child to now. Most people are not that concerned about how their behavior affects others. But some do. Again, would love to know what cruise you went with. We are trying to decide as well.