Cruise with the kids? (Not Disney)
 

Please I could really use some help here. Which cruise lines other then Disney do you think have the best kids program, year round since I think we would like to go during the traditional school year. I have 3 kids ages 3,4 and 8. I can't seem to find any trip reports relating to families that are not Disney. <BR>We like nice... We will get a suite since there are 5 of us. I would like the ship to be newer. I would prefer a casino and lots of dining options. I really like the idea of leaving from California or New Orleans. I also want a continuous childcare program. A lot of them seem to shut down at meal times. Not too fun if we get busy to have to stop and go collect the kids. Any ideas???????? Help!!!!!!!!

I thought that Princess had wonderful family programs, especially the larger ships like the Grand and Golden. We asked the kids on our cruise what they thought and they were loving it. Lots to do and great facilities. Also, these ships have excellent family suites. Hope this helps...

Old post I know but......how sad that someone wants to go on a "family" vacation and then will be too busy to get their children for dinner...sigh...this is what our world has come to.

Not so, Sighing. I think it's wonderful that Monique is looking for a family vacation rather than leaving the kids behind. Any child that I know, and I know many of them, would love a cruise and would hate the 2 to 2 1/2 hour "fancy" adult dinner.How boring for them. Why do people on this site continually bad mouth kind folks just looking for some travel assistance?

<BR>Hi Monique, <BR> <BR>I have a funny feeling you will miss your children on the cruise (they will be so busy and having so much fun) that you will love to see them at dinner for their reports and family talk. <BR> <BR>You will not get much out of them when they return for bed, they will be very tired. And they will get you up early so they may get to the program. <BR> <BR>And it is a good idea to sign the younger ones in and out of the program so they will not be running around the ship unsupervised. It is too dangerous. A ship is not an enclosed environment as many think. <BR> <BR>Most cruise lines offer dinner with friends at least once on a cruise but with our family we absolutely forbid it. <BR> <BR>Paul

I certainly wasn't trying to bad mouth Monique and I apologize if it was taken that way. Maybe I took her post the wrong way. I just know of too many people that go on a trip with the family and then look for every opportunity to get away from the kids so that they can have a "real" vacation. I love a meal or evening away from my children when we're on vacation, but I just can't imagine being "too busy" in an activity that I can't go get them for dinner. Is it fun? Again, I apologize if I sound like I'm juding - just voicing an opinion - and you know what they say about opinions!