My husband and I are wanting to take our then 16 year old son and our 14 and 11 year old daughters on a summer cruise in the Mediterranean for our summer getaway (in 2012). We are thinking this is a way for them to see a bit of Europe without getting too bored with sightseeing. I really want us all to be in one cabin as I want us all together (this is a family vacation after all). We are considering a Disney Cruise as it will easily accomodate all 5 of us in one cabin, but I don't know if that will be too juvenile for them. Do you all have any suggestions for other cruise lines that offer family suites? I REALLY don't want two cabins if at all possible. They do not necessarily need special kid activities as we really do spend our time together on vacation. They would want to spend free time together or reading, not making temporary friends so that is not a concern. Thank you for any help and suggestions.

How about an ajoining cabin with a conencting door? 5 in a cabin will be too crowded, even if you have a suite. Have you consider the morning bathroom madness with 5 of you nad only 1 tiny bathroom?

Way too crammed juvenile for teenagers and a pain for adults.

Get them their own cheap inside near you...

Have done Princess very family oriented and also NCL

"freestyle" cruising in the Med great way to go for families.

But might get spearate rooms cheaply for what you would

pay for one on Disney for more room.

Usually get best deals up to 70% off

www.priceline.com www.vacationstogo.com

Boy 16, girl 14, they would need shower and get dressed, how do you picture this in a one-room cabin? Maybe 2 adjoining cabins with a connecting door as Eschew advised?

And if you want to have an absolute control, you can take away their cabin keys.

You admit that you are overprotective, so maybe you should try to loosen the strings a little bit. I've never been on a Disney cruise but would expect those cabins for 5 were designed for families with small children, not teenagers. As others have mentioned, get adjoining cabins or an outside and an inside across from each other.

Can't see you having a good time if you're going to spend the whole time worrying. Good luck!

Even if you do like to spend most of your time together, and meeting "temporary" friends is not necessary, your kids might actually meet people they would keep up with and someday visit. We have met some wonderful people on cruises and keep in touch with several. Some have invited us to visit them in their country and we hope to do that.

Have no experience on getting a big suite versus two cabins, but we have enjoyed Princess, especially their cruise that goes from Venice to Rome (or the reverse) and does Dubrovnik, several Greek Islands and Ephesus. It is 12 days and each day is at least 8-10 hours in each port. Consider the itinerary as much as the cruise line because you want long days off the ship, not just port stops of a few hours. Also, it is very easy to do all the excursions on your own (or join up with another family or some couples) and save money.