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nancyg
LIF Adolescent
Member since 9/10 729 total posts
Name:
Nancy
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A few cruise questions
I've only been on one cruise, my honeymoon, in the Mediterranean, 12 years ago. I'm looking to take a cruise in 2018 with my husband, two sons, ages 2 and 5 currently. I thought I was set on a Royal Caribbean, 8-night out of NJ but now I'm reading reviews and have a few questions for anyone who's taken something similar.
1. Leaving out of NJ in February... Dumb b/c it's so cold you can't enjoy the outdoor activities until you're much more south? Maybe try for April?
2. Going a week when the kids have off school...Will it be over run with kids or is it safe to assume the cruise will always be packed?
3. Traveling in the Atlantic...Is it rough? Are we better to leave out of FL even if it costs more b/c of airfare?
Thanks so much for any/all feedback!!!
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Posted 3/15/17 11:30 AM  |
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Pomegranate5
LIF Adult
Member since 2/11 4798 total posts
Name:
Pomegranate5
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Re: A few cruise questions
1. Leaving out of NJ in February... Dumb b/c it's so cold you can't enjoy the outdoor activities until you're much more south? Maybe try for April?
There are plenty of indoor activities to enjoy, but in February it will be cold for probably the first two and last two days of the cruise.
2. Going a week when the kids have off school...Will it be over run with kids or is it safe to assume the cruise will always be packed?
From what I've heard, a cruise during a school break will be overrun with kids. But if that's when you can travel, it is what it is.
3. Traveling in the Atlantic...Is it rough? Are we better to leave out of FL even if it costs more b/c of airfare?
We left out of NY in November for the Caribbean and we definitely felt some rocking. DH got a little queasy at night but the kids and I were fine. I would prefer to go out of FL, but only to maximize the sunshine and warm weather.
Can you find a cheaper 5 day cruise out of FL to offset the added expense of the flight?
Message edited 3/15/2017 2:39:19 PM.
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| Posted 3/15/17 2:38 PM |
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Hofstra26
Love to Bake!
Member since 7/06 27915 total posts
Name:
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Re: A few cruise questions
1. Leaving out of NJ in February... Dumb b/c it's so cold you can't enjoy the outdoor activities until you're much more south? Maybe try for April?
Personally, I'd wait to leave in a warmer month. It just doesn't feel like a vacation when you're sailing in the dead of winter. We actually left NY in July and happened to have a really nasty, rainy, ugly day and it didn't really feel "fun" and vacation like as we were leaving. In the ice cold dead of winter where you can't enjoy the pools and decks for the beginning and end of the trip would be a total letdown. I'd choose April.
2. Going a week when the kids have off school...Will it be over run with kids or is it safe to assume the cruise will always be packed?
For a cruise, I guess you might notice more kids when school is out however, cruises in general (especially on the big ships) are usually pretty filled anyway.
3. Traveling in the Atlantic...Is it rough? Are we better to leave out of FL even if it costs more b/c of airfare?
In my experience the waters were absolutely rougher out of NY, I felt a little icky the first day or two even with Dramamine. When we've cruised out of FL, the waters were much calmer.
To offset the cost of flying, think about getting a credit card that give you sky miles. Southwest is a really good one, they give you 50,000 miles right off the bat, you can earn more easily, and you get another few thousand on your anniversary date. We're going to Disney in May and I was able to get 4 roundtrip tickets leaving from Islip for FREE by getting the card. You can apply right online.
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| Posted 3/15/17 4:14 PM |
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KarenK122
The Journey is the Destination
Member since 5/05 4430 total posts
Name:
Karen
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Re: A few cruise questions
Posted by nancyg
1. Leaving out of NJ in February... Dumb b/c it's so cold you can't enjoy the outdoor activities until you're much more south? Maybe try for April?
We cruised in February last winter break. The weather was brutal. The plus was that the ship (Anthem) had an indoor pool that could be utilized during cold weather but not being able to walk out on the deck for 2 days each way was not the best. But it was our favorite cruise of all time (we like the ship). I would not do any other line but Royal in the winter because they are the only one to have an indoor pool and an indoor sports complex, unless you stay in the Haven.
2. Going a week when the kids have off school...Will it be over run with kids or is it safe to assume the cruise will always be packed?
There will be a ton of kids if you go over break. That does not mean that is a bad thing though. There will just be alot of them. On the flip side, we cruised once out of FL in January and there were only 100 kids on board and the amount of eye rolling and nastiness from other "older" passengers was enough to ruin our cruise. Our daughter is well behaved, they were just disgusted to even be in the same room as her. I'd rather cruise over a school break then ever do a cruise off season again, unless I was traveling with a group.
3. Traveling in the Atlantic...Is it rough? Are we better to leave out of FL even if it costs more b/c of airfare?
The Atlantic is rough, not unbearable but there will definitely be waves. I have vertigo and am prone to motion sickness and take a bonine every night and never had a problem.
Thanks so much for any/all feedback!!!
We will cruise out of NY more often than flying to Fl because we hate the hassle of flying. Also, we enjoy the ships just as much as the ports so where it travels really doesn't matter much to us.
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| Posted 3/15/17 7:24 PM |
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nancyg
LIF Adolescent
Member since 9/10 729 total posts
Name:
Nancy
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Re: A few cruise questions
Thank you all for the feedback. It's given me things to consider. The ship I was talking about is Anthem and for the 4 of us to go 8 nights in a balcony room is about $3800 not including any drinks or excursions. Can I ask if you all think that's a good deal? I'm new to cruising and I would hate to miss a good deal if I wait around. Thanks again!!!
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| Posted 3/15/17 7:47 PM |
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nycgirl
Angels!
Member since 3/09 7721 total posts
Name:
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Re: A few cruise questions
1. Feb: you lose pool time, but as others have said, it can be warm and too windy to use pools. Be sure to have access to indoor pools or be ready to explore ship the days around NY.
2. School vacations are usually a lot more $$$ than the surrounding weeks. With a young kid, I'd take them out of school... funny what a PP said about old people. The only time I ever cursed out someone was on a cruise ship. My kids were acting nicely... but just being young. They were doing that annoying talk loud about parents and their children so the parents can hear you... I tapped her on her shoulder and let her have it.
3. We have had rough seas... but with big ships, I've only felt like I had a slight hang over
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| Posted 3/15/17 8:26 PM |
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MaZz
* Lovin my baby girl!!! *
Member since 2/09 6243 total posts
Name:
Gina
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Re: A few cruise questions
Posted by nancyg
I've only been on one cruise, my honeymoon, in the Mediterranean, 12 years ago. I'm looking to take a cruise in 2018 with my husband, two sons, ages 2 and 5 currently. I thought I was set on a Royal Caribbean, 8-night out of NJ but now I'm reading reviews and have a few questions for anyone who's taken something similar.
1. Leaving out of NJ in February... Dumb b/c it's so cold you can't enjoy the outdoor activities until you're much more south? Maybe try for April?
--- I have taken a cruise in feb before leaving out of NYC. You will hit warmer air midway through the first sea day. That said, people were still out in the hot tubs in the cold! Our cruise was 9 nights so I didn't mind the cold day coming and going. It felt like a week long cruise instead. If that makes sense.
2. Going a week when the kids have off school...Will it be over run with kids or is it safe to assume the cruise will always be packed?
--- I have never sailed on a school vacation week but have heard that yes, they are abnormally packed with kids. Cruise ships almost always sailed full. It'll just be more kids.
3. Traveling in the Atlantic...Is it rough? Are we better to leave out of FL even if it costs more b/c of airfare?
--- In my experience, our feb sailing was very rough. To the point where the outside decks were closed one day. Wave spray up to the top of the ship... the last day back home we were rocking so much, it was hard to keep balance and the barf bags were out by the elevators. I can't tell you for sure if we just hit a storm or if that's more of the norm in feb. I take bonine every day of the cruise so I was unaffected. Can't say the same for others!
All that said, I'd still cruise during that time again. As long as it was a longer than 7 day cruise. Good luck with your choice!
Thanks so much for any/all feedback!!!
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| Posted 3/16/17 7:43 AM |
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LI2VA
Love my life!!
Member since 11/05 3125 total posts
Name:
Melissa
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Re: A few cruise questions
Posted by nancyg
Thank you all for the feedback. It's given me things to consider. The ship I was talking about is Anthem and for the 4 of us to go 8 nights in a balcony room is about $3800 not including any drinks or excursions. Can I ask if you all think that's a good deal? I'm new to cruising and I would hate to miss a good deal if I wait around. Thanks again!!!
Where are you getting this price from? The agent I use gets the best prices with perks included. If you give me the dates I can check for you and see what i come up with.
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| Posted 3/16/17 9:23 AM |
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nancyg
LIF Adolescent
Member since 9/10 729 total posts
Name:
Nancy
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Re: A few cruise questions
Posted by LI2VA
Posted by nancyg
Thank you all for the feedback. It's given me things to consider. The ship I was talking about is Anthem and for the 4 of us to go 8 nights in a balcony room is about $3800 not including any drinks or excursions. Can I ask if you all think that's a good deal? I'm new to cruising and I would hate to miss a good deal if I wait around. Thanks again!!!
Where are you getting this price from? The agent I use gets the best prices with perks included. If you give me the dates I can check for you and see what i come up with.
Thank you for the offer but I took the plunge and put a deposit down. The price was direct from RC. I did change the sail date from Feb to April of 2018 based on feedback that it was too cold to enjoy the outdoor areas. Thanks so much all!!! I'm super excited!
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| Posted 3/16/17 10:27 AM |
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ElizaRags35
My 2 Girls
Member since 2/09 20494 total posts
Name:
Me
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A few cruise questions
I just got off anthem on Sunday. I went with my 2 kids ages 3 and 18 months.
They have an indoor pool. If your kids are potty trained, they can go in I even on the first day. It was 30 degrees but the indoor pool was comfortable. The cold days were the day we left, the day after, and the day before we got back to NJ.
We paid less than you for a family junior suite for 4 of us. Look for kids sail free promotion. We saved nearly $500 from our original booking of a balcony rom by taking advantage of this promotion.
There were lots of kids on our sailing 3/5-3/12 because it was apparently winter or spring break in Canada.
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| Posted 3/16/17 9:09 PM |
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nancyg
LIF Adolescent
Member since 9/10 729 total posts
Name:
Nancy
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Re: A few cruise questions
Posted by ElizaRags35
I just got off anthem on Sunday. I went with my 2 kids ages 3 and 18 months.
They have an indoor pool. If your kids are potty trained, they can go in I even on the first day. It was 30 degrees but the indoor pool was comfortable. The cold days were the day we left, the day after, and the day before we got back to NJ.
We paid less than you for a family junior suite for 4 of us. Look for kids sail free promotion. We saved nearly $500 from our original booking of a balcony rom by taking advantage of this promotion.
There were lots of kids on our sailing 3/5-3/12 because it was apparently winter or spring break in Canada.
Thanks for the feedback. I plan to watch the promotions closely bc if I find something better they will honor it. That's great you saved so much. Even if our price doesn't budge it's still less than we spent on Disney and Universal last month. And we stayed in a hotel for free on points.
Message edited 3/17/2017 8:27:29 AM.
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| Posted 3/17/17 8:26 AM |
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MrsSchwags
Soccer Baseball Lax Mom
Member since 10/05 11240 total posts
Name:
Jennifer
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Re: A few cruise questions
We did our cruise feb break this year and we're surprised that there weren't a ton of kids. I think they said 100 out of over 2000 people on board. We went out of New Orleans.
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| Posted 3/24/17 10:47 PM |
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