Cruising with family, which line is better if you've gone

We cruised with DD out of NY last summer and it was phenomenal. We went on Princess. We're looking into going in a few months for DH's birthday and we will have DD and now an infant. We're debating between Norweigan and RCCL? Which one do you think is better for a family with kids?

Thanks!!!

Re: Cruising with family, which line is better if you've gone

Kids or no kids... Royal Caribbean!!

Re: Cruising with family, which line is better if you've gone

Re: Cruising with family, which line is better if you've gone

Thanks!!!! I've heard really great things about Norweigan too, but it seems like an "older" crowd but now I see all the commercials with Nick characters so it seemed like something to explore

Re: Cruising with family, which line is better if you've gone

I have never been on any other line but RCCL, but I just went on a RCCL Cruise - Liberty of The Seas in March and there were a ton of kids on the ship. RCCL hooked up with Dreamworks studio, they had the characters from Madagascar, Kung Fu Panda and Shrek, the kids were thrilled by it - parades, a huge big screen over the pool with movies, etc.

They have the H20 Zone - a great pool, the Adventure Group - go on their website and look up the stuff for the kids.

Re: Cruising with family, which line is better if you've gone

If you are going with kids then def Royal Caribbean

Re: Cruising with family, which line is better if you've gone

I've been on all 3 lines. Princess by far is my favorite. I like ncl with kids its not as formal and you can eat whenever you want. Rc has gorgeous ships but its more formal and you eat at a specific dining time.

Message edited 4/26/2011 8:28:18 AM.

Re: Cruising with family, which line is better if you've gone

We are going on NCL... next week. DS is 7 months old. I'll let you know how it goes!

Re: Cruising with family, which line is better if you've gone

Funny that you should post this....we are planning on sailing this summer to Bermuda with our 5 year old 17 mos old. I have been going back and forth between the Norweigan Gem and the RC Explorer of the Seas. Norweigan seems to be a little cheaper as they don't charge for children under 2 (all other lines do) and they do have the Nick Characters but I've heard that the Nick stuff is minimal (a breakfast, a pool activity and a meet and great) Plus that cruise is 7 days with 4 of the 7 days being at sea. The RCC is 5 days with only 2 days at sea. I am so undecided as well. I will eagerly be watching this post for suggestions.

Re: Cruising with family, which line is better if you've gone

Re: Cruising with family, which line is better if you've gone

Re: Cruising with family, which line is better if you've gone

I have traveled on all the cruise lines and have liked them all for various reasons. Recently I went on a 7 day NCL Jewel from NY to Bahamas. Loved sailing out of NY so convenient!
Did not like certain features of the ship. There were two pools next to each other. One was for adults only and the other was for kids. Both were 6 feet deep! There was a small baby pool next to it but it was tiny and crowded.
MY 5 year old DD loved the kids club and the nick characters on the ship. She also liked that in the buffet there was a kids level buffet that she could help her self to the food. I did not like how crowded that area got.
We had a balcony cabin for 3 of us and I found the room small. I did not feel that they did a good job of maximimizing the space for storage.
We went on carnival last year and I liked that better for her because it had more swimming areas and a sprinkler park section.
Any questions, feel free to ask.

Re: Cruising with family, which line is better if you've gone

RCCL

Re: Cruising with family, which line is better if you've gone

Royal Carib

Re: Cruising with family, which line is better if you've gone

Re: Cruising with family, which line is better if you've gone

Royal Caribbean. We net last June on the Explorer of the seas out of NJ. It was very kid friendly, we had a junior suite with balcony. It was so kid friendly. Jacob can not wait to go on one again..

Re: Cruising with family, which line is better if you've gone