Cruise with 4 kids?

[blue888]

Wondering what the best option is for a cruise with 4 kids (will be 10, 8, 6 and 4) at time of sailing. What rooms would you recommend that will fit everyone?

We are hoping for a Christmas cruise (2019). Obviously not booking yet.

We've never cruised before. Tips?
Any particular cruises we should be looking for?

 

[amberwc]

Unless you get on of the big suites, all 6 won't be in one room. So you are looking for connecting rooms (which sell fast), the type will depend on your budget and preferences as there are connecting rooms, inside, OV, veranda, and concierge.

 

[Anchors Away 2016]

The connecting rooms are great, though. It makes your room like a "suite" so you can have the little ones a sleep in one room, while you can still be awake in the other room. If you get veranda rooms, the verandas can be made to connect too in most cases.

 

[clten]

I don't believe the newer ships even have an option that fit more than 5 in a single cabin and the classic ships only have rooms that fit that many in their top concierge category. So typically, families of your size look to book 2 cabins (and with the ages of your kids you would most likely want connecting cabins rather than adjoining cabins. Connecting have a door between the two cabins on the inside; adjoining cabins are just ones that are next to one another, you'd have to walk into the public hallway to get from one to the other). So if you are looking to book 2 cabins, whether you want inside, outside or verandah cabins would be a personal choice but to get connecting cabins they have to be the same kind of cabin (both inside or both outside or both verandah). If you are looking for Christmas week, expect it to be one of the most expensive weeks of the year and plan to book on opening day if you want connecting cabins.

 

[blue888]

I don't believe the newer ships even have an option that fit more than 5 in a single cabin and the classic ships only have rooms that fit that many in their top concierge category. So typically, families of your size look to book 2 cabins (and with the ages of your kids you would most likely want connecting cabins rather than adjoining cabins. Connecting have a door between the two cabins on the inside; adjoining cabins are just ones that are next to one another, you'd have to walk into the public hallway to get from one to the other). So if you are looking to book 2 cabins, whether you want inside, outside or verandah cabins would be a personal choice but to get connecting cabins they have to be the same kind of cabin (both inside or both outside or both verandah). If you are looking for Christmas week, expect it to be one of the most expensive weeks of the year and plan to book on opening day if you want connecting cabins.

Thanks so much. That seems the most ideal. Yes, we usually have to travel right at Christmas as my husband is a teacher. We just budget for the increased price because we have no choice.

 

[GoofyLovingFamily]

Look for the cruise right before the Christmas Day cruise. It will be less expensive but usually fall on school break for many schools. We have 4 kids and have decided connecting inside works for us. We have done verandah and ocean view. We slept better inside and the savings helped with excursions and other things.

 

[blue888]

Look for the cruise right before the Christmas Day cruise. It will be less expensive but usually fall on school break for many schools. We have 4 kids and have decided connecting inside works for us. We have done verandah and ocean view. We slept better inside and the savings helped with excursions and other things.

Can you elaborate the sleeping better comment? I've never done a cruise before.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Wondering what the best option is for a cruise with 4 kids (will be 10, 8, 6 and 4) at time of sailing. What rooms would you recommend that will fit everyone?

We are hoping for a Christmas cruise (2019). Obviously not booking yet.

We've never cruised before. Tips?
Any particular cruises we should be looking for?

Are there two adults with those 4 kids? So, 6 people total? If you book two rooms, each room has to have an adult booked in it. With 5 people (only 1 adult & 4 kids), you could fit in one room, but it would be pretty tight.

The Magic class ships are the only ships that have single rooms large enough for over 5 people.

 

[blue888]

Are there two adults with those 4 kids? So, 6 people total? If you book two rooms, each room has to have an adult booked in it. With 5 people (only 1 adult & 4 kids), you could fit in one room, but it would be pretty tight.

The Magic class ships are the only ships that have single rooms large enough for over 5 people.

Yes, 2 adults and 4 kids.

 

[aggiedog]

When you make the reservation, put one adult and one kid in one room, and the second adult and three kids in the other room, assuming you do adjoining rooms. DCL doesn't care where you actually sleep. I say split the kids 1/3 just to make sure that one of the rooms has the top bunk which will sleep 4 total. I don't know if all the adjoining rooms do (maybe someone here knows.) You'll get better sleep, or adult time, because all the kids can sleep in one room, you can close or just prop, or even leave the adjoining door open. There is also a curtain between the bed and the sleeper bed/bunk area if the kids want a bit of privacy or light blockage. Beyond adjoining rooms or crazy expensive suites, your only other choice is two non-adjoining rooms. Then either the adults don't get to sleep together, or the kids are on their own after you tuck them in - neither are ideal with your age range of kids and if you want to actually see your spouse on vacation.

We have 4 kids too (11, 14, 17, 17), and travel with grandparents. I found it easier to just call DCL, with the website open in front of me so I could look at room locations, and pick rooms that way.

The DCL rooms are spacious enough that with 4 little kids and two adjoining rooms, it would practically feel like a palace. LOL

We did a Merry Time cruise last year. I quite liked not having to cook and clean over the holidays. My kids were a bit discombobulated by being away from home though. We surprised them and I think perhaps they needed time to mentally adjust. As mentioned, MT cruises are significantly more expensive. If that is what you want to do, and are OK with it, then my advice would be to not look at prices again or compare them to non-MT prices. Like any other discretionary spending, decide what you can spend and don't look back.

 

[blue888]

When you make the reservation, put one adult and one kid in one room, and the second adult and three kids in the other room, assuming you do adjoining rooms. DCL doesn't care where you actually sleep. I say split the kids 1/3 just to make sure that one of the rooms has the top bunk which will sleep 4 total. I don't know if all the adjoining rooms do (maybe someone here knows.) You'll get better sleep, or adult time, because all the kids can sleep in one room, you can close or just prop, or even leave the adjoining door open. There is also a curtain between the bed and the sleeper bed/bunk area if the kids want a bit of privacy or light blockage. Beyond adjoining rooms or crazy expensive suites, your only other choice is two non-adjoining rooms. Then either the adults don't get to sleep together, or the kids are on their own after you tuck them in - neither are ideal with your age range of kids and if you want to actually see your spouse on vacation.

We have 4 kids too (11, 14, 17, 17), and travel with grandparents. I found it easier to just call DCL, with the website open in front of me so I could look at room locations, and pick rooms that way.

The DCL rooms are spacious enough that with 4 little kids and two adjoining rooms, it would practically feel like a palace. LOL

We did a Merry Time cruise last year. I quite liked not having to cook and clean over the holidays. My kids were a bit discombobulated by being away from home though. We surprised them and I think perhaps they needed time to mentally adjust. As mentioned, MT cruises are significantly more expensive. If that is what you want to do, and are OK with it, then my advice would be to not look at prices again or compare them to non-MT prices. Like any other discretionary spending, decide what you can spend and don't look back.

Thanks! Great advice! Yes I feel like 2 adjoining rooms will be perfect. My kids are great sleepers on vacation so I'm not worried about them all being in the same room, but adjoining to ours is a must. I agree completely about not cooking and cleaning over the holidays. This year we are spending Christmas at the DLH so I can avoid cooking and cleaning, lol. I looked on the website at this years cruises just to see some room placement and there were some joining rooms clearly marked and still available, so I feel good about being able to book once the dates are released. I think we will look for 2 oceanview joining rooms. We don't feel comfortable with a balcony and smaller children.

 

[GoofyLovingFamily]

Inside cabin was dark and quieter than the oceanview we had before. We were even right around corner from midship elevators.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

assuming you do adjoining rooms. DCL doesn't care where you actually sleep. I say split the kids 1/3 just to make sure that one of the rooms has the top bunk which will sleep 4 total. I don't know if all the adjoining rooms do (maybe someone here knows.) You'll get better sleep, or adult time, because all the kids can sleep in one room, you can close or just prop, or even leave the adjoining door open.

I feel like 2 adjoining rooms will be perfect.

A little clarification - "adjoining" means next door to (or across the hall from) each other. There is no door inside the rooms to go between them without going out of your room.

"Connecting" means that the rooms are next door to each other and have a connecting interior door.

Be sure to use the correct word when booking. People have been sadly surprised to find "adjoining" rooms do not actually connect in the past.

 

[aggiedog]

Thank you Shmoo. I knew something didn't sound quite right but couldn't come up with the right term.

Are there even connecting inside rooms? I found with the dark curtains even in the verandah rooms, it was plenty dark for sleeping.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Thank you Shmoo. I knew something didn't sound quite right but couldn't come up with the right term.

Are there even connecting inside rooms? I found with the dark curtains even in the verandah rooms, it was plenty dark for sleeping.

Yes, there are connecting inside rooms.

 

[blue888]

A little clarification - "adjoining" means next door to (or across the hall from) each other. There is no door inside the rooms to go between them without going out of your room.

"Connecting" means that the rooms are next door to each other and have a connecting interior door.

Be sure to use the correct word when booking. People have been sadly surprised to find "adjoining" rooms do not actually connect in the past.

Thanks. Yes connecting was the correct term I was thinking of. It is nice on the map it shows which rooms connect.

 

[Dug720]

Thanks! Great advice! Yes I feel like 2 adjoining rooms will be perfect. My kids are great sleepers on vacation so I'm not worried about them all being in the same room, but adjoining to ours is a must. I agree completely about not cooking and cleaning over the holidays. This year we are spending Christmas at the DLH so I can avoid cooking and cleaning, lol. I looked on the website at this years cruises just to see some room placement and there were some joining rooms clearly marked and still available, so I feel good about being able to book once the dates are released. I think we will look for 2 oceanview joining rooms. We don't feel comfortable with a balcony and smaller children.

Just a note. If you ask for "adjoining" you are liable to get rooms across the hall from each other, diagonally from each other, or next to each other but without a door between them.

If you need a door between the rooms you need CONNECTING rooms.

(I realize with a cruise you can choose your own cabins - but if you were going to use a TA or call DCL rather than booking online yourself...)

The terms adjoining and connecting are NOT interchangeable in the hospitality industry - they have very different meanings.)

eta: And Shmoo already covered it. Should have read further.