Cruising with 3 kids

[suerob]

I have never been on a cruise before but we would love to try it. We have 3 children, 2, 5, and 7. What kind of room would fit us all? Can anyone give me a rough idea on how much it would cost us?

 

[Karel]

With kids that young, I think a Category 4 family suite would be best. Can the seven year old sleep on an upper bunk, like a bunk bed? Does the two year old need a crib? You might be cramped with the crib, so maybe two rooms would be better?

I would do something shorter, like a four night. The two year old, unless s/he's potty trained, won't be allowed in the pools.

As for price, it depends when you go. I won't attempt to answer that one.

 

[dclwdwlover]

We go 'off season' as much as possible because it is much cheaper & not as hot. Also, when we include the parks, it is not as crowded.

We like October & March, but are actually doing one this coming January for the first time.

It may be an issue with school for you, but that's an individual decision.

 

[CurtS]

We have six children (3,4,8,9,10,12) and have two Cat. 9 staterooms (deluxe family with an outside window, four people per room) on deck 2. I'm not sure if it includes an upper pull-down bunk or simply a large pull out bed (this is our first cruise, so someone who has some experience can probably answer that), but our TA assured us that, for the limited amount of time we will be spending in the room, it will be adequate for our needs, and certainly within our price range.

 

[hydster]

We have 3 kids as well. The first DCL we did the Wonder land/sea in a Cat 4. For a 4 day cruise it was ok but I was glad it wasn't any longer in the same room because it started to get claustrophobic. At the time of that cruise our kids were 3, 7 and 8. We booked the Magic for 5-1-04 and decided that we'd rather get 2 connecting rooms with windows than try to cram us all in one Cat 4. Kids ages were 5, 9 and 10. We were assigned rooms on the 6th deck. 2 weeks before sailing we got comp ugraded to 2 connecting cat 4's which was really nice! I think with kids as young as yours are you might be better off getting 2 rooms that connect. Then when they are napping or sleeping you have a room that you can watch tv in or play cards or something without waking them up. The cat 4 for a family of 5 is doable BUT if your kids are sleeping getting out onto the balcony is almost impossible unless your child sleeps very soundly in the Murphy bed. For us it was only about 1200 more to get 2 rooms than it was to stuff us all in a cat 4.

 

[Rock'n Robin]

We did a Wonder cruise in a cat. 4 when the kids were 5,8 and 11. It was fine. This July we did a Magic cruise in a cat.6, but DS slept with the grandparents as we had connecting rooms. I don't think I'd want to give up at least a window (having had a verandah) but if you book early enough, you can get 2 connecting 10 rooms that have a "secret porthole"--I don't remember the room #s but there are two sets like this. You pay for an inside stateroom because your window view is obstructed by a lifeboat. I am hoping to get these for our next trip as two connecting 10s are cheaper than one cat. 4, and our oldest will be a "teen" this time and more expensive anyhow.
You do pay for 4 adults if you get two rooms, but if you use the lower categories it often is still cheaper.
BTW some families will get a verandah room (cat. 6 or higher) and an inside stateroom (cat. 11 for example) across the hall--but your kids are a little young for that yet!
Robin M.

 

[momof3luvs2run]

We have 3 kids as well -- ages 4, 8 and 10. This is our first cruise with the kids. We went with a Category 4 Deluxe Family Stateroom with Verandah.

You can play around on the disneycruise.com website to find out how much it will cost for your family. We ended up booking through a Travel Agent and saving a bit that way. We booked our own flight -- which seems to be where we saved the most money (comparing it to Disney's quote).

Have fun planning.

 

[PMelhorn]

We are a family of five and we always go with two connecting rooms cat 9 or 10's. We keep the door between the open and it feels like a big room. Plus we have two tv's and 2 bathrooms. If never fails if someone is in the bathroom someone wants in. My dh and I take one room and the 3 kids are in the other we have the bed split to make 2 twin beds and have the couch fix or the bunk pulled down. Our last cruise we took our neice so they all four sleep in their room. The kids love it . It has always been alot cheaper this way too. Plus we are never really in the cabin any way.

 

[Dreamer04]

Here is my two cents. Check out allseastravel.com. You can check out the different pricings for assorted rooms on any week.

Its the easiest way to figure out what is best for you.

IMHO, I would go with 2 connecting rooms. Unless a balcony is important, then I would go with the cheapest balcony cabin-say a cat 6, and book the connecting rooms.


Also, book the longest cruise you can afford. You'll be happy you did!

 

[kellimomo3]

I also have three kids, DS8, DS6, DS4. After much research here we changed our reservation from a Cat. 4 to a cat. 8 with a cat.11 across the hall on deck 5. I am very happy with our new cabins and saved over $1,000!!!! You have to think about how you will feel all in the same room for a week. I knoew we needed the extra space!!Whatever you decide, I'm sure you will all have a "magic" cruise!!

Kelli

 

[HooKooDooKu]

One of the down sides to going on a Disney Cruise with a family of five is that there is no cheap way to do it.

The rule is that every passenger must have a bed. You can't just pile the kids on the floor, and the pack-n-play cribs the ship provides for infants doesn't count. So if you have a family of 5 (regardless of ages), you MUST book a Cat4 cabin (or higher) for everyone to stay in one cabin.

Obviously you can book two cheaper cabins instead, but the down side there is that you are forced to pay for four adult fares, again regardless of the kids ages.

To decide which way to go is best for you, here's a starting point...

Cat 4 = Cat 6 + Cat 11
Cat 4 = Cat9 + Cat9

For the price of a deluxe family room with verandah, you can get a deluxe room with verandah AND a standard inside stateroom OR you can get a pair of adjoining deluxe ocean view rooms.

Obvisouly the cheapest way to go is a pair of standard inside stateroom (Cat 11 x 2) but the down side is that there are no Cat 11 adjoining rooms. Perhaps the "best" rate (value for your money) is a pair of adjoining Cat 10 Deluxe Inside Staterooms.

 

[wildernessgirl]

We also have three children (5,3, and 9mo at time of cruise). Yes we are NUTS! This will be our second time in a Cat.4 stateroom. Last time we took our stepdaughter when the 3yr was 9mo. so we had 5 in the cabin last time too. This cabin was perfect for our family. We loved the verandah and the split bath was wonderful! We used the verandah when the kids were sleeping at night or napping during the day. We also had a crib the first time (and of course this time too) we had a cat.4 and it didn't take up any more room then the "5th bed" when used. Actually the crib is alittle shorter then the 5th bed (comes down from the wall by the verandah) so we had no trouble going in or out of the verandah, which I heard is a slight problem when the 5th bed is used. You just have to step over the bed which could be slightly difficult. With young children, I would perfer the cat.4 over 2 stateroom idea.

As the children gets older, we will probably do the two cabins (either 2 secret porthole rooms or 2 across the hall from each other).

I feel once you have a verandah you will want nothing else. It is a nice place to go and just relax. IF it does rain on your cruise, it is nice to go and sit and enjoy the ocean and you are not dealing with the rest of the cruisers who are on deck 4 or the covered portion of deck 9. It is just a matter of what you really want.

Good luck with your decission! You will not be disappointed whichever decission you make. Just remember YOU'RE ON DISNEY'S SHIP and what could be better then that!