If not DCL, what cruise line for Europe?

[mrsp1030]

We are pretty loyal to the mouse for cruises right now simply because they work for our kids ages (9,7,4) but are strongly considering a 2018 summer cruise in Europe as a 40th birthday celebration. I know, long term thinking but considering in about a year, I will need to make some decisions and am trying to plan accordingly after seeing the prices for 2017 released. So, in reality, what ships other than DCL would one consider family friendly in Europe? Hoping to first fly into London for a few days and show our kids where we use to call home when they were wee ones. Just want to compare features and cost to DCL before starting the savings route.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

We are pretty loyal to the mouse for cruises right now simply because they work for our kids ages (9,7,4) but are strongly considering a 2018 summer cruise in Europe as a 40th birthday celebration. I know, long term thinking but considering in about a year, I will need to make some decisions and am trying to plan accordingly after seeing the prices for 2017 released. So, in reality, what ships other than DCL would one consider family friendly in Europe? Hoping to first fly into London for a few days and show our kids where we use to call home when they were wee ones. Just want to compare features and cost to DCL before starting the savings route.

I'd probably start with Princess. But check the other lines, as the itineraries are important.

 

[mrsp1030]

I'd probably start with Princess. But check the other lines, as the itineraries are important.

Even with kids also?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Even with kids also?

Yes. I'd look and see what Princess has cruise-wise. I've read that the Princess kid's clubs are quite good. But I'd also figure out if the itineraries offer what I'm interested in seeing.

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

I have cruised a number of ships in the Med and the best is RCCI.

Royal Caribbean has lots of kids activities.

 

[MUN]

I have cruised a number of ships in the Med and the best is RCCI.

Royal Caribbean has lots of kids activities.

Better than DCL?

OK, we have booked a 7-day Norway cruise for June 4th 2017 out of Copenhagen for our family of 5. I looked at the most comparable cruise on RCCI out of Copenhagen and they have a 11 day Artic Circle Cruise (5 Norway stops the rest are sea days) on the Serenade of the Seas. For 2 oceanview rooms, the price of 11 days on RCCI comes out to about 20% more for 4 more days (57% longer cruise than the 7-day DCL cruise).

I wasn't surprised or disappointed in the price I booked the DCL Norway cruise for It was actually less expensive than the NYE cruise to the Bahamas and the EC cruise we took last year. Flying to Copenhagen will be the expensive part!

 

[tidefan]

I'd vote Princess as well.

 

[MamaBear58]

I favor HAL for Europe.

 

[mrsp1030]

Better than DCL?

OK, we have booked a 7-day Norway cruise for June 4th 2017 out of Copenhagen for our family of 5. I looked at the most comparable cruise on RCCI out of Copenhagen and they have a 11 day Artic Circle Cruise (5 Norway stops the rest are sea days) on the Serenade of the Seas. For 2 oceanview rooms, the price of 11 days on RCCI comes out to about 20% more for 4 more days (57% longer cruise than the 7-day DCL cruise).

I wasn't surprised or disappointed in the price I booked the DCL Norway cruise for It was actually less expensive than the NYE cruise to the Bahamas and the EC cruise we took last year. Flying to Copenhagen will be the expensive part!

Did you book 2 rooms on DCL or just one?

 

[ldo]

We love DCL, but have sailed non-DCL 4X in Europe--just cannot pay the big DCL $$$$. We also have 5. Your best deal will be RCCL or Carnival, which have rooms the sleep 5-6. Great for kids, even our teens still like this set-up. The RCCL family OV is a great deal, with a larger room with a sofa bed, plus a semi-private alcove with bunk beds. You must have 5 persons to book and you have to call. RCCL is just fine for Europe, plus their buffet is open for dinner with decent food, so you can feed your kids early and then dine alone @7, when the kids club opens up for the evening. In Europe, the ship is really a floating hotel and you are very tired after long days of touring, many times with only 1 sea day. My kids ages 5-9 loved the RCCL kids clubs. One day, DS even chose to stay in the kids club and not go on an excursion. RCCL had some good entertainment (fake Beatles, musicians/folk dancers from the region, plus the usual). Family OV will run about $6-8K for a 7 day cruise usually, though you can sometimes snag a deal. Book early, as there are only a few FOV cabins per boat. Some RCCL give the option of embarking in BCN or ROME. We preferred Rome and spent extra time there before/after. Carnival should have a new ship in 2018. See what the Vista reviews for Europe 2016 to decide. Carnival in Europe is not a booze-cruise party ship, as the cost is very high to fly over. Plus, a brand new ship just built. We liked Princess also, but RCCL had more going on for kids/teens. Plus, you won't get the better deals, as most cabins only sleep 4, same for HA, but they do charge less for kids.

 

[MUN]

Did you book 2 rooms on DCL or just one?

We booked 2 adjoining Oceanview rooms, category 9C.

 

[jenf22]

OK, we have booked a 7-day Norway cruise for June 4th 2017 out of Copenhagen for our family of 5. I looked at the most comparable cruise on RCCI out of Copenhagen and they have a 11 day Artic Circle Cruise (5 Norway stops the rest are sea days) on the Serenade of the Seas. For 2 oceanview rooms, the price of 11 days on RCCI comes out to about 20% more for 4 more days (57% longer cruise than the 7-day DCL cruise).

I wasn't surprised or disappointed in the price I booked the DCL Norway cruise for It was actually less expensive than the NYE cruise to the Bahamas and the EC cruise we took last year. Flying to Copenhagen will be the expensive part!

I'm not sure the Arctic Circle cruise is a fair comparison to the Norway fjords, price-wise. We cruised the NCL Star for 7 nights in a mini-suite for the same time in June last year as you have booked on DCL for next year. The cost for 2 adults and 1 child was $3300 and we had the beverage and dining packages included. I just priced your cruise for the 3 of us in a 5B and it was $7515 (which is about what it was in 2015 if I remember correctly).

You will love Norway! It was such an awesome cruise! I had better luck flying into London than Copenhagen. Best of luck!

 

[Kimberly9701]

I'm looking for Nowegian Fjords/Iceland and can't/won't pay over $13k for myself and a 6 year old. I'm looking at MSC out of Hamburg which is an Iceland/Scotland itinerary. OR Royal Caribbean Arctic Circle/Norway with a 4 night stop in Iceland before arriving in Copenhagen.

I'm doing more research on MSC before booking..I don't know too much about them

 

[MUN]

I'm not sure the Arctic Circle cruise is a fair comparison to the Norway fjords, price-wise. We cruised the NCL Star for 7 nights in a mini-suite for the same time in June last year as you have booked on DCL for next year. The cost for 2 adults and 1 child was $3300 and we had the beverage and dining packages included. I just priced your cruise for the 3 of us in a 5B and it was $7515 (which is about what it was in 2015 if I remember correctly).

You will love Norway! It was such an awesome cruise! I had better luck flying into London than Copenhagen. Best of luck!

Thanks! I'm sure London would be less

I'm looking for Nowegian Fjords/Iceland and can't/won't pay over $13k for myself and a 6 year old. I'm looking at MSC out of Hamburg which is an Iceland/Scotland itinerary. OR Royal Caribbean Arctic Circle/Norway with a 4 night stop in Iceland before arriving in Copenhagen.

I'm doing more research on MSC before booking..I don't know too much about them

Our family talked about the 11 night rt cruise out of Dover to Norway/Iceland, but I knew that would be pricey.

 

[MUN]

I'm not sure the Arctic Circle cruise is a fair comparison to the Norway fjords, price-wise. We cruised the NCL Star for 7 nights in a mini-suite for the same time in June last year as you have booked on DCL for next year. The cost for 2 adults and 1 child was $3300 and we had the beverage and dining packages included. I just priced your cruise for the 3 of us in a 5B and it was $7515 (which is about what it was in 2015 if I remember correctly).

You will love Norway! It was such an awesome cruise! I had better luck flying into London than Copenhagen. Best of luck!

RCCL didn't show a 7-night out of Copenhagen in June, that's why I used the 11-night.
Did you take the train from London to Copenhagen? That seems like a long trip.

 

[Kimberly9701]

Thanks! I'm sure London would be less

Our family talked about the 11 night rt cruise out of Dover to Norway/Iceland, but I knew that would be pricey.

I knew it would be pricey..just not THAT pricey lol. I've been scrambling ever since the price release looking for an alternative.

Have fun on your trip!!

 

[MUN]

I knew it would be pricey..just not THAT pricey lol. I've been scrambling ever since the price release looking for an alternative.

Have fun on your trip!!

Thanks! Good luck with your search!

 

[tidefan]

As an FYI, We took Serenade of the Seas out of New Orleans a couple of years ago and really did not care for it.

 

[soniam]

As an FYI, We took Serenade of the Seas out of New Orleans a couple of years ago and really did not care for it.

That's a pretty old ship. RCCL says that it was recently refurbed. I would look for a newer ship. Nola gets the older ships. Sometimes Galveston too. I don't know what they are doing for Europe though.

 

[jenf22]

RCCL didn't show a 7-night out of Copenhagen in June, that's why I used the 11-night.
Did you take the train from London to Copenhagen? That seems like a long trip.

I don't think Royal does the fjords, that's we why did NCL. It seems like NCL is cheaper across the board than Royal. We did do a RCCL cruise out of San Juan at the same time as the Magic. We were originally booked on the Magic and jumped ship to Royal to save some money.

We actually flew to London and spent a couple of nights there, then took the Eurostar to Paris for a couple of nights, and then flew to Copenhagen. I was trying to get to Europe with our frequent flyer miles on United. So our 7 night cruise turned into a 15 night vacation.

To the original OP - We did the Europe trip for my 40th too. About a year ahead of time we both got United credit cards so we could amass enough miles to get our tickets covered. We're planning a Med cruise for next year and are looking at both NCL and RCCL. Right now we're leaning toward a 10 night on NCL that is unbelievably cheap. Only problem is it's in March and the kiddo would have to miss a week of school.