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[FreeTime]

We are planning a cruise next year when our children will be 4&5. The reason why we have been waiting is because kids have to be 4 to hang out in the kid place. Is this correct? What type of stateroom should we try to get? Is there a room that will be large enough for us if grandpa decides to come along (a loud snorer and a larger man). We are worried that we won't like cruising so plan on taking a 4 night one. But I am concerned that we won't get to do everything that we want. Has anyone taken the 7 night one and been bored or not enjoyed it? Is everything all inclusive or do we have to pay for meals and drinks at the snack bars (we are more casual eaters-no weird food for us). Are we able to request a private table since our kids are so young so they won't disturb others (or embarass us ) or will they sit us with families of the same age? Lastly, I have heard that you are better off getting a stateroom on a lower deck so you won't feel the movement as much, is this true?I am sure that I will have lots more questions, thanks for your help.

 

[alexandrew]

1)Oceaneers Club accommodates children beginning age 3 (must be potty trained)
2)Family stateroom or 2 regular staterooms
3)Plenty of time to do everything you want on 4 day
4)Love the 7-day...never bored, ever...so much to do , so much to eat
5)meals, room service food, as well as all snacks on deck 9 venues (Pinochios Pizza, Plutos) are included ...booze and soda other than at meals in restaurants are $
6)You could ask your TA to reserve your own table...in 5 cruises, we've always had our own (we are a family of 4)
7)we are partial to cat 9 staterooms, deck 2 aft....email me and I'll reply with why we like this location....

 

[my3kids]

We so wanted a table to ourselves and requested it a couple of times, but ended up with another family. Don't worry about your children being a little wild at dinner...most everyone else has a table full also.

If I was taking a snoring Grandpa, I'd not book athe category 4 and have everyone together. I'd book 2 different rooms. Three generations in one room would be way too close for me.

Age 3 and up for the clubs which are included. Under 3 can stay in the nursery, but there is an hourly charge, and the hours are more limited. But, you don't pay anything except port charges and taxes for those under 3, so it might save a lot of money if one is still not quite 3.

Sodas are free at the seated meals, but extra at the deck buffets and snack places. Lemonade, tea, coffee, water are always available for free. Alcohol is always additional, except maybe at the Captain's Reception(?) Don't worry about the regular meals being "wierd." They always have a steak or chicken prepared plainly if you don't want to try something new. Children can order off the children's menu, or the adult menu.

I never noticed much difference in regards to motion anywhere on the ship. We were on deck 5 and loved it.

I can't imagine anyone being bored on the 7 night. Any cruise is fun, but for us, longer is better. Seven nights actually isn't quite long enough, in my opinion!

The staterooms on the lower decks are, for the most part, less expensive than the higher decks. The least expensive are 12s, the most expensive, 1s. Category 4 rooms, the only non suites which will hold 5, are all on one of the upper decks.

 

[crisi]

We waited until our kids were four and five as well - in part because I had a late potty trainer who was 3 1/2 and still not trained. We booked within a month of being sure she was out of diapers, but won't take our cruise until Feb this year.

We elected to do the four night cruise, as we have never cruised before. Four nights seems like a nice introduction to cruising without the time or financial committment of a week (or having to worry about formal night, semi formal night, etc.) If we don't like it, its only four days (and a couple thousand bucks), if we do like it, we can book again.

One disadvantage to four and five - the four year old will be in the 3-4 age group and the five year old will be in the 5-7 age group. My understanding is that he can move down (and he may, he isn't a five year old in kindergarten yet), but she (who will only be 4 1/2) can't move up. Then again (as they whine and fight in the background) they may benefit from their own space.

 

[FreeTime]

Thanks everyone! I didn't realize that 3-5 yearolds wouldn't be together. So if we grandpa doesn't go will we be able to make due in an inside room? I'd rather an outside but would like to save a little bit so we can go to WDW for a few days too.

 

[SeaSpray]

Originally posted by FreeTime
Thanks everyone! I didn't realize that 3-5 yearolds wouldn't be together. So if we grandpa doesn't go will we be able to make due in an inside room? I'd rather an outside but would like to save a little bit so we can go to WDW for a few days too.

I think you'd be fine in an inside cabin. Just realize that one of the beds is a bunkbed that folds down from the ceiling, but they do put up rails around it. Or, if your children are small and don't mind, they could both sleep in the single sofa bed together.

 

[mike2beach]

Our kids were 3 and 5 the first time we sailed on the Magic. They both loved the kids clubs and bunk beds.

 

[KathyTX]

FreeTime-

There's some wonderfully detailed DCL cruise information at allears.net : Magical Disney Cruise Guide

Take a look - you'll find answers to questions you didn't even know you had!

One part of this guide you might find especially helpful is the descriptions of the activities for the kids in each age bracket.

Take a while to browse around there. But be forewarned- it could make you wish you were leaving on your cruise NOW!

 

[kcashner]

Ok...kids.....3-7 are in the Oceaneers Club. They are separated into activity groups od 3-4 and 5-7, but they are based in the same location. The rule for participation in kid activities is 3 and potty trained.

I'd defininitely look into 2 lower category cabins rather than one category 4 (needed for 5 people.) 2 cabins doubles your bathroom space and gives you a lot more privacy. However, you need to look at rates for your sailing dates. The first 2 people in a cabin pay adult rates, no matter what age. Another way to do it is to book a single person in a cabin, but then they pay 175% of the normal rate (since there isn't a second person.) You have to run the calculations all 3 ways, to find which will be cheaper for your group of 5. How you actually sleep is up to you....even if you technically booked grandpa and a child in one cabin, you could choose to sleep with both kids in your cabin.

It is an "all inclusive" except for bar drinks (which include smoothies for the kids), sodas (free in dining rooms, charged elsewhere). Alcoholic drinks are served free for about one hour at the captain's reception.

We are never bored on the 7 day, but I can definitely see trying a 4 day first with your crew....as to seating at dinner, request what you want. They will try to accomadate you. DCL arranges dining rotations by kid age to some extent, so you will be in a dining room full of people with younger kids. The servers have seen it all, so you won't be embarassed....

Spend time here, on the DCL web site..get the booklets from your TA, and prepare to have fun.