Questions about DCL with young kids - What's a better age to take kids on their first Disney cruise 6 and 4 or 7 and 5?

[SnowWhite2]

Your kids are only small once and many age out of Disney in the blink of an eye. Patents are making memories,

My kids (pictured in my avatar) are now 31/29 and still haven’t aged out of Disney! They spent Sunday in Epcot. They will meet DH and I at DL in October on our way back from our Disney Hawaii cruise. They would come with us but they don’t have enough vacation time. Oldest works for Disney but they sought her out, she didn’t apply to them. She has taken several cruises already with her cast discount and she has only worked there for a year.

 

[cinnamoroll]

My kid was 3 and a half when we went on our first cruise. She didn't want to go to the kids club by herself but we still got to experience it during open house. She had an absolute blast meeting characters and watching the shows. She doesn't remember all the details but can still recall parts of it when she looks back on pictures and videos. It's worth it at any age as long as they have a good time

 

[Joanna71985]

So the boys will be 5 and 3 after all. My only concern is Fantasy is the "princesses" ship but I know you guys said that there's a lot of other activities. My soon to be 3 year old loves the Let it Go song even though he hasn't Frozen yet.

I've been on the Fantasy twice, and I've never considered it as the "princess ship" (no moreso than the others).

 

[Ahoyhoy]

So there's been some more complications:
1) So the Family Deluxe Oceanview Rooms are all gone for the February booking (includes Pixar Day at Sea), and now there's only Verendah style left, which is a $800 USD/$1,100 CAD increase (not chump change for us). Also, I think I misworded the Verendah worry, the worry would be that he would get on the Verendah and get on the railing.
2) My wife just wants to be sure that the 3.5 year old will have enough to do for 5 nights other than be in kids club all the time as he may not be completely potty trained, or be used to floating with a life jacket, may not still sit during dinners or shows. I know people say character meets but other than waiting, those don't take that long.
3) Also having activities that the 5.5 year old and the 3.5 year old to do together - aka could the 5.5 year old be at the splash pad even though it's for younger kids.
4) I assume we can fit a crib in the room?