Summer 2027 Itineraries (specifically Europe)

[Maryrachel713]

Your mid to smaller ships can go to Venice but usually in Fusina which is the industrial port on the mainland about a 20min or so bus ride from the old terminal on Venice island itself. Your river ships are the ones that so long as they are small enough can actually dock in Venice. When we did our cruise in 2023 (the ship had a max of 600 passengers) we were out of Venice with the terminal being Fusina. A Uniworld river cruise ship was docked in Venice proper. We flew into Venice and stayed on the island of Murano. That hotel had a boat that took you from the airport to their hotel.

The cruise line we do Venice is a common start or end destination and our cruise did Venice to Athens with stops in Croatia, Montenegro and several others in Greece. However, it's not one that is suitable for children not because there's a minimum age limit but that there is nothing for children and consequently you don't typically see them on there.

A word of caution about Venice is because it's transportation is boats make sure your grandfather can adequately get in and out of the boats. We used their public boat transportation and they don't wait for no one when they pull up to the docks. We kept saying I don't know what people do when they get elderly here because you don't really see mobility considerations. I'm not talking about the obvious cobblestones and bridges I'm more meaning transport. If that is a big bucket list place for him I would honestly suggest making that the priority trip. For us we flew in 2 days ahead of the cruise and stayed 2 days after the cruise to explore Athens.

Trieste and Ravenna are used for larger ships that cannot dock in the Venice area. Trieste would be much more preferable to Ravenna but Fusina is the best. I know on our 2023 cruise there was an MSC ship also docked there but I can't recall which one. The upper lines (luxury/ultra luxury as well as certain premium lines) are the primary ones to use Fusina as they are mid to smaller ships.

The itinerary he likes is actually Viking but that obviously does not allow kids. Do you know of any smaller ship lines that do allow kids that I should look at?

There are no mobility concerns--he's in perfect health but I think doesn't want to wait to do something and then have mobility concerns. My mom was hit by a car while riding her bike two years ago (also very healthy--she was biking to the pool to swim and the driver blew a stop sigh) so I think that was really a don't wait to all of us. We went to Alaska less than a year after it happened but she had to use a wheelchair a lot. Barring any further crashes though, they should be have complete mobility for the foreseeable future.

 

[Marthasor]

Have you looked into Oceania Cruises? I believe they have a Venice to Pireaus (Athens) itinerary. It's very Greece heavy though, if it matters. If you don't have to end in Athens, perhaps consider a Ponant Adriatic cruise which typically starts and ends in Venice and visits, mostly, Croatia. We did Ponant with an Adventures by Disney trip (which, unfortunately, has been discontinued) and on that itinerary we also stopped in Montenegro and had a chance to do a shore excursion to Slovakia. It was incredibly and Ponant does a wonderful job.

 

[asgur5]

We definitely hope to spend more time than just the cruise, but are limited by vacation time as well. He plans on going to Roma as a separate trip before this one.

You dont need to do rome on a trip that leaves from rome as all the towns are short travel distances from rome. We did the rome cruise last year and did florence and siena first. Not Rome. You can easily do Venice and Ravenna and then catch a train to board the cruise in Rome on the morning of embarkation which wont start until midday. Its less then a 4hr train from Venice/Ravenna to Rome central station followed by a 30 min train to the port from Rome central station. Dcl cruises are worth doing if you can get them. It wont take any time away from your trip as you dont do anything on the morning of embarkation other then head to the port. Just means you get up a little earlier that day. The girls from 5-12 will think its worth doing.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

The itinerary he likes is actually Viking but that obviously does not allow kids. Do you know of any smaller ship lines that do allow kids that I should look at?

There are no mobility concerns--he's in perfect health but I think doesn't want to wait to do something and then have mobility concerns. My mom was hit by a car while riding her bike two years ago (also very healthy--she was biking to the pool to swim and the driver blew a stop sigh) so I think that was really a don't wait to all of us. We went to Alaska less than a year after it happened but she had to use a wheelchair a lot. Barring any further crashes though, they should be have complete mobility for the foreseeable future.

Oceania, Azamara, Silversea, Seabourn (which is what we sail and has nothing for kids to do specifically), Regent Seven Seas, Explora Journeys, etc allow kids that are smaller and do sail from the area (at least a quick google search but don't take this as 100% true especially for 2027).

Of the ones that I mentioned I think are gravitating towards kids is Explora. I believe Explora has kids club. Check MSC as well which may mimic more of a traditional ship experience and has a kids club. I mentioned kids club because it means they at least consider kids when designing the ship and for activities so I would look at this for a criteria of the lines I mentioned (I don't think Azamara has kids club, Regent may or may not have sailings with something for kids otherwise normally not, etc) and look at their websites for any FAQs or advertising for kids and do some google searching. You'd have to do a good search on each of those lines to ensure they go where you want to go meaning the end point and the stops in between.

The lines I mentioned are usually up there in costs but not necessarily when comparing DCL so take that for what its worth. A side note is DCL is generally more geared towards kids so rooms may be more set up to allow more occupancy than the other lines mentioned (though always check each cruise line). Another thing to look out for is differences like gratuities and tipping and what is included in your cruise fare if you're branching out so you do a good comparison on costs (typically higher up lines included more in the fares though that isn't necessarily always true).

 

[HyperspaceMountainPilot]

Oceania, Azamara, Silversea, Seabourn (which is what we sail and has nothing for kids to do specifically), Regent Seven Seas, Explora Journeys, etc allow kids that are smaller and do sail from the area (at least a quick google search but don't take this as 100% true especially for 2027).

I was going to recommend Celebrity as a happy medium (they have kids clubs but also are elegant and calmer in many spaces, and their suite class dining room is comparable to Viking quality) and then I saw that the OP felt there wasn’t much for kids to do on NCL so I’m really not sure they will be happy with the lines mentioned above. To be clear, I have sailed many and would enthusiastically recommend them, but there is so much less (if anything!) for kids to do than on NCL.

We did an 18 day round South America with our 3 and 5 year olds on Celebrity and it was great but we also had an au pair and grandparents to entertain them and didn’t use the kids club much. We sailed Princess once or twice around that age but didn’t like it as much— the dining is a step down but there wasn’t significantly more for kids to do. We took our 2yo on Regent and loved it, but she was too young for kids’ programming so we didn’t notice the lack. We LOVED Seabourn in Europe, but did it before kids. Sometimes the luxury lines will announce certain sailings with kids clubs/enrichment on board, but it will still be totally different than NCL or Disney.

One other option we did before kids (but is kid friendly) is Cunard— they usually have a couple ships in Europe and sometimes sail more adventurous itineraries…they have very high end experiences available in the Grill Suites but also (at least the QM2?) have many public spaces that are a bit more entertaining for children.

I have heard good reviews of MSC’s “Yacht club” (luxury suite area) experience...but haven’t experienced it myself— I assume their kid activities will be similar to NCL or RCL?

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I was going to recommend Celebrity as a happy medium (they have kids clubs but also are elegant and calmer in many spaces, and their suite class dining room is comparable to Viking quality) and then I saw that the OP felt there wasn’t much for kids to do on NCL so I’m really not sure they will be happy with the lines mentioned above. To be clear, I have sailed many and would enthusiastically recommend them, but there is so much less (if anything!) for kids to do than on NCL.

We did an 18 day round South America with our 3 and 5 year olds on Celebrity and it was great but we also had an au pair and grandparents to entertain them and didn’t use the kids club much. We sailed Princess once or twice around that age but didn’t like it as much— the dining is a step down but there wasn’t significantly more for kids to do. We took our 2yo on Regent and loved it, but she was too young for kids’ programming so we didn’t notice the lack. We LOVED Seabourn in Europe, but did it before kids. Sometimes the luxury lines will announce certain sailings with kids clubs/enrichment on board, but it will still be totally different than NCL or Disney.

One other option we did before kids (but is kid friendly) is Cunard— they usually have a couple ships in Europe and sometimes sail more adventurous itineraries…they have very high end experiences available in the Grill Suites but also (at least the QM2?) have many public spaces that are a bit more entertaining for children.

I have heard good reviews of MSC’s “Yacht club” (luxury suite area) experience...but haven’t experienced it myself— I assume their kid activities will be similar to NCL or RCL?

Yeah I was just talking about what lines would go to the area they want and made mention of what lines would be at least more attuned to kids (via a kids club in the comment you quoted). There's many opinions related to kids club for DCL or whether the particular activities are actually enjoyable to one's particular kid but my point was certain lines at least considers kids vs lines that are not keeping kids in mind for design of the ship and the activities they have. A line may go to where you want to go but if you aren't prepared to keep your 5 yr old (especially) entertained I wouldn't in the least go with a line that doesn't have any activities for them.

Yeah with Seabourn if they have a sailing with higher amount of kids (rare but can happen) they have the option of flying in someone who can then create activities for kids and entertain them to a degree but otherwise it is the expectation that the parents are entertaining their children and minding them. Our first cruise with them had a few toddlers, then a bit older and then some teens but it was only them many comments about how that sailing skewed younger overall in age, our second cruise had none (which is more normal and we were considered the youngest at mid-30s). It's not super uncommon IF you bring kids to then bring your own au pair or similar (like you did with Celebrity).

We almost did Cunard but opted for a land-based trip through multiple countries via trains. I believe we were going to do a Queen's Grill Suite, from what I've heard they are still generally considered the most formal in dress code even as basically all the lines have by now lowered how dressy you are supposed to be. We almost did NCL in a Neptune Suite but opted for Seabourn (Virgin Voyages Rock Star Suite was also on the table before settling for Seabourn but Virgin Voyages is 18+ anyhow).

Basically you gotta be prepared to be the primary entertainment on certain lines that don't cater to children which may be quite a bit different with someone going from DCL and even NCL (which the OP did with their kids) but they may be the lines that are more going to the area the OP wants, well more that their relative wants. Venice is just one of those destinations (like Amsterdam and now Norway increasingly) where your ability to go there is more limited and even more so when you have multiple people you're trying to work with (relative who wants particular destinations and kids).

I know there's a poster that sails primarily in the MSC Yacht Club but I don't think they have young children so I don't know if they have info about kids activities.

Personally I get it for the OP because trying to get to Venice with 4 kids from outside of Venice is not the easiest. Another option is if they found a cruise line that suits them but sails out of Trieste they could fly in a few days ahead to Venice tour that and then take transportation to Trieste that way the relative gets the Venice portion they want without trying to force a sail out of Venice. They could do Ravenna too but obviously that's a long transport journey from Venice. Still means uprooting both families before making it to the ship but if the other lines just don't work that could be another option.

 

[dllocals]

Dcl cruises start in rome. Why dont you just spend some time before the cruise in italy including ravenna and venice. Venice is only 4 hrs train from rome. In between that is florence (the best city of the three).

Frankly its madness to fly to europe and only do a cruise without any time on land unless you do europe often and have only a very short time. The cruises only give you a very small taste of these places and never at night. Venice, rome and florence are most magical at night. I would spend atleast a week in italy first and then do the cruise.

We agree, seeing Italy with just a few hours on an excursion IS madness. I’m still kicking myself for only having booked 2 nights in Venice…

 

[jalapeno_pretzel]

Grandpa sounds really cool, I hope you can find the right trip for him. It is a little sad though that he'd stay home and not travel with 9 people who sound like they really love him and want him there, just because it doesn't check off all of the very specific criteria!

 

[Maryrachel713]

I was going to recommend Celebrity as a happy medium (they have kids clubs but also are elegant and calmer in many spaces, and their suite class dining room is comparable to Viking quality) and then I saw that the OP felt there wasn’t much for kids to do on NCL so I’m really not sure they will be happy with the lines mentioned above. To be clear, I have sailed many and would enthusiastically recommend them, but there is so much less (if anything!) for kids to do than on NCL.

We did an 18 day round South America with our 3 and 5 year olds on Celebrity and it was great but we also had an au pair and grandparents to entertain them and didn’t use the kids club much. We sailed Princess once or twice around that age but didn’t like it as much— the dining is a step down but there wasn’t significantly more for kids to do. We took our 2yo on Regent and loved it, but she was too young for kids’ programming so we didn’t notice the lack. We LOVED Seabourn in Europe, but did it before kids. Sometimes the luxury lines will announce certain sailings with kids clubs/enrichment on board, but it will still be totally different than NCL or Disney.

One other option we did before kids (but is kid friendly) is Cunard— they usually have a couple ships in Europe and sometimes sail more adventurous itineraries…they have very high end experiences available in the Grill Suites but also (at least the QM2?) have many public spaces that are a bit more entertaining for children.

I have heard good reviews of MSC’s “Yacht club” (luxury suite area) experience...but haven’t experienced it myself— I assume their kid activities will be similar to NCL or RCL?

Oh, I didn't mean NCL didn't have kids stuff, just that it was my kids least favorite compared to Royal or Disney. My kids are 10 (and no matter what this is going to be port heavy) so I don't think kids programming matters too much, but my sisters kids can be a little more difficult than mine. My daughter loves a good organized activity (kids or otherwise--she liked trivia and the adult craft on NCL) so she'll be fine no matter what. This is really helpful.

We sailed MSC from Florida years ago (pre-covid) and their kids programming was pretty good. I remember they could even take the kids to dinner.

The itinerary we're currently looking at is Celebrity so glad you think it could be a good fit.

 

[Maryrachel713]

Grandpa sounds really cool, I hope you can find the right trip for him. It is a little sad though that he'd stay home and not travel with 9 people who sound like they really love him and want him there, just because it doesn't check off all of the very specific criteria!

He's wonderful. I think he just really wants to go on these trips and wants to make sure he gets to before it's too difficult. I think he's actually interested in going to Hawaii now, so at least maybe we can go there after we sort out this cruise! And it sounds like then he'll be willing to do whatever til he can't anymore.

I feel for him because he's trying so hard not to be difficult; he just doesn't want to attend a trip he's not interested in and then be potentially unable to do a trip he's really interested in.