What is the best age to take kids on a Disney Cruise?

[ggeorgiagirl]

Just wondering...because I have never been on a cruise! Would a 4 yr and 1 yr have fun? They LOVE the WORLD...but a cruise??!! I would be afraid that they would fall overboard or something crazy like that! Would 6yr and 3yr be better?

THANKS!

Beth

 

[TAKitty]

You may want to post this question on the cruise forum.

 

[bytheblood]

I would also suggest going to the DCL forum.

However, I will share this. We took our daughter when she was 5 and even being the social butterfly she is, she did not enjoy it....and she loves Disney.

If you are taking another child they know that they can play with, that is great. The kids are separated by age groups. I think being in a room with a bunch of kids you do not know is similar to being in daycare....she just did not enjoy that.

Your kids will not fall overboard unless you are not watching them. Even still, they would have to try real hard to get off the ship.

Just an FYI on the clubs:
Discover an awesome world of Disney-style cruise activities for Guests of all ages. Our trained counselors help kids 3-12 join in hands-on fun and Teens 13-17 enjoy an area that's just for them. Adults can keep busy — or just relax — all day and night. Choose to have family time or individual time throughout your cruise; whatever you do, every choice is sure to yield lifelong memories!

 

[Susan555]

Our 5 and 7 year old kids have been on 6 cruises, and it is by FAR their favorite type of vacation. We took them on their first cruise when they were 2 and 3, and they LOVED the kids' program and spent most of their time there. That's the highlight of their trip. I would NOT take a child on a cruise unless they were eligible for the kids' program, because there's just not THAT much to do on a cruise ship for kids - there are pools, mini golf, etc, but not enough to fill up your days. We only cruise Carnival, and Carnival accepts kids 2 and up into the kids' program, and they do not need to be potty trained. As far as I know, Disney requires kids to be 3 years old and potty trained.

On our last cruise in December, we met a family in Cozumel, and they were on a Disney cruise. They said they had spent $3500 and their kids were not really enjoying the cruise at all. The girls, who were 5 and 9, didn't care for the kids' program. On the other hand, the kids and I paid $550 for our 5 day Carnival cruise through a last-last minute deal, and my kids were having a BLAST at Camp Carnival. In fact, we did two 5 day cruises in 2 weeks and they were ready to go back again!

Cruisecritic has some great message boards where you can get information on Disney and every other cruise line - I suggest you check it out so that you can learn not only about the ins and outs of Disney cruises, but also the other lines you might want to try.

 

[Sleeping Becca]

I would wait untill they are old enough to participate in the children's programs. I agree that for toddlers it does compare to dropping them off at daycare.

For school age children 5 and up cruising is really great! They love the childrens program so much they will not want to leave. Upon waking up the first thing my daughter asks is when can she go to the "kids place". In the evenings some cruiselines offer late night parties, My child was not ready to leave at midnight and begged to stay longer.

The cruise boards will have more info for you!

 

[ggeorgiagirl]

Y'all ROCK! Thanks for the advice! I will check out the websites! I think that we will do something else for now (maybe one of the Beaches things with Elmo and stuff). My 1 year old wouldn't like the daycare thing! I'll wait until they are just a tad bit older!


THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[lillygator]

I think you'll get a huge range of answers for this question.....my DD's, the first started DCL cruising when she was 18 months and the 2nd 10 months. This past December's 7 nighter they were 4 and 22 months. They both love it, love the kid's clubs, etc. We had a great time.

I think a lot of the cruise is what you, as a family, make of it. Some read through the cruise boards and I think set the bar at a perfect vacation and have such high standards they are let down. Are things going to be perfect? Of course not, but really on any vacation they aren't....some kids like the clubs, some don't, my DD would hurry through dinner so she could get there. The Mickey pool and slide was a huge hit and the beaches were great, but since we live at the beach it may not be as huge an attraction for them, but they love playing in the sand and water.

You never know until you try!! Maybe try a 3 nighter first to see how it goes!

Good luck!

 

[caribear]

We waited until dd was 3 and potty trained before we started cruising with her. This way she was able to join the kid's clubs and play with children her age. I think it's really a personal choice as to when you feel your children are ready for the experience. What really surprised me was the fact that she did not like the kid's club on Disney, but wouldn't leave the kid's club on Princess! This was because the Disney Kid's clubs are packed full of kids.....I mean Disney caters to children, so you have to expect their programs to be very poplular. DD liked the pirate ship/slide that Disney has in their club, but the kids can only play on it at certain times....and during these times the slide was complete mayhem.....bigger kids pushing the little ones out of the way...and DD did not enjoy this. No one on Disney knew her name without having to get up close and read her nametag....she was just one of hundreds of children. On Princess there were 10-15 children in her club.....and she had a lot of personal attention. The moment she walked in the door they would call her by name....without a nametag on. They made folders for the kid's artwork and dd came home with tons of art projects. She loved it!! She asks all the time to go back on the Princess ship.

 

[ggeorgiagirl]

WOW Caribear! It makes sense that she enjoyed the Princess cruise better. My family (brother+family, sister+family, cousins+family) are thinking about doing something together as a family vacation. Last year, we did a Magical Gathering and they do not want to do the WORLD again...so, the next best thing would be a Disney Cruise (they are not DisLovers like myself). They might be more willing to do a Princess cruise, though!

 

[caribear]

WOW Caribear! It makes sense that she enjoyed the Princess cruise better. My family (brother+family, sister+family, cousins+family) are thinking about doing something together as a family vacation. Last year, we did a Magical Gathering and they do not want to do the WORLD again...so, the next best thing would be a Disney Cruise (they are not DisLovers like myself). They might be more willing to do a Princess cruise, though!

The Princess cruise was really wonderful! My dh, dd and I went with my dad and his wife....so they did not want to do the Disney cruise. The newer Princess ships have great kid's clubs and I believe they are able to provided more personal attention for the little ones due to the smaller number of kids aboard the ship. Princess also offers "anytime" dining which was wonderful. We could enjoy are days and not have to worry about eating dinner at a set time every night. If my dd was used to a large daycare setting then I think she would have enjoyed Disney more. It was just the sheer number of children that discouraged her from participating. I think cruising is a wonderful family vacation......you don't have to worry about all the extra planning that a regular vacation requires.

 

[G's mommy]

We went on the Disney cruise when my son was 3 and then again when he was 4. He enjoyed it more at 4 I think. I believe Carnival is the only cruise line that takes children at 2 years and in diapers. The rest require that they be 3 and FULLY potty trained, no pull-ups. We have since been on Carnival and twice on Royal Carribean. My son loves cruising, loves the kid's activities, never wants to leave. It really depends on the personality of the child. We have had friends take their children on cruises and could not get them to participate in anything the whole week. These parents all say they will go alone next time as it was no dream vacation for them. It's the perfect vacation (aside from WDW) for us because our son is an only child and he has a blast having other kids his age to hang with. We have found the kids' clubs to be good on all of our cruises. Disney cruises do tend to have more children on board, but Carnival, Princess and RCCL definitely cater to families as well and it really depends on time of year. If school is out, families will be on cruises!

 

[lindakmonty]

For me, any age is a good age I just love to cruise!!! First cruise I was pregnant. The staff was wonderful getting me food they thought I could eat. 2nd cruise when ds was 18 months, 3rd at 2 1/2, 4 at age 4 and our 5th...is Feb 4th and he'll be 6 in Feb. Ever age was wonderful. The first cruise...he loved the characters as long as they were 6' from him. they got closer and he'd run and hide. it was hilarous!!! Way too cute! His 2nd cruise he like the characters fine...3rd cruise he was really disappointed if he didn't get to hug them and see them close and get their autographs.. evertime was so magical and adorable to watch his reactions. The clubs are fantastic. I always travel off season so the ships aren't as full. They would have a blast and no need to worry about them going overboard. They have plexiglass type walls where they can look out but no fear of going over.