Need advice for best family cruises and best times to go?

Question

I am considering a family cruise with teens. Wondering what others have experienced and what lines are the best bargains.

Answer 1

We cruise twice a year. Carnival is truly "the fun ship". We tried Royal Carribean but, a little bit too old of a crowd for teenagers!If you book a group cruise 10 cabins or more you get great upgrades and discounts. The earlier you book the better the rate.

Answer 2

We cruise often with our pre-teen and teen daughter along with teens from our extended family.

They love the 24-hour pizza and all you can eat ice cream on Carnival.  They don't like Royal Caribbean because it is a bit more formal than Carnival.  As teens, they are too old for Disney.

My most important piece of advice when cruising with teens...get a set or sets of the 2-way radios to use on board ship.  You can give the teen freedom and still have piece of mind.  You can buy them at Wal-Mart, Target, Radio Shack, etc.  

Spring Break is a big travel time for families with teens as well as the summer months.  Only problem with summer months is hurricane season and Mexico gets rain during August.

Be sure to plan more interactive shore excursions instead of just look at type events.  The Cavern by Jeep tour in Cozumel is fun as well as swim with the Dolphins.  But my teens were bored on the submarine ride.

Better to keep teens in sight while in port, especially when you are shopping in the markets.

Don't book balcony rooms for teens.  Inside cabins are just fine for the teens.  Don't expect the teens to join you every night in the dining room.  They prefer the buffet, burgers and pizza.  

Carnival is good about designating areas for teens up to about 10:00 pm.  Then, those areas become adult clubs.

Answer 3

ruadisneyfan's answer is great, but I would add this one comment.  Avoid cruising during a major holiday.  Families tend to cruise together at that time.  Families with no teens or families with young children, but not families with teens.  My nephews (16 and 14 at the time) HATED the week long cruise we took over the Thanksgiving holiday.  They were to only two boys their age on the entire ship.  There were a few girls their age on the cruise, but only about three or four.  All of them were bored until we got to port, and were bored as soon as they got back on the ship.  After we returned home, my nephews said they never wanted to take a cruise again.

Find out what amenities are offered on board in which your children can participate and ask your children if they are interested in doing those activities before you book your cruise.  They probably cannot gamble and would not like the shows.  Also, teens don't like being around us old farts in dance clubs.  I'd also look for a cruise which has many ports of call.

Answer 4

I like Carnival.  They have the best price and a very good activity level for teens.  I have gone in Sept and Dec.  Again, this is when the fares are best.  I also go during school.  My kids homeschool, so this gives us a better schedule.

We have done a five day western Caribbean out of Tampa, and a three day Bahamas out of Port Canaveral.

We are booked on a seven day Western Caribbean for this September.

I always book through Carnival direct.  We have a PVP there who always gets us the best price.  He will even honor a lower price or free upgrade if it comes along after we have booked.  The prices are better than the discount cruise sites and travel agents.  Out next cruise is under $60/day each.

Answer 5

The explorer-class ships on Royal Caribbean..for sure! They have rock climbing walls, skating rink,etc...all kinds of activities. Also, they have special activites, dances, excursions, socials, etc. geared for teenagers.

If you are considering any cruise..go to this website..vacationstogo.com

They offer cruises at up to a 75% discount. Sign-up for the site (its free)..when you get in..go to "The 90 day clicker" tab. You can search by destination,cruise line,  or cruise ship. This site is nothing short of amazing. It will list all the different cruises sailing in the next 90 days for up to 75% off. I recently went on a Costa cruise through them...I paid $ 900. for a SUITE! Most cruise lines charge $3 to 5,000 in the brochure for a suite. They have cruises as low as $299. You can get inside staterooms, oceanviews, balconys or suites.

Every time I go on a cruise I book through vacationstogo.com. You cant beat the value. The more lateminute you can travel...the bigger the savings.

PS Carnival is known as the "fun ship"..but if you look online at the different ship and pictures of the rooms (or talk to any travel agent) they will tell you that Royal Caribbean ships are of better quality and the rooms are much nicer. That is hy the ships are rated higher than Carnival...and a bit more expensive. However, by going through vacationstogo.com andsaving so much..it is very affordable.