Voyager of the seas and kids, what do they do, I have 5 going ages 4 to 12. How much $ should I bring.?

Question

I am taking 5 kids on Voyager of the Seas on 4/20/08 and want them to have a great time but don't much about cruising or ports. What is the cost on-board? We have one special needs child so what is the wait time like to board and depart, he refuses special treatment but has no patience, ADA? Is everything really included for kids? Any tips to make to make it all smooth from parking in Galveston to leaving the ship? Any tips on dining, getting tickets, doing excursions, having "parent fun" and surviving with 5 kids on a cruise we love. We are in two cabins on level nine with balconies. This is really a special group that deserves to have a great week so all help is great. We want these kids to return and say this was the week of their life, not the week of waiting in line for everything and not asking for everything that is an extra cost we weren't prepared for. If you really have detailed insight and wanna contact me directly you can [e-mail]. Thanks alot 4 caring.

Answer 1

That's a nice ship and I think you will have a wonderful time.

Costs: The big costs are tips (about $10 per person per day), alcohol and soft drinks (about the same price as in a restaurant), shore excursions (you can go off on your own, too), spa, shopping and gambling.

There are no special costs for kids except if they want soft drinks or to eat in one of the "specialty" restaurants (which on this ship include a Johnny Rockets).  If your kids drink a lot of soda, you might consider buying an all-you-can-drink-soda card on the first day.  

Ice skates, rock climbing gear, and other activity-related items are available free of charge.

Lines and crowds: This type of ship is pretty big, but it's really well designed so there isn't much waiting around.  Some tips to keep it to a minimum:

- Use online check-in

- Arrive at the pier between 2-4pm.  Most people try to get on as early as they can.  Assuming the ship doesn't leave until 5 or 6, it's perfectly safe to arrive 2-4 and you'll miss the rush.

- Don't try to be the first people off the ship when you get to port, or the last back before the ship leaves.

- Dine in the Windjammer Cafe (the casual buffet) or room service rather than the formal dining room.  Doesn't sound like a fancy restaurant would be right for the kids.  Room service is included, but it's a good idea to tip the delivery guy a buck or two.

- In the Windjammer Cafe, if there's a line, walk INTO the cafe.  There are multiple food areas, and people tend to bunch up at the first one.  There's more food, really.  =)

Adult fun: I'm a big fan of going to the spa.  But less expensive fun includes just using the fitness center (free), going to fitness classes (around $12), using the sauna and whirlpools (free), and going out to one of the lounges/bars.  If the kids are doing their own thing, you'll probably enjoy the main dining room and/or the "specialty" dining room, an Italian restaurant called Portofino.  It costs extra ($30 per person, I think) but are very good and very "grown-up".

If this is your first cruise, check out the Introduction to Cruises, which talks about what a typical day is like, what costs extra, how to avoid sea sickness, and other frequently asked questions:

http://www.cruisesavvy.com/savvyguide/in...

For additional info, you might want to peruse the Savvy Guide:

http://www.cruisesavvy.com/savvyguide

I hope you have a wonderful trip.

Answer 2

I would definitely suggest looking into the kids programs. They are free and would help you keep them busy with a ton of cool things. Other thing you can do is give each child a set number of dollars to spend on the ship. They have an arcade that is not free. Remind them this is the only extra money they get and to spend it wisely. Or just give them $5 a day to spend on whatever they want. Your waiting time on board is minimal. All of the stops on your ship are docked so you do not need to worry about waiting for a ferry. With a group that is larger I would suggest buying your excursions online before you leave and remembering the last thing a child wants to do is be stuck on a non air conditioned bus for 4 hours touring the whole island. I would choose more of the beach break type ones.  Well.. hope I helped. Have a great time.

Answer 3

Its very important that you go to the Royal Caribbean web site and complete all of the pre-cruise information required for each passenger.  Otherwise your boarding will be delayed.  Also, you must print out the "SET SAIL" passes for each passenger and have each persons sign their pass and bring all of the passes with you to the pier for boarding.

You should look at the web site for the Port of Galveston :

http://www.portofgalveston.com/cruiseinf...  

It has information about directions to the port and parking which you can print.  

I have been on many Royal Caribbean cruises (but not out of Galveston) and regardless of the information that they send to you about boarding time, you can usually plan on boarding the ship about 12:30 to 1:00 PM (that's usually when they start).  

When you arrive at the port there will be porters to take your bags and so you will only have to worry about your carry-on bags.  Cabins are usually available as soon as you board but sometimes they may not be available for another half hour or so.  The pools, hot tubs and gym will be open for use when you first board so you may want to make sure that the kids have their swim clothes and/or gym clothes in their carry on bags.  There will be plenty of places to change clothes.  

Lunch will be ready a soon as you board also; in the Windjammer Cafe.  The Windjammer has multiple lines and the lines at the back of the cafe will have pizza, and hot dogs, hamburgers and fries; if that's what the kids want.  

I have not been on the Voyager  but I have been on two of its twin sisters, the Mariner and the Adventure.  So I know well its layout.  But you should go to the Royal Caribbean web site and look at the ship's features so that you kinda know where things are when you board the ship.  And you will be able to talk to the kids about what they will have to do on board. Here's a link to the ship on the web:  

http://www.royalcaribbean.com/findacruis...

Also, when you first board the ship go to the Purser's desk and ask for one (or a few) of the mini-maps of the ship.  The maps are about credit card size and fold up; get one for each of the kids.

The ship has a pedestrian mall down its center with shops (they are open when you are not in port), and a place where you can get free food 24/7.  The main eating places, like the Windjammer and the main dining rooms are on the back of the ship and the main show room and gymnasium are on the front of the ship.  The pools, ice skating rink, casino and shops are all mid-ship.  On the back of the ship there is a place just for kids ages 3 to 17 called ADVENTURE OCEAN and the ship will have professionally trained staff people to keep the kids occupied most of each day; and this is totally free.  In addition, there is a teen disco and hangout area called Fuel, plus a video arcade (fee per game).  The mini-golf, in-line skating, rock climbing wall and basketball court are also all on the back of the ship.

The ship will have a fabulous free ice capades type ice show.  Tickets are free but you will have to go to a designated area to get them and its an open seating show so get to the show room early.

The price of your cruise includes your cabin, all meals including breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, and free room service (the ship may have a specialty restaurants like a steak house or Italian where there is a separate fee ), all shows and entertainment, and free use of all facilities on ship except the spa. The things that you will have to pay for are:

GRATUITIES: They will amount to about $10 per person in your cabin per day. When you check in at the pier they will set up an on-board charge account for you to cover any and everything you may buy on ship. They will issue you a "cruise card" which will also serve as your room key and pass to get on and off the ship. You may want to get a necklace for each kids so they do not lose their cruise cards.  The youngest kid may have an arm bracelet instead of a key card. At the end of the cruise they will add the gratuity to your tab and you can pay with a credit card or cash, your choice.

ALCOHOLIC DRINKS AND SOFT DRINKS: Coffee, tea, milk, juice, and lemonade and punch will be provided free but you must pay for drinks (alcoholic beverages) and they will add a 15% gratuity to each drink and soft drink order.  You can buy a soft drink pass for each kid on the first day of the cruise only and it will cost $4.00 per day per kid (each has his/her own); look at it here: http://www.royalcaribbean.com/findacruis...

PHOTOGRAPHS: Cruise lines will take plenty of photographs of you all over the ship, in the dining room, and as you exit the ship in ports. These will cost a lot, like $15 to $20 for most.

You may want to buy one or two but we always skip most of them and just take our own pictures and ask other passengers to take pictures of us.

TOURS/EXCURSIONS: These are listed on your cruise line web site and you can reserve them well before the cruise and pay for them also. BUT, you do not have to do any tours, you can get off and on the ship in port as much as you want, just be back 30 minutes before sailing time.

SOUVENIRS: Anything you buy on ship from a gift shop or duty free shop goes on your "on board account". Things that you buy on shore you pay cash or credit card for. So if you play to shop take cash for little things and a credit card for big  purchases.

CASINO: If you plan to gamble on ship you will need cash for that.

OTHER: most cruise lines have what they call "specialty" restaurants where there is a gratuity/service charge. All other food on board is free and its not really necessary to budget for food; you cannot eat all that will be available for free.

SPA Services: If you want/need to have your hair done, get a massage or wrap, or any services from the spa, you will have to pay for them. Things in the spa are very expensive; a massage may cost about $80 or more. You can use the gym free but the spa stuff cost big bucks.

Ships now have internet cafe and some have WiFi but the there is a fee for internet access and it is very expensive (like about $50 to $60 an hour).  You can usually find high speed internet service in the ports for about $5 to $6 an hour; ask your waiter or room steward where in each port, they know.

You cabin will likely have a mini-bar with soft drinks and munchies; you have to pay for them so either lock the refrig or have the room steward remove everything from it. (but there is free room service 24/7).

The dress on ship is casual all day until 6:00PM. So take: -swim wear (at least 2),

-shorts,

-sandals,

-beach shoes,

-your snorkel equipment if you have it,

-sun glasses and sun screen,

-lotions,

-a cap or big hat for the sun,

-a book if you are a reader, -

-your music player,

-sneakers and clothes to workout in if you like to use the gym, -good walking shoes,

-your camera, and

-other personal toiletries.

Your cabin will have towels and soap provided, including pool and beach towels. It will also have a generic hair shampoo so you do not need to bring that unless you like a specific brand. They do not provide tooth paste, mouth wash or lotions. They DO provide a hair dryer.

After 6:00 PM they request that you wear "sports or resort casual" attire. That's attire that you would expect a person to wear in a business office, (like a bank employee), shirt with a collar, slacks, skirt, blouse, etc. Kids will be fine in slacks and a shirts or skirt, blouse dress.  You can still wear shorts and swim wear in the pools and spas but not in public areas like dining rooms and restaurants, show rooms, etc. You don't need to take a lot of regular clothes because you will spend most of your time in shorts and swim wear. A couple sets will do.

Most cruises have a formal night when you can wear your best stuff and get pictures taken, and maybe meet the ship’s Captain. The formal nights are REQUESTED not required attire. But most people do dress up. You can wear what you would wear to church and you'll be fine. You will not be denied access to the dining room or anything else if you choose not to dress up.

- Its best to pack using soft-sided luggage because with space limited in your cabin it fits under the beds better if its not hard sided luggage.

-Take a small carry-on bag for the last night of the cruise. On the last evening you will be required to put your luggage outside your cabin by about 2:00 AM so that they can start taking it down to the lower deck for offloading the next morning. So you will need a small bag for your toiletries and your clothes that you sleep in.

- If you can take a six-pack of bottled water and soft drinks in your carry-on for your cabin. You will have to pay for both on the ship and its nice to have those handy in the cabin.

- If you are taking your cell phone, MP3 player or other item that needs to be plugged in take an extension cord as the plugs in the cabin are generally not in the best places and there are usually only one or two.

- Take a small bottle of hand sanitizer. There are generally sanitizer dispensers at the entrances of restaurants, the buffets and dining room, but some times the are not there or not working. The sanitizer helps prevent the spread of the Norwalk Virus that sometimes occur on cruise ships.

-If you plan to get into the pools or hot tub as soon as you get on ship, bring those clothes in your carry on bag; you other luggage may not get to your cabin until much later in the afternoon.