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My Mum, step dad and brothers come to the Gold Coast for a holiday every year. I would love to go on a cruise so we have been talking about maybe doing it the next holiday.. The kids will be 14 and 9.. Have you been on a cruise, where did you go, how did your kids go and would you recommend it? Also there will be 5 of us, would that be a problem cabin/sleeping wise?
We did P&O Qld coastal cruise from Brisbane a few years ago. Was just DH and I so we found our cabin spacious enough. If you do P&O you will need two cabins as they only permit max 4 people in a cabin. This will give you plenty of room but 2 cabins means more money. My biggest negative was accessing a port by ships tender aka: life rafts. Off Port Douglas it was so rough and scary and some people were sick. It was awful. My biggest positive: the value for money. It's personal choice but we just went for a cheapie inside cabin and it was great I wouldn't spend the money upgrading to an outside or a higher deck. For kids cruises are great, lots and lots of activities to keep them occupied and specific age group activities too. The onboard crew make everything super fun too, we went to bingo even and it was actually so entertaining we went every day LOL... If you do an overseas cruise you will need a passport of course. If you don't already have one that is extra expense to consider. Keep in mind a cruise is all about being on the ship. When you are in port it's only for the day so the ports of call are just a bonus really. IE if you really want to spend lots of time in Vanuatu then I would recommend to fly and stay there because the cruise ship only docks from around 8am - 6pm ish.
Love cruising, have only done two (9 nights in the South Pacific and 5 nights up and down the Straits of Malacca - Singapore) but hope to do many many more! It's great waking up in a new destination and not having to unpack ;) I'm pretty sure you can only do 4 passengers to a cabin, so you'd have to get 2 cabins, some ships do have interconnecting cabins, but if not you could always book cabins adjacent to each other.
I think it's a great way to travel, and all inclusive in the cost too (besides drinks, casino, shore excursions and certain onboard activities). Most ships have great kids club set ups too, teen lounges etc etc so they cater for all ages.
I would highly recommend cruising, but do recognise it's not for everyone. You will hear horror stories and fantastic stories, but all kinds of holidays have those. If you're worried about weather, pick and choose where you go and what time of year to limit it if possible, and research the ships and cruise lines as they all have different things to offer.
We love cruising. We did one in 2006 on the Star Gemini (Star cruises) it was awesome!! Just got back 2 weeks ago from one we did with Costa Cruises but we wouldn't do one of their cruises again, didn't think it was near as good as the Star Cruises one we did. Both cruises were in and around Asia (ex Singapore....to Thailand and Malaysia :) )
We want to do a Princess cruise next, they're meant to be awesome!
Looking at Rhapsody of the Seas they are great apparently BUT we aren't sure because our nearly 3yr old (at the time she'll be nearly 3) will be charged an ADULT fare :o :o that's wrong considering she can't even access the kids club at that age yet!!! rip off.
We don't believe kids should be charged full adult fare until they are about 14yrs of age!! (they just don't eat that much!!!)
Thanks for your replies so far ladies.. Us adults will just want to relax by the pool and drink ****tails lol. It's mainly just making sure the kids will be entertained. It wouldn't be good to be stuck in a confined space with a bored teenager and 8y/o!
Shanti - I can't believe they want to charge an adult fare for a 3y/o :o
AND a 6 mth old ( that we will have by that stage) is charged adult fare too!!!!! WTF??:
hmmm just lost my post....
Shanti Princess charges full fare for LO's too - was pricing up with them just yesterday and for DH, DD and I it's the triple cabin rate. I was suprised by that! P&O discount, but only port taxes for a child, so essentially it's the triple rate with them too. We really want to cruise with Princess next, have read mixed reviews on the Rhapsody, but the prices are tempting with them.
:bump: Any more stories????
I have never gone on a cruise but the rest of my family have been at different times and all have absolutely raved about it my brothers went at 16 & 27 and LOVED the kids club thing..teens club or whatever it is, before they went they were saying no way would they go but then spent most of their time there when they realised what it had.
I think sounds like a great holiday Idea, we are planning on going on a cruise at some stage too, my family have only been on p&o cruises
I think you'll get mixed reviews on ANY cruises!!! sometimes it's best not to read reviews and just take your chances :lol:
very very true!:
wondering if anyone went on the pacific sun P&o
im wanting to take my 8yr old along on the sun from brissy to whitsundays would love feedback