What is the best cruise ship for family and what is a good length to travel/4 vs 7days?

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carlos z

I think carnival, they got good fun programs for the kids or teens.
As for the length, definitely 7 days, the fun goes by too soon!

If you count taxes and port charges ; you'll be right about there. Try booking well in advance; and I suggest the mexican riviera if budget is tight.
But if you live in the east, then the caribbean.

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Sassy

Disney is the best-but expensive. I took 6 year old triplets plus a 12 year old on Carnival's Glory and we all had a great time. My 12 year old liked it better than Disney. This Kids Club was great on Carnival, pools were large and the slides were much bigger than Disney's. The children had tons to do-games, scavenger hunts, pajama parties, etc. We adults liked the casinos, adult comics, piano bars, musical entertainment etc. better than Disney. (Disney does not have a casino) Carnival was however a little more honky tonk. Disney is First Class and very family oriented however you could never in a million years do a family of five for under $2000. If you check out travelzoo.com or vacations to go.com, you could get a Carnival Cruise for 5 for under $2000 on their last minute deals. I'm not sure what part of the country you are from, however if you are east coast - check out the cruises leaving from New York, New Jersey, and Baltimore. This could save you on air fair depending on where you are located. A 4 day cruise is fine for me. Of course 7 day is fantastic but I would take a 4-5 day cruise any day. You will still have a ball. Anywhere in the Caribbean is great. I want to go to Bermuda. I heard it is beautiful. Try to get on a newer ship or one that has been recently refurbished. Older ships have much smaller cabins and bathrooms. The newer ships really aren't that bad.

TitoBob

I don't know about the ship itself, but remember that the first and last days of a cruise are generally spent getting on and off the ship, and the times of embarkation and disembarkation can cut those two days to only a few hours. So on a "four-day" cruise, you are only guaranteed two full days, but on a "seven-day" cruise, you will have at least five days "away from home".

Zef H

The family friendly lines are Carnival, Disney, Royal Caribbean (RCI), Norwegian (NCL) and to some extent Princess.

Five people is a difficult number to work with. Most cabins sleep four at most. Disney does have cabins that sleep five, but Disney is VERY expensive. Royal Caribbean and to a limited extend NCL have cabins that sleep five, but they are suites.

Princess is family friendly, but does not attract as many families as Carnival (which owns Princess) or Royal Caribbean. Also, I cannot think of any short Princess cruises.

Carnival is very family friendly, but its cabins only sleep four.

A three or four night cruise is good for a long weekend get-a-way or as an introduction to cruising. You need at least five nights to begin to take advantage of how relaxing a cruise can be. Seven nights are even better.

Looking at a typical four night Caribbean cruise in late February 2008 (using this date for comparison purposes only) ...

Disney 4 nights - $3395 (one balcony cabin)
Carnival 4 nights - $1595 (two ocean view cabins)
RCI 4 nights on the Sovereign - $1675 (two ocean view cabins)
RCI 4 nights on the Navigator - $2875 (two ocean view cabins)
The Navigator is much newer than the Sovereign and has more to offer.
I could not find any short cruises for Princess or NCL.

matt c

I would say either Carnival or Disney cruises. Disney is best for younger kids. Carnival is newer ships and more comfortable. I would go on a 7 day cruise vs. 4 day cruise.

Duane T

I just came back from the Disney Cruise Ship "Magic" and they have an excellent program managed by 70 counselors for kids of all age groups, teens, and adults.

I'd do some research on Disney's website and check out www.cruisecritic.com where you can get individual and professional reviews/comments (good/bad) on each cruise line and individual cruise ships/excursions.

ctelly22

I recommend Royal Caribbean. It's a lot nicer and has more activities than Carnival ships, so everyone can find something to do that suits their taste. 4 day cruises seem to be cheaper, but I prefer 7 day cruises, It gives you more time to relax. I know a few people who have gone on Disney, and they are nice, especially if you have kids, but are very expensive.

Laurin-Elizabeth

the disney cruise

:)

DAVE

you could probably do the whole vacation for 5000 if you include airfare. 4 days isn't enough do 7 days

Noble Angel

I can tell you I have book a family vacation for 4, with Carnival, a 7 day on the Carnival Glory in Sept, and we will be under $2000 for the whole thing.

keep in mind the cheapest time to go is Sept - Dec and most of the time the earlier you book the better, the cruise we ar booked on is already almost full so the prices we got is gone for that sailing.

I am always looking for the best price for our next vacation and it has been with Carnival every year, no one can beet the price and the quality is great with lots for all ages to do, the Camp Carnival is a favorite with my children, one being a teen.

Mr Answerman

Carnival cruises are great for families !
...and under $2,000.

Zeltar

Yes, a family of 5 could do a cruise for $2,000. For example, winter cruises (e.g. December is the cheapest except for the Christmas cruise), you can often find Royal Caribbean doing a Mexico trip for between $250 and $300 a person (3 day) or add another $50 for the four day version.

For a cruise to be relaxing, I highly recommend a 7 day cruise minimum. This is long enough not to feel like you just moved on-board before getting kicked off. Holland America and Princess are the two best cruise lines for family and retirees. Avoid Carnival unless you're a teenager or young adult looking to party all night long. Royal Caribbean has a good mix of fun and relaxation, but the kids program isn't as good as the aforementioned Princess.

You should count on spending 50% to 100% of the cruise fare onboard for offshore excursions, gifts, and other incidental exepenses (e.g. if you drink alcholol)

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