What cruise would you take

[JR1]

I want to go on a cruise, myself and my sons (learning difficulties, 3, NOT physically disabled) have not been able to afford a holiday before.

I am hoping that some members have been on cruises here and would be able to offer personal views on where best to go.

NO flying involved, 18 days no short cruises.

As we have never been on one before we have absolutely no preference on where to go.

Many thanks.

[John 2]

No flying limits you a bit because I can't think of any child speciality cruises that leave from the UK. Someone might put me right on that. My thoughts would be that you avoid the Med because from Southampton you need to cross the Bay of Biscay. That can be a bit lumpy but more importantly it can be a couple of days before you get anywhere interesting. Might be better heading for the Fjords. Plenty to see and if you get to the North Cape your in Santa land with Reindeer etc.

[NigelD]

+1 to fjords & North Cape.
Also, take a look at the Northern Capitals cruises - takes you to Oslo, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Helsinki, St Petersburg and others, dependent upon schedule. Midsummer is perfect.

[charzes44]

Jeremy,

You don't say when you plan to go! Will it be now ish, or later in the year?

In a previous life (!) I was Chief Photographer on several cruise ships. I did like the North Cape cruises, the scenery is spectacular, but would hesitate before recommending these for children. The scenery is all covered in snow at this time of the year, and mostly covered in snow during the summer. And there are no sandy beaches. There really wouldn't be a lot to interest children for 18 days!

My recommendation would be go south. Teneriffe, Madeira, the Azores, and if in summer (after mid April) anywhere round the Mediterranean. You will all have a wonderful time. I have been across the Bay of Biscay many, many times, and only once was it rough! It was also bloomin' rough in the Med on the same trip!

Google 'cruises from Southampton uk' and see what you come up with. I was amazed at the extent of choices. If you have more questions, please repost.

Hope this helps.

[rpcrowe]

I personally detest cruises (for me, not necessarily for other folks). I took my first (and last) cruise this summer. The itinerary looked great, leaving from Venice to Croatia and then to Greece and the Greek Islands.

I don't drink, don't gamble, don't need to stuff myself eating and certainly don't need or want to lie broiling in the sun around a crowded pool. I got a lot of sleep on the ship because the room was quiet and cool. That was the absolute best part of shipboard for me and the only part that I liked.

After spending 32 years in the U.S. Navy, just being at sea is not as exciting for me as it is for some folks.

I hated the port calls because we generally arrived mid-morning when the ship disgorged its thousands of tourists, usually quite away from any center of interest. Then we usually had to be back on board mid-to-late afternoon. Competing with thousands of other sunburned tourists in shorts and straw hats is not my thing and our times in any port were during the worst hours possible for photography. Then there was the airport-type searches as we re-boarded. I certainly cannot complain about security but, would prefer a vacation in which I went through a security check-point only twice: to and from my destination.

As an example of the crowds, there were three cruise ships docked in Dubrovnik, Croatia on the day we visited. These ships emptied twenty thousand tourists into a town whose resident population numbered only twice that many.

However, my wife absolutely loved the cruise (she thrives on totally regimented vacations). We took a bus tour through Athens and that is all she wanted to see of that city. My wife will be joining my daughter and our daughter's mother-in-law on a cruise through the Hawaiian Islands in the summer. Luckily, I can stay home and mind the dogs...

OTOH: As payback for taking the cruise, my wife agreed to spend a couple of days in Istanbul although the thought of a visit to any foreign place without every step being choreographed beforehand is repugnant to her! I think it is in her genes. Her ancestors were some of the original Puritans who arrived in Massachusetts Colony and not one ventured further than a hundred miles from where they stepped off the boat, until her dad was drafted into the Army during World War II.

However, there are Disney cruises from Florida that specialize in kids. There might be the same from the U.K. This type of cruise might be the ticket for you and your boys... But, as much as I disliked the cruise I was on, being confined to a ship with hundreds of kids would be even worse...

[brannend]

We took a river cruise from Amsterdam to Basel last summer and it was unbelievable. Less than 200 people on our ship ( I liked that a lot). I know they have longer cruises available than our 10 day trip. Prices are quite reasonable considering your meals are for the most part included as well as many excursions. We were on Viking cruise line but there are several others that run the waterways of Europe and Asia. Happy to answer any questions if you would like to know more about our experience.

[davidedric]

Hi,

Don't know anything about cruises, but it strikes me if you really fancied a cruise on the Med you could get to the south of France and back by train. Don't know if that would be an adventure or tedious for your three year old 's of course.

Dave

[rpcrowe]

Another thought... Often vacations which would be enjoyed by parents are not necessarily that great for kids and visa-versa. However the child friendly cruises often include recreation for kids so mom and dad can enjoy the rest of the ship.

I know nothing about this cruise company but, this is what I mean...

http://www.thomson.co.uk/cruise/life...y-cruises.html

[mknittle]

I personally detest cruises (for me, not necessarily for other folks). I took my first (and last) cruise this summer. The itinerary looked great, leaving from Venice to Croatia and then to Greece and the Greek Islands.

I don't drink, don't gamble, don't need to stuff myself eating and certainly don't need or want to lie broiling in the sun around a crowded pool. I got a lot of sleep on the ship because the room was quiet and cool. That was the absolute best part of shipboard for me and the only part that I liked.

After spending 32 years in the U.S. Navy, just being at sea is not as exciting for me as it is for some folks.

I hated the port calls because we generally arrived mid-morning when the ship disgorged its thousands of tourists, usually quite away from any center of interest. Then we usually had to be back on board mid-to-late afternoon. Competing with thousands of other sunburned tourists in shorts and straw hats is not my thing and our times in any port were during the worst hours possible for photography. Then there was the airport-type searches as we re-boarded. I certainly cannot complain about security but, would prefer a vacation in which I went through a security check-point only twice: to and from my destination.

As an example of the crowds, there were three cruise ships docked in Dubrovnik, Croatia on the day we visited. These ships emptied twenty thousand tourists into a town whose resident population numbered only twice that many.

However, my wife absolutely loved the cruise (she thrives on totally regimented vacations). We took a bus tour through Athens and that is all she wanted to see of that city. My wife will be joining my daughter and our daughter's mother-in-law on a cruise through the Hawaiian Islands in the summer. Luckily, I can stay home and mind the dogs...

OTOH: As payback for taking the cruise, my wife agreed to spend a couple of days in Istanbul although the thought of a visit to any foreign place without every step being choreographed beforehand is repugnant to her! I think it is in her genes. Her ancestors were some of the original Puritans who arrived in Massachusetts Colony and not one ventured further than a hundred miles from where they stepped off the boat, until her dad was drafted into the Army during World War II.

However, there are Disney cruises from Florida that specialize in kids. There might be the same from the U.K. This type of cruise might be the ticket for you and your boys... But, as much as I disliked the cruise I was on, being confined to a ship with hundreds of kids would be even worse...

I just read this post and I am glad I wasn't drinking my morning coffee. Very good description Richard.

[Tom47]

I have cruised many time over the years I prefer the longer cruises 12 to 14 days. I do not consider a shorter cruise worth packing for, but the longer cruises are becoming harder to book most of the companies have gone to 10 days or less. They can squeeze in a couple of additional cruises per season.

[FrankMi]

I have cruised many time over the years I prefer the longer cruises 12 to 14 days. I do not consider a shorter cruise worth packing for, but the longer cruises are becoming harder to book most of the companies have gone to 10 days or less. They can squeeze in a couple of additional cruises per season.

I have found that many cruises do a different itinerary back to back and if you book both cruises you can usually get 14 or more days with a one day stopover in the port of origin. For example, you can do the eastern and western Caribbean on the same ship, same cabin by booking two consecutive weeks.

[rpcrowe]

Travelers seem to be in two camps regarding cruises... Those travelers that like cruises or who want to go on a cruise and those travelers like me, who don't like cruises or who would not want to go on one.

I think the difference is in expectations of travel between the two camps.

Perhaps I could list the benefits of a cruise as my wife (who loves cruises) explains:

1. You sleep in the same bed each night and you don't have to use a restroom other folks have used...

2. You don't have to worry about finding a hotel...

3. You don't have to pack and repack...

4. You don't have to worry about eating those nasty and dangerous foreign foods...

5. It is total relaxation, no Internet or phones to intrude...

6. The evening shows are nice...

7. Lounging by the pool is great...

8. You can take canned tours sponsored by the cruise company and you don't have to worry about traveling alone in those frightening lands...

9. You don't have to interact with foreigners in strange places...

10. Everything is planned for you in advance and the only decision you have to make is what to order for supper or what to select at the buffet...

11. It's really thrilling to be out on the ocean...

However, most of what my wife considers as benefits are downsides to me!

[Donald]

Jeremy

We don't know how old your sons are. That may influence the suggestions that people make.

[Andrew76]

Travelers seem to be in two camps regarding cruises... Those travelers that like cruises or who want to go on a cruise and those travelers like me, who don't like cruises or who would not want to go on one.

I think the difference is in expectations of travel between the two camps.

Perhaps I could list the benefits of a cruise as my wife (who loves cruises) explains:

1. You sleep in the same bed each night and you don't have to use a restroom other folks have used...

2. You don't have to worry about finding a hotel...

3. You don't have to pack and repack...

4. You don't have to worry about eating those nasty and dangerous foreign foods...

5. It is total relaxation, no Internet or phones to intrude...

6. The evening shows are nice...

7. Lounging by the pool is great...

8. You can take canned tours sponsored by the cruise company and you don't have to worry about traveling alone in those frightening lands...

9. You don't have to interact with foreigners in strange places...

10. Everything is planned for you in advance and the only decision you have to make is what to order for supper or what to select at the buffet...

11. It's really thrilling to be out on the ocean...

However, most of what my wife considers as benefits are downsides to me!

There's a whole lot of 'nasty foods', and 'dangerous places', and 'awful foreign people' (who, when you travel to their country, by the way, are NOT foreign!), and 'frightening lands' talk going on there!

All of those things that your wife hates, are the sole reason that I travel!

But hey, everyone has their reasons, and that's what makes the world go around! It's interesting to see different people's, and cultures perspective on a situation like this.

[benm]

Travelers seem to be in two camps regarding cruises...
4. You don't have to worry about eating those nasty and dangerous foreign foods...

No, you can get those nasty and dangerous foods (and viruses) right on the ship!
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/...A0S1WH20140129