Can anyone help us find an affordable cruise to St. Thomas and St. John?

[WatchingThemGrow]

Not sure how to begin looking. Hypothetically, we'd like to go sometime next year. Would it be better to go after our baby has turned 3 in June? Our DC would then be 6, 4, 3, and we could drive to Port Canaveral or Charleston.

[BeachBum]

It's very hard to cruise as a family of 5. Only a few cruise lines can accommodate 5 people in the room--even if they are kids. Disney does in a family jr. suite, and some carnival ships do. Your other choice is to get two connecting rooms.

I like using vacationstogo.com and cruisecompete.com to check prices. Maybe that would help you zoom in on your itenerary and which ships?

Cruisecritic.com is the all encompassing go to site for cruises.

[Melbel]

It's very hard to cruise as a family of 5. Only a few cruise lines can accommodate 5 people in the room--even if they are kids. Disney does in a family jr. suite, and some carnival ships do. Your other choice is to get two connecting rooms.

I like using vacationstogo.com and cruisecompete.com to check prices. Maybe that would help you zoom in on your itenerary and which ships?

Cruisecritic.com is the all encompassing go to site for cruises.

We are in the same boat, so to speak. It is not easy to find an affordable option for a family of 5. Royal Caribbean sails out of Port Canaveral (Liberty/Freedom of the Seas are great ships; Oasis class ships are out of Ft. Lauderdale or Miami) and has some family suites that will work for a family of 5 but they tend to go quickly and are pricey because they are in demand. Otherwise, you need 2 cabins. We have considered travelling with our good friends that also have 3 kids and get 3 adjoining cabins in a row, the middle one for most of the kids (but with an adult listed and keeping the door open). I am not sure if this is a viable option though.

As for your itenerary, it may be more challenging to find a cruise that goes to both St. Johns and St. Thomas. In or experience, it has been either/or but I have not researched it.

Carnival would probably be a less expensive option, but not as highly rated.

[geochick]

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/

Pop into a travel agency and ask an agent for brochures for cruises to that area. You don't have to book through a travel agent (I've only booked one cruise through an agent), but they can get you started. Once you narrow it down to a ship that can handle all of you, start reading as much as you can on the cruise critic message boards. I got my best cruise deal ever on:

http://www.cruisecompete.com/

but I had to do a lot of research first to find the exact sailing I wanted.

[urquie]

I like looking here, to find great deals. http://www.cruisehotsheet.com/

You can easily sort... Start with region or departure port, choose a favorite cruise line (I think 2 and under is still free on Norwegian... Just paying port taxes), sort by price/price per day and or room category. I really like that it doesn't have drop down menus, where I have to select specific dates etc.

When I'm dreaming, I sort by room category and pick suites, then check out the ones with the cheapest price per day. There are some amazing deals to be had!

In your situation, i would search the cruise critic forums, for threads on cabins/ships that can accommodate 5 people in one room.

[geochick]

Family of 5 cruising thread:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=247349

[WatchingThemGrow]

Wow, thanks for all the links! I was hoping someone would just figure it ALL out for me, lol. From that thread on cruisecritic, it sounds like things would work well if we could get some grandparents to come with us and keep a kid in their room.

[geochick]

or book 2 connecting "inside" cabins. Sometimes inside cabins are really cheap. Book one parent in each room, then rearrange sleeping arrangements after you check in.

[LD92599]

Just to chime in on the almost 3 year old......at 3 and above, at least on Disney, the 3 yo could go into the kids camp.....however the fare *might* be higher (I'm not positive on that). <3 means you have to pay for the babysitting on a per hour basis.

Just something *else* to consider!

[urquie]

http://www.cruisecompete.com/

but I had to do a lot of research first to find the exact sailing I wanted.

:yeahthat: you give all your details, and the travel agents compete against each other to give you the best price for a cruise :)


this website is similar http://www.mybestfarefinder.com/

[Tondi G]

carnival and norwegian both take kids under 3 and in diapers. Royal Caribbean takes potty trained 3 and up. kids in diapers are not allowed in the pools on board. Our family has really enjoyed cruising with Royal Caribbean. Highly recommend the line! The Freedom class and Oasis class ships have the H2O zone in the pool area, rock climbing, ice skating etc. Our boys really enjoy the kids club. You will need 2 adjoining cabins or a "family" state room for 5 people.

Most make port in St Thomas and you would need to do a "shore excursion" to St John.

[WatchingThemGrow]

:yeahthat: you give all your details, and the travel agents compete against each other to give you the best price for a cruise :)


this website is similar http://www.mybestfarefinder.com/
thanks for those sites geochick and urquie. DH and I need to make a strategy to ask the different sets of grandparents.