extended family cruise

We are booked on a Thanksgiving week cruise on Royal Caribbean Granduer of the Seas. 2 grandparents (56 & 50 yrs old) three adult kids (one single/no kids, one married couple 27 & 26, and a single woman age 28) and 5 grandkids, age 7, 5, 4, 4, and 3. We've cruised before but never with small children. I would like to hear from anybody that has cruised with this age group of kids before, either on RCaribbean, or other lines.

[Cindy]

Hi, I will be going on my 4th cruise with my kids on April 20 My husband and I have found cruising to be an ideal family vacation with so many nice things aboard, so many nice ports, and the terrific attention the cruise staff pays to the kids. We've travelled on Carnival and Princess with the children, now ages 5 and 3 and have had a wonderful time each time. This time we will be on the Explorer on RCCL.

One thing you might notice travelling with kids, is that you might get through the lines while boarding a LOT faster. We've had cruise staff direct us to special windows to hurry the process so the kids would not get cranky on line, esp when we were travelling w/under 2s. If you have a stroller, you will be escorted to an elevator instead of the usual escalators.

I give you a lot of credit cruising with your grandchildren. I wish my children had grandparents that enjoy them so much that they want to spend even their vacation time with them instead of wanting to do their own thing. One set moved to Fla, and have chosen not to come up and see them since, and the other set thinks babysitting for an hour is a huge imposition.

Vacationing with the children will be like spending time with them anywhere. The children's programs cruiselines have are great, but the children will not be in there 24/7, and the younger ones MAY choose NOT to separate. The good thing is Thanksgiving week is a holiday week and there should be a ton of kids on board for your grandchildren to play with and to make the program seem REALLY appealing. Your vacation will be a combination of enjoying adult and family time. You will get to watch the little ones have the time of their life in the pools and on the beaches, and get to go out as adults too. I think you picked the perfect vacation.

Have fun!

I'm the family cruise editor here at CruiseMates.com. My 8 year old daughter has been on 9 cruises and has loved them all. We find it a great way to spend fun, relaxing quality time together, yet my husband and I get some time for R & R too when she's in the youth program.
We cruised with Royal Caribbean when she was 3-1/2 years old (she was 2-1/2 years on our first cruise). She enjoyed the youth program as well as riding on the ship's glass elevators, swimming in the pool, etc. There is plenty to do aboard ship for all ages. Royal Caribbean is a good choice for mixed ages, since they have something for everyone.
Let me know if you need shore excursion suggestions when you get closer to your sailing date.
Smooth sailing,
Luisa Frey Gaynor