As first time cruisers with young children we went with what our extended family recommended. If I was to do this again I would pick a cruise with less days at sea and more time on land. Got a bit of cabin fever. I would also pick a cruise with a wider variety of onboard activities for families. A kid's club (childcare) is not equivalent to family friendly activities in my opinion.
Embarkation
5 out of 5
Was very busy but orderly and moved quickly through the process. Worth getting there at the early end of the embarkation window.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
4 out of 5
The buffet was overwhelming. Too many people, hard to find a seat and difficult to read the signs to learn what food was on offer. We ate dinner at the Juneau dining room each night and that was excellent. However, would have appreciated if the children's menu would have offered some change night to night. That got repetitive and didn't offer kids classics like spaghetti and pizza.
Onboard Activities
3 out of 5
Did they have pools? Yes. Were they outdoor only and we were cruising around Alaska? Yes. So were they too cold to get in? Yes. Very little onboard to interest the kids except the drop off childcare which we weren't interested in.
Entertainment
We had small children so were in the cabin during the evening entertainment.
Children's Programs
2 out of 5
Children's entertainment was non-existent and we didn't partake in the kids club.
Service and Staff
4 out of 5
Service was good. Their constant need to tell us their service was 10 out of 10 got old.
Ship Quality
4 out of 5
Ship was beautiful and yes, everything was clean.
Cabin / Stateroom
4 out of 5
Cabin size and layout was fantastic for a family of 4. The bathroom was a great size too. I feel they have something against vacuuming as the floor was always dirty but otherwise no complaints. Service was prompt.
Ship tip
Pick a trip with more days onshore and less days at sea
Thanks for the review. Glad you wanted to spend time with the family. It seems cruise activities are often geared towards adults or children. There are several family activities though. Princess typically has the boat building activity. Some lines do the egg drop. There is always the miniature golf, basketball, big chess set, arcade, board games, etc. Many of the trivia contests would be good for families. If those aren’t enough, you can always make your own activities. That may take some pre planning. Often though, just hanging out together is great.
Welcome to the wonderful world of cruising. Princess isn’t noted for it’s youth program. You’d be happier with Royal Caribbean, Carnival or Disney. Glad you enjoyed your Alaskan cruise anyway.
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