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Not adoption related but my friends did that cruise with a 15 yo and 17 yo a few years ago. They all absolutely loved it. The teenages enjoyed the freedom if being able to go wherever whenever, while the parents didn't need to worry about what they were up to because they couldn't escape from the ship anyway lol. Being all inclusive meant everyone could eat what they wanted and limited the spending money that was necessary! The Baltic locations looked amazing from the photos I have seen!

That sounds ideal kstar Was it thousands? My uncle goes on cruises a lot and says they're really good value but that's out of season!

Dh and I have been on one cruise. Up to Russia an Finland. It was fabulous but there were no children whatsoever. We were the youngest, in our thirties. Just check with the agent about the make up of you fellow travellers.

Nothing useful to add, just - sounds lovely :) (just check there will be no females between the age of 12 and 32 to keep Partridge on the straight and narrow ;))

I haven't been on a cruise with my own children, but I went on two as a teenager (one to the Norwegian Fjords , and one round the Baltic Sea) and loved it. It was set up for teenagers though (on the SS Uganda school ship if anyone remembers it!!!) - so we had our whole day organized with deck quoits / hockey etc, lessons about the countries we were going to (music, languages, geography) and every evening there were discos (!), fancy dress competitions, film nights, talent shows. Not sure how well a regular cruise would cater for children/young people. It's OK on the days when you are in port so you can get off the ship. But if you have several days between ports it could get a bit boring for them unless they are very good at entertaining themselves/find friends of their own age.

I think there must be different types of cruises. The one my friends went on had kids clubs for each age group with organised activities, plus all kinds of things on board like table tennis, bowling, cinema, kids entertainers etc. Their 15 yo spent his whole time with the teenager group, it was 4 years ago but he is still in touch with them all now! PearTree - not sure about the price, I know it was more than their usual resort holiday but that's because it was all inclusive. Literally all they spent was what they bought to bring home.

I have to say that a cruise is my worst nightmare - I am so seasick that I just have to look at a boat and I get sick. So just checking that everyone in your party has good sea legs. You might also want to check out your company carefully as there have been programmes on tv about how the staff on some of these ships are basically being exploited - they can do it because the ships are registered to places like Liberia. They get hardly any pay - often their pay is just their tips - and they are worked to the bone.

Yes, I remember the Uganda! But our trip was around the med. More interested in the boys than the locations, as I recall - would love to go now and appreciate all the sights / history.

Two years ago we went on the Disney cruise around Europe and it was fantastic, there are kids clubs and teen clubs that are amazing, great food and entertainment , one night the girls had a pamper night with tinker bell the boys where on a hunt with captain hook and peter pan while the adults relaxed in the bar.

Did first one this year to Norway - with 11 year old - he had a fantastic time - although we went off season prices not much different. Club staff were fantastic, he would have spent all day there! Look for a family friendly one although we were told half term week they 600 children on board! Security good - alarm sounds if child tries to leave without their adult and staff couldn't be faulted. Scenery was just stunning.