it is expensive everywhere if you vacation during the holiday season. if
you want discounts, you have to vacation when the school is on (so all the
school-age kids and their families can't travel).
About cruise, you'd better wait till your kids at least 3 so that you can
drop him off at kid's club. I don't think elders from China will enjoy
cruise here except for the free food. Just go to Florida if you are on the
east coast, Hawaii if you are on the west coase. Stay in a resort.