DS 12 was asked to go on a cruise w/friend

[MrsPete]

No, I wouldn't go for that.

 

[disneymom3]

I have no kids so don't take what I say seriously.. or you can.. But do you really want him away over the holiday season?

This was my exact thought. No matter how much my child wanted to go, I know they wouold be really lonely Christmas morning as would I.

Also, no child of mine would be getting off the ship in Jamaica without me. Actually we are looking at a cruise for our family and have every intention of staying on the ship in Jamaica. We have been there before and never intend to go again.

 

[hegsag]

I wouldn't want him gone for Christmas. If it was after Christmas day that I would absolutely let him enjoy & explore the world (since you trust this family).

 

[quentina]

Yes, I would let him go assuming he wanted to. Since you stated that you trust the friends, I would not have a problem with it.

I would celebrate Christmas prior to him leaving or when he came back.

 

[BellvilleDad]

No, I wouldn't go for that.

Me, either.

 

[Disneycrazymom]

My hesitation would be for these reasons:
1. The kids are not in the kids club together. I have had this happen when we traveled with another family and it is not a great thing as the clubs offer different events at different times and the kids had a hard time deciding if they wanted to go to the kids club or miss out to be together.

2. No matter how close the family is they are not Mom and Dad and in the middle of the ocean is not a good place to be homesick. If they are in Florida for example you could fly DS home if needed but from the cruise that is a lot harder to accomplish.

Maybe your family just needs to go too!

 

[stsomewhere]

Thanks for all your responses.

My DS wants to go. We are still unsure. We told him he would have to pay for half. He said he would give up a birthday party, summer camp, etc..

I asked our friends their literary and what they plan to do in each port. I emailed them.

Good point about immigration. They are Canadian but live in the US. Their son is a US citizen.

I will have to check into this.

 

[Pumbaa_]

If there was an emergency, how would you feel being in another country and unable to get to him quickly? Or get him home

How about - if there is an emergency, and both boys are involved, do you think they will take as good care of your son as their own?

For me the stickler is really the timing. It sounds good now, but come Christmas, how will you and the family feel not having him home?

 

[Briarmom]

If it weren't over Christmas, I would let him.

I must have visited a different Jamaica than everyone else on this thread. We stopped there and had a blast climbing the waterfall.

 

[ols386]

As a parent, if you don't feel comfortable with it, then I wouldn't let him go.

 

[a1tinkfans]

If you do decide yes - there are many legal hoops you need to jump through for a child to travel out of the country without parents or legal guardians. They go through lots of extra questioning at immigration and customs. This is done for good reason, so that they know no one is stealing the child.

As the parent of an only child - I understand why the other parents would want to bring your child and it is very nice for them to ask.

Yup, so if inclined to allow them to take your son, be sure they have the legal papers allowing them to "govern" your child in any health or other issue. Personally I am not comfortable doing this for a 12 year old. I think "trust" is one thing but taking your child out of the country to the ones they are choosing is another issue altogether , .... Mexico ?? Jamaica; would not even get off the ship.....
Good Luck Deciding...

 

[SandrA9810]

Traveling with the family isn't concerning, and travelling out of the country isn't either (although does this family realize the extent of taking some one other than their child out of the country?), and Christmas time doesn't bother me either. Several times in the past I've had to celebrate it a little early or a little late. It's not about the date, it's about being together.

I would also check on the kids club with the cruise line, to see if they can be together for activities. Really, what's the point of your son going with them if he won't be around to keep their child company? Isn't that sorta the point of bringing a friend along?

You mentioned armoured guards at the ports and such. If you're a grown adult and don't want to go near it, are you comfortably with your son seeing this??

There's a lot of ups and downs to this particular trip. I'm sure there are some other great cruises that you would say yes to in a heartbeat, if it meant better ports of call.

 

[vettechick99]

I would let him go, but probably not over Christmas. My DH would be most upset about this!

 

[AnnaS]

I honestly don't think I would/could. I am just a big worrier - age, length of trip, big ship, ocean, out of the country, ports, Christmas - I don't know. ... I don't even know if I would send them with a family member - but that's just me

 

[LuvOrlando]

There are plenty of families I trust otherwise my kids would never be allowed at their house so it's not about trust. I even have a few we travel with and who I would let my kids travel with in the US. But, out of the US, on a boat, over Christmas... that's no, no and another no. But, to save feelings I would stick with the "No because it's Christmas"... there is no-one would could argue that isn't over the top if you say it would bother you.

 

[luvmy3]

I wouldn't, being out of the country without me is #1 and Christmas is #2 on the list of reasons.

 

[5lilfish]

If it weren't over Christmas, I would let him.

I must have visited a different Jamaica than everyone else on this thread. We stopped there and had a blast climbing the waterfall.

DH and I climbed Dunn River Falls on our honeymoon. I could not wait for my 3rd child to be old enough to take the kids there and climb it again. We just did this in November. Now I can't wait for my 2 yr old twins to be old enough so we can go back and climb it a third time.

I wouldn't go wandering around Jamaica on my own...but I could say that about certain areas in the US. We felt very safe on our tour though.

Jess

 

[dimimi]

I would have 2 concerns. 1. I would want the family together for Christmas. 2. If you want them to participate in the kids club on the cruise, they will be in 2 different kids clubs. At least if the cruise is Royal Caribbean, you will be. You would have to see if the kids could join in on the same group.

Any other time of year I wouldn't think twice.

 

[zalansky]

As others have stated, no way at Christmas. You only get so many holidays with your children, I wouldn't be able to give up even one.

 

[pigletgirl]

Hmm thats a toughy! You don't necessarily have to celebrate christmas on Dec. 25th...

Trips are ALWAYS more memorable than every christmas IMO.

I would let him go!