For anyone who has traveled alone with their child...

[sonocruiser]

Hey all

I am looking for input from people who have gone on a cruise with just themself and child (ren). I am debating on going on a Disney or RCL cruise next summer with my son who would be 5 1/2 at that time. My husband is going on a fishing trip to Canada with his brothers for a week and I was thinking about doing something really fun just DS and me. I have never taken a long trip away just him and I, so just a little nervous I guess. Any tips or suggestions would be great! I truly believe he would love the kids club, he is VERY outgoing I was thinking about also inviting my niece who would be 13 1/2 at that time as well for company and help with DS- like I want to run up the buffet and get us some snacks etc. I was thinking about the Dream for 3 or 4 nights. We would be traveling by plane. Maybe a prenight stay at WDW and then the cruise?
Thanks!

 

[Maggie'sMom]

Hey all

I am looking for input from people who have gone on a cruise with just themself and child (ren). I am debating on going on a Disney or RCL cruise next summer with my son who would be 5 1/2 at that time. My husband is going on a fishing trip to Canada with his brothers for a week and I was thinking about doing something really fun just DS and me. I have never taken a long trip away just him and I, so just a little nervous I guess. Any tips or suggestions would be great! I truly believe he would love the kids club, he is VERY outgoing I was thinking about also inviting my niece who would be 13 1/2 at that time as well for company and help with DS- like I want to run up the buffet and get us some snacks etc. I was thinking about the Dream for 3 or 4 nights. We would be traveling by plane. Maybe a prenight stay at WDW and then the cruise?
Thanks!

I'm a single mom who has traveled alone with my DD many times. We've done 5 WDW trips, varying in length from 4 to 10 days. A 7 night cruise on the Fantasy this past June. As well as trips to Boston/Cape Cod and Hawaii.

A cruise would be a great trip for you and your DS. And I'd recommend DCL for your first cruise. If you want to bring your niece along, you certainly can, but I think you'd be just fine without her. My DD loved the Oceaneers Club/Lab. There were times I had to go pull her out so we could do something together. If I'd let her, I probably wouldn't have seen her except for meal times.

Definitely fly in at least the day before. If you decide to add a day at WDW before the cruise, then take the DCL transfers from your WDW resort to the port. If you are flying in late in the afternoon or sometime in the evening the night before your cruise, then I'd recommend you stay at the Hyatt at the Orlando Airport. They will collect your luggage from your room and get it transferred to the ship. Then you can just walk down to the DCL transfer location and board a bus to the port.

If you won't bring your niece and need some help at the buffet, ask a CM. They are happy to help.

I know it can be worrisome to travel alone with your child that first time, but you'll be fine. You just have to take a deep breath and dive in. Then you'll discover that your worries were for naught.

 

[Carie Baker]

I'm a single Mom with one child and we've just gotten back from our 3rd Disney cruise and have done multiple trips to WDW as well since he was 4. He'll be 14 next month and we have a cruise already booked again in March. The cruise was the best thing for us. It allows us to have a fun and relaxing time together as well as having valuable time apart in a safe environment. Give your self extra time.... flying in the day before is great. The staff on the boat are all very helpful. You'll have to sign your son in and out of the club so you'll know right where he is. They will also call you on the wave phone if he needs you for anything. That was when I ran for snacks and things. But enjoy that time for you too. Watch a movie, do a tasting or seminar, do a spa treatment, or just take a nap. The more relaxed you are through the process of traveling alone with a child or children the more fun everyone has.

 

[ajo]

I went solo with my three kids this summer on a Dream 4-nighter when DH couldn't make it. We had a wonderful time! One night at dinner, our head server took my hand and said "We are here to take care of you, too. What can I get for you?" It was so sweet. I seriously think that a Disney Cruise is the best way to travel solo with kids. There is so much to do together (movies, shows, pirate night, character meets, midship detective agency, pools), plenty for just the kids (the Clubs were a big hit), and there are opportunities for a DM to take a minute for herself. Go for it!

 

[SM101]

I'm a single mom, and my daughter loved the Disney options like the OC as well as the Clubs at the Resorts....great way to have some time for myself while on vacation.

At 5 1/2, I would recommend doing a shorter cruise - maybe one of the 4 days - and spending 2 days at Magic Kingdom instead of a full week.

 

[funfam]

I think cruising is one of the best vacations for a solo parent. DH can't travel nearly as often as I can so I go with one or more of my kids a lot. Cruises offer a perfect balance of together time and alone time. I have done the 4 night on the Dream with just one son who was 6 at the time and with two of my boys who were 7 and 13 at the time. It was fantastic.

 

[sonocruiser]

Thanks all... I am really leaning towards doing it. I will not be able to book until after the 1st of the year but I am trying to research and think about it. We have been to DL and WDW and are going again to WDW in Jan. We are defintely becoming a disney family I know prices will go up because I have to wait so long, but with my job I won't know what weeks I have off until then. I really wanted to do the california coast cruise at the end of May but it leaves on DS last day of school. Its his first year and I would hate for him to miss that. Any thoughts on room type? I was thinking inside if it is just the 2 of us. I have been on 2 other cruises (with no child) and had a balcony and a JS, will I feel really closed in with an inside room? Also the dinning- my son is really outgoing but I'm not as much and I really did not like eating with strangers on my previous cruises, do you find families much more understanding if you are not as talkative at dinner?

 

[Maggie'sMom]

We did an inside room on the Fantasy. The inside rooms on the Dream and Fantasy have the Magic Porthole, which is an LCD screen framed in to look like a porthole. It plays live feeds of the outside of the ship so it feels like you have an ocean view, plus Disney characters pop up on the screen from time to time. You would probably be fine with an inside room, but if your budget can take it, an upgrade to a veranda room would probably be good for you. That way you could sit on your balcony and enjoy some fresh air after your DS goes to bed for the night.

 

[Tiffylv]

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[GooniesAndy]

My sons (7 and 9) and I did the two-week Panama Canal cruise in May, and it was great! We traveled in one of the sideways inside rooms. It was perfect! I joined our very active meet-up group and met lots of wonderful people through it. I always had someone with whom to play trivia and I got together with some of them for Palo brunch and dinner. I was nervous, as I am quite shy, but I wouldn't hesitate to take a cruise alone with them again.

 

[jpeppers]

if your son is outgoing your biggest problem will be getting him to leave the clubs. I have gone on 3 cruises with just my daughter (Dream twice and Fantasy once) and we have a blast. My daughter (14) loves the kids clubs. I wouldn't make finding someone to go with you a priority, I'm not the most out going person but have found it very easy to make friends on the ships while away from my daughter. We have even gone on repeat cruises with people we met and will be doing our 4th this year with a friend I met on board.

 

[sonocruiser]

Thanks for all the replies. the more I think on it I am really leaning towards going. My brother has 3 kids and my husband and I have discussed taking them each on a Disney vacation with us. Their family is not in the position to travel like us and I would love to give each of them a Disney experience. I figured starting with the oldest and work my way down Now that being said it is up to my brother and his wife of course and the willingness of the child to go, but I AM the favorite auntie so I'm sure they would I think an inside room would be ok, Im sure we would be out and about and not in the room alot. We have traveled alot and I am used to having a dark hotel room while DS is sleeping- a nook and smart phone with headphones comes in really handy!

Now I am wondering about castaway cay- are their activities that all three of us could enjoy together, being that the kids ages are 5 and 13?

 

[firepuppy]

I have been traveling as a single mom since my DS was 1. There are so many thing to do on and off the ship for all of you. They will have club events on castaway cay. You will have adult only areas and a family beach. Now that my DS is 19 I can not longer have my own space, but that is on with me. Have fun on you cruise.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

Thanks for all the replies. the more I think on it I am really leaning towards going. My brother has 3 kids and my husband and I have discussed taking them each on a Disney vacation with us. Their family is not in the position to travel like us and I would love to give each of them a Disney experience. I figured starting with the oldest and work my way down Now that being said it is up to my brother and his wife of course and the willingness of the child to go, but I AM the favorite auntie so I'm sure they would I think an inside room would be ok, Im sure we would be out and about and not in the room alot. We have traveled alot and I am used to having a dark hotel room while DS is sleeping- a nook and smart phone with headphones comes in really handy!

Now I am wondering about castaway cay- are their activities that all three of us could enjoy together, being that the kids ages are 5 and 13?

The staterooms have a curtain that can be pulled between the queen bed and the area where the fold-down couch bed and upper bunk are. It's great because you can keep a light on by the queen bed without it disturbing the kids. I'd recommend booking a stateroom that has the upper bunk if you do bring your niece as that will give each of you your own bed. Not all the inside staterooms have the upper bunk.

The bike rental would be a good activity for the 3 of you to do together on CC. They have bikes of all different sizes and some have training wheels in case your son hasn't quite mastered the skill.