How to cruise harmoniously with extended family?

[NHdisneylover]

On our family reunion crusie we all sat together (14 people) at dinner each night. That was the ONLY thing we preplanned to do as a group and the only thing we ALL did together at all. We also planned to have ALL of the adults go to Palos on the same night to have the chance to dine as a group without the kids.

We put dry earse boards on all the doors to make it easier to know where to find someone.

During the cruise (with navigators in hand) some times we planned smaller group get togethers, and some times we did not but ran into each otehr anyway! We NEVER planned anything for in port as a group though often ended up at the same beach. MUCH easier to travel in small groups and on your own time table.

It worked GREAT for us. Dinner every night was enough time of all together to feel it was truly a reunion, but everyone had their own space and got to do what they liked. And, everyone ended up getting some quality small group time with people they do not see too often. For example, each grandkid ended up doing at least one activity (veggie racers, towel folding, etc.) alone with grandma, all of my and DH's generation were dancing on 80s night, aunt Karen builta gingerberead house with just DD and shared a huge ice cream sundae pool side with DS, all the kids went to a movie, etc.

 

[yazee1]

Thanks for the ideas. More questions.

Dry erase boards on the door - Did that involve an adhesive or magnets?

Booking - Did each family make their own cruise booking arrangements or did one person make the arrangements?

Kids switching rooms for a night - Our 2 boys will probably want their cousin to sleep in their room one night. Did anyone's children want a "sleepover" with their cousins or other family members that involved a kid sleeping in a room other than their own? (without exceeding the occupancy maximum)

One last thing that has nothing to do with extended families....

Does DCL give returning guests who did not rebook while on-board (like us) OB credit?

Thanks!

 

[tksbaskets]

Prozac and vodka.

LOL! I'll second what most people are saying...meet up for dinner and beyond that plan only for your own family. We sailed last NYE with friends and that worked out just great! We planned our excursions and then compared with our friends. One overlap (their kids are much younger) and we had fun doing that together. On our sea days I must admit DH and I had fun with our friends (sans kids) doing the galley tour and the beer and margarita tasting This was the first time we cruised with someone we knew ahead of time.

We did have fun doing spontaneous things with both families throughout the week like the shows etc.

You will have a blast!
TK

 

[ILoveDisney&Cruising]

Dry erase boards on the door - Did that involve an adhesive or magnets?

Magnets. I've gotten some at the Dollar Store as well as Target's $1 bins at front of store.