I can't believe I'm saying this but....

[OSUZorba]

Oh I'm all for leaving the "kids" home, we have in the past, and were supposed to for 2 weeks this summer, but hopefully that will now be next summer. That's part of it too, I feel bad that we do leave them (we just went to WDW without them in August and Vegas last Nov) so I feel I do almost owe them. I know I don't "owe" them anything but you know what I mean. And our oldest DS is on board so I hate the thought of just leaving 1 kid behind, it worries me. If he didn't want to go I'd say, great, problem solved...party of 2!



That is exactly what oldest DS was saying to him...free food, open bar (meaning it's on us), who says no to that???!!!

My in-laws have always just said "This is where we are going, come if you want." Sometimes DW and I go, sometimes DSIL goes. We actually do the same thing with our parents nowadays, "we are going on this cruise, you can come if you want." No hurt feelings if one side doesn't want to come.

 

[tvguy]

19 cruises in 21 years? Sounds like he's burned out on cruising. It's not special anymore if you do it almost every year. I've done 10 cruises in 40 years, so they are still special trips for me. About once every 4 years.

 

[Travel60]

Maybe it's the destination? My adult kids were all in on Alaska, not so much Caribbean where they had been several times. Maybe southern California or Canada? I'm definitely not cruising in 2021 so I haven't looked at what's offered, just mentioning what seems different.

 

[CamColt]

OK--let's get past the fact that your youngest is 21, and your oldest is 24 which should not really shock me, because my DS is 23--I feel like they should all still be elementary aged since that's what they were when we 'met'

DS will still come on the odd vacation with us, and it's so hard to let go, realize he's got his own life, and does things with his friends, girlfriend, etc. Trying to entice him right now to join us in the Keys for Thanksgiving.

If you figure it out, let me know!

Too funny! They are actually still 23 and 20 but birthdays are coming up in Dec and Jan. Nice to see you, hope all is well.

Maybe it's the destination? My adult kids were all in on Alaska, not so much Caribbean where they had been several times. Maybe southern California or Canada? I'm definitely not cruising in 2021 so I haven't looked at what's offered, just mentioning what seems different.

This is another one of my issues...I wont cruise to Alaska or Canada...I'm only a warm weather cruiser. And I am limited to certain weeks for vacation so our options are limited anyway. In general though he has never really cared about ports and usually just wanted to stay on board, which is what we plan to do this cruise.

Thanks for the replies everyone. I have made some progress today and he seems to be more willing to go for April so I'm working on changing the cruise now. I think his brother pointing out no one turns down a free cruise, and the fact that it is only 4 nights helped to sway him some. He's still not overjoyed about it, like I still am after 22 Disney Cruises, but I can tell his wheels are turning and he's realizes this isn't such a bad thing.

 

[DCLCruiseFan09]

I'm in the "Cruise without him" party. If you'd rarely see him anyway you wouldn't miss him being there honestly.

I go on cruises with friends all the time and leave the husband at home. Granted most of the time its because of work that he can't go when I can.

 

[Snowwhyt]

I travel with a 21-year-old daughter. The last two trips I brought her boyfriend with us. I was surprised at how much more interested in cruising she was showing somebody else all of the exciting things about the ship. She tries new things she wouldn’t normally do. They also do a activity they have chosen at port. For 10 years she refused to do kid activities and now I don’t believe there’s a adult activity that she hasn’t tried! Can you increase the head-count?
Might as well start the plus one concept now.

 

[DCLMP]

He has a new and exciting job coming up that is important to him. The family and family cruises have always been in his life, nothing changes. So maybe it's time for the little fish to swim on his own and discover the world. Remember, the young salmon swims away but one-day returns to the home waters.

My 18 year old is ready to swim away. I have a feeling in a few years when he figures out how hard it is to afford a vacation he’ll come back.

 

[DCLMP]

19 cruises in 21 years? Sounds like he's burned out on cruising. It's not special anymore if you do it almost every year. I've done 10 cruises in 40 years, so they are still special trips for me. About once every 4 years.

I think it depends on the itinerary. There a whole world out there to see. We did 25 cruises in 11 years and no one tired of it. It’s the new restrictions thats put cruising on the back burner for the near future.

 

[cgolf]

Since we are on a break from DCL our daughter decided she didn't want to cruise with us anymore. Had we stuck with DCL, not sure if she would still have or not. Well when we showed her pictures of the new Celebrity Edge and talked about it, she was really interested and will be going on the Edge's sister ship the Apex with us late 2021. So like some others are saying give them some options see what they choose. You may end up compromising so you can still cruise with him.

 

[CheshKAT]

We are in that stage now where our DS's are 18-19. They both still love Disney, but I think our family travelling days are over of a while. DH and I are looking forward to a childless vacation. This will be a new adventure for use where we actually get to do things we have wanted to do but couldn't because the kids didn't particularly want to. I know it's only temporary and we have to realize the boys have their own life and wants and desires. Before you know it, we'll all be taking family trips with the Grandkids and DIL's. We will all be just fine!!!

 

[mevelandry]

My 21 year old doesn't want to cruise!

He has been on 19 Disney cruises since he was 8 months old and LOVED them. We have a 4 night booked for February 15th but he just got a new bartending job and we figure Valentines Day weekend wont be good for him to get off. I'm willing to change it to April (when I get another vacation at work, and maybe a better chance of actually sailing), but he's not thrilled about going then either. He has really enjoyed the Edge/Vibe/1820 Society over the years and I think that is the issue.

Besides the obvious of being able to drink now, any other ideas of how to entice a 21 YO to cruise with his family? His brother will be 24 so it's not like he will be alone if he doesn't want to hang out with his parents, but he did point out they like different things on the cruise.

Maybe he outgrew DCL? Did you ask him he would feel about other cruise lines?

After three Disney cruises, I have a hard time convincing my husband to try one of the future Disney ships...

 

[iivye]

My 21 year old doesn't want to cruise!

Your lucky you made it to 21, my 16 yo told me no more vacations. We have cruised to Europe, Iceland, Caribbean, and Alaska, did a land trip to Japan, multiple trips to Disney World and Universal, plus weekend trips to NYC and San Francisco so it's not like these weren't fabulous vacations, she just doesn't want to hang out with us anymore. It makes me sad but now I'm looking forward to it just being my husband and I. Plus I know eventually she'll want to vacation with us again.

 

[Intr3pid]

Just embrace it as a new chapter in your life. Say hello to a more independent - and cost-effective - world of cruising!

 

[we"reofftoneverland]

Give him a couple of years off, trust me, he will be back.

 

[DCLMP]

Just embrace it as a new chapter in your life. Say hello to a more independent - and cost-effective - world of cruising!

My almost 18 year old has no interest in WDW. The last few trips it was just me and the younger teen. It's so easier and cheaper traveling as a party of two vs four.

 

[DMMarla07860]

I will say when I was 14-17 years old I didn't really want to travel with my parents or Dad(mom hates traveling), since I turned 18(I am 32 now). I really enjoy traveling with my Dad, I do my own thing, he does his. My interests have changed over the years cruising too.

So I can understand what he could be thinking. I would never pass up a vacation

 

[jeepnjudy]

I'm impressed you made it that long! My DS16 was really getting tired of Disney so we booked a Christmas cruise on the Royal Caribbean Harmony of the Seas DEC 2019 and he had a blast. We will be going on that ship again for him once all the pandemic craziness passes. I have to admit despite all our Disney cruises, that was an AMAZING ship!

 

[fredandkell]

Yes, as others have said, no offense but at that age there is no way I would’ve wanted to cruise with my parents. Don’t take it personally, and give him a few years when he realizes just how great it is to go when the parents are paying

 

[Karin1984]

Leave him at home. From age 18 me and my brother didnt go on holidays with my parents anymore. Different interests.

And I am very happy my parents didnt force us. Me and my brother get quite annoying when we have to do things we dont want to do (for longer than a few hours). And that would upset my mother. Everyone's vacation improved as no one had to live up to each other's expectations.

 

[DCLMP]

Leave him at home. From age 18 me and my brother didnt go on holidays with my parents anymore. Different interests.

And I am very happy my parents didnt force us. Me and my brother get quite annoying when we have to do things we dont want to do (for longer than a few hours). And that would upset my mother. Everyone's vacation improved as no one had to live up to each other's expectations.

That's sounds exactly like my family. My mom would be so disappointed when the vacation went up in flames.