My eight year old asked...

[samkj]

if we could go on a cruise next year with my sister's family (not even a Disney cruise, but Royal Carribean!!) instead of Disneyland! It was already going to be 15 months between trips!

This is what I thought was my Disney freak daughter too, but she said "Mom, we've already been to DIsneyland, but I've never been on a cruise."

Who is this child and what has she done with my daughter!

So now we are looking into other vacation options. I'm not really interested in the cruise my sister has booked, but maybe we'll try another one. It probably won't be Disney due to the price. I'm also trying to figure out how to fit a DL trip (maybe shorter without the planned AP upgrade)in there too.

 

[trodrigue]

Probably time to trade her in!

Seriously, you may have to join the gals only trip to get your fix.

 

[Tasscrapper]

I've been on a RC cruise in the Carribean and it was awsome. Keep an open mind about the idea.

 

[DesertBell]

Gasp! Shock!

Seriously, that is one of my greatest fears. When it comes to vacation, anyway.

(hugs). You'll see the Land again!

 

[PinkBudgie]

I've always wanted to go on an Alakan cruise. Better find someone else to go to DL with. I'm already looking forward to going with just my DH, no kids.

 

[kelmac284]

Yeah Amy you could join my mom and I in March on the girls trip!

 

[disneydreamer74]

IN the words of Marlon brando "the horror....the horror..." I have this fear that one day my child will become disinterested and realize mom has an obsession, lol.

 

[Casey's Mommie]

If you sail out of LA you can spend a day or two at Disneyland before or after the cruise!

 

[usschmidt]

I am a relatively new DLR fanatic...hopefully my girls will not blow my cover anytime soon!

That being said...I have a friend who's done both RCC and DC. While she loved the DC b/c of the magical feel and all, she actually prefered the RC better. Even though they went on a RCC that was child-centric, there were a lot less kids than the DC. There wasn't as much waiting for kids' activities and the overall atmosphere was calmer. But she's still planning another DC in the future!

 

[quiltymom]

You can always do a Disney cruise. That's what we're going to do next Fall. I can't wait!

My TA is Tracy from DreamsUnlimited, a DISBoards sponsor. She's been on a gadzillion Disney cruises, so she could answer any questions you may have. If you're interested, PM me and I'll send your her email address.

 

[abby]

I suspect she watches the disney channel that has recently had a lot of ads for cruises. My dd 8 also announced she wants to go on a cruise, carnival specifically. When I asked some questions it turns out she keeps seeing the ads and thinks the pool looks like fun.

I quess it is an 8 year old thing. My dd still wants to go to DL, but seems to think she is too old to actually still like the princesses, (at least if her friends are around.) She also refuses to wear any of her character shirts to school anymore.

 

[jacky b]

It's funny about the 8 years girls, I think they grow up too fast!

I have a 12 year old son and he still loves going to DL, actually during our last long weekend trip in May he asked if we could move to CA so we could go more!!! At least now I know I gave birth to him (sometimes I wonder ) !!

 

[bumbershoot]

RCCL is fabulous! I'd say that you should go, and do DLR or WDW on your way to or back, whichever group of parks is closest to the cruise.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

Cruises are a great way to travel. You board, unpack once and wake up each day in a new place. When you're at sea, you have this entire floating city to explore.

We love Disney, but we love going to other places too. We took a 10-day cruise to Alaska in June on Princess. We sailed out of San Francisco (a 50 mile drive from our house). Within a hour and a half of leaving home, we were on the ship and anxiously awaiting our sailaway under the Golden Gate Bridge. It was awesome!

Don't be afraid to explore other vacation options. We've found that spacing out our Disney trips makes it even more special when we do go.

 

[CableKC]

If you have the time and $$$, why not do a DW/DC Land Sea package in Orlando? At the very least, it's a 9-day trip ( including flying time ) but the DC is a good 1st time cruise experience.

 

[bumbershoot]

If you have the time and $$$, why not do a DW/DC Land Sea package in Orlando? At the very least, it's a 9-day trip ( including flying time ) but the DC is a good 1st time cruise experience.

FWIW, I've read that doing the actual land/sea package for disney is much more expensive than if you do it separately. I haven't ever priced it out, but I've read it many times 'round here.

 

[samkj]

Thanks everyone. I have no problem with other vacation options, I was just shocked my daughter said she would give up DL for this. I know it doesn't meean she loves DL any less, it just that she wants to see something new. Now if I asked WDW or a cruise, I'm not sure what she would say. We live in CA so DL has always been the "easy" vacation to plan. I don't know what we will do. Disney cruises are a bit of a reach pricewise. I have no problems going on RCCL, I just don't want to spend that much on the particular ship/itinerary my sister choose. No matter what I know we'll have a great trip. It all comes down to how the finances look in January. Who knows we may just figure out how to do both.

 

[SeattleGirl]

We did the land/sea this year (it turned out cheaper than separately actually), but next year we are going to be a little pinched for cash, so we booked RCCL out of LA and will go to DL for a day or two.

My advice would be to book early for any cruise, you can save hundreds that way! Check out cruisecritic.com for more info on different lines (it's like the DIS of cruising).

Good luck!