My mom's first cruise, after dad passing. Help me make it magical.

[redsonja76]

Hi all. My dad passed away in April after a very long illness where my mom basically couldn't leave him overnight, and so she hasn't been able to travel for years. She has decided to go with us on our cruise next summer and I really want to make it magical for her. She is tagging along with my family (me, dh, dd) and my bff's family (her, dh, three kids). My mom is super young for early 70's and loves to try new things. She has never been on a cruise before. Any must do's for seniors on the cruise? We will be on the dream if that helps. Thanks!

 

[MeliMel702]

My Condolences to you and your Family!! Hope she finds something fun to do. I do know they have Bingo onboard. I work at a Casino and the majority of our senior patrons LOVEBingo.

 

[MMR]

Maybe make your Christmas present to her be travel-related (luggage, travel sized toiletries and travel bag, travel portfolio, etc). Get her a guide book to read in advance. If you can, have her plan an excursion maybe just you and her.

 

[Club Disney Chandler]

If she is young for 70's and loves to try new things the two of you should try parasailing or the wave runners on Castaway Cay. Parasailing was absolutely breathtaking when we did it.

 

[cedricandsophie]

Cocktail tastings,dinner at Palo with the adults, her own room, a spa certificate, fun active excursions like kayaking and snorkeling, coffee every morning in the Cove, a good family picture on formal night. I'm 66 and those are the things I'd like but I've been on lots of cruises and enjoy alone time away from the grandkids. I would rather have a dental appointment then play bingo

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

Your Mom might enjoy the spa maybe getting her nails done or a treatment or just a rainforest pass for the day. I am sorry to hear about your Dad. How nice you want to make this special for her.

 

[GrannyDee]

I'm trying to think what I'd like if it were me.

Is one of the kids rooming with her? I'd want the company, someone to share the day with at the end of the day, order room service with, etc. Maybe some girl time? For a mani/pedi or an afternoon tea? You don't say which ship you'll be on, but someone to team with to play Midship Detective Agency? I guess just things that I/she could feel a part of.

We will be cruising in December with our daughter and her family. I can tell you firsthand that being included in your vacation is the most amazingly wonderful you can do for your mom.

 

[tinkerone]

Although you say she is young for 70 she may appreciate a cabana (if you can get one) by the end of the cruise. The cruise activities take a lot out of you and by the end of it you really want to put your feet up. It would give her some shade and some special quiet time with her family away from the crowds, which I'm sure she would appreciate.

 

[FigmentSpark]

If she's spent a lot of time taking care of your father, it might be nice for her to feel taken care of for a change. Some great suggestions here, like spa or rainforest passes and a Palo night. She might also just enjoy the simpler Disney things, like meet and greets with her granddaughter or the Royal Court tea. Definitely get a nice family picture with her, but ask her if she'd like one with just herself or just with her gd, as well.

She's probably also going to want some time to remember/mourn your father. Let her talk about him and what he might have enjoyed if he'd been there. I'm sure you're in that place, too, so let some of that happen when it's needed.

You might also peruse the gifts to see if there's something she might enjoy as a surprise when she gets on the ship. Was there a special gift your dad would always get for her or that they shared? Maybe they have something that would be similar.

Not sure where she would be at in terms of mourning, but remember that the whole room is magnetic. You might want to make some magnets for her room of happy times she had with your dad. But don't do it, if you think it will make her sad.

So sorry for your loss.

 

[beach baby]

I'm sorry for your loss and think it's wonderful that you are thinking about pampering your mom! I just took my mom, a young 74 years old, on her first cruise ever on the Dream. The thing she wanted to do the most but just didn't get to, was the Aqua duck! That surprised me, so I've booked another one just so she can do it! The things she loved and talks endlessly about her cruise are Palo brunch, morning coffee on the veranda, and Pirate night....and yes she dressed up! You will have an awesome time!!!

 

[olookasquirrel]

Maybe make your Christmas present to her be travel-related (luggage, travel sized toiletries and travel bag, travel portfolio, etc). Get her a guide book to read in advance. If you can, have her plan an excursion maybe just you and her.

Seconding this. We did Shutterfly's personalized luggage tags for my mom, and she loved them! They're metal too which means they'll hold up.

Something else my mom is obsessed with when we cruise is matching shirts. It just really makes you feel like part of a fun group, and the cast members all comment on it. Also was genuinely helpful as some of our group was peripherally related, so if she doesn't know your friend's family well it keeps everyone together!

 

[gingerfeathers]

Please accept my condolences. I'm so glad to hear your mom will be traveling with you though. I think letting her relax and have a good time is the best thing you can do. I agree with checking the gifts available--a floral arrangement, wine, etc. could be a nice surprise in her room after she gets on the ship.

We have a huge family cruise coming up to celebrate my grandmother's 80th birthday. I've been talking with the cousins, and our plan is to do a family photo on the ship, purchase it, have it framed nicely and then surprise her with it later on, maybe at Christmas. For what it's worth, Grandma is going to enjoy relaxing and playing with her great-grandson (probably not at the same time though).

 

[redsonja76]

Some amazing ideas you guys have, thank you so much!!! My mom probably wouldn't like bingo, but I'm going to ask her to play it with me because I love it so much. No kids in her room, but she has a room right next door so if she needs us we are right there. We will totally do a Palo brunch, awesome idea! She's a coffee drinker so we will get coffee room service on our balconies. I love the travel themed gift idea, we will do the luggage tags, that's awesome! She loves spa stuff, as do I, so I will take her to get a massage on board. You guys are the best, I knew you could help me!!

 

[Chernabog#1fan]

Some amazing ideas you guys have, thank you so much!!! My mom probably wouldn't like bingo, but I'm going to ask her to play it with me because I love it so much. No kids in her room, but she has a room right next door so if she needs us we are right there. We will totally do a Palo brunch, awesome idea! She's a coffee drinker so we will get coffee room service on our balconies. I love the travel themed gift idea, we will do the luggage tags, that's awesome! She loves spa stuff, as do I, so I will take her to get a massage on board. You guys are the best, I knew you could help me!!

One thing I did not see posted but may have missed it is to sign up for the cruise meet either here or on the other site if there is one for your sailing. They tend to do a lot of solo gatherings and she may enjoy going and doing a few things with new friends.

I am also very sorry to hear about your loss. This will be a good time for your mom to just get a break.

 

[olookasquirrel]

Touching on the framed photo idea - we did a photobook for my mom (as a thank-you present) when we came back. It took HOURS, seriously, they are not for the faint of heart! But it came out so nice, and she still pulls it out on a regular basis. Like, at least twice a week I'll call and hear "Oh, we were looking through the photo book today..."

I'm kinda dreading coming back from the next cruise to be honest, that thing was a beast to make!!

 

[redsonja76]

Touching on the framed photo idea - we did a photobook for my mom (as a thank-you present) when we came back. It took HOURS, seriously, they are not for the faint of heart! But it came out so nice, and she still pulls it out on a regular basis. Like, at least twice a week I'll call and hear "Oh, we were looking through the photo book today..."

I'm kinda dreading coming back from the next cruise to be honest, that thing was a beast to make!!

Oh goodness I know, we make one every year "Our family in 2014" "2015" so on and so forth. We have them for ourselves and send them to the grandparents and some aunts and uncles. They are treasured by everyone but such a beast to make!

 

[beach baby]

One thing I forgot to add that my mom adored, was the fish exchange. I signed up our cabin and she thought it was so much fun! She would always walk ahead of the rest of us because she was excited to see what had been delivered that day!

 

[timrousbeastie]

My condolences for your loss, but it makes your desire to do something nice for your mom extra touching. I took my dad, who is 85, on a Fantasy cruise last year along with my sister's in-laws who were 72 and 74. The size of your party and your mom being mobile is great in that it will be easy for you to do everything together. If your mother is anything like my own family, my guess is that she probably will want to spend as much time with the rest of you as possible. One thing, I learned from our first two cruises, where I packed our schedule with port adventures from morning until evening at each of the stops, is that most of the family wished that they had had more time to relax and explore the ship. So, I cut back on the events with more relaxing half day excursions and more open time to improvise. That worked better for us overall. However, the 74 year-old grandfather is extremely active and always, like myself, eager to squeeze as much as possible into the schedule. In particular for the first cruise, there are so many neat new things to try so it is a difficult balance to strike. Perhaps try to avoid either extreme the first time, learn from the experience, and make adjustments when you, hopefully, are able to go again later.

 

[phinz]

My mother passed away three years ago after a protracted bout with Leukemia and then GvHD. My father was her constant caretaker for 5 years. He has not taken a real vacation since, though he has come to visit us a couple of times for family weddings, etc. We asked him to go on our cruise this December with us and we all are really excited about it.

We changed our room to a Cat T as soon as one became available and will be booking a cabana, as well as Remy, for the three of us. Other than that we just want to show him our DCL. He's only been on NCL and only in Alaska, so he's not had any real sea time. His favorite thing is to sit on the verandah and watch the sea go by. He's a former Navy man and has missed the sea ever since he mustered out.

I have a distinct feeling that just spending time with your family will be magical for your mother. Anything else you do above and beyond being in each other's company will be a much-appreciated bonus.

 

[lunarsongbird]

One of the ways that I enjoy to celebrate someone's life is to enjoy things that they loved in life. When my grandfather passed, I drank tanqueray gin and tonics and ate cheeze-its. It was something he enjoyed doing nearly every day. The bars can make any cocktail, really. Maybe your dad has a favorite drink? Palo might be able to help you with a dinner request if you talk to the restraunt manager early in the trip.

You could download some of his favorite music to listen to on theach trip....

Things that would make him happy to see you doing.