No Kids? Is it possible?

[westjones]

We have taken our twins 3 times on the DCL. We love it! Now I have had 'thoughts' of what it might be like go with just DH (no kids)! We both feel wonder if we would feel too guilty. They will be spending a week with GM and GP this summer, and we are considering the idea of going on the cruise while they are away.

For those of you who have done this, do you enjoy it? Or do you end up thinking about how much DD or DS would enjoy this or that ?

Thanks,
DJ

 

[mmouse37]

Hubby and I took a 3 day Wonder 20th Anniversary cruise without the three kids.

We felt a tinge of guilt, but really enjoyed the cruise alone. It was whole different experience. We have been on DCL as a family 5 times already, so they were Ok with us going alone.

Do, it...you can always bring them back again!!!

MJ

 

[Wishing on a star]

GO FOR IT !!!! wink, wink!

 

[tecdavidt]

My husband and I cruise without children but we cruise on other lines. We would feel guilty about not having the children with us while we watch other families with their children on the cruise. Now a lot of people do cruise DCL without their children so go for it! We just know we would feel guilty leaving them behind on a Disney cruise, it was much easier on Celebrity. Not many little ones on that line. Kathy

 

[mausmu]

My wife and I have left the kids home twice for the Disney cruise. We had a great time. You will always see certain things that you will think that the kids would love this or that, but it really is a great time with just the two of us. It's not like the kids are deprived or anything. They have been to Disney many more times than most people twice there age. At least thats how we justified it. We will be taking them with us on the 7 day at the end of the summer. I say go for it and enjoy it.

 

[kasar]

Personally, I could never go to Disney World or on a Disney Cruise without kids. It's the one place they love best! If we ever went, we could NEVER tell them! I would, however, try a more "adult" cruise or vacation. I know Disney has many adult activities/areas, but it does seem geared towards families or for people who want to be on the go. If I was without kids, I'd relax and enjoy being pampered, not rushing from one activity to the next. Wait, that sounds pretty good.....hhmmm, maybe we have time to cancel.......Just kidding!

 

[kelljacques@aol.com]

my son went on my honeymoon with me!! Whne I got married darren was 2 1/2 I could imaging being that far away in the middle of the ocean! So we took my mom and had our own cabin. Still had alot of private time but felt much better about him being so close..

In may we will be married 5 years going on our 1sr dcl cruise. Mom and darren have the cabin right next to ours again!

 

[FOJMO]

I have always been of the mind that you are much more valuable to your children if you get some "couple" time (or even each of you time to yourselves). You come back refreshed and renewed as a couple and have a new lease on life. You need to have that "adult" time, even if it's just to a movie or out to dinner. Your children, believe it or not, also need time away from Mom & Dad, and even better if they can spend it with an extended family member. Gives them new perspective, too. So, go and enjoy and don't feel guilty. If you like to cruise Disney, go for it. You may see/experience things that you may not have been able to if you would have brought the kids.

 

[DuncanLL]

DH and I have taken two of our 5 DCL cruises without the kids - one 3 day and one 7 day Eastern. Our "alone" cruises have been different, but equally fantastic experiences. Living at the Quiet Cove pool all week is a delight. Plus, we did as much of the adult programming series as we could squeeze in. We also did excursions that we wouldn't or couldn't do with the kids - like the America's Cup sailing experience in St. Maartan. We went ot more late night movies at the Buena Vista theater and got a liitle more R&R than we would have keeping track of the kids.

DH and I believe in getting away by ourselves, even if just a long weekend for our anniversary. We love the kids and have taken them on three DCL cruises with us. Either way is a lot of fun!

Linda

 

[CamColt]

Our first Disney Cruise was with our kids, and my whole family, and we had fun. DH & I went back alone and we had the best vacation ever! No guilt at all! My kids are 2 & 5 and have been to WDW 3 & 4 times, plus a cruise. I definitely dont neglect their vacation needs. I see nothing wrong with a married couple taking a few days away from their kids, in fact I think its good for everyone involved. As for where you go, thats your decision to make, not the kids. We got a lot of "WHY, would you want to go to Disney when you can get away without the kids?" questions, but our answer was "to do all the stuff we can never do with the kids". Trust me, because of these comments I made note and there were many times I said to DH "I dont see any kids!". The adult activities in both WDW(we spent 1 day there) & on DCL are just that...Adult!
I have posted my trip report on the trip report boards if you want to check it out, but its probably down a few pages by now. It was the July 4th cruise.
I say go & enjoy! If thats the worst thing you do to your kids, they are pretty well off.

***I just checked and the 4 parts of my trip report are spread out over the first 3 pages of the cruise trip report boards. Enjoy!

 

[gometros]

My wife and I have cruised three times w/o the kids. The first time was in Christmas of '96, when my folks took the kids back to Boca raton with them and we went on a 3-day Carnival cruise. The kids got some quality time with the grandparents and we got some quality time alone. The second time was in the summer of '98, when the kids were in camp. We were already going to the World and at the last minute tacked on a 3-day crise on the Disney Magic. Hey, the kids are having fun in camp. What are we supposed to stay home and suffer? <wink> <wink>. We finally took the kids on a 4-day Wonder cruise in July 2000, but took adavantage of a DVC sale last November and went on the 7-day Eastern cruise. That was the hardest one, since we actually left the kids after Thanksgiving dinner. My two older kids were okay with it (we think), but my 13-year old layed the guilt on like crazy. By the time I first got to the internet cafe Sunday night, we already had something like 11 messages from her. When we got back to port the next Saturday, I had 9 phone mesages from her! Despite the guilt trip, we explained that we had a right to some quiet time by ourselves. Anyway, the guilt worked. We're all going on the 7-day western this July

 

[ppiew]

My husband and I have taken both the 3 and 4 day cruises without the kids and loved it both times! Of course our 'kids' are 38 and 39 yrs old!!! However, they were BOTH jealous that we didn't take them and tried ever so subtley to put a guilt trip on us!! Anyway, it was fun and we enjoyed the adult only stuff so much and also watching kids and families enjoy their stuff. This year we will be taking our son/daughter in law, and 2 granddaughters, so the experience will be different, but still great.
I would still do it again as just the 2 of us.

 

[hydster]

and just took them for their FIRST Disney cruise on 11/17 and they loved it and so did we but hubby and I did NOT get any "couple" time as we were always going with them. They liked the clubs but preferred our attention which was just fine. We usually book 1 family vacation and 1 couple vacation each year with a few weekender vacations alone without the kids as well. I am of the same belief as FOJMO in that you come back refreshed and possibly a better parent with a little more patience (at least I do) and our kids loved that they got time with Grandma and Grandpa! I personally dont think I would do Disney without the kids but that is just our decision. We have cruised Norwegian and Carnival without the kids and it was nice to not have everything "kid" oriented while on board. It was nice to go to some really nice "Broadway" type shows with dancers and "adult" type shows (no not sleazy). I would have to say it was hard leaving them behind until I got to Miami and then WOOHOO it was off for my time! I say if you have the kids taken care of and you dont have to make special arrangements to go for it! That time alone with your hubby/wife is wonderful! When we go we do some island time but we also splurge on the spa with massages and such since we dont get to do that at home. It is so nice to come home refreshed!
I say go for it!
Heidi

 

[PolyGirl]

I would DEFINATELY go for it!!!

DH and I sailed w/out our children last year. The kids stayed with Grammy and Papa while we sailed on the 3-day Wonder. When we got back from cruising we took them to WDW for a week. My children had a great time with their grandparents and DH and I were able to have some alone time.

We also learned from cruising alone all the great things DCL has to offer. The night time activities were great!!! We have sailed DCL before with the kids and had everyone in bed by 10 pm not realizing all the fun we were missing.

All in all it was a great time for all and would like to do it again alone maybe in 2004.

But for right now we are sailing again on the Wonder in January and this time the kids are coming too!!!