Parents first cruise - how to convince/share with them

[erin1715]

My husband and I want to take a Disney Cruise to Alaska next summer 2018. I just put two staterooms on hold for us and for my parents. No kids.

My husband and I have been on 3 DCL's in the past, all to the Bahamas. My parents have never taken a cruise and they are the type of people who really never plan vacations for themselves. My dad has always wanted to see Alaska and I am looking for things to show and share with them so they can get an idea if this is something they'd like to do with us. My mom and dad are in their early 60s. I really want them to join us because I think they'd have a wonderful time and I don't see them getting to Alaska on their own, and to be honest they are getting older and I want to make these memories with them. They won't even get to Alaska on their own. We live in NY and they have been talking about going to Cooperstown for a day trip for two summers now and they still haven't done it!

I'm looking for suggestions of how to share this experience with them. I have the DCL DVD but I haven't watched it yet and I'm not sure how much that touches on Alaska specifically? Any suggestions? I haven't even pitched them the idea yet as I was waiting for opening day prices, so now I'm ready to do it!

 

[Shanti]

My husband and I want to take a Disney Cruise to Alaska next summer 2018. I just put two staterooms on hold for us and for my parents. No kids.

My husband and I have been on 3 DCL's in the past, all to the Bahamas. My parents have never taken a cruise and they are the type of people who really never plan vacations for themselves. My dad has always wanted to see Alaska and I am looking for things to show and share with them so they can get an idea if this is something they'd like to do with us. My mom and dad are in their early 60s. I really want them to join us because I think they'd have a wonderful time and I don't see them getting to Alaska on their own, and to be honest they are getting older and I want to make these memories with them. They won't even get to Alaska on their own. We live in NY and they have been talking about going to Cooperstown for a day trip for two summers now and they still haven't done it!

I'm looking for suggestions of how to share this experience with them. I have the DCL DVD but I haven't watched it yet and I'm not sure how much that touches on Alaska specifically? Any suggestions? I haven't even pitched them the idea yet as I was waiting for opening day prices, so now I'm ready to do it!

Are you planning to pay for them? If so, I'd pitch it hardsell as the great experience it is. If not, I'd mention the possibility casually, so as not to pressure them into such an expensive vacation.

 

[Jody924]

Pick one of the great trip reports posted and then share with them!

 

[erin1715]

I really would have loved to be able to pay for them but when it came down to it, I just could not afford it. I was thinking of mentioning it to them that my husband and I are planning to do an Alaskan cruise and we would love for them to join us if it's something they would enjoy. I will share some info. But yeah, my worry is if I talk them into it and then they don't enjoy it, I'd feel bad.

 

[Club Disney Chandler]

My husband and I want to take a Disney Cruise to Alaska next summer 2018. I just put two staterooms on hold for us and for my parents. No kids.

My husband and I have been on 3 DCL's in the past, all to the Bahamas. My parents have never taken a cruise and they are the type of people who really never plan vacations for themselves. My dad has always wanted to see Alaska and I am looking for things to show and share with them so they can get an idea if this is something they'd like to do with us. My mom and dad are in their early 60s. I really want them to join us because I think they'd have a wonderful time and I don't see them getting to Alaska on their own, and to be honest they are getting older and I want to make these memories with them. They won't even get to Alaska on their own. We live in NY and they have been talking about going to Cooperstown for a day trip for two summers now and they still haven't done it!

I'm looking for suggestions of how to share this experience with them. I have the DCL DVD but I haven't watched it yet and I'm not sure how much that touches on Alaska specifically? Any suggestions? I haven't even pitched them the idea yet as I was waiting for opening day prices, so now I'm ready to do it!

Just let them know that you're going and casually say, "you should join us." We did that with my parents for our Mediterranean cruise last year and they did join us. They also had a great time.

 

[owensamo]

Are they Disney fans - i.e. like the Disney parks, Disney movies, etc? Do they like broadway-style shows?

If not, I'd play up the Alaska part of the cruise, and maybe just mention the food and amenities on the ship. We did an Alaska cruise last summer (Northbound on Celebrity, because we wanted to tour Anchorage/Denali as well and Disney didn't offer that itinerary) and really the scenery and the ports are all the reason anyone should need to go! Alaska is beautiful, the ports are engaging, and the wildlife is breathtaking.

So if Alaska is something they've expressed an interest in, I'd personally leverage that angle less so than the fact that it's a Disney cruise - at least until they put down some money and you can start getting into detailed planning!