Poll: Which would you choose?

[Anna Chassereau]

Hi everyone!

We are trying to decide which cruise to take summer 2018. Our son will be 7 at the time. I want to book opening day. Trying to really get a plan together since ️hopefully those dates will be out in March/beginning of April.

7 day Western on the Fantasy with an oversized veranda or a 7 day Mediterranean with an ocean view room. Which one would you take with a child that age?

 

[snchpnz]

I normally prefer a cabin with a balcony but if both cruises cost the same (including airfare) I'd pick the Mediterranean with an ocean view. The Med is so port intensive you won't be spending much time in your cabin anyway.

 

[Quellman]

One is much more port intensive and to historical places. So it really matters if you think your 7 year old would get anything out of it doing tours etc. vs. spending time ziplining.

 

[Anna Chassereau]

I normally prefer a cabin with a balcony but if both cruises cost the same (including airfare) I'd pick the Mediterranean with an ocean view. The Med is so port intensive you won't be spending much time in your cabin anyway.

That's what I was thinking! The Mediterranean is more expensive over all bc of flights (we can drive to PC) so I was wanting to save some by not getting a balcony...Ive always cruised with a balcony so hopefully we won't regret it if we end up choosing Med.

 

[RedSox68]

We've done both, but I would always choose the Med/Europe over something in the Caribbean simply because the culture, history and sites are so amazing and different.

It really does depend on what you think your 7-year-old can handle. When we went to the Med the first time, our daughter was 20 and she got a lot out of it. But if your son like rugged terrain and history, he will have a great time.

 

[AndreAggie]

I have a 6-year old son who will be 7 in a couple months. He just wants to play in the kids klub and go to the beach. I'd wait until they're older and can adjust to the time zones and appreciate a trip to the Med more. Plus, that is a LONG flight.

 

[RedSox68]

That's what I was thinking! The Mediterranean is more expensive over all bc of flights (we can drive to PC) so I was wanting to save some by not getting a balcony...Ive always cruised with a balcony so hopefully we won't regret it if we end up choosing Med.

Check Norwegian Air -- we are taking it one-way to Barcelona in September and the prices were cheaper than we paid in 2007! Also, we always have balconies because my DH likes to be out there when we pull into the channels and new ports to get lighthouse pictures, etc. We loved it in the Med and even had one in Alaska. But an oceanview will give you just as much ability to see if you get one with a larger window -- and your son can sit in the window sill.

Whatever you decide, you will see some great places. When we did the western, we had to miss Key West because of a hurricane, but loved Grand Cayman and Cozumel and would do it again.

 

[Anchors Away 2016]

Here is my question to you. You may not be able to answer for sure, but try to.

"Realistically, if you do one of these this year, do you think you will be able to do the other (or something similar) later on with your son?"

If you say "Yes, We'll do both types of trips eventually," then I say do the Caribbean this time. I think he'll get more out of Europe when he is older and at this age he will love the ship and the characters no matter where you go.

If you say, "No, this is probably our only opportunity to do a trip as big as this," then I say to the Mediterranean while you can. It is not to be missed. When our kids were younger, we said, "We'll save Europe until they are older." We still hope to get there, but with them both in High School now, and college looming, I'm not so sure when that will be.

Either way, you will have a great time and you won't regret going!

 

[RedSox68]

Here is my question to you. You may not be able to answer for sure, but try to.

"Realistically, if you do one of these this year, do you think you will be able to do the other (or something similar) later on with your son?"

If you say "Yes, We'll do both types of trips eventually," then I say do the Caribbean this time. I think he'll get more out of Europe when he is older and at this age he will love the ship and the characters no matter where you go.

If you say, "No, this is probably our only opportunity to do a trip as big as this," then I say to the Mediterranean while you can. It is not to be missed. When our kids were younger, we said, "We'll save Europe until they are older." We still hope to get there, but with them both in High School now, and college looming, I'm not so sure when that will be.

Either way, you will have a great time and you won't regret going!

Very well put.

 

[dclpluto]

Med Is definitely better

 

[Anna Chassereau]

Here is my question to you. You may not be able to answer for sure, but try to.

"Realistically, if you do one of these this year, do you think you will be able to do the other (or something similar) later on with your son?"

If you say "Yes, We'll do both types of trips eventually," then I say do the Caribbean this time. I think he'll get more out of Europe when he is older and at this age he will love the ship and the characters no matter where you go.

If you say, "No, this is probably our only opportunity to do a trip as big as this," then I say to the Mediterranean while you can. It is not to be missed. When our kids were younger, we said, "We'll save Europe until they are older." We still hope to get there, but with them both in High School now, and college looming, I'm not so sure when that will be.

Either way, you will have a great time and you won't regret going!

Yes we will definitely do another big trip with him. We did our first DCL cruise with him this past summer and we plan to take many more in the future. My husband really wants to wait until he's older...he wants to wait until he studies these places in school so he'll actually know what he's seeing and he'll have more appreciation for it. Can't say I disagree with him...a part of me feels it will be better to wait until he's like maybe in middle school and another part of me is ready to go NOW lol. I love Europe and have been three times. Each trip has been so amazing and only made me want to go back more.

If we know we can do another big trip down the road maybe we should just wait? I don't want to take him over there and him be miserable from us dragging him to all the historical places we'd want to see...ugh decisions!

And by the way I went to Europe for the first time when I was 19. Spent a month in England and Scotland with my family. So after high school and right before I started college. And I went back again during college. If you end up taking your kids at the age they are now or even after they start college I promise you it will be an amazing trip!! It will influence them even more I'd say than when they were younger I'd be willing to bet. Maybe I answered my own question here haha

 

[Anna Chassereau]

Check Norwegian Air -- we are taking it one-way to Barcelona in September and the prices were cheaper than we paid in 2007! Also, we always have balconies because my DH likes to be out there when we pull into the channels and new ports to get lighthouse pictures, etc. We loved it in the Med and even had one in Alaska. But an oceanview will give you just as much ability to see if you get one with a larger window -- and your son can sit in the window sill.

Whatever you decide, you will see some great places. When we did the western, we had to miss Key West because of a hurricane, but loved Grand Cayman and Cozumel and would do it again.

I will definitely check them out! Thank you! So did you book two one way flights?

 

[RedSox68]

No, our cruise is sailing back to NYC -- so we only needed one-way (transatlantic). When we did this in 2007, we flew Aer Lingus our of JFK and paid over $1,400 for three tickets one-way to Barcelona, having to change in Dublin. This time the price is only $960 for the three of us, and that includes all luggage and food and seat choices (exit row -- score) and it is a direct flight.

 

[Anchors Away 2016]

Yes we will definitely do another big trip with him. We did our first DCL cruise with him this past summer and we plan to take many more in the future. My husband really wants to wait until he's older...he wants to wait until he studies these places in school so he'll actually know what he's seeing and he'll have more appreciation for it. Can't say I disagree with him...a part of me feels it will be better to wait until he's like maybe in middle school and another part of me is ready to go NOW lol. I love Europe and have been three times. Each trip has been so amazing and only made me want to go back more.

If we know we can do another big trip down the road maybe we should just wait? I don't want to take him over there and him be miserable from us dragging him to all the historical places we'd want to see...ugh decisions!

And by the way I went to Europe for the first time when I was 19. Spent a month in England and Scotland with my family. So after high school and right before I started college. And I went back again during college. If you end up taking your kids at the age they are now or even after they start college I promise you it will be an amazing trip!! It will influence them even more I'd say than when they were younger I'd be willing to bet. Maybe I answered my own question here haha

This is such a great reply, you have me rethinking MY answer to you.

You are right a trip to Europe can be eye-opening/life changing at any age, and younger is better from that perspective. I went to Paris for 9 days with a school trip (but none of my friends) as a Junior in High School, and then to Poland for 6 weeks with the woman who was on her way to becoming my wife the Summer after I finished college, and those two trips gave me a strength and a wonder that just about nothing else could have. (Sadly for them, my parents didn't get to come along!)

Plus you say, "there will be MANY more" so if you go to Europe now, you might do even more ambitious trips later, or additional trips to Europe, so that kinda defeats my concerns about "saving Europe until he is older."

And after all, you should be happy too, and I'm hearing you say, you might be sitting on a beach in the Carribean somewhere saying, "Yeah, this is pretty good." But kinda disappointed.


One last question for you, if you'll indulge me.

If you do go to Europe in the Summer of 2018, do you think you can hold some of your more adventurous instincts in check and be sure to plan a trip that holds his interests? Including some pool time and some down time, and some explore the ship time, even if it means you miss a European city or two?

As for your husband's suggestion that he waits until he learns about those cities, suggest to him that he look at it this way, "How excited will our son be when he learns about those cities in school after he has BEEN to them!"

 

[Anna Chassereau]

This is such a great reply, you have me rethinking MY answer to you.

You are right a trip to Europe can be eye-opening/life changing at any age, and younger is better from that perspective. I went to Paris for 9 days with a school trip (but none of my friends) as a Junior in High School, and then to Poland for 6 weeks with the woman who was on her way to becoming my wife the Summer after I finished college, and those two trips gave me a strength and a wonder that just about nothing else could have. (Sadly for them, my parents didn't get to come along!)

Plus you say, "there will be MANY more" so if you go to Europe now, you might do even more ambitious trips later, or additional trips to Europe, so that kinda defeats my concerns about "saving Europe until he is older."

And after all, you should be happy too, and I'm hearing you say, you might be sitting on a beach in the Carribean somewhere saying, "Yeah, this is pretty good." But kinda disappointed.


One last question for you, if you'll indulge me.

If you do go to Europe in the Summer of 2018, do you think you can hold some of your more adventurous instincts in check and be sure to plan a trip that holds his interests? Including some pool time and some down time, and some explore the ship time, even if it means you miss a European city or two?

As for your husband's suggestion that he waits until he learns about those cities, suggest to him that he look at it this way, "How excited will our son be when he learns about those cities in school after he has BEEN to them!"

Aaahh this is so fabulous!! The last paragraph! Wow I will definitely be bringing that up to my husband! Haha!

Yes if we ended up booking the Mediterranean we would definitely skip one of the ports to give everyone a break...likely one in the middle of the trip. And I'd hire private drivers for us in each port and probably just roam around for 4-5 hours and then head back to the ship. It's a lot to think about!!

My biggest thing too is the flight time...I've looked online some and every flight I'm finding is LONG. At least long for a 7 year old. Like 12 hour flights. We're taking him to NYC this summer for his birthday and it will be his first flight...only a two hour flight from where we live in SC. Not sure how a 12 hour flight would be with a 7 year old!

 

[Anna Chassereau]

I have a 6-year old son who will be 7 in a couple months. He just wants to play in the kids klub and go to the beach. I'd wait until they're older and can adjust to the time zones and appreciate a trip to the Med more. Plus, that is a LONG flight.

Yeah you aren't lying!! Just checked into the flights and the total travel time would be 15 hours. That's including layovers and everything. That would be a LONG trip for our son. Every kid is different but I think ours would be exhausted after traveling for that long!

 

[AndreAggie]

Yeah you aren't lying!! Just checked into the flights and the total travel time would be 15 hours. That's including layovers and everything. That would be a LONG trip for our son. Every kid is different but I think ours would be exhausted after traveling for that long!

Yes, that flight flat out stinks. I have a hard time sleeping on a plane though.

I've been to Europe and I saw you've been too, so you know how hard it is to adjust to the time change. Now put that on a 7-year old. Plus, I think once they've been exposed to some world geography and history, the trip be more relative. I'm not saying don't do it, but I know my child and he would be miserable the first day or so and would just want to do fun stuff instead of site-seeing. The excursions on a Western Caribbean are easy to plan for a kiddo.

 

[Anna Chassereau]

Yes, that flight flat out stinks. I have a hard time sleeping on a plane though.

I've been to Europe and I saw you've been too, so you know how hard it is to adjust to the time change. Now put that on a 7-year old. Plus, I think once they've been exposed to some world geography and history, the trip be more relative. I'm not saying don't do it, but I know my child and he would be miserable the first day or so and would just want to do fun stuff instead of site-seeing. The excursions on a Western Caribbean are easy to plan for a kiddo.

Yeah jet lag sucks as an adult...I can't imagine a 7 year old having it!The excursions look like they're much more kid friends on the western...as much as I want to do Europe I think it's becoming clear to me it would be better if we held off for a few years...

 

[Anchors Away 2016]

I dunno. We took our kids to Hawaii at ages 2 and 3.5, and they handled the time change and the flights better than the adults.

Like with adults, the key is can he sleep on the plane? Also, any change you can go a day (or two) early, so you can use the extra time to sleep in and re-adjust your sleep schedules?

Also, you can use a lot of things to keep him occupied. Books, games, movies, iPad, activities, and hopefully, SLEEP.

Anybody else taken a seven-year-old to Europe? How did the flights go?

 

[sandy77d]

We took our twin daughters to Ireland when they were 7 years old. It was a fabulous trip. They did not have any problem with the jet lag. We all slept on the overnight flight, then planned a rather full day of activities the first day. We all went to sleep around 7pm the first night, but after that, no one had problems with the time change. However, one of the reasons they enjoyed this trip so much was because we have family friends with kids their age traveling with us.

One of my good friends recently took her 7 year old and 11 year old sons on a Mediterranean cruise (not Disney). They had a great time on the trip. They did have to take time to slow down because there was so much they wanted to see and do, but they all really enjoyed the trip.

So, I think it can be a great trip with 7 year old kids, but every kid is different. Nonetheless, in your situation when you know you will take another trip, I would probably do the Caribbean now and Mediterranean later when he is a little older.