Poll: Which would you choose?

[bobbiwoz]

I would do Caribbean first...when he's older do the Mediterranean cruise!

 

[texasgingerbread]

I think it depends on if you are happy only spending X time in the city on a Med cruise. I don't know your ports. I've done 2 non DCL Med cruises...one 10 day and one 14 day. I've also been to most European cities a couple times and Italy/Greece many times.

The first Med cruise I learned that I never wanted to just do one day in a big port again (for example Rome - you get one day there and the city is so far from port you just don't have enough time) Now you could see this two ways since you have a young child...either as "dipping your toe in for your child - give him a quick/easy taste" or you can see this as "not enough time to do it justice".

The second Med cruise was Greek isles with 2 days in Istanbul, Capri, ending in Rome so we could have our time there at the end. I liked this one much better because I was happy island hopping and only spending a day in those little places. We actually flew into Santorini and spent 5 nights first and then hopped on the cruise late when they ported there (still had to pay the full fare). Anyhow - I'm rambling...but what I'm trying to summarize is for me - and this is my personal preference - unless I'm island hopping I don't want to ever do a Med cruise that hits large city ports where I cannot fully enjoy that port. I would rather book a land vacation and immerse myself in that city and the cities surrounding it. idk if that makes sense but I hope it does.

 

[Anna Chassereau]

I think it depends on if you are happy only spending X time in the city on a Med cruise. I don't know your ports. I've done 2 non DCL Med cruises...one 10 day and one 14 day. I've also been to most European cities a couple times and Italy/Greece many times.

The first Med cruise I learned that I never wanted to just do one day in a big port again (for example Rome - you get one day there and the city is so far from port you just don't have enough time) Now you could see this two ways since you have a young child...either as "dipping your toe in for your child - give him a quick/easy taste" or you can see this as "not enough time to do it justice".

The second Med cruise was Greek isles with 2 days in Istanbul, Capri, ending in Rome so we could have our time there at the end. I liked this one much better because I was happy island hopping and only spending a day in those little places. We actually flew into Santorini and spent 5 nights first and then hopped on the cruise late when they ported there (still had to pay the full fare). Anyhow - I'm rambling...but what I'm trying to summarize is for me - and this is my personal preference - unless I'm island hopping I don't want to ever do a Med cruise that hits large city ports where I cannot fully enjoy that port. I would rather book a land vacation and immerse myself in that city and the cities surrounding it. idk if that makes sense but I hope it does.

I agree!! I've done Europe both ways...I've spent a month in England/Scotland and then a week in Paris and I've also done a 17 day long cruise that started in London and ended in Athens. I agree you really aren't abke to immerse yourself in the culture during a cruise...I was just thinking along the lines of keeping our son happy with Disney while we saw some of Europe but I'm honestly thinking just taking him on a land vacation down the road may work better. My husband wants to wait until he's studied these places and then go so that may be what we do.

 

[RedSox68]

I think it depends on if you are happy only spending X time in the city on a Med cruise. I don't know your ports. I've done 2 non DCL Med cruises...one 10 day and one 14 day. I've also been to most European cities a couple times and Italy/Greece many times.

The first Med cruise I learned that I never wanted to just do one day in a big port again (for example Rome - you get one day there and the city is so far from port you just don't have enough time) Now you could see this two ways since you have a young child...either as "dipping your toe in for your child - give him a quick/easy taste" or you can see this as "not enough time to do it justice".

The second Med cruise was Greek isles with 2 days in Istanbul, Capri, ending in Rome so we could have our time there at the end. I liked this one much better because I was happy island hopping and only spending a day in those little places. We actually flew into Santorini and spent 5 nights first and then hopped on the cruise late when they ported there (still had to pay the full fare). Anyhow - I'm rambling...but what I'm trying to summarize is for me - and this is my personal preference - unless I'm island hopping I don't want to ever do a Med cruise that hits large city ports where I cannot fully enjoy that port. I would rather book a land vacation and immerse myself in that city and the cities surrounding it. idk if that makes sense but I hope it does.

I had co-workers with the same feelings -- even though they've never done a cruise LOL. We did the Med and had a 13-hour excursion in Rome. [the train ride and train car were amazing] We saw everything, and even had lunch, and we were very satisfied. It was a great day.

My feelings about only having one day in port is how else can one do 10 cities in 12 days so efficiently and conveniently. I feel the same way about the Caribbean and Alaska -- no way would we be able to afford to fly to each place, get hotels and pack up and move to another city the next day or two, etc. In 10 years of cruising we have seen more cities and countries then our finances (or bodies) would have allowed otherwise

When we did the 12-night British Isles cruise in 2015, we spent 10 nights in London and still didn't see everything, but we sure saw enough so that we don't feel short-changed if we can't go back. And we felt we had plenty of time in each and every port in Ireland and Scotland to see all we wanted to see. Sure, one can always go back -- but isn't cruising a great way to delete cities/areas you feel one visit is enough, and make a list of the ones you want to go back to some day.

We only got one day in Barcelona on our back-2-back in 2007 and one afternoon on the day we flew in. That city went right on our list to spend more time in and this year we will do four full days pre-cruise. But there are a lot of cities/ports we have visited that I don't feel the need to ever return to, but am glad I spent a day there. It's all what someone prefers. For us, cruising works.

 

[IBelieveInTheMagic]

Another vote for the Med, even in an oceanview cabin. We are doing the Med this summer and booked a 9C without hesitation. Sure a verandah is nice and we try and get one when it's cost effective but since the Med is so port intensive, we are ok saving the extra for excursions (we did the same with Alaska last summer).

I'm also a huge fan of traveling with kids to other countries and opening their eyes to different cultures and experiences. I'm not saying you can't get that in the Caribbean however there is so much history in Europe and the Med ports. 7 is a great age for kids and you never know what they might look back on when they are older and talk about and reflect back on.

It's an easy decision for me but I realize you have lots to consider such as flights and excursions but you have a little time to plan.

Have fun planning
Heather

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

We started cruising when our boys were 4 & 7, Caribbean & Bahamas. We did the 7- nt Med cruise in 2013; they were 13 & 16.
For the Italian ports we hired a private tour company and split the cost with my parents.
We had $800 in OBC so we used that to book a tour of Nice & Monaco through DCL for the Villefranche stop.

Surprisingly, there were a lot of little kids. 5 year olds, kids in strollers etc. Many were whining or crying half the day. It was something like 8am to 5 pm; I recall still being on the tender when we should have been starting dinner, so we ran straight to dinner looking all wind blown.
A looong day.
Anyway jmho but unless a child under 12 is unusually interested in history, most kids would find it boring.

Little kids dont give a crap who Grace Kelly is, even my own kids didnt and we live near Philly and know why Kelly Drive was named as such. They've never seen old episodes of The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau so to see a museum named after him is meaningless (no time to actually enter it)
Not that we gamble but to even enter Monte Carlo men must be wearing a suit jacket.

You get the picture. I think it was even a stretch for my 13 yr old.

I'm not saying dont take him; I'm saying he would probably have a better time in the kids club while you and your hubby tour.
If you want to do a Med cruise because that's what will make YOU happy that's ok to admit. If you're looking for opinions on what is fun for a 7 yr old I'd say it's Western Caribbean.
BTW your poll asks WWYD, maybe you should ask "which do you think a 7 yr old would like?"

 

[richkaryn]

Our DS was 8 when we went to ALaska on DCL last year. He is really into history and things of the like, so he would probably get a lot out of the Med. and honestly would prefer it to playing on the beach, where other children his age might not. I'd say it really depends on your child and what his interests are. As others have said, the Med. is more port intensive.

 

[cruiser21]

I would do the cruise you want to do. Your child will have fun on any cruise especially a 7 year old. Everything is fun at that age. I've traveled all over the world with my kids. They always get something out of each trip. A teenager will get more out of Europe because they have a better understanding of History. Of course a teenagers enjoyment of anything depends on their mood on any given day. A 7 year old in 10 years is going to remember very little of any trip you take. I know that's not what you want to hear, but it's true. If you want your child when hes 30 to remember the European trip he took with his parents you might want to wait a few years. If that's not a concern I would take the cruise you want.

 

[Anchors Away 2016]

A 7 year old in 10 years is going to remember very little of any trip you take. I know that's not what you want to hear, but it's true.

I have to disagree with this. Of course, every kid is different, so I don't know how yours will feel years from now, but let me give you two personal experiences.

When I was 5 years old I went to WDW for the first time. When I was 17, I went to Disney Land in California. I remember the trip as a 5 year old VERY well. I went to all of the same rides, and relived it all. I had a wonderful time. Now, many years later, I no longer remember the trip when I was 5, heck I've forgotten most of the trip when I was 17, but I remember remembering it, and it had a big impact on me and how I felt about myself and how adventurous I was willing to be in life.

Likewise, when my sons were 3.5 and 2, we took them to Hawaii. Do they remember it now, not really. Only the pictures and the stories we've told them. But they did remember experiences of that trip for MANY years, and it influenced many aspects of their self-image and development. To this day, they consider themselves to be travelers and explorers, in part because of what they did when they were so young. And don't underestimate the value of those pictures either. That means something to them too. It is part of how they think of themselves.

So your 7-year-old may not remember this or any trip for his whole life, but I feel sure it will still have a big impact on him. And I bet that is what you are really after.

 

["Got Disney"]

I would wait and do the Med when your 7 y.o is older, the flight is sooooooo long....lots of money and wont appreciate what he is seeing...do the Caribbean and save for the Med and go when he is at least 12....have fun!

 

[Shanti]

Your child will have fun on any cruise especially a 7 year old...A 7 year old in 10 years is going to remember very little of any trip you take. I know that's not what you want to hear, but it's true. If you want your child when hes 30 to remember the European trip he took with his parents you might want to wait a few years.

This is very true. If you're hoping for the child to gain some cultural/historical awareness from the trip to Europe, wait until the child is developmentally ready to comprehend and remember a significant part of that culture and history. No younger than the middle school years, if traveling with this purpose even partially in mind.

But if it's strictly a pleasure trip, then go for it.

 

[Anna Chassereau]

This is very true. If you're hoping for the child to gain some cultural/historical awareness from the trip to Europe, wait until the child is developmentally ready to comprehend and remember a significant part of that culture and history. No younger than the middle school years, if traveling with this purpose even partially in mind.

But if it's strictly a pleasure trip, then go for it.

I would wait and do the Med when your 7 y.o is older, the flight is sooooooo long....lots of money and wont appreciate what he is seeing...do the Caribbean and save for the Med and go when he is at least 12....have fun!

I agree and after thinking it over we've decided to do the western Caribbean and save the Mediterranean for when he's older...my husband wants to wait until he's studied these places in school to take him so I think that's what we'll do

 

[Fyrefly]

I remember quite a few details of my trip to Europe with my parents when I was 7.

I think one thing they did for me that was super helpful was bring it down to my terms, like what my life would be like at this moment in history. So if you are touring a castle for example, he can pick out which one would have been his room, and maybe you get a tour guide or look up some info so he sees all the things a noble boy would have had to do back then. And then when you get in the kitchens have him imagine sleeping on a sack of straw and getting up at 4 to turn the spit all. day. long., that kind of thing! I think it helps appreciation. Also a lot of historical sites have kid's tours or scavenger hunts that help them connect with what's going on. Maybe do some port research for the Mediterranean and see what kind of kid-friendly destinations you can look at.

 

[o&smom]

Our son had just turned 7 prior to our first Disney cruise which was in the Med. It was a wonderful cruise for us all, and we are soon going on our 8th Disney cruise. We just tried to consider him in our port planning and try to alternate really long and intensive days with more laid back days. Happy cruising!