Single Parents heading to DW or DCL

[Kimberly9701]

Hi!!!

I just found this section and decided to start a thread. Would love to hear tips and experiences from other parents who travel alone with their children!

I travel with my 5 year old..soon to be 6.

We did 8 nights at Poly this past September and it was wonderful.

For 2016 we have a Western Caribbean Very Merrytime Sailing on the Fantasy, and then doing 4 nights at CR after.

I've always been fine with just the 2 of us traveling, but for the cruise I think it will be a different experience.

I'm planning on him going to the kid's club for a few hours one day- I want to do a Palo brunch and a little spa time.
So far it doesn't seem like any other adults are traveling without a partner/family member on my cruise.. Has anyone here done those things alone? How was it?

I know this was long.. Thanks in advance for any comments!!

 

[Anden]

I'm not a single parent, but my DH doesn't like to travel (fly). We've done DW with him twice, but I've taken my DD to DL, Aulani and DCL by myself. DH just bowed out of DW for this next trip at the end of this month, and I'm a little worried about doing it by myself.

I went on a 7 night cruise (Magic) last year when my DD was 6. And, as far as traveling as a single adult with a child, that was the most relaxing for me. They sat me with two other single parents whose kids were about the same age as mine. They were nice and the one thing you know is that their priorities were about their children (same as me). So, if we saw them around the ship, say at the pool, we'd have someone to hang out with.

I felt I didn't have to be as protective on the cruise since you see the same cast members. For example, the first day, at the pool, all the adults were hovering around the pool watching their kids. But, after 20 minutes, when they realized that life guards were being very vigilant, they all went to their lounge chairs.

Your child might even want to be in the kids club more than one day. We met another family with one daughter on the cruise and if DD knew the other daughter was going to the kids club, she wanted to go too. So, of course, I took those opportunities for extra me time.

Bottom line, great choice. You will have a great time!

 

[Kimberly9701]

I'm not a single parent, but my DH doesn't like to travel (fly). We've done DW with him twice, but I've taken my DD to DL, Aulani and DCL by myself. DH just bowed out of DW for this next trip at the end of this month, and I'm a little worried about doing it by myself.

I went on a 7 night cruise (Magic) last year when my DD was 6. And, as far as traveling as a single adult with a child, that was the most relaxing for me. They sat me with two other single parents whose kids were about the same age as mine. They were nice and the one thing you know is that their priorities were about their children (same as me). So, if we saw them around the ship, say at the pool, we'd have someone to hang out with.

I felt I didn't have to be as protective on the cruise since you see the same cast members. For example, the first day, at the pool, all the adults were hovering around the pool watching their kids. But, after 20 minutes, when they realized that life guards were being very vigilant, they all went to their lounge chairs.

Your child might even want to be in the kids club more than one day. We met another family with one daughter on the cruise and if DD knew the other daughter was going to the kids club, she wanted to go too. So, of course, I took those opportunities for extra me time.

Bottom line, great choice. You will have a great time!

Thanks! One of the main reasons that I chose a cruise is because although we had a great trip at DW, there was a few tuff moments. I think 8 nights was too much for us at his age. We're former south floridians, but moved to the Midwest when he was an infant, so his tolerance for heat is less than mine. After the first night of having to carry him from the boat dock to our room I decided to rent a stroller for the parks, which is something I never would have considered but am sooooo glad that I did!
That trip was followed up with another week in Key West Florida with an overnight stop in Boca Raton on the way. I think the combination of it all was a little over stimulating for a 5 year old..I'm not a lay on the beach type of person, our days were filled with boating, snorkeling, and museums.
I'm hoping that a 7 night cruise/4 night DW combo will be a bit more relaxed. My only real concern is if I will be bored or uncomfortable dining at palo alone and doing the spa alone. I know we will have a fantastic time either way though.