Suggestions on what to do for the older crowd??

[PolyGirl]

My parents are coming along on our DCL cruise and they are in their 70's.

They are very exicted about sailing DCL with their grandchildren. This is their first cruise and have asked what there is to do on the ship for the older crowd.

Any tips I can give them???

Thanks!!!!!

 

[TChrist05]

There is so much to do and see around the ship...first of all you can just explore the ship...it is great and I spent hours just walking and looking around....you know about all the great shows and the movies are shown all the time.....and there is nothing wrong with grabbing a nice recliner on deck 4 and reading a good book....I personally like to watch the sun come up on there....ofcourse now I can sit on my verandah.....they also have things like cooking and desert making programs...and you can always just people watch or watch the grandchildren enjoy themselves...personally...I cannot wait for my daughter to get married and had a grandchild that I can watch grow up...and yes...spoil with trips to Disney World and the cruise!
Tom

 

[Padre Disney]

We are wondering the same thing. My husbands parents and his sister are coming along for our 7 day in March 2003. We have four kids 10,13,15,17. The grandparents are in the mid 70's and the aunt is in the mid 40's. The grandparents do not swim. I sure hope we can find things to do together at least some of the time. The kids are excited about castaway but the grandparents aren't sure if they will even get of the ship. I hope all works out and we all have a great time. Maybe I just worry to much.

 

[manchurianbrownbear]

My M&FIL will be cruising with our family (DW & kids 12, 8, 7 & 4) and we're suggesting that they babysit!!!

 

[babylisa4]

There will be tons of stuff for them to do. As someone who has taken older folks along- remember don't be so concerned about keeping them occupied. Our biggest problems with older relatives was when we tryed to keep them too busy. They enjoy people watching but they need some rest time too. I'd make sure and take advantage of all of the photo opportunities. Also, use the meal times as a time to get everyone together. At castaway cay, there are tables by the place where you eat. If they just want to get off and get a table and then you could leave the beach and go there and eat with them. They will probably like just watching. a lot of loading supplies on and off the ship goes on at castaway cay. They might like watching that. Help them see what things on the schedule they might like to do and then let them decide. If they choose not to do stuff, don't worry about it- they will have a great time just watching. I can't stress enough that if you try too hard to keep them scheduled like you would a child- you can have problems.

 

[Padre Disney]

manchurianbrownbear
Our kids are all old enough to go out and do things alone. But maybe one night they could eat with the grandparents so Dh and I could do Palos alone.

Babylisa4,
When you took along older folks did you do things that they didn't? DH and I just sit back and watch the kids have fun. But that inlcudes watching them at the beach and we soak up the sun. However I am sure that the older folks will not want any part of the beach. I guess I am wondering if I will fell guilty doing things without them. Should I feel guilty? The aunt always wants to do things that almost no one else wants to do including all the kids and then when no one does things she wants she acts like a baby. OMG our vacation is still 4 months away and I am already getting worked up hoping all goes well. We have done a 3 day once before and it was perfect. It was just us so I hope we have not taken on more by having my ILs and SIL coming along for the 7 day.

Do most of you get alone well enough with the IL and a SIL to take a 7 day vacation with them?

 

[manchurianbrownbear]

I'm convinced I have the best ILs in the world. A few years back we even lived with them for four months while we were completing a move to the Twin Cities and were waiting for our house to open up.

I wouldn't want to make that arrangement permanent (and I'm sure they'd agree), but I'm looking forward to WDW and the cruise with them!

 

[Padre Disney]

I agree. My MIL is wonderful. My FIL is great but gets upset sometimes over little things. Even though we live only 10 blocks away we are so busy we only get to see them on the weekends. We have never vacationed with them. I am so happy that they are going with us. I just want this vacation to be wonderful for them. The are both 75 and have said that this will be the last big vacation for them. I have done almost everthing I can to get them prepared for vacation. I printed off the magical cruise guide for them to read over. My MIL is so excited. My FIL was in Navy during WWII and can't decide if he is going to like getting on a big boat again.