taking a 5 year old on an 11 day cruise

[Hanover]

We were on the 7/7/07 Med cruise with our boys that had just turned 10 and just turned 6. My ds6 was about the size of a 4 year old and we had an umbrella stroller that we used only in Rome when we did the Rome On Your Own excursion with lots of walking. In the other ports he walked everywhere and never complained once about walking, being too tired or being bored. I would definitely bring your daughter along. I thought DCL did a good job with age appropriate restrictions on certain excursions letting us know what would be good for our sons. They both talk about our cruise often and have brought in pictures and other souvenirs when their classes study Rome, Pompeii, etc. It amazes me everything that they remember about the trip and ds now 9 even won their class daily trivia a couple of times from facts he learned on our Rome and Pompeii excursions. We are going on the Baltic this summer when they will be turning 13 and 9 and can't wait.

 

[bumblebeeRN]

We were on the 7/7/07 Med cruise with our boys that had just turned 10 and just turned 6. My ds6 was about the size of a 4 year old and we had an umbrella stroller that we used only in Rome when we did the Rome On Your Own excursion with lots of walking. In the other ports he walked everywhere and never complained once about walking, being too tired or being bored. I would definitely bring your daughter along. I thought DCL did a good job with age appropriate restrictions on certain excursions letting us know what would be good for our sons. They both talk about our cruise often and have brought in pictures and other souvenirs when their classes study Rome, Pompeii, etc. It amazes me everything that they remember about the trip and ds now 9 even won their class daily trivia a couple of times from facts he learned on our Rome and Pompeii excursions. We are going on the Baltic this summer when they will be turning 13 and 9 and can't wait.

that's awesome! I honestly cannt wait to make this trip happen. My DH just has never been on a cruise and he does not know what it is like or not. But DCL I'm sure they are wonderful.

we are going on our first DCL 3day cruise to the bahamas in 25 days, and I just cannot wait. I keep looking at my itenerary booklet that disney sent me. And can't even concentrate in school, and I have a test to take for my online statistics class in two hours, and tomorrow I have one for my research class in the morning.... lol.

 

[goofysgirl]

Ok so after reading your last post, it seems like your DH maybe a little concerned about cruising....having never been he has no idea what to expect he might have some safety concerns for your precious little girl and may not want to share his fear of cruising with you also. We took our three girls on their first cruise when they were 10,8 and 4. We got 5 minutes from the port and I had this over whelming sense of "what have I done...these girls are the most important thing in the world to me and here I am putting them on a ship where I can not see land and the what ifs can flooding in." My fears were alleviated about 3 hours into the cruise and at dinner that night seeing their expressions as they talked about the clubs and their new friends.
He might feel much better after your 3 day and he sees just how well she adapts to a cruising lifestyle!
Oh and just be careful how much Disney you expose her to...my oldest is now at USF in her senior year, but has been a lifeguard and trainer at Old Key West resort for three years now. My middle daughter goes to UCF and you guessed it works at the Magic Kingdom, and my youngest she wants to go to FAU and be a Disney College Rep in her spare time. All this and we come from Connecticut!!!

 

[sbell111]

sounds like your not very happy, maybe time to move on. ...

Wow. That's a pretty inappropriate post, given the little that we know about the OP's situation.

he wants me to go alone and leave the baby (DD 4) with him! no way, I am taking her if he likes it or not!

That may not be as simple as you think. Many countries require that the non-present parent give permission in order to enter the country.

We loved the DCL Med cruise in 2007, but it was quite hot. I'm not sure how well a child would have tolerated teh heat and the pace at which we explored.

That being said, we are taking our 6mo on the Baltic cruise including long excursions in Berlin and St Pete as well as a tacked-on trip to DLP.

 

[Narnia_girl]

Wow. That's a pretty inappropriate post, given the little that we know about the OP's situation.

I agree!

 

[TiszBear]

Have fun on your first cruise in 25 days, you deserve it. Also I know what my mom went thru with my grnadmother who had Alzheimer's it is rough. If you inlaws are in a nursing home that will help but I honestly don't think your husband will be able to enjoy himself on the med cruise, he will be worring about his parents too much.

I say you and your daughter go but also know that you probably will need a notarized letter that you and your husband have signed stating that you can leave the country with your daughter.

Good Luck,

 

[bumblebeeRN]

Ok so after reading your last post, it seems like your DH maybe a little concerned about cruising....having never been he has no idea what to expect he might have some safety concerns for your precious little girl and may not want to share his fear of cruising with you also. We took our three girls on their first cruise when they were 10,8 and 4. We got 5 minutes from the port and I had this over whelming sense of "what have I done...these girls are the most important thing in the world to me and here I am putting them on a ship where I can not see land and the what ifs can flooding in." My fears were alleviated about 3 hours into the cruise and at dinner that night seeing their expressions as they talked about the clubs and their new friends.
He might feel much better after your 3 day and he sees just how well she adapts to a cruising lifestyle!
Oh and just be careful how much Disney you expose her to...my oldest is now at USF in her senior year, but has been a lifeguard and trainer at Old Key West resort for three years now. My middle daughter goes to UCF and you guessed it works at the Magic Kingdom, and my youngest she wants to go to FAU and be a Disney College Rep in her spare time. All this and we come from Connecticut!!!

You are so right, I grew up without a father, and his name is not even on my birth certificate. Therefore, growing up, I had the same last name as my mom. And when I was 17 and on our way back from El Salvador, the authorities at the airport would not let me board a plane because I did not have a letter giving my "father" permission to leave the country.... even though I had my US residency card, and the same last name as my mom! I could not believe what was happening. El Salvador is a 3rd world country, where it is common for men to be irresponsible for the children they conceive. When we got married, I decided to keep my last name, just because I had scholarships for school, & I didn't want to go through the hassle of all the paper work that comes with it. So when we travel with our child I definitely want to have him included. I love my family and I want to share my dreams of traveling with all of them

OMG, because I am my mother's only child I never moved to Orlando! I always wanted to, but I couldn't leave her all alone. She doesn't drive, and doesn't speak English... So I have to be there for her. I would of love to work at the Disney parks! we are 4 hrs drive from there, so I figure that now we need to take that 4hr drive more often!

I wish I could of done what your daughters are doing in my young 20's!!

 

[bumblebeeRN]

On the DCL, there is a form that needs to be notarized just in case you are taking a child that is not yours. I'm sure there has to be something like that to take the child on a plane.

OH I cannot wait to book!!, I am also thinking of the mexican riviera cruise, that looks great! I've always wanted to go to cabo like what I hear the movie stars doing!

 

[sabrecmc]

I'm taking my 4-year old to Europe in a few days for the May 5 Med cruise. We love to travel, and she has a blast. There is an Affidavit of Parental Consent you can use to take a child out of the country if only one parent is on the trip. Just google it. Might save some hassle. I'd check with your airline before you travel to be sure of their requirements.

 

[Anj]

We took our 2.5 and 4.5 yr olds when I was pg on a 2 week tour through the UK (no cruise, we has BritRail passes and rented cars in some places). They loved it and were up and at 'em everyday raring to go and see the next adventure. Their energy surpassed ours!

 

[K8T]

Our dd went on her first cruise when whe was just over a year old - she loved every minutes and the crew loved her too. In fact she went 'Saphire' on one cruise line (just one down from the top, by the time she was four!!.

Cruising is great for kids, it is safe (yes believe it or not, they are not wandering around the decks), there are kids clubs and nurserys. Dinner is great - if you get an early sitting, the waiters are attentive, bringing little 'nibbles' for them between courses.

The food is fantastic and even in the most outlandish countries, where you may not want to try their food, the ship food will be 'safe' for little tummys.

I think perhaps the problem is your husbands parents and he is using your daughter as an excuse, he must be extremely kind and caring to take on such a responsbility, but everyone deserves a break. Perhaps you can reassure him by arranging some help/care while you are away. If he sees you have got everything organised, he may feel more relaxed about starting to think about going away.

Kate

 

[bumblebeeRN]

I'm taking my 4-year old to Europe in a few days for the May 5 Med cruise. We love to travel, and she has a blast. There is an Affidavit of Parental Consent you can use to take a child out of the country if only one parent is on the trip. Just google it. Might save some hassle. I'd check with your airline before you travel to be sure of their requirements.

how awesome is that?! very cool trip!! Thanks for the tip! hopefully all works out well and my hubby does come with me

We took our 2.5 and 4.5 yr olds when I was pg on a 2 week tour through the UK (no cruise, we has BritRail passes and rented cars in some places). They loved it and were up and at 'em everyday raring to go and see the next adventure. Their energy surpassed ours!

aww, you must have some really cool kids. That is so awesome. I hope to do that too one day with my DD

Our dd went on her first cruise when whe was just over a year old - she loved every minutes and the crew loved her too. In fact she went 'Saphire' on one cruise line (just one down from the top, by the time she was four!!.

Cruising is great for kids, it is safe (yes believe it or not, they are not wandering around the decks), there are kids clubs and nurserys. Dinner is great - if you get an early sitting, the waiters are attentive, bringing little 'nibbles' for them between courses.

The food is fantastic and even in the most outlandish countries, where you may not want to try their food, the ship food will be 'safe' for little tummys.

I think perhaps the problem is your husbands parents and he is using your daughter as an excuse, he must be extremely kind and caring to take on such a responsbility, but everyone deserves a break. Perhaps you can reassure him by arranging some help/care while you are away. If he sees you have got everything organised, he may feel more relaxed about starting to think about going away.

Kate

very true. My DH is a very caring person. And he really does not know what he is missing on a cruise. He works very hard at his job and at taking care of his parents and he does not like extra stress. He thinks that our DH will not enjoy a 9 hr flight, but I know co-workers of mine that go to the philipines with their young children and that is a 24hr flight! so if they can do it, I can too with my family.

Definitely I will come here for a little advice before we go

 

[mousejunkie98]

We took our boys, at the time 5 and 2, on a 12-night Med cruise on NCL last year. They both LOVED it! The kids club on NCL is no where near as big (and cool ) as on DCL, and yet they never wanted to leave it. The youth counselors really make sure they have a fantastic time.

We took both boys on all of our shore excursions, even Rome (which is about an hour drive from the port) and Cairo (which is a 3 hour drive through the desert). We just made sure to have things for them to do in the coach, just like we would on a car trip back home. Our youngest napped on the drives.

While on the shore excursions, we made sure to have the attitude that we were traveling with young kids and so we shouldn't try to rush and see everything. We took our time and enjoyed the experience, seeing what we could without pushing the kids too hard. The best thing we did was to hire our own guide/driver in every port we could instead of doing the ship's shore excursion. Not only was it much cheaper but we could set our own pace. I have recommendations for Rome, Athens, and Ephesus if anyone is interested!

My youngest certainly won't remember the trip, but he sure does love looking at the pictures from the trip and seeing himself in such cool places. My oldest does remember, and loves to tell his friends about seeing the pyramids and riding a camel!

 

[mousejunkie98]

Forgot to add about the flights - long haul flights are never fun, but most kids do fine. We lived in France for two years for my husband's job, and we'd come home twice a year to visit. Our boys have logged 6 flights over 8 hours, all under the age of 6, and they did beautifully every time. It helps to fly an airline that has in-seat entertainment in coach (we used Air France and Northwest), because the kids can watch movies. When you add in meals and naps, it goes by in a flash.

 

[Donald's Main Squeez]

You are not nuts, your child will have a fabulous time and will not want to spend hardly any time with you but want to be in the kids clubs. That 11 days will pass so fast, your child will be sad when it is over. It sounds like this is just what your DH needs, a little R & R to shake off some of that "optimism". From a fellow RN - go do it, hopefully he wil come around.