taking a 5 year old on an 11 day cruise

[bumblebeeRN]

My husband made me so mad today.

I've been wanting to go on a mediterranean cruise for YEARS, and because I did not have a career until recently (I became an RN 2 1/2 years ago), we are finally able to accomplish my mediterranean cruise dreams.

Disney cruise line has one 10 or 11 night mediterranean cruise of my dreams! It stops at 9 ports of call, and every port of call I want to do..... spain, rome, france, and two others that I cannot remember.......

of course my dreams include himself and my child who next year will be 5 years old.

This is in my bucket list before disneyland paris.

but he thinks that a 5 year old is too young to be on an 11 dream mediterranean cruise and that I should go by myself.


but it's a disney cruise, I am sure she will enjoy it. and it is only $4K for the 3 of us plus flight for the 11 day one.


Is it weird for a 5 year old to go on an 11 day cruise to europe, from miami, FL USA??

am I nuts for wanting to go on a 9hr flight to europe, and to a disney cruise for 11 days??

I am trully sad about this issue. I have been with my husband for 10 years, and I feel that I worked so hard. I hardly did the party scene that all my other friends were doing so I could go to school and get a career for myself. I waited until my husband could afford a house of his own, while he lived with his parents and I lived with my mom. I met him on his last semester of his masters degree program, so I thought he was really smart.
and little did I know that I would end up never traveling anywhere because we had a young baby, and next year she will be 5, and she is a very healthy and happy little girl that enjoys everything.

last year when we went to disney for the first time, she just loved it and can't stop talking about it. My co-workers take their kids on trips all the time, but because of my husband we never took trips because we always said that we would wait for the baby to get bigger to enjoy it. and now that she is bigger, and even so next year she will be 5, he does not want to go!

am I nuts for wanting to take my 5 year old from miami florida, to barcelona, spain on an 11 day disney cruise??

 

[Twinparents]

We took our 5 year old daughter with us on the 7/7/07 Disney Med Cruise and she absolutely loved it! She still talks about it to this day and now that she is 8 we are going on the Baltic.

We are from Colorado and the plane ride was long but she slept the whole time. In Barcelona she loved going to the market to see how people shop in Spain and loved the people who make money being statues.

On the Disney boat she was never at a loss for food that she could eat. The only day that I can honestly say she got cranky was Rome. We had a 2 hour bus ride into Rome. We toured the Vatican, the Sistene Chappel and St. Peter's Basillica. By the time we got to St. Peter's my husband did have to carry her but I think we tried to pack it all in since we were only there one day!

Highlights of the trip from her perspective were the beach in Sicilly, cooking ravioli's in Olbia, the scavenger hunt in Herculaneum and the perfume factory tour in Eze.

I would not hesitate to take a 5 year old to Europe as long as Disney is involved! I even remember on the tour in Rome we stopped for lunch and the "set menu" didn't have anything she liked. I asked the waiter if she could have just plain noodles and they asked if she wanted mac and cheese and made it for her!

 

[my2princessgirls]

On our first cruise (7 night), our girls were 4 and almost 3 - we didn't want to get off the ship and would have gladly stayed on another week (and this after being at WDW for a week prior to the cruise). For our second cruise, again another 7 nighter, the girls were 6 and almost 5 and still didn't want to get off the ship - again, we did a week at WDW, then the 7 night cruise plus we added another 2 days at WDW and we STILL didn't want to come home (or get off that ship!!). We would love to take a longer cruise as would our girls. I think your DD would have a wonderful time!! I hope you are able to come to a compromise of some sort...

 

[joksten2000]

sounds like your not very happy, maybe time to move on. That being said, my daughter took her 2 yo on a our 15 day Panama Canal Repro cruise in August 2008. Will her remember the cruise, no, but he had a wonderful time.

 

[smb6]

I would imagine a 5 yr old would not only be fine to take on the cruise, I think she would absolutely love every minute of it! In reference to the OP that mentioned taking her dd and having loved it with the only cranky moment being a long port day- I would consider allowing dd to stay within the clubs for excursions that would not be of interest or too long for a 5 yr old..... JMO. I would ABSOULTELY take her- if dh doesn't want to go, leave him home and you and your dd can have a wonderful mother/daughter trip!

 

[bumblebeeRN]

thanks so much for your replies!

I feel so much better that others do take their 5 year old kids from the US to europe & on disney cruises,

I will definitely make it one of my trips for next year because frankly, I deserve it for working so hard!

 

[bumblebeeRN]

well, the talk is now that we will wait until after the first 3 day disney cruise is done, and then he will make the decision if he wants to go on the 10 day disney mediterranean cruise or not.

I am hoping that he will like it so much so we can finally do the med. cruise.

I think my husband just gets overwhelmed with the amount of work that he has to do. Because of his elderly sick, alzeihmer's parents that I when he goes on vacation (first time we went was last nov. for a week at WDW) his parents is all that he thinks about, so he doesn't enjoy without worry like I do. Thank God that my mom and family are healthy.

but definitely thanks for all the responses, you trully have been an inspiration that I really can take my DD. And if all else fails, it will be me and my DD to the cruise.

 

[abdmom]

I leave in 3 1/2 weeks for my 11 night DCL Med cruise with my 4 year old. He has been on 3 previous cruises and has loved them all. His last cruise was to Alaska, when he had just turned 4. Five is not that young. Out of the close to 100 families on my cruise meet, many have preschoolers.

My dh and I used to take the older 2 kids to WDW and other kid friendly trips. We too were waiting until the kids got older to take them on longer trips. My dh died at age 42 when my 4 year old was 5 months old. Tomorrow is not guaranteed. If you want to travel, do it now. Tomorrow may be too late.

 

[HallsofVA]

We've cruised Disney 4 times with our kids (oldest is now 6) and they certainly love the Disney cruises. That said, as much as I would have liked to do the Med cruises, they are very port intensive cruises, with a lot of history, museums, and other attractions at the various ports that I don't think my kids would truly appreciate at this age, and would have a hard time keeping up while trying to do everything I would probably want to do. So I guess from that standpoint, I can understand your husband's point of view relative to that specific cruise. It might be different if we didn't have a 3 yr old, since my 6yr old is getting into other countries in school and has started learning about other countries and cultures. But even on our cruises in Dec and January, when my son was 5 and 6, he had little tolerance for tours and things that involve a lot of listening or sitting versus playing, doing and touching.

We're actually booked on the Westbound Transatlantic cruise this September. It has as many sea days as it has port days, which is a good mix for our 3 and 6 year old. We'll spend a few days in Barcelona ahead of time, which will give us enough time to explore the city at their pace, before getting on the ship. Then there are two city stops before the long stretch at sea, then it ends with three beach stops. So for us that schedule just makes more sense.

Hopefully you'll settle on the plan that makes sense for you and your family. I understand your husband's concerns about being that far away for such a period of time with sick loved ones. Be sure to purchase trip insurance within 2 weeks of booking your cruise so you will get coverage for preexisting conditions should some problem with his parents prevent you from travelling or interrupt your trip.

There is a lot of talk about the Magic going back to Europe after the Fantasy comes online in 2012, so there may be additional Med cruises to consider, when your child is older if you don't do it this time around.

 

[Narnia_girl]

Not knowing your husband it sounds like he is responsible and caring, just overwhelmed. Hopfully he will feel relaxed and enjoy the three day so much you can plan for the future. I know I personally was never even interested in cruises until I took one and now we are planning the next.

Maybe there is something you can do that will ensure his parents are well cared for while he's away?

And think of the flip side...if you don't take your daughter...will you be miserable for 11 days? That's not a fun way to spend a vacation.

best of luck!

 

[szubieta]

RCCL took great care of our 5 yo in '08 for 15nts...just think what Disney will be able to go. He just turned 7 and still talks about the kids club and wants to go back to Hawaii on a ship again. I can't wait to see how he handles DCL next year.

 

[Soccermom-Cheri]

I'm in the minority here, but I would wonder how a little one would survive on the longer port days. Rome is a long train ride into and out of town. Then there is a ton on walking (not all streets are ok for strollers).

We were scheduled on the very first Med cruise but bowed out as DD was 7 and we didn't want to be "dragging" her around. The ship isn't always close by. Add in the cost of the excursions and we just felt it wasn't the right time. <sigh> a long day at WDW is very different than the port intensive med cruises.

Just my opinion. If you do go, I hope you have a wonderful time.

 

[bumblebeeRN]

I leave in 3 1/2 weeks for my 11 night DCL Med cruise with my 4 year old. He has been on 3 previous cruises and has loved them all. His last cruise was to Alaska, when he had just turned 4. Five is not that young. Out of the close to 100 families on my cruise meet, many have preschoolers.

My dh and I used to take the older 2 kids to WDW and other kid friendly trips. We too were waiting until the kids got older to take them on longer trips. My dh died at age 42 when my 4 year old was 5 months old. Tomorrow is not guaranteed. If you want to travel, do it now. Tomorrow may be too late.

Thanks very much for your advice. And you are so right, you never know about tomorrow.

We've cruised Disney 4 times with our kids (oldest is now 6) and they certainly love the Disney cruises. That said, as much as I would have liked to do the Med cruises, they are very port intensive cruises, with a lot of history, museums, and other attractions at the various ports that I don't think my kids would truly appreciate at this age, and would have a hard time keeping up while trying to do everything I would probably want to do. So I guess from that standpoint, I can understand your husband's point of view relative to that specific cruise. It might be different if we didn't have a 3 yr old, since my 6yr old is getting into other countries in school and has started learning about other countries and cultures. But even on our cruises in Dec and January, when my son was 5 and 6, he had little tolerance for tours and things that involve a lot of listening or sitting versus playing, doing and touching.

We're actually booked on the Westbound Transatlantic cruise this September. It has as many sea days as it has port days, which is a good mix for our 3 and 6 year old. We'll spend a few days in Barcelona ahead of time, which will give us enough time to explore the city at their pace, before getting on the ship. Then there are two city stops before the long stretch at sea, then it ends with three beach stops. So for us that schedule just makes more sense.

Hopefully you'll settle on the plan that makes sense for you and your family. I understand your husband's concerns about being that far away for such a period of time with sick loved ones. Be sure to purchase trip insurance within 2 weeks of booking your cruise so you will get coverage for preexisting conditions should some problem with his parents prevent you from travelling or interrupt your trip.

There is a lot of talk about the Magic going back to Europe after the Fantasy comes online in 2012, so there may be additional Med cruises to consider, when your child is older if you don't do it this time around.

RCCL took great care of our 5 yo in '08 for 15nts...just think what Disney will be able to go. He just turned 7 and still talks about the kids club and wants to go back to Hawaii on a ship again. I can't wait to see how he handles DCL next year.

you are all true inspirations. I can't wait to book my trip. I am definitely going next year!

 

[pluto1979]

My husband made me so mad today.

I've been wanting to go on a mediterranean cruise for YEARS, and because I did not have a career until recently (I became an RN 2 1/2 years ago), we are finally able to accomplish my mediterranean cruise dreams.

First congrats on yuor achievements. I suffer from a condition which causes my body to grow 1 kidney stone a dayn (medulary sponge kidney). Without people like you i dont know what I would do!
Disney cruise line has one 10 or 11 night mediterranean cruise of my dreams! It stops at 9 ports of call, and every port of call I want to do..... spain, rome, france, and two others that I cannot remember.......

of course my dreams include himself and my child who next year will be 5 years old.

This is in my bucket list before disneyland paris.

but he thinks that a 5 year old is too young to be on an 11 dream mediterranean cruise and that I should go by myself.

A 5 year is as a perfect age! She will make friends and this will open doors to her ability to learn about new cultures! It is very educational and she will remember it. Take the cruise with her as she is part of the family and needs to experiance this.

but it's a disney cruise, I am sure she will enjoy it. and it is only $4K for the 3 of us plus flight for the 11 day one.



Is it weird for a 5 year old to go on an 11 day cruise to europe, from miami, FL USA??

NOt at all she will love it and find it more rewarding as will you. She can play and interact with other children which will help in cognitive personality behaviors!

am I nuts for wanting to go on a 9hr flight to europe, and to a disney cruise for 11 days??

Can't say anything about the flight but benyadryl works wonders for children to keep them less active and wanting to walk around. This is something you have to decide to do.

I am trully sad about this issue. I have been with my husband for 10 years, and I feel that I worked so hard. I hardly did the party scene that all my other friends were doing so I could go to school and get a career for myself. I waited until my husband could afford a house of his own, while he lived with his parents and I lived with my mom. I met him on his last semester of his masters degree program, so I thought he was really smart.
and little did I know that I would end up never traveling anywhere because we had a young baby, and next year she will be 5, and she is a very healthy and happy little girl that enjoys everything.

Again good thing for you! And for what you had to put up with. It is about time for you and your husband to reconnect and find to alone which you will be able to. Enojy that time!

last year when we went to disney for the first time, she just loved it and can't stop talking about it. My co-workers take their kids on trips all the time, but because of my husband we never took trips because we always said that we would wait for the baby to get bigger to enjoy it. and now that she is bigger, and even so next year she will be 5, he does not want to go!

am I nuts for wanting to take my 5 year old from miami florida, to barcelona, spain on an 11 day disney cruise??

GO on the cruise and do not worry about it. She, you and your husband will be enthrawled by this trip! Have a blast and make it educational for the little one as well as for your self!

Good luck and take that step and book it!

 

[Sparkie]

My husband made me so mad today.

I've been wanting to go on a mediterranean cruise for YEARS, and because I did not have a career until recently (I became an RN 2 1/2 years ago), we are finally able to accomplish my mediterranean cruise dreams.

Disney cruise line has one 10 or 11 night mediterranean cruise of my dreams! It stops at 9 ports of call, and every port of call I want to do..... spain, rome, france, and two others that I cannot remember.......

of course my dreams include himself and my child who next year will be 5 years old.

This is in my bucket list before disneyland paris.

but he thinks that a 5 year old is too young to be on an 11 dream mediterranean cruise and that I should go by myself.





but it's a disney cruise, I am sure she will enjoy it. and it is only $4K for the 3 of us plus flight for the 11 day one.


Is it weird for a 5 year old to go on an 11 day cruise to europe, from miami, FL USA??

am I nuts for wanting to go on a 9hr flight to europe, and to a disney cruise for 11 days??

I am trully sad about this issue. I have been with my husband for 10 years, and I feel that I worked so hard. I hardly did the party scene that all my other friends were doing so I could go to school and get a career for myself. I waited until my husband could afford a house of his own, while he lived with his parents and I lived with my mom. I met him on his last semester of his masters degree program, so I thought he was really smart.
and little did I know that I would end up never traveling anywhere because we had a young baby, and next year she will be 5, and she is a very healthy and happy little girl that enjoys everything.

last year when we went to disney for the first time, she just loved it and can't stop talking about it. My co-workers take their kids on trips all the time, but because of my husband we never took trips because we always said that we would wait for the baby to get bigger to enjoy it. and now that she is bigger, and even so next year she will be 5, he does not want to go!

am I nuts for wanting to take my 5 year old from miami florida, to barcelona, spain on an 11 day disney cruise??

So am I reading correctly- If you leave the 5 year old at home- it would be you and DH?----- I say leave DH at home and take the 5 year old.

What an amazing experience for your child. Yes she is young but she will remember parts of it and you are right- its a Disney cruise- what could be more kid friendly.

I am also an RN and work extra so I can feed my Disney need- we are going on our first Disney cruise April 22 and I was planning on booking the Dream while on board and DH and DD(18) say to me- cant we do something other than a cruise vacation- like a "cheap" vacation..... well, how about I am booking the Dream for myself and DD(14) and DH and DD(18) can just go on their cheapo vacation...... Just erks me that I work sometimes 13 out of 14 days in a payperiod so we can have the luxury of a Disney experience that i fund entirely by myself and the ungreatful members of my family want to complain.... So I feel you.... Take the kid, have a great time and create great memories.... and if you need me to take DH's place- just look me up- LOL!!!!!

 

[Bookwood]

well, the talk is now that we will wait until after the first 3 day disney cruise is done, and then he will make the decision if he wants to go on the 10 day disney mediterranean cruise or not.

I am hoping that he will like it so much so we can finally do the med. cruise.

I think my husband just gets overwhelmed with the amount of work that he has to do. Because of his elderly sick, alzeihmer's parents that I when he goes on vacation (first time we went was last nov. for a week at WDW) his parents is all that he thinks about, so he doesn't enjoy without worry like I do. Thank God that my mom and family are healthy.

but definitely thanks for all the responses, you trully have been an inspiration that I really can take my DD. And if all else fails, it will be me and my DD to the cruise.

After reading this I think the 5 yr old is an excuse and he's more worried about his parents. If he's an only child maybe you could find a wonderful home health care person for them (try them out on the 3 day) since you're in the medical field ask around and take that burden from his shoulders. The cost of an international cell phone might be the answer too.

Although we couldn't afford vacations while my kids were little I'd have no problems taking them on an European cruise if I could afford it- even at 5.

Good Luck!!!

 

[tink too]

Although our DD was 6 y.o. when we took our first cruise, she has been taking the long flight from the UK to the USA regularly since she was 13 m.o. without any issues.

We did the 15 night Panama Canal Repo cruise in May 2008 with DCL and we all loved it - especially our DD!

If you really want to take the cruise, I say go for it - and enjoy!

 

[bumblebeeRN]

Thanks so much for your advice!

I agree, I am sure she will have a great time, and hopefully I will be able to make it next year.
I'd also like to do a disneyland california & mexican riviera cruise too.
but My my heart is set up for the med. cruise.

As RN's we have to work very hard, and our work is totally different from any other professional job.

 

[bumblebeeRN]

So am I reading correctly- If you leave the 5 year old at home- it would be you and DH?----- I say leave DH at home and take the 5 year old.

What an amazing experience for your child. Yes she is young but she will remember parts of it and you are right- its a Disney cruise- what could be more kid friendly.

I am also an RN and work extra so I can feed my Disney need- we are going on our first Disney cruise April 22 and I was planning on booking the Dream while on board and DH and DD(18) say to me- cant we do something other than a cruise vacation- like a "cheap" vacation..... well, how about I am booking the Dream for myself and DD(14) and DH and DD(18) can just go on their cheapo vacation...... Just erks me that I work sometimes 13 out of 14 days in a payperiod so we can have the luxury of a Disney experience that i fund entirely by myself and the ungreatful members of my family want to complain.... So I feel you.... Take the kid, have a great time and create great memories.... and if you need me to take DH's place- just look me up- LOL!!!!!

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!

 

[bumblebeeRN]

After reading this I think the 5 yr old is an excuse and he's more worried about his parents. If he's an only child maybe you could find a wonderful home health care person for them (try them out on the 3 day) since you're in the medical field ask around and take that burden from his shoulders. The cost of an international cell phone might be the answer too.

Although we couldn't afford vacations while my kids were little I'd have no problems taking them on an European cruise if I could afford it- even at 5.

Good Luck!!!

I think so too. MY DH is the last child out of 6 adult children, and he is the only one who cares for his parents. 3 of them live outside of florida, and the other 2 live 20minutes away, but they do not contribute. So eventhough he is not an only child it feels like he is. And I can say that because I am an only child.


I'm a pediatric RN, so I have no clue about adult care.

Although our DD was 6 y.o. when we took our first cruise, she has been taking the long flight from the UK to the USA regularly since she was 13 m.o. without any issues.

We did the 15 night Panama Canal Repo cruise in May 2008 with DCL and we all loved it - especially our DD!

If you really want to take the cruise, I say go for it - and enjoy!

Thanks very much! I told my DH that people all over the world take their kids on trips and cruises, and they are fine!

I can't wait to book it