Uh-oh, my hubbie's not too thrilled

[ma2patrick]

Well, I spilled the beans to my husband. I booked the cruise to surprise him and our 5 1/2 year old son. I was giving him hints, but when he started guessing places like PARIS, I knew I better 'fess up. When I told him we were going on a Disney Cruise his face just fell!!

I told him about all the exciting things on the ship and he just said "great, what will I do?"

He's not a real "joiner" so the activities aren't going to be up his alley, and he's not a real fan of live shows, and he's not a sports nut either so the ESPN sports room won't be a draw.

Did I really mess up? I'm just excited for our son to be able to be with all of his favorite characters and experience the wonder of Disney for 4 days. I think this is a magical age for him, and a great time to get the full "WOW" effect from him.

My husband really likes esoteric types of vacations. Like going to Machu Pichu would be paradise for him. But traveling with a 5 1/2 year old isn't a real vacation for Mommy, since I would be constantly worried about keeping him entertained and safe. That's why I think a Disney cruise is perfect. Any suggestions for exciting excursions to go on to get him more in the mood? How about places in Florida for after we return? We'll have 4 more days before we have to be home after the cruise.

I'm just so bummed.

 

[Dreamer04]

Hi. Try getting him a pass to the Rainforest. He can sit, read and feel "esoteric". There are other spa appt that will have him loving Disney. Then there's the look on DS face. Maybe that's all he'll need.

You could go to Dave's DCL Tribute site at www.dcltribute.com and check out the Naviogators. I'm sure he'll find lots to do.
Good luck

Ursula

 

[Grumbo]

You know your hubby better than anyone else
I enjoy "esoteric" vacations such as machu pichu (wife has been there) and the Galapogas, Greece, Egypt etc, but we did these prior to children and with a child you have to make temporary lifestyle changes. With a 5 1/2 year old a DCL cruise is a great transitional vacation.
Our DD is now 11 and we are going to tour Europe next summer with her and we did Britain and France a few years ago. You just can't go full out with adult things though. We did DLP and also looked at the London Zoo and other kids things mixed in.
Once onboard if he tries to make an effort there is MORE than enough to keep him occupied, plus it is nice to for all of you to have time together.

Anyway thats my take on it.

Cheers,
Grumbo

 

[KEH]

Oh, Lauri, I feel for you, I really do. It's so disappointing when you plan a super surprise and someone else thinks it's not so good!

If it's any consolation my DH is not a joiner either but he LOVES cruising with DCL. We are off on our 4th cruise in 6 weeks with our 5th already booked. My DH likes to sit on deck and read or people watch; he is happy to visit the bars for a drink etc; he is so busy at work that the chance to just relax really appeals to him.

And as someone else has already said, the look on your son's face will be worth the world.

Please don't stress yourself over this. Sending you some pixie dust and a big hug.

 

[mickeyfanmom]

Lauri-

My husband wasn't all that thrilled when I brought up the Disney Cruise at first either. But we talked our very good friends into going with us and my husband got much more excited. I don't know how far out your cruise is, but is there the possibility that you could do the same?

I know exactly what you mean about this being able to be a good experience for you. It's not often as moms that our kids beg to be away from us (in this case the great children's programming.) Why don't you let your child participate there while you plan some couples activities (Palo, couples massage, surial bath etc.) alone with your husband. Maybe you can make it a romantic adventure for the two of you as well as a great time as a family adventure.

I say book the REAS package as a surprise, go out and buy a gorgeous cocktail dress for Palo, have your child hang out with the other kiddies and give your husband a romantic evening to remember!

 

[figment52]

Maybe he can do an exciting shore excursion. Maybe one of those will be exciting for him.

What about adding the REAS package and you two have some alone time while you son is in the club? I would think with a 5 1/2 y/o the alone ime is hard to come by.

You have time to make it special for him.

 

[jenschaef1]

Ahh, husbands gotta love them! Maybe you could entice him with an excursion to the lost city of Atlantis! All kidding aside...I think vacations should be fun for all members of the family and IMHO no one does this better than Disney. My husband wasn't thrilled with a Disney cruise either, but once on board he had to admit it was the most enjoyable vacation we have taken with our children. Plenty of family time as well as some special adult time. Athough I have not taken this excursion, he may like the jet ski ecotour on Castaway Cay. For your time after the cruise, my mom has swam with the Manatees in Crystal River and thought it was fasinating.


Jennifer

 

[PoohJen]

Seems like a Disney Cruise is a perfect vacation for spending time with the family - i.e., you and DH revelling in your son's wonder of it all and taking pleasure in your son's pleasure, while also having adult time for just the two of you. I think you'll have a wonderful cruise - good luck!

 

[MinnesotaMouseketeers]

When my DW mentioned a cruise for our honeymoon (way back when), I hated the idea. We settled on a four night cruise (the "Big Red Boat") and a Disney World vacation. I had a great time. We did a Wonder vacation when my son was 7 and we just got back from a second Wonder vacation on the 26th of August. I would like to do a seven night cruise, hopefully in three years.

I think a four night cruise is a great way to see if you like it or not. You don't know until you try it. Let him pick out an excursion or two that sounds like something he'll enjoy.

 

[MarcyIn Florida]

I told him about all the exciting things on the ship and he just said "great, what will I do?"
[/B]

I booked a honeymoon cruise and my dh was less than thrilled. However, after that cruise, he is now a dedicated cruiser, and tried to convince all of his friends to cruise.

Can you book some fun and adventurous excursions? Snorkel, scuba, or the like?

Also, as someone who was a world traveler before kids, I understand the disappointment of doing a kid-friendly vacation, but that is something that goes along with the perks of having kids. I think finding something you can all do together on board as a family will make your dh realize that you will all create new things that you love to do as a family, even if those things are different than our 20-something childless adventure trips.

Plus, as a parent of a 4 year old (and a 1+ year old), I can promise you that seeing the cruise through your child's eyes will be amazing for your husband.

 

[QueenTrident]

My husband was negative about the cruise until about 1 day into the cruise - now he's a Disney Cruiseaholic. He keeps bugging me to rebook (in fact we had rebooked on board, until I got pregnant). Now, we're trying to figure out when to go next.

DH isn't a joiner either, but loved the time at the adult pool, SCUBA diving on an excursion and just enjoying hte look on DD's face every time she saw a Princess.

Make sure you get the DCL VHS/DVD and have yoru DH watch it. Then, print out some navigators and the excursion info, so he can get excited about some of the things he can do.

 

[ppiew]

My husband is definitely in the same category! He went on our first DCL cruise grudgingly (and with no kids), LOVED it! Hated the other cruises we had taken before. Loved the Adult pool, loved reading a book with a drink in his hand, loved WATCHING the kids activities. He really enjoyed the dining venues and the varying choices of restaurant, and really liked the lounge show entertainment. (he opted out of the Disney shows) Anyway, we then went on a 4 day (again no kids) and a 7 day with kids and 2 grandchildren, ages 1 1/2 and 6. At the end of the cruise he said he would go again. He took the bridge tour (before 9/11), went to the movie 'Making of the Magic' and a multitude of other things. I think you did good and he will definitely enjoy himself.

If it were me, I would use the extra 4 days either at WDW or at the Disney Vero Beach Resort. Hubby loves Vero! Hates theme parks! Great things at either location - first class accommodations, many things to see/do other than parks. Vero has some wonderful ecology type day trips. WDW has super restaurants/hotels, and an afternoon spend at AKL just to watch the animals is extraordinary beyond belief!

It won't take long before he realizes that there is something for everyone - not just kids. And the added benefit is that EVERYONE gets to enjoy themselves.

 

[SparkyC]

Try booking shore excursions for him (or all of you if the age limits work for your son...) My husband really really LOVED the Nature Hike/Kayak excursion on CC. There were some history tours in Nassau.
Right when you get onboard, go to the shore excursion desk and book the Bridge tour, so he can see some of the inner workings of the ship.

 

[christinou]

My husband was not thrilled with the idea of a cruise either, he loves to scuba dive, so I booked him on scuba diving excursions at every ports (we did Easter last February, we are doing Western next February). There is enough to do on the cruise, that he should be able to find something he likes, my husband favorite activity was walking around with his GPS to see where we were
Now that was NOT thrilling to me, but it worked for him, and he is as addicted as I am .....

 

[delo4]

I was kind of worried about my husband on the cruise as well. He was always looking forward to going, but I was sure he would not find enough to do. He is a college professor and works way more than 40 hours per week. He can't stand to sit still for more than 15 minutes! I thought for sure he would drive me nuts on this 7 day cruise.

Much to my surprise, he loved it. He watched movies, went to all the ship talks, galley tour, massage, etc. We did excursions when we got to the different ports. He loved the dining rooms and would go and read the menus before dinner each night and report back to us. He read several books and really enjoyed himself. We went with our two teen-age girls and my parents. My mom and I thought for sure he would have a miserable time, but he can't wait to go again. Unfortunatly, he can never go during the school year, so it makes it tough to go very often.


The one thing I loved about a cruise, is that there is something for everyone to do. My mom and I read up on deck 9, my husband went to all different things. My two girls sat in the sun and relaxed. We could all do whatever interested us, without feeling like everyone had to do the same thing.

Go and have a good time. If he doesn't like it, then at least you will know for sure. Try it first and if it doesn't work for him, do something else next time.

Good luck!!!

 

[O&WMOM]

My husband is not excited about our upcoming cruise. He would rather backpack the rockies, hike the rain forest etc. But I simply explained to him that for years we have vacationed "his way" now it is (A) my turn (B) suck it up we are going to have to do the Disney gig for a while with the kids and (C) he can do the nature thing around Cocoa Beach for a few days.

After he realized I was not going to give, and he has seen how EXCITED I am he is starting to come around.

Good luck!