Which would you choose?

[Anna Chassereau]

Trying to decide which cruise to book next...we have one booked now but I have to move it bc our son's schools attendance policy just changed and he can't miss any school. We have an onboard booking discount from when we were on the Fantasy a few weeks ago.

We can either lose our placeholder discount/OBC and book a spring break Eastern that will likely turn into a Star Wars cruise or do a Mediterranean cruise. Our son will be 7, almost 8 at the time for both.

What would you do with a 7 year old? I'd really love to do the Mediterranean but I'm nervous to do so with a 7 year old...has anyone done this cruise with a child that age? If so how was your experience?

 

[Carrie in AZ]

Caribbean. I would not take my 7yo to cruise the Med with a port intensive itinerary. My personal opinion is 7yo's like "doing" more than they like "seeing". I also feel they need a bit more living before they can truly appreciate what it is they are seeing in those ports.

I am guessing there will be many here who will chime in to say their young children enjoyed their Med cruises, so I believe you will get varies opinions.

My opinions are based on what my kids enjoyed at age 7. They liked to swim and have fun.

Good luck!

 

[Coss]

Of course kids will say they like to stay on the ship and play games, but they can go outside and enjoy the different culture too

 

[3monkeys4me]

I'd do the med. cruise. We haven't done that one yet, but I hope to in a few years. It will be awhile though. We travel a lot though, so our kids are pretty used to it. My youngest just turned 8 this month and this year we did the Philippines and Hong Kong and we will be heading to Thailand in 4 weeks. These have all been land vacations, but for me the same theory follows. We sit down with the kids when we make plans and let them have input in what we do and see. We then try to make sure we don't have too many days in a row with things they don't want to do and sprinkle in some kid activities. In a way, it is even easier to do on the cruise, since there are already fun things to do on board.

 

[msmama]

I decided not to do the med cruise worn my 9 year old (did Norway/Iceland instrad) because I thought it was too port intensive. And a lot of the places I wanted to actually visit seem to be long drives from the port. There weren't a lot of half day tours, they were 8 hours everyday. I felt like my son wouldn't have enjoyed that. But we really like sea days and relaxing so YMMV.

 

[Anna Chassereau]

Caribbean. I would not take my 7yo to cruise the Med with a port intensive itinerary. My personal opinion is 7yo's like "doing" more than they like "seeing". I also feel they need a bit more living before they can truly appreciate what it is they are seeing in those ports.

I am guessing there will be many here who will chime in to say their young children enjoyed their Med cruises, so I believe you will get varies opinions.

My opinions are based on what my kids enjoyed at age 7. They liked to swim and have fun.

Good luck!

I agree with this...but we've also done two Disney cruises in the Caribbean so I feel like I want something different this time.

 

[Anna Chassereau]

I decided not to do the med cruise worn my 9 year old (did Norway/Iceland instrad) because I thought it was too port intensive. And a lot of the places I wanted to actually visit seem to be long drives from the port. There weren't a lot of half day tours, they were 8 hours everyday. I felt like my son wouldn't have enjoyed that. But we really like sea days and relaxing so YMMV.

How did your 9 year old like the Norway/Iceland cruise? I'm also considering the Norwegian Fjords if it's offered earlier in the summer than it is this year...

 

[Anna Chassereau]

I'd do the med. cruise. We haven't done that one yet, but I hope to in a few years. It will be awhile though. We travel a lot though, so our kids are pretty used to it. My youngest just turned 8 this month and this year we did the Philippines and Hong Kong and we will be heading to Thailand in 4 weeks. These have all been land vacations, but for me the same theory follows. We sit down with the kids when we make plans and let them have input in what we do and see. We then try to make sure we don't have too many days in a row with things they don't want to do and sprinkle in some kid activities. In a way, it is even easier to do on the cruise, since there are already fun things to do on board.

This is what I'm thinking too! I feel like if we're going to do Europe with him a cruise is the best way to go with a kid since there are so many fun things to do onboard...we could wait until he's older to take him but I'm so impatient lol I've been to Europe many times ans love it and am just so ready to go back!

 

[Anchors Away 2016]

This is what I'm thinking too! I feel like if we're going to do Europe with him a cruise is the best way to go with a kid since there are so many fun things to do onboard...we could wait until he's older to take him but I'm so impatient lol I've been to Europe many times ans love it and am just so ready to go back!

If you really want to do Europe, I'd say do it. OK, maybe your 7 YO won't be up for back to back full day tours, but nowhere does it say you have to do that. You say that you have been to Europe before, and you want to expose him to it. So expose him. Book some smaller excursions, or partial days. Even skip some days. I know. Heresy. But even some ports are more exposure to Europe than not going at all, and if you do spend some port time on the ship, you'll practically have it to yourself in such popular ports, right?

It's all about the attitude. If you go into it with the idea that this is just the first trip of many and you don't have to see it all, I suspect you will all enjoy it a lot.

Have fun with whatever you pick!

 

[RedStars]

My kids are 9 and 6; I would choose SW cruise because they love SW.
Plus, I wouldn't want to deal with long travel for a cruise.

 

[Anna Chassereau]

If you really want to do Europe, I'd say do it. OK, maybe your 7 YO won't be up for back to back full day tours, but nowhere does it say you have to do that. You say that you have been to Europe before, and you want to expose him to it. So expose him. Book some smaller excursions, or partial days. Even skip some days. I know. Heresy. But even some ports are more exposure to Europe than not going at all, and if you do spend some port time on the ship, you'll practically have it to yourself in such popular ports, right?

It's all about the attitude. If you go into it with the idea that this is just the first trip of many and you don't have to see it all, I suspect you will all enjoy it a lot.

Have fun with whatever you pick!

Love this! Thank you!! I totally agree it's all about attitude...we also definitely won't try to push ourselves too much if we choose Europe. I'm even considering skipping a port like you'd mentioned and just having a down day on the ship one day in the middle of the trip! We loved the Caribbean but I feel like we've been there done that with our last two DCL cruises! As long as the prices and dates work I think we're going to go for it and book the Mediterranean!

 

[jrabbit]

I've just posted "this" in another thread today, but I will repeat myself here.

Our big regret from when our kids were growing up and in school was that we were reluctant to take them out of school for vacation. Up through 8th grade at least.

Travel and experiencing other cultures IS educational. And there are many historic and scientific locations to visit as well. And then there is just the fun family bonding time - during school days that would break the bank if done during school breaks (ie spring break or Christmas cruise/WDW/DL).

We talked to the kids teachers and got as much homework in advance from them as we could. They spent time doing the work. When they would go back to school, if we were gone for 1 week, they would be 2 weeks ahead, really, they would be ahead of the class. We also took many: Spring, Summer, Thanksgiving and Christmas trips as well. But looking back we know that they would have been fine missing more school. The schools don't like it, but too bad on them!!

Sadly, what is a bigger detriment than school in going on vacations is SPORTS, or Dance, or Music or Theater or other activities. Parents are overbooking their kids lives, coaches, directors and instructors place a lot of pressure on the kids and parent NOT to Miss Anything regarding their activity... with the big "OR ELSE" Threat.

So my vote for you is to pick a NON Peak Pricing week and book your cruise then!

 

[MUN]

Trying to decide which cruise to book next...we have one booked now but I have to move it bc our son's schools attendance policy just changed and he can't miss any school. We have an onboard booking discount from when we were on the Fantasy a few weeks ago.

We can either lose our placeholder discount/OBC and book a spring break Eastern that will likely turn into a Star Wars cruise or do a Mediterranean cruise. Our son will be 7, almost 8 at the time for both.

What would you do with a 7 year old? I'd really love to do the Mediterranean but I'm nervous to do so with a 7 year old...has anyone done this cruise with a child that age? If so how was your experience?

Can't miss school as a 7 year old? That's crazy, imho.

 

[Anna Chassereau]

Can't miss school as a 7 year old? That's crazy, imho.

I've just posted "this" in another thread today, but I will repeat myself here.

Our big regret from when our kids were growing up and in school was that we were reluctant to take them out of school for vacation. Up through 8th grade at least.

Travel and experiencing other cultures IS educational. And there are many historic and scientific locations to visit as well. And then there is just the fun family bonding time - during school days that would break the bank if done during school breaks (ie spring break or Christmas cruise/WDW/DL).

We talked to the kids teachers and got as much homework in advance from them as we could. They spent time doing the work. When they would go back to school, if we were gone for 1 week, they would be 2 weeks ahead, really, they would be ahead of the class. We also took many: Spring, Summer, Thanksgiving and Christmas trips as well. But looking back we know that they would have been fine missing more school. The schools don't like it, but too bad on them!!

Sadly, what is a bigger detriment than school in going on vacations is SPORTS, or Dance, or Music or Theater or other activities. Parents are overbooking their kids lives, coaches, directors and instructors place a lot of pressure on the kids and parent NOT to Miss Anything regarding their activity... with the big "OR ELSE" Threat.

So my vote for you is to pick a NON Peak Pricing week and book your cruise then!

I agree with both of you honestly!! His school has just made me so nervous to take him out...maybe I should just not care and do it anyways?! He'll be in 2nd grade. With the cruise were booked for now he'd miss 5 maybe 6 days of school...I just wish they wouldn't make me feel like it's the end of the world! It's not really the teachers it's the administrators. I just don't want him to be held back or something crazy like that! We really want to do the cruise we're booked for...ugh I just don't know

 

[jrabbit]

@Anna Chassereau
at the end of the day it's your decision (the school admin wants the money/revenue that's associated with your child). And you have to be able to monitor your childs progress. If they can't keep up, then you need to not miss school.

One of my kids was the Valedictorian of his high school. The other struggled with normal class room and is the only person i know that can try their very hardest to do well on a True False test and score a zero . But put her in a Chemistry or BioChem lab and she shines (and now has several patents to her name)

 

[FigmentSpark]

I agree with both of you honestly!! His school has just made me so nervous to take him out...maybe I should just not care and do it anyways?! He'll be in 2nd grade. With the cruise were booked for now he'd miss 5 maybe 6 days of school...I just wish they wouldn't make me feel like it's the end of the world! It's not really the teachers it's the administrators. I just don't want him to be held back or something crazy like that! We really want to do the cruise we're booked for...ugh I just don't know

I doubt they'd hold your child back for any reason. They really don't like to do that. Can you share the verbage of the new policy? I'm interested in what tactics schools are using. Do you know if it's just the school or the whole school board?

In our school the teachers don't even bother assigning homework when it's a few extra days around breaks. They tell us they aren't doing much because so many kids are out for extra days during that time. So I'm not the only mother doing it. Now that I have one in high school, though, I'm more hesitant to take him out for too many extra days.

 

[msmama]

How did your 9 year old like the Norway/Iceland cruise? I'm also considering the Norwegian Fjords if it's offered earlier in the summer than it is this year...

He loved it. I'm not sure he appreciated what an awesome experience it was but he's been surprising me all summer, busting out facts that we learned on excursions and stuff, so he obviously took in more than I might have guessed.

 

[Shanti]

I agree with this...but we've also done two Disney cruises in the Caribbean so I feel like I want something different this time.

Then you've already answered your own question. Take the Mediterranean cruise.

 

[Anna Chassereau]

@Anna Chassereau
at the end of the day it's your decision (the school admin wants the money/revenue that's associated with your child). And you have to be able to monitor your childs progress. If they can't keep up, then you need to not miss school.

One of my kids was the Valedictorian of his high school. The other struggled with normal class room and is the only person i know that can try their very hardest to do well on a True False test and score a zero . But put her in a Chemistry or BioChem lab and she shines (and now has several patents to her name)

You're right they do just want money and that's frustrating knowing that's the reason! That's so amazing you're daughter has patents!! I know you're so proud!

 

[Shanti]

You're right they do just want money and that's frustrating knowing that's the reason!

The school is a non-profit operation. No one there gets to keep the money from improved attendance. Good attendance, bad attendance: their salaries stay exactly the same. The money goes toward funding the children's educations. So your indignation is a bit misplaced...