Would you..

[dvcnewgirl]

Take young children on a Christmas Cruise? I think it would be great family time, but I am afraid they will not have the "Christmas" experience. We are cutting back on wasteful overspending on gifts this year anyway.. They will still get gifts.. but less.. I really think it would be great memories, but worry what the kids will think (3 and 6) anyway would you?

 

[java]

No.

We go away every holiday- The day AFTER Christmas(we left once on Christmas too) This year it is pretty easy to do that too. It's on a Friday!

 

[suejai]

I think it sounds like fun. What is their normal Christmas experience? Try to re-create some of the traditions you have started. The cruise itself must have some Christmasy activities as well, so that will help.

IMO it won't hurt them to learn to be flexible. That it is still Christmas even if the same things don't happen every year.

 

[LuvOrlando]

-

 

[SC Minnie]

DD was 11 when we did a Christmas cruise. It was wonderful spending Christmas day on a catamaran off St John.

We took a really small Christmas tree- about a foot tall- and Christmas lights and decorated our cabin. The cruise line had Santa on the ship and they had carolers singing Christmas carols.

 

[Hercules10]

Disney Christmas Cruise? You betcha! I went on the 10-day cruise in 2004 and it was wonderful for the kids. I'd take my nieces in a heart beat.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

We do not plan anything for Christmas vacation-wise. My kids are always sick around Christmas. We give up.

 

[NHdisneylover]

YES. Actaully we DID. We took a Disney cruise Christmas week 2000. My kids turned 2 and 4 on the cruise. It was wonderful. The ship was all decorated for the holidays--more so than our house ever could be. Santa was on the ship a day or two ebfore Christmas (and was supposed to be at castaway cay the enxt day but high seas kept us from docking). We took our stockings and laid them out in the stateroom for Santa. He filled them and left the kids a note saying their big gift (they always get one thing a year each plus stocking stuffers) was under the tree at home waiting for their return because it would not have fit in their suitcases. I can't remember what the "big" gifts were that year--bulky and impressive looking for that age but not pricey--the money taht year was for the cruise.
The kids are now 10 and 12. They still talk about that cruise (we have been on many but it stnads out becuase of the holidays) and lament that we cannot spring for the higher cost of a Christmas cruise again.

 

[Ilivetogo]

I would.

Even though it wasn't a "cruise" ... we went to WDW the past 2 Christmases in a row and we had a great time. We had the typical "sit in the living room with the tree and open some gifts" when we returned. It made for some incredible memories. We went to the Candelight Processional ON Christmas last year. Made it wonderful!!

I think the kids would enjoy it. Bring a little Christmas with you for your cabin (like someone said about the little tree) -- and maybe little lights or something to put on the wall.

As long as you're together, that's the important part.

 

[dvcnewgirl]

Thank you for the replies, you are making me more excited. I want to because I want the important thing to be spending time together. All of the gifts (except a few we bring) would be waiting home under the tree for our return. We are not located near extended family so they would not miss that. I have lights, would bring stockings and a tree. It would not be a Disney cruise because that is not in the budget this year..

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Absolutely.

 

[Darcy03231]

We do a big family trip every year in lieu of lots of Christmas gifts. The kids get a few smaller things to open. We usually go over a spring break or the summer vacation. Now that they're older they each pick a vacation destination that they're interested in going to. They have to research it and prepare a presentation for Christmas Day as to where they would like to go and why the whole family would enjoy it (I give them a budget they have to stay within). After all the presentations we vote on where we're going (Mom and Dad have the final say and so far everyone has had their destination chosen at least once). Its a lot of fun. Every christmas we dig out the scrapbooks and videos of prior trips and relive the memories.

 

[dismom2]

We do a big family trip every year in lieu of lots of Christmas gifts. The kids get a few smaller things to open. We usually go over a spring break or the summer vacation. Now that they're older they each pick a vacation destination that they're interested in going to. They have to research it and prepare a presentation for Christmas Day as to where they would like to go and why the whole family would enjoy it (I give them a budget they have to stay within). After all the presentations we vote on where we're going (Mom and Dad have the final say and so far everyone has had their destination chosen at least once). Its a lot of fun. Every christmas we dig out the scrapbooks and videos of prior trips and relive the memories.

What a great idea!

OP: I would do it in a heartbeat. I have brought the idea up to the kids and DH, and they would love to, too. My kids love cruising, and they don't ask for a lot for Christmas anyway. I think the experience and wonderful memories last longer than another toy/gift. They would still get some, but it would be limited.

 

[Liberty Belle]

No. I wouldn't. I like to have Christmas at my house. I would take them on a cruise during their time off before Christmas, though, that would be a blast.

 

[mjantz]

Kids will adapt to just about anything as long as you're excited & happy about it as well. A few years ago we had to spend part of the Christmas holiday season in a hotel due to some medical issues with a family member. We did a lot to make it special for the kids & it apparently worked. They still talk about Santa coming to the hotel room & filling their stockings & going to eat at Cracker Barrel for Christmas dinner.

I love the idea of a Christmas cruise. Our main problem would be that our extended family would be hacked that we were not spending Christmas with them & we'd get a lot of grief.