Single Parent on Cruise

I am a single dad with 2 girls 10 & 14, and I am looking at the Glory or Triumph in August. Anyone recomend one over the other, and I am concerned that everything may be geared to couples. How is it for a single parent? Thanks

Either ship would be grat for the kids. Carnival does a great job of having special programs and entertainment geared towards kids. I do not have any kids but meet my friends on a cruise last year and they have and 11 & 12 year olds....we had dinenr with them one one night and then did not see them again. They did their own things and checked in :)

It was a great vacation for all because the kids did what they wanted and the mom/dad knew that they were on the ship and safe.

Enjoy, pick the cruise based on the ports you want to visit.

I always see plenty of single parents with kids on Carnival ships. Not to worry, either ship in August will be great for you and your kids.

Since they are different class ships, I would research and see which Camp Carnival offered the most. Bigger isn't always better, but it may be.

I think you are going to have an adequate number of children for your kids to play with on either...but one ship may offer something that your kids would like better.

This is where a TA or PVP could help you in your decision.

Something else you want to be aware of: you need to bring a notarized letter from their mother saying you have permission to bring them out of the country. There are a lot of threads on this issue.

Can't recommend either of the ships you mentioned, but I can tell you that I am a single parent and have been on 2 cruises with my son (3rd will be in June). We had a WONDERFUL time. He was 14 years old on the first cruise. Things are not just geared toward couples, you will have a wonderful time. Enjoy your cruise!

I'm yet another single parent in agreement... do it, you'll love it! I took my oldest on the Grandeur a few years back. We had a fabulous time, my only regret was that we didn't go on Carnival. (Grandeur was close to home) He had fun & all, but did not care for the kids program as the activites were pretty pathetic & there weren't many kids on at that time. I knew from previous experiences that the Carnival program would have been better fit for him. So...

I'm now taking him, a friend of his, and my toddler on the Conquest on July... we are looking forward to a ship & itinerary that is much more geared toward activities for the kids.

Heck - if you can do July 23 out of Galveston you should join us. I know there are several kids going on this one & at least one other single parent to commiserate with!

I have cruised as a single parent with my 2 children now 15 & 13 every year for the past 7. It is absolutely the best way to travel. Your children will be very busy with kids their own age. We generally have set check in times and they have an idea where to find me as I generally get a chair in the same general location by the pool. We have sailed the Triumph both Eastern & Western and love it.It is our favorite CArnival ship Eastern great shopping & beautiful beaches. Western more active- Dunn River Falls in Ochos Rios, Stingrays in Grand Cayman, Dolphins in Cozumel.

Bring notarized letter from other parent granting the permission to travel- If you are in Mexico Carnival tells you this is now mandatory.(Although I had it with me no one ever asked for it)

a cruise is the absolute perfect trip for the single parent. I'm taking my 11 almost 12 year old on his 4th cruise in late July on the Triumph. We get to spend a lot of quality time together during the day, at meals and at the shows but then he likes to catch up with his cruise buddies from Camp Carnival which gives the single parent quality time to pursue his or her own interest. Do it! You may become addicted.

Thanks for the info.....just booked the Triumph for 8/5, Cozumel, Grand Cayman & Ocho Rios!! Looking forward to it!!!

Thanks for the info.....just booked the Triumph for 8/5, Cozumel, Grand Cayman & Ocho Rios!! Looking forward to it!!!

Woo-hoo! Let the countdown begin....haven't been to Ocho Rios, but I have been to Cozumel and Grand Cayman and trust me, you will LOVE these ports.

Thanks for the info.....just booked the Triumph for 8/5, Cozumel, Grand Cayman & Ocho Rios!! Looking forward to it!!!

Ever been to Ocho Rios before?

No, did Eastern side about 15 yrs ago, first time going West........did spend a week in Cancun though

I'm a single parent too - took my daughter on her first cruise a few weeks ago....I loved it, and she loved it too. Has been asking ever since when we can go again. Dang, I'll go broke!

Enjoy your cruise, you all will meet a lot of people - you will, and your kids will also.

No, did Eastern side about 15 yrs ago, first time going West........did spend a week in Cancun though

If I were to take my daughters on a cruise (which I wouldn't) that went to Ocho I'd keep them on a very short leash.

I am a single dad with 2 girls 10 & 14, and I am looking at the Glory or Triumph in August. Anyone recomend one over the other, and I am concerned that everything may be geared to couples. How is it for a single parent? Thanks

I'm a single mom of 3 kids ..just got off the Fantasy(4/10-4/15) I took my kids and 2 of their friends .We had a great time. I had no problem finding things to do without all 5 kids !! Would have been nice to meet a single dad w/ kids .. I'll keep an eye out for what cruise you pick :) we're planning a summer cruise too!!

Something else you want to be aware of: you need to bring a notarized letter from their mother saying you have permission to bring them out of the country. There are a lot of threads on this issue.

I have been on 6 cruises since my divorce with my kids and have never been asked for my ex's permission.. i also bring my kids friends and they never ask for letters from their parents.

SPT13,

I am a single parent and have taken both my teen boys on cruises, they LOVED it! This time I am going with a coworker, no boys. Sooooo join my cruise.....May 8th, Inspiration. Carnival has a "singles" party the first night of the cruise, it's a midnight on the Inspiration.

Hi - I'm a single parent and i traveled with my two children (boy 15 and girl 14) on the Legend in December (New Years eve cruise) - We all have passports and no one asked us any questions, and i did not have to provide any sort of documentation from my ex husband saying that I could take the kids out of the country. We'll be going on the Liberty this Thanksgiving and I hadn't planned on asking my ex husband for "permission" to take my children on vacation. Has anyone ever been asked for this sort of documentation on any of their cruises?

Although I was told I would need it, when I took my son on a Mex Riveria cruise about 4 years ago - I was not asked for it. ... I would not travel without it though, it's required by Mexico. Individual country requirements are found at the US State Dept site:

http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/brochures/brochures_1229.html

Just a tip:

I have been on a couple of cruiselines and i have found that the only real cruiseline that is nice to kids/family is carnival. All other cruiselines are more couple oriented. You chose the right spot lol

I have sailed on both the Glory and the Triumph and am a single parent as well. :)

I am agreement with other posters that a cruise is a fabulous way to vacation as a single parent!!

I think the Triumph is a great choice! I have sailed her twice - both times with kids - one time we went Eastern and one time we went Western.

In Ocho Rios we tried to walk a round a bit but being approached by all the people was a bit overwhelming for my teen. If you walk down the pier and head to the right at the end , turn left on the main street and walk about 2 blocks you will hit the Island Village shopping area. Once you enter here there are no pushy sales people and we spent a lovely afternoon at Margaritaville which has entertainment, a pool and a beach.

In Grand Cayman - I am working backwards :) we booked privately for a Stringray, Snorkel and Rum Point tour which was definetly a highlight of our cruise.

In Cozumel we enjoyed a fabulous day at Paradise beach - taxi was easy to get and the accomodations were great for the family.

My teens did not really do many of the sponsored acticities but they did go to the orientation on the first night and met other kids there which they spent time with throughout the cruise. On one of our sailings we also joined a cruise Critic Roll Call Thread and my DD met some other kids her age in advance online whih was really helpful.

As a single person I have always enjoyed cruising with my kids. I find that I have a GREAT time out at night and always find many people to hang out with - both couples and singles of all ages. I find that a cruise offers everything that I am looking for in a vacation - great family time as well as great "adult" time!

Do I need passports for the kids since they do not have photo ID's?........also, are the ships non smoking?

Do I need passports for the kids since they do not have photo ID's?........also, are the ships non smoking?

They do not need passports until 12/31/06 i believe (someone correct me if that date is wrong). However, I did get passports for DD and I. It made things so easy - I showed only our passports and no questions or hesitations. I wouldn't leave the country with my child without one. Just my preference.

I think all kids 16 and older need a picture ID. But if you are not getting passports, take the birth certificates and a school picture ID if they have it. You might also be able to get a state ID picture card for your kids at the drivers license facility.

I did have the notarized "permission to leave country" form from my daughter's father but never was asked for it. I have heard on this board that sometimes people were asked for it, other times not. I was determined that nothing was going to interfere with my fun....so I was prepared with the documents!!

As far as smoking, there are some areas of the ship where smoking is off limits like the dining room. If you have to walk through the casino, you will walk through the smoke. The cabins are NOT non-smoking. We have allergies and asthma, so I contacted carnival beforehand to request our cabin be "air cleaned" or whatever they call it. they run a high capacity air cleaner in the cabin before you board....I smelled no smoke upon entry to the cabin. If it's the cabin you are concerned about, they can fix that with the air cleaner. Honestly, the only time I really felt bothered by smoke was in the casino. But there were times that I wanted to be in there, so no choice....it wasn't that bad (especially when the machine started spitting out quarters..:D

Enjoy your cruise. The planning makes you anticipate it that much more.

I have traveled on 13 cruises with my daughter as a single parent...sometimes with other friends and family and sometimes just the two of us. It's always been GREAT !

One thing we do when it's just the two of us is request to be put at a large table at dinner. Carnival has always done a great job of putting us with other single parents traveling and we've made instant connections!

Our last cruise (Dec. 2005) we were with 3 other single moms and their daughters....all in my daughter's age group! It was wonderful for us all!

Also, I have never ONCE been asked for any letter of permission from her father. It's never been mentioned by Carnival or any authority on any island. We do both have passports, but don't take them off the ship with us...all that is required on or off the ship is your sign and sail card and a photo ID. Rarely do they even ask for the photo ID.

We have sailed the Triumph twice and LOVE HER...hope you do too!