The real cruising with the crazies, picture review of Glory cruise with the toddlers

[moeferg]

That's right, maybe the fact I am leaving in 16 days has me a little delirious...

[Julienatul]

Loved your review! My kids are 5 and 2 and we cruise with them often so I can relate.

[jules1121]

Great review and very cute little boys! :D

Our last cruise our daughter was 13 months and it was great! This cruise she will be two and I am looking forward to exploring the ship with her!:p

 

Enjoy this time because they grow up so fast! Sounds quaint to say but my "little boy" is now 11 and as tall as me and it just seems like yesterday when he was that size.

[elcuchio24]

I agree with you Man, Grand Turk is awesome. I really don't understand why people don't like this port. What's not to like? I think people just stay right around the dock area too much and don't explore at all. Jacks is awesome as always.

[lovethesun40]

I'm loving your review....thank you!!!

We were on the same cruise as you! It was our first, and not our last, as we had a great time, exception of the first day, but we chose to forget about it and move on!!;)

It's funny that as I read, and look at your beautiful pictures, we have pretty much the same opinion as you do! Thank you again, can't wait for the rest!!!

[alligirl78]

Great review! We just sailed the same itinerary a few weeks ago and loved it. I have some of the pics from San Juan and I loved it there too. And Grand Turk really is a slice of heaven. I have 2 boys too. You are not a bad parent for letting your sun puddle jump. I jump with mine :-) And Mr. White pants....well, clothes can be washed ;-)

[thekings23]

Great review! We just sailed the same itinerary a few weeks ago and loved it. I have some of the pics from San Juan and I loved it there too. And Grand Turk really is a slice of heaven. I have 2 boys too. You are not a bad parent for letting your sun puddle jump. I jump with mine :-) And Mr. White pants....well, clothes can be washed ;-)

 

 

I am really jealous that you have another one booked for later this year, we're going to do Disney instead and I am afraid that I will be sad that we aren't cruising.

[thekings23]

We concluded this cruise with a fun day at Sea. We got lucky on this sea day as Carter woke up and was excited for Camp. We got breakfast and lounged, and then took the boys to Camp. We knew there was a good chance that this would be short lived so we sprinted to the casino so we could play cards together. Carter stayed in camp for about an hour, and then the dreaded phone rang and he wanted to come out. It seemed like everyone was having so much fun, its surprising that Carter didn't enjoy it.

 

I mean how cool does he look?

 

 

We got the kids from Camp and sat in the aft area as we wanted pizza for lunch today.

 

 

We played some putt putt today too, which is so much fun with young kids. Tyler thinks that golf is measured by "goals"

 

 

On the last day I always feel a bit of sadness as I realize that my time is becoming short. I seriously believe that I could do life long b2b cruises, it never seems like it could get old. Expensive yes, old no. We spent the rest of the day just enjoying each other. I seem to spend a lot of time on vacation reflecting on life, how far we've come, how lucky we are, and how proud I am of my babies who are becoming little men. I always say at work that I am living the dream, and I truly believe that I am.

 

Before I knew it it was time to get ready for our final dinner on board the Glory.

 

[thekings23]

After dinner I hit the casino for one last farewell night. Even though we have casinos at home I rarely gamble, even though I enjoy it very much. Gambling has become a vacation treat for myself. I was down about $1200 going into the last night, but rallied and got $600 of it back, yay me! Then it was off to bed for the clan, knowing that we had to get up early the next morning for disembarkation.

 

A few comments about the crew, they were simply awesome with our kids. We loved our assistant waitress Natalie from Peru. She was very casual and sweet with both the boys, dinner was complete each night until they both gave her a kiss. They had milk at the table each night waiting for the boys, which I thought was great.

 

 

our Steward Constantin from Romania was also fantastic. We are pretty simple and don't make many requests, but he did get me extra hangers and kept our room spotless. He was very good with the boys and always greeted them both by name, I thought that was awesome.

 

I also loved the Casino staff, and got to know them quite well throughout the week.

 

Disembarkation-

 

We were in zone 21, which was great since we weren't flying home until Monday. We relaxed and had a nice breakfast and hung out on the open deck. At about 9:30 we were off the ship. This is when the car seat issue came back to haunt us. I spoke with the taxi cab attendant and she sent us across the street to the shuttle people as we didn't have a car seat for the lil man.

 

We lugged our bags and kids across the street to the shuttle pickup area. I didn't have anything arranged as this was not planned, but I did call the shuttle driver who dropped us off. He answered and said he'd call me back in 5 minutes to have us driven to our hotel. 30 minutes went by, and he didn't call, I called back and it went straight to voicemail. Awesome. I found a shuttle driver at the end of the line with his doors opened, I asked him to take us to the hotel and he agreed for $10 PP. Then the port authority lady sent him off without us, saying that since we did not pre-arrange a shuttle that we could not get a ride with him, nor any other shuttle driver. This rule is ridiculous, and makes zero sense at all. She said I had to take a cab, and the cab lady is saying we have to take a shuttle. I was doing my best not to lose it on this bureaucratic bs. I made the port employee walk with me to the taxi line, she said we can take a cab but the first 5 or 6 cab drivers refused to drive with Carter in the car. Again parents if you are traveling with a child under the age of 4, bring a car seat, even though it will take up 35% of the space in your cabin.

 

We finally found a driver willing to drive us to the Crown Plaza by the airport where we would be spending the night. The cab fare was $21 but based on the driver willing to bail us out of our situation I felt like I needed to reward him and tipped him $20.

 

We arrived at the hotel at about 11 AM, as expected a room wasn't quite ready. They locked our luggage and gave us an access key to use the pool. The staff at the hotel was great, they instantly called room service to get a room ready for us that had 2 beds, and she told me within the hour our room would be ready.

 

 

I got this room for $75 on lastminutetravel, and they offer a complimentary airport shuttle. I actually felt that the rooms here were nicer than the regency we stayed at pre-cruise, but the location was not good at all. I walked to grab some juice for the boys while they swam and did not feel like it was in a good area at all. To be expected for an airport location, but we didn't leave the hotel grounds for the duration of our stay. We ordered pizza hut delivery for dinner and actually enjoyed the free wi-fi (so slow) and decent cable tv.

 

All in all this was a great vacation, I probably wouldn't cruise with a 2 year old again but I am glad we did it. I thin 4 years old is the ideal age for a child to start cruising, Tyler seemed to get so much out of it and even today is asking to go to Camp.

 

 

I will leave you with a few of my favorite shots of the week, thanks for reading and reliving this amazing week of my life with me!

 

 

[nybumpkin]

Wonderful review - really enjoyed it! Life does get a lot easier after car seats.;) Of course, it starts going by a lot faster, too.

[kwbrad]

What a wonderful review! Thank you so much for sharing!

[nessz79]

Great pics at the end there of your family!

I know what you mean about feeling like you could do B2B cruises forever. Did you know that Holland America does this 100 something day cruise around the world? It's expensive of course, but then again so is just living! LOL! Maybe when we're retired one day...with our lotto winnings ;).

[Crusin Karen]

Unitl your boys are grown and have moved out and have families of their own, you will not understand how PRECIOUS that group picture of the 4 of you is. It will be something you will look back on and pause and smile while getting ready to visit "your men", their SO'es and hopefully your grandchildren!! Been there, doing that. Thank you for a wonderful review and may your days until your Disney vacation be happy ones!

[raylene5]

Great review! I like your perspective on things...you sound like a great dad. Not to get too personal, but this week has been a bit tough for me as a young mom. My fourth and youngest just turned one earlier this week. He also stopped nursing this week and well, we are now "officially" done having kids as of this afternoon :o On the one hand, I'm a bit relieved to be done with the baby stage and move on to the next stage of my kids lives but of course I'm also pretty sad. It all went by so fast. Sorry to get so sentimental :)

 

Enjoy them while they're young and keep traveling with them. It's hard but so worth it. And I recognize a lot of the clothes the boys are wearing...my three are wearing some of the same stuff! Ha ha. Great job!

[alligirl78]

I am really jealous that you have another one booked for later this year, we're going to do Disney instead and I am afraid that I will be sad that we aren't cruising.

 

We've been to Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios and I asked the boys if they'd prefer to cruise again or to do Disney. They both immediately said CRUISE. So...we shall. It's always nice to get out of MI in the winter...It's pretty bad. The whole family is hooked now...

[LiveLAUGHLove21]

Great review! It's so nice to see other people truly enjoying what God has given to them!

 

HAPPY EASTER AND Thanks for the good reading!!

[thekings23]

Great review! I like your perspective on things...you sound like a great dad. Not to get too personal, but this week has been a bit tough for me as a young mom. My fourth and youngest just turned one earlier this week. He also stopped nursing this week and well, we are now "officially" done having kids as of this afternoon :o On the one hand, I'm a bit relieved to be done with the baby stage and move on to the next stage of my kids lives but of course I'm also pretty sad. It all went by so fast. Sorry to get so sentimental :)

 

Enjoy them while they're young and keep traveling with them. It's hard but so worth it. And I recognize a lot of the clothes the boys are wearing...my three are wearing some of the same stuff! Ha ha. Great job!

 

Thanks! You are a better person than I, I can't imagine having 4 children. I'd be broke and stressed to the max. Enjoy the toddler years with your baby, they are going by so quickly.

[Prairie_Gal]

Thanks for taking the time to post your review, I really enjoyed it. Sounds like you two are both great parents. Glad you had a good cruise.

[thekings23]

Thanks for taking the time to post your review, I really enjoyed it. Sounds like you two are both great parents. Glad you had a good cruise.

 

Thanks, that means a lot. Being a parent is the most difficult and most important job I will ever have.

[Cruise, J.D.]

Great review! It was a fun read. I have a 4-yr-old son so a lot of your comments made me laugh.

[Cushing985]

It's great you guys are making these memories for the kids. My parents took us on a cruise years ago and I still remember the fun we had. We were on the Glory a few years ago and had a blast!

[farler05]

Great review!! My Carter will be 21 months on his first cruise this November.

[mishella69]

Great review! Its great to see a review with little ones! I finally talked my husband into going on another cruise the end of next march with the kids. It would be their 1st cruise (4th for me). My daughter will be 8 and my son will be 3 (5 months shy of his 4th bday) So I am hoping my son is more like your son TY. Thanks for all the info!

[thekings23]

Great review! Its great to see a review with little ones! I finally talked my husband into going on another cruise the end of next march with the kids. It would be their 1st cruise (4th for me). My daughter will be 8 and my son will be 3 (5 months shy of his 4th bday) So I am hoping my son is more like your son TY. Thanks for all the info!

 

I think pre-school/day care has a lot to do with how the kids respond to camp. The boys stay home with the woman to blame, but Ty goes to pre-school two full days a week. I think that helps a lot with his independence and willingness to be away from the parents. Carter is home 24/7 with the woman to blame and has become quite the momma's boy.

[apey9995]

I know this is an older review, but I just now came across it. I haven't seen many reviews from a parents perspective, so I was really happy to read this one. We will be sailing this fall with my 2 year old and 6 year old boys (same itinerary, but on the Liberty). We are a little nervous about it since it will be our first cruise with the kids, but I really enjoyed reading your review! Magen's beach was one of our planned stops, so now you have me rethinking that. And we've been going back and forth on the car seat issue with the 2 year old, but after hearing about all your troubles I think dragging the monstrosity along might just be worth it. Thanks for writing this, it is very informative! You have a lovely family. Also we share the same last name, so it was kind of ironic when I found your review. :)