Multi generations on a cruise

[flsunnymommy]

Hey Folks! I am trying to convince my mother (50s) and grandmother (80s) to go on a cruise with my son (10) and I. My son and I love cruising together and have always done vacations just the two of us. My grandmother has never been on a real vacation and I think she would love it. Do you think everyone would be able to have a good time together? Be able to spend time together and do their own thing?

[NanciRDH]

Until my mom passed away, she loved cruising with us. We'd do things that included her, and some that didn't, and we were all ok with that, she was quick to make friends and do her own thing too. She's not a night owl, so turning in early always gave us someone to watch the kids when camp closed if we wanted to spend some time out late, and she'd take our early bird daughter to breakfast. During the daytime there's always activities that don't involve the pool if they're not into that. It was during one of our cruises that mom discovered a love (and talent!) for watercolor painting in a free class offered during the day. We always ate dinner together in the dining room. We've got lots of good cruise memories, and I know she enjoyed the time we spent because since she died more people have told me how much she loved being able to vacation with us.

[rebeccalouise]

In my experience, older people (70 and up) like smaller ships because of the walking. My parents love things like afternoon tea and having a great spot of viewing scenery. They love trivia and bingo too!

 

I think a good way to go would be Holland America. They have all of the things I mentioned plus a good childcare program and freshwater (verus saltwater) pools. The food was excellent, the cabins are larger than most cruise lines and the ships are midsize. I would recommend the Noordam.

[Keith1010]

A cruise would be great because you can share many moments together on the cruise while it also provides the opportunity for some to do different things. I think it is a wonderful idea. And the planning of it can be equally fun. Just think through a cruise line that will be good for all of you of which there are several.

 

Keith

[sandm]

Our family consists of my parents, my in laws, myself and husband and our children who presently are 13 and 15. We have been cruising for years. My dad turns 80 in a few days. Cruising is the best type of vacation for us. We sometimes are together in ports but sometimes do different things. If we want to do more physically active things like kayak, surf etc my dad will take a tour of the island or something less active. We ALL enjoy dinner together in the main dining room and share our days. We have been on RCCL, Carnival, NCL and Disney. Our favorites are RCCL and Carnival. It works out well for us to not have to worry about reservations for dining and our parents enjoy having a set time for dinner with a set table and servers. We have been to the Caribbean, Alaska, and Europe and have loved everyone of the trips. It is a great way to be together yet everyone still be able to do as little or as much as they want.

[cb at sea]

Age isn't really a factor in cruising--it's good for children to the elderly! There's something for everyone somewhere on the ship!

[honeywell]

Yes, yes, yes! I take my two kids, currently 8 and 9, along with my sister, currently 60, and me (somewhere in between :) ). (we leave the husbands at home!) My sister has a lot of fun but is slightly mobility challenged and enjoys time relaxing in the room, room service, a night of music in one of the lounges, book reading, casino hopping and drink of the day! We have lots of time as a group, just me and the kids, just the grown up girls AND alone. A cruise is IDEAL for you, your mom and grandmother, along with your son

[kimmimom]

he turned 85 in 2006. My MIL was 70 at the time. I think we had every decade covered down to age 2 (we were a group of 25). Everyone had a blast. You can do as little as you want or as much as you want based on individual preference. In fact, we leave in 4 weeks with my kids, my inlaws (now 87 and 73), my oldest dd's boyfriend and his family, so we will range from 87 to 5 years. Cruising is a great way to travel with different ages!

[sandytoes03]

You should do a cruise! I bet you will have a great time. As others have said, there's something for everyone, and as long as you all are okay with being together sometimes, and being apart sometimes, I think it will work out fine!

[Tggrtoes]

we just went the week after Thanksgiving with a cruise with my DH's parents. They are seasoned cruisers however. We had a great time. We each did our own thing for the most part, but often ended up eating lunch at the buffet together and did have a reservation for dinner together each night. MY DH and I had a couples massage one morning while they watched our DS and they kept him on the boat for one of the shore days so we could have a day out. We usually let them know when we were going to be at the kids club (course your son is old enough to be there by himself) and they'd come up and play with him or watch him in the kiddie pool.

 

I think my mom would have enjoyed it as well. We're already planning our next joint vacation, so yes... I recommend it!

[flsunnymommy]

Well, I tried. My grandmother refuses to go as she is easily embarassed. She will not eat in public as her hand tremors and she can be a little messy. She thinks people care, when really no one does. So it looks like we will be going without her.

[Twickenham]

Well, I tried. My grandmother refuses to go as she is easily embarassed. She will not eat in public as her hand tremors and she can be a little messy. She thinks people care, when really no one does. So it looks like we will be going without her.

 

Tell her she can eat in her cabin every day. Better yet, get her a cabin with a private balcony, so she can eat out there.

 

Personally, I'd probably just kidnap her and drag her onto the ship, but then again I'm the stubborn type... ;)

[beachchick]

Well, I tried. My grandmother refuses to go as she is easily embarassed. She will not eat in public as her hand tremors and she can be a little messy. She thinks people care, when really no one does. So it looks like we will be going without her.

 

If that is how she truly feels, then IMO it's best to respect her decision. Cruising isn't for everyone, even though we here can't imagine anyone who wouldn't love it. I am always concerned when someone asks about how to "convince" someone else that they should cruise. It often means that they have already said it's not something that interests them or that they'd prefer not to do (for any number of reasons).

 

You're right that most people wouldn't give her so much as a "rolling eye" look. Most of us have relatives (or even ourselves) who have conditions that make them embarassed in public. Tremors are definitely a tough one. I am fortunate not to have pronounced ones, but I do have difficulty using my hands most days and have balance issues on some days. There has been an occassional "weird" look at me on days I need to use my cane because I seem "too young" to need it. But for the most part, we've found (as I'm sure you have) that fellow cruisers are very welcoming and considerate. I am sorry that you won't be able to enjoy cruising together. Perhaps if she reads some of the stories here, she will realize that most cruisers are usually quite understanding, wouldn't do anything to make her feel uncomfortable, and would welcome her, tremors and all.

 

I hope you all have a lovely cruise, especially if your grandmother reconsiders and decides to give cruising (and fellow cruisers) a try.

 

Tell her she can eat in her cabin every day. Better yet, get her a cabin with a private balcony, so she can eat out there.

 

Personally, I'd probably just kidnap her and drag her onto the ship, but then again I'm the stubborn type... ;)

 

I know you're only joking about "kidnapping" her, but I do think that no one should be made to feel as if they're wrong for not wanting to cruise, no matter the reason. My brother and SIL have absolutely no interest in cruising. I had to convince my mother that it was a really bad idea to buy them a cruise as a gift and basically "force" them to try it.

 

beachchick

[CowPrincess]

Well, I tried. My grandmother refuses to go as she is easily embarassed. She will not eat in public as her hand tremors and she can be a little messy. She thinks people care, when really no one does. So it looks like we will be going without her.

 

Perhaps you could find a map of the dining room for the ship you want, and locate a more private table, and show her that. If she's interested, then you could contact the cruise line about the specific table and explain the situation. From all experience I've had, the cruise lines will do everything they can to make things work for you.

 

Alternatively, if you have a nice cabin, you could all order room service for dinners.

[Dr_DNA]

Hey Folks! I am trying to convince my mother (50s) and grandmother (80s) to go on a cruise with my son (10) and I. My son and I love cruising together and have always done vacations just the two of us. My grandmother has never been on a real vacation and I think she would love it. Do you think everyone would be able to have a good time together? Be able to spend time together and do their own thing?

 

I would say that yes, everyone would be able to have a great time together. We (in our 30's) took my grandmother (85) and our 3 year old on a cruise. We all had a wonderful time together and what was so great was that there were several things that we could do together, plus there were activities for each one of us. It was really a great "family" vacation. I would love to do it again with my grandmother as her time with us is limited.