Spending time with the kids

We are headed to a Royal Caribbean cruise this summer. I will be traveling with my husband and four children along with eight other family members. This is our second cruise with kids (8, 5, 4, and 9 mo.) and the extended family.

I am not interested in the kids programs and such. We enjoy the time to play and spend time with our kids without "real life" distraction. And since we are traveling with other family, we usually have some time to spend just me and my husband.

My kids are well behaved and we keep a close eye on them. I feel like some people think kids and cruise don't mix. When we went three years ago, we had a great time. My kids went to each dinner with the family and they were dressed for dinner each night. Even casual nights. My grandma was with us and she still thinks the dressing for dinner is important.

That's some back ground....

My question is; are we the only ones out there that hang out with our kids for the whole trip? The only ones that don't utilize the childcare stuff? A couple of my friends think I'm nuts; but surely we can't be the only ones out there that relax with their kids. Anybody?

Before my kids were old enough for the kids program, we spent 24/7 with each other on cruises and had a spectacular time. Now that they're old enough for the kids program, we also enjoy having a break from each other through the week. My kids enjoy some play time with their peers in addition to time with me. That's one reason we love cruising - we get the best of both. Our next trip is land-based, so we'll be together the whole time - we enjoy it all.

Best,

Mia

We are headed to a Royal Caribbean cruise this summer. I will be traveling with my husband and four children along with eight other family members. This is our second cruise with kids (8, 5, 4, and 9 mo.) and the extended family.

I am not interested in the kids programs and such. We enjoy the time to play and spend time with our kids without "real life" distraction. And since we are traveling with other family, we usually have some time to spend just me and my husband.

My kids are well behaved and we keep a close eye on them. I feel like some people think kids and cruise don't mix. When we went three years ago, we had a great time. My kids went to each dinner with the family and they were dressed for dinner each night. Even casual nights. My grandma was with us and she still thinks the dressing for dinner is important.

That's some back ground....

 

My question is; are we the only ones out there that hang out with our kids for the whole trip? The only ones that don't utilize the childcare stuff? A couple of my friends think I'm nuts; but surely we can't be the only ones out there that relax with their kids. Anybody?

10 cruises in the last 13 years with our kids. We started in 2001 when they were 4 and 7. I can count on one hand the number of times they went to the kids clubs on those cruises. The majority of our meals were together, including breakfast and lunch. There were a few times we would seperate and do our own thing, but the majority of the time was spent together. We went to the shows, trivia, bingo, towel folding, etc. together. When there was nothing going on we wanted to do we would either find a place on the lido or promenade to play cards. We always brought a few different types of card games with us. Monopoly Deal and UNO are favorites. There were times where DH would take a break in the room and the kids and I would find a place on the Lido to lay out and read or listen to music. There were times when DH and I did the Casino thing and the kids went to play mini-golf or ping pong. Most of the time together but we didn't hesitate to do our own things either. These were all family vacations that we had come to enjoy spending that time together....

Nope...you're not the only family! However, as the kids get older, they enjoy "stretching their wings" so to speak and doing things apart from their parents....it's good for them to have some independence without the danger of being on their own!

So, do what is right for your family and your kids!

My kid has gone to kids club on our last 2 cruises and now that the youngest will be 3 on our next cruise in a few months they both will go. However we do every meal together, we go swimming, we are in every port together. But I'm a SAHM and DH & I never get any time alone so a couple hours a day is lovely to us. Not to mention they love playing with kids their age. Do whatever works for your family!

This is our 1st cruise with kids, they'll will have just turned 2 and 4. I don't expect my 2 year old to be interested in going. I've seen the schedule of activities and I really think my 4 year old will love it. I'd love to be able to do the activities with her, and we'll definitely be there for any family events they have, put I plan to make some time for her to get there on sea days, not because I don't want to spend time with her, but because I think she'll have so much fun there. If she doesn't want to no big deal.

I think you can have the best of both worlds. Frankly, I think your kids might be really missing out by not being in the youth program. They have great age appropriate activities- sporting events, talent shows where parents come at the end to see the show, parent/ child scavenger hunts and kids disco parties- where parents are invited to participate with the kids, there is pirate night, face painting, karaoke parties for older kids. The list goes on.

I wouldn't dream of sailing without my son because he loves cruises! When he was little- I couldn't drag him out of the youth program.

I think you could have the best of both worlds. Frankly- I am super annoyed when people bring kids to adult games like trivia. It's only happened once or twice but the kids are totally bored- jumping on chairs and basically shouldn't be there. It's times like this that the youth program comes in handy.

I think you can have the best of both worlds. Frankly, I think your kids might be really missing out by not being in the youth program. They have great age appropriate activities- sporting events, talent shows where parents come at the end to see the show, parent/ child scavenger hunts and kids disco parties- where parents are invited to participate with the kids, there is pirate night, face painting, karaoke parties for older kids. The list goes on.

 

I wouldn't dream of sailing without my son because he loves cruises! When he was little- I couldn't drag him out of the youth program.

 

I think you could have the best of both worlds. Frankly- I am super annoyed when people bring kids to adult games like trivia. It's only happened once or twice but the kids are totally bored- jumping on chairs and basically shouldn't be there. It's times like this that the youth program comes in handy.

I wasn't aware that the games like trivia were supposed to be adult games. My kids came with me to those things more than once when they were younger. We even won a ship on a stick at one. I don't believe I ever saw them bored or jumping on chairs. It's great that your son loves the kids clubs...but not all kids do. My kids actually preferred doing things with us...the kids clubs bored them. And yet cruises were one of their favorite types of vacations, to the point that we did 10 cruises with them from the time they were 4 and 7 until our last cruise with them last year when they were 16 and 19. My kids tried the kids clubs a handful of times over those years...they never liked them and they never missed out by not going to them.

Families are all different. Unlike the SAHM, who likes having the clubs there to give her and her kids a break from each other, both DH and I work full time and have since before our kids were born and after. I was lucky to have an Aunt who watched my kids in a loving home environment while we worked. As my kids grew up they became involved in activities like basketball, soccer, and dance...taking up many of our evenings and weekends with practices, games and competitions. Cruises were always a great way for us all to reconnect together and enjoy each others company in a relaxed atmosphere. DH and I would also take shorter adult only vacations to reconnect with each other. I can totally get why others enjoy have the option for the kids club...its right for them and right for their kids. For us we could do without them and did.

Thank you to everyone who responded. I realize that each family is different. We are blessed to be traveling with four generations of family. My children will be kept busy with grandparents and aunts and uncles when they are not with me and my husband. I was just curious how things work for others. Last time my kids played more putt putt and swam more times than I could count. And of course, we chose family friendly excursions also.

We were hyper sensitive to how others would tolerate our children. Overall, things were smooth. I am hopeful that this time will be just as good.

Thanks all.

You should just do whatever you think is best for your family. If I were you, I would look at the schedule of kids clubs activities just in case there is a brief activity scheduled that one of your kids might really love to do. Club Hal had a cooking class, and my 3 year old really loves to cook. I think it was only a half hour or an hour program, and it was listed in advance on their schedule. We sent him to that program because we knew he would love it. I think the Princess cruises to Alaska may have some activities that were specifically geared to learning about native Alaskan wildlife (I took their Panama Canal cruise and they mentioned it, but I don't know the exact details).

You should consider the kids club if there is an activity that you think your children would love, but if your children are happier with you, you should absolutely keep them with you for the entire cruise. You are successfully raising four children, so you should feel free to ignore anyone who would question your choices.

Thank you to everyone who responded. I realize that each family is different. We are blessed to be traveling with four generations of family. My children will be kept busy with grandparents and aunts and uncles when they are not with me and my husband. I was just curious how things work for others. Last time my kids played more putt putt and swam more times than I could count. And of course, we chose family friendly excursions also.

We were hyper sensitive to how others would tolerate our children. Overall, things were smooth. I am hopeful that this time will be just as good.

Thanks all.

Sounds awesome OP! Sounds perfect for your family :) If we had any family cruising with us we would love to utilize their help too :) Enjoy you family time mama!

Definitely show them the schedule of activities and take them to the orientation meeting. Who knows, one or more of your kids may click with some of the other kids. Doesn't mean they have to spend time at the kids' program, but they'll see the other kids around the ship, so it might be fun for them to swim with them or maybe do one of the activities together. Who knows, maybe they'd wanted to check out the program on their previous cruise but didn't know how to ask.

My daughter was old enough to be in Camp Carnival on her second cruise, and she couldn't wait to get to the room every morning -- she would wake up and ask if "ship school" was open. We would have meals together and sometimes even join in on the family activities that the Camp Carnival had such as cookie decorating or family karaoke (even though with that one, my hubby insisted that we sing "Sea Cruise," which my daughter didn't know and at her age, couldn't read the monitor:rolleyes:).

By the time she hit 13, I thought she would be pumped for being in the teen group. But I forgot that at that age, anything invented by adults is "lame." She met some girls her age and they hanged out, watching movies on the MUTS screen, swimming, etc. She went into each port with us (I involved her in the planning of what to do in port after she complained that her dad will get to decide what we would do), and would tell us what she did or where she ate (she likes to go to the shows).

Two years later we went on the same ship/itinerary, and one of her friends from the previous cruise (they kept in touch via Facebook) was going too, so they made plans to meet up. They joined with another girl and three boys, all about the same age. They made their own fun (she told me they organized a ping pong tourney, they checked out the art gallery, etc.). She ate more with us and went to a couple of the shows with us.

I figure she works hard at school (I think they do quite a bit more than we did years ago), so this is her vacation too.

And we get alone time. So a win win situation.

One thing I've learned from her is not to assume that just because I want to do something, she does too. Sometimes she'll want to see the same movie or go shopping together, but many times she wants to do these things with her friends.

I wasn't aware that the games like trivia were supposed to be adult games. My kids came with me to those things more than once when they were younger. We even won a ship on a stick at one. I don't believe I ever saw them bored or jumping on chairs. It's great that your son loves the kids clubs...but not all kids do. My kids actually preferred doing things with us...the kids clubs bored them. And yet cruises were one of their favorite types of vacations, to the point that we did 10 cruises with them from the time they were 4 and 7 until our last cruise with them last year when they were 16 and 19. My kids tried the kids clubs a handful of times over those years...they never liked them and they never missed out by not going to them.

 

Families are all different. Unlike the SAHM, who likes having the clubs there to give her and her kids a break from each other, both DH and I work full time and have since before our kids were born and after. I was lucky to have an Aunt who watched my kids in a loving home environment while we worked. As my kids grew up they became involved in activities like basketball, soccer, and dance...taking up many of our evenings and weekends with practices, games and competitions. Cruises were always a great way for us all to reconnect together and enjoy each others company in a relaxed atmosphere. DH and I would also take shorter adult only vacations to reconnect with each other. I can totally get why others enjoy have the option for the kids club...its right for them and right for their kids. For us we could do without them and did.

I should clarify that I have only had it happen a couple of times on a recent California Coastal cruise. It was an extended family and the kids were ages 6 months- three years old and it was just not something young kids can participate in. I love kids and if they are well behaved- I don't mind them at all at adult activities. I take trivia very seriously:) This was just an example. I was on a recent cruise and the couple on my trivia team had THE cutest baby and of course the parents didn't really have any other option since there was no babysitting offered for that age. He was the coolest kid I've ever seen. He was just over a year old and was content and a joy to be around. The point is- don't drag your kids to boring things like trivia, which a three year old will have zero interest in- when there are fun things for kids to do on board. I love hanging out with my kids but I'm sure sometimes they'd rather be doing things geared for their own age.

 

My question is; are we the only ones out there that hang out with our kids for the whole trip? The only ones that don't utilize the childcare stuff? A couple of my friends think I'm nuts; but surely we can't be the only ones out there that relax with their kids. Anybody?

We vacation with our kids because we enjoy spending time with them!! So you are not alone. On our Alaska cruise we gave the kids the option of the kids club and they went a couple of times and had a lot of fun, but we found ourselves wishing that the ship would sponsor family activities to enjoy together, not just kids only activities. On that cruise we did wonder if we were the only ones who actually enjoyed being with our kids. :)

For our upcoming cruise my kids have already looked into the kids club and are excited about trying it here and there but for the most part we will be going to the shows and finding things we can do together.

Enjoy...The memories you're making are priceless :)

My kids want to go to kids club... It's their vacation too... I love spending time with them and we do have lots of adventures but they need time with their generation just as I need time with mine.

My kids want to go to kids club... It's their vacation too... I love spending time with them and we do have lots of adventures but they need time with their generation just as I need time with mine.

For some kids the kids club does not a vacation make. Just ask my DD now 17 who cried so much on our first cruise on Disney that they paged me to come back and get her. She was 4 at the time and had a friend from home whose family was sailing with us in the same club with her. Although she tried the clubs a few more times over the years, she just did not like them. Since I was also of the opinion that it was their vacation too, I didn't force her (or her brother) to go to them since they were very adament that they didn't want to go. To my kids a vacation was doing things with us. We had no problem with that...she got plenty of time with her generation at home. This was our time to hang out as a family. Each family is different...isn't it great that a cruise can accomodate all different kinds.

Everyone needs to make choices based on their own children. I always had sisters to pal around with so never wanted to go to the youth program. My older son showed no interest in the youth program but my youngest loved it.

No vacation is one size fits all. If there are other kids in the family and cousins, etc. then the youth program may or may not be a big draw.

I just think you can let them try it but if they don't like it- no biggy.

I also don't like that people are acting like you aren't hanging out with family if your kids use the youth program. For goodness sake- you live together, travel to the ship together, sleep in the same little cabin together, have meals together- swim together, go on excursions together. That's plenty of togetherness. If kids go for an hour or two here and there- you really think that means it's no longer a family trip?

I wasn't trying to start any sort of firestorm. I'm sorry if I did.

I just know when I look up kids and cruising, everything that pops up is about kids clubs. I was just curious if there were others out there that did not utilize those programs. Whatever the reason may be. I recognize each family is different.

Now comes the research into excursions that are kid friendly. I'll try not to stir up trouble if I ask any questions. Lol

I think your question was fine! I have a 5 and 3 year old that have been on several cruises. We really never did the kids club either until our cruise last year, when they were both old enough so we let them check it out on the sea day. This next cruise coming up my 5 year old keeps talking about it! So I think we are going to let them choose some activities on sea days and maybe one of the late night parties.

They always eat with us in the dining room, get off the ship with us, we do the pool and water park area, mini golf, etc. but I did find on the last cruise it was nice to have some time to myself to lay on the lounger on the deck while they were having fun and meeting other kids on the ship in the kids club! We found a nice balance and hope to on our upcoming cruise too.

Just wanted to share my experience!

What ports are you stopping at?

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Although we spend a good deal of time with the kids, we do allow them to decide if they want to participate in the kids' clubs when we go on vacation. However, we make it a point to not leave them in the clubs for long periods of time (even though, sometimes, I think they may prefer that over spending time with us. LOL!) We also eat almost every meal with them - sometimes we'll have a "date night" and let the kids eat at the club, but that's usually only once during the whole trip. And we never leave them on the ship when we are at a port - I'm way too paranoid to do that, and besides, I would hate for them to miss out on the opportunity to explore a new place.

We bring the kids with us because we want to spend time with them! ;) (I'm sure this is true for the majority of people who bring their kids on vacation with them.) But I also don't see anything wrong with letting them go to the kids club for a couple of hours each day if it's something they enjoy doing. And if that means a couple of hours for my hubby and I to have a nice quiet drink by the pool, well, hey, bonus!!

Please post about excursions - we would be happy to help if possible. I hope you and your family have a wonderful trip, and you should structure your trip however you think is best

Thank you to everyone who responded. I realize that each family is different. We are blessed to be traveling with four generations of family. My children will be kept busy with grandparents and aunts and uncles when they are not with me and my husband. I was just curious how things work for others. Last time my kids played more putt putt and swam more times than I could count. And of course, we chose family friendly excursions also.

We were hyper sensitive to how others would tolerate our children. Overall, things were smooth. I am hopeful that this time will be just as good.

Thanks all.

We have just one kid, so family time is a bit easier for us. When she was younger she would spend some time in the kids club -- not as "daycare" but as an opportunity to interact with other kids her age. As much fun and her dad and I might be, sometimes she just wanted to be with other kids. Now that she is a teen, she will meet other kids her age and they will sometimes just "hang" with them -- it doesn't really take away from our family time.

We never really had any issues with our DD being "tolerated" by other pax. As long as you and your kids are behaving -- not being loud or otherwise disruptive, you should find very little issue with other pax. Most of the negative comments toward families on these boards are in response to obnoxious behavior by kids that is tolerated (or encouragned) by the kids' families.