Need Info for port Of Miami

[Coolhand]

Ok team,

We have booked a cruise for my parents Dad 80 and Mom 79. We will be staying at embassy suitet airport the night before the cruise. I plan on carrying parents to the ship and ensurig they get on board prior to embarcation. Am I nuts for letting then go by themselves to enjoy each other and the experience as my sisters think i am nuts for doing this for them while my wife and I go to the keys for the week. Is Cozamel. Grand Cayman and ocho Rios Ok for them or should we cancel our get away and chapharogne (sp) them while my sisters take off to Eurore and Scandanavia during this same time, or am I just suffering good ole cathiolic guilt!!!!:eek::):confused: I have purcahsed the isnsurance to pace safe.

 

Any insight from people experincecing the sandwhich generation would be appreciated.

[firefly333]

We had a 93 year old man on one cruise and three of his sisters, to celebrate his birthday.

 

There is another man who is almost 100 who lives in a nursing home that used to cruise once a month in his wheelchair, even after his wife died.

 

Your parents are young .. heck my dad at 89 was still driving and playing golf, until he broke his hip.

[gone_cruisin]

The question is.....how do they feel about cruising alone? Do they feel they get confused easily or maybe they feel they need someone younger and stronger to escort them around?

 

If they say they are fine....then they probably are fine.

 

I would not worry about my parents unless there really is a reason to worry about them.

 

Enjoy. :)

[Coolhand]

Firefly and Gone Crusin,

Mom and Dad are Carnival Past cruisers and he says they want to cruise, so I say go for it. Sisters think they can't do it, Dad says BS! He survived Chosin in Korea and a Citadel Grad. I trust Dad to this day, so I am OK with it if he is. Thank you for your input as we usually take them with us, but feel we need some time to ourselves, finally!!!:eek::eek:

[firefly333]

You probably know their mental state better than us and if this might be a problem.

[Coolhand]

Firefly,

Their Mental state is very acute, sisters are worried about tendering but Dad was an athlete all his life and held the Fort Bragg Obstacle course record until the mid 80's. Both parents are mentally sharp and reasonably active for their age. They think siblings are hovering, I want them to enjoy the time they have remaining with each other! So unless someone thinks these ports are unsafe we will carry them to the ship. Let us know what you guys think about Cozamel, Grand Caymen and Ocho Rios ( Dad remebers walking in years past to a market where artisans sold their wood carvings, is this still there?) Otherwise it's rotate and elevate!!!

Coolahnd

[Oviedo32765]

Firefly,

<snip>sisters are worried about tendering<snip>

 

<snip>They think siblings are hovering<snip>

 

<snip>Let us know what you guys think about Cozamel, Grand Caymen and Ocho Rios<snip>

Coolahnd

 

I wouldn't worry about tendering. I've seen wheel chairs moved from the ship to the tender and back. The cruise industry seems to take passenger safety as a very high priority. There always seems to be plenty of strong guys on hand to assist.

 

I think the siblings are hovering too, but I'm a guy with a guy's mentality and I feel if Mom & Dad are up for it, let them cruise.

 

I have always felt safe in Cozumel and Grand Caymen. I'd have no reservations letting my Mom & Dad wonder around those ports. My only concern with Ocho Rios is the aggressive nature of the street venders. I even cringe a little when I leave the ship there. But aggressive venders aside, I've not heard of any safety problems. I'd tell them if they want off the ship in Ocho Rios to take a ship excursion.

[Twickenham]

I'm a girl who is by nature cautious, and I think sis needs to take a chill pill.

They will be surrounded by a ship full of staff ready and willing to help them. And tendering is just not that big a deal.

If sis still kicks up a fuss, just tell her the cruise lines do all in their power not to lose or harm a passenger, 'cause it's bad for business ;).

[Nanatravel]

From the info you have supplied, it sounds like your folks should take this cruise. Normally, I recommend private tours, but in their case, Help them pre-book ship tours; they will be escorted and looked out for along the way.

 

Cozumel: Playa del Carmen might be nice for them to see the Mayan Ruins. Our tour included a light lunch on the bus. At the port, there are usually lots of shops and kiosks where local goods are sold. If they are beach lovers, than a pre-paid tour to a beach club including lunch and drinks might be just what they want.

 

Grand Cayman - tender port: if the seas are too rough the ship will either skip this port or tender from the other side of the island. Your folks will be given a hand if required getting down the gangway to the Tender boat. A tour of the island including the Turtle Farm and a stop at Hell, or a swim with the Sting Rays, or just a Beach Club relaxing day would be nice. Of course they can roam around downtown on their own or take a taxi to Seven Mile Beach.

 

Ochio Rios: Vendors are often close by just outside the port terminal building with local crafts, coffee, rum, etc. A tour to Fern Gully and the countryside would probably relaxing and less strenuous than a climb up Dunn's River Falls( there are stairs along the side, so they would not have to go into the cold water, vendors here are pretty aggressive). Many ship tours stop for lunch at the Ruins and it is lovely stop and good food.

 

Good Luck with Sis. Sounds like the folks need to over rule her!

[Oviedo32765]

Firefly and Gone Crusin,

Mom and Dad are Carnival Past cruisers and he says they want to cruise, so I say go for it. Sisters think they can't do it, Dad says BS! He survived Chosin in Korea and a Citadel Grad. I trust Dad to this day, so I am OK with it if he is. Thank you for your input as we usually take them with us, but feel we need some time to ourselves, finally!!!:eek::eek:

 

Let us know how much your Mom & Dad enjoyed their cruise when they return.

 

Thank your Dad for being one of the Chosin Few. Hoorah from the Air Force to the Army!

[VideoTech]

Ok team,

We have booked a cruise for my parents Dad 80 and Mom 79. We will be staying at embassy suitet airport the night before the cruise. I plan on carrying parents to the ship and ensurig they get on board prior to embarcation. Am I nuts for letting then go by themselves to enjoy each other and the experience as my sisters think i am nuts for doing this for them while my wife and I go to the keys for the week. Is Cozamel. Grand Cayman and ocho Rios Ok for them or should we cancel our get away and chapharogne (sp) them while my sisters take off to Eurore and Scandanavia during this same time, or am I just suffering good ole cathiolic guilt!!!!:eek::):confused: I have purcahsed the isnsurance to pace safe.

 

Any insight from people experincecing the sandwhich generation would be appreciated.

 

I think your Mom & Dad will have a great time, and enjoy being on their own to do what they want, when they want. It sounds like they are quite capable of handling the cruise, the tenders, and so on. The ship's staff will take good care of them if they need assistance.

 

I'm with you: your sisters need to chill out. They seem to forget that your Mom and Dad raised them all, and obviously managed their own lives very well. Age is a state of mind, and as long as there are no serious health issues, they will be fine.

 

Btw, my Dad is 82, lives on his own, is in mostly excellent health, has traveled the world all his life, and would hate being hovered over and coddled the way your sisters are thinking for your Mom & Dad.