Torn...family vaca or romantic anniversary

[rach1fun]

My DH and I have been on 2 cruises, one in 2004 for our honeymoon, and the other last year just for fun. We are hoping to not wait another 7 years between cruises this time, so we are thinking about going again in about 2 years.

 

My dilemma is this...do we do a fun family vacation with our DSs, currently 4 and 7 years old? Or do we do a romantic 10 year anniversary cruise? My hubby would say to do just us, he thinks i'm crazy for wanting to take our wild children with us on a week-long, expensive vacation. We usually just go camping or day trips to a water park with them... But, I think they are getting old enough to do a longer, bigger vacation. The increased costs are quite daunting, though....

 

For all the parents out there, what would you do?

[Mxlady]

This is kind of a personal thing with what are you comfy with, I think Carnival has a great kids program, I would just take them and let them take part in that and hubby and I would do our thing then we can be together for different excursions. However if you have a trusted caregiver, and you will have a good time knowing they are at home, then go for it. Now the money part, well, I am a little different I have just factored in what the extra person would cost as part of it. But again you need to be ok with the bottom line. Have a great cruise.

[mac_tlc]

It is really a personal choice, but since you asked.....

 

I spent my 25th anniversary sailing the Med with my DW .. and with my DD and DS right by our side ----- wouldn't have had it any other way. Our kids have been with us on all of our 23 cruises and now we have a DGS to take with us.

 

mac_tlc

[9876]

Your kids will be gone before you know it (although I know it seems unlikely right now). Take a longer family vacation and a shorter getaway weekend with your husband. Could you pull off a 4 or 5 night with the kids and a weekend somewhere with your husband? Let your kids know what is expected and go on a cruise or whatever you do. Preferably go aon a trip with with a kids club or an active vacation with something for them to get their energy out. Seeing where you are from you could drive to a port and make that part of the adventure. That's what I would (and did) do. By the way, we are finally taking those romantic vacations but what fun we had and memories we have from when the kids were younger on those trips.

[wrigley80]

FAMILY VACATION....there are so many things to do onboard for kids. You can put them in Camp Carnival or Circle C (depending on their ages)

[nodogkisses]

I vote that you take a vacation with your kids---they'll be grown up before you know it. You'll treasure the memories and they will, too. DH and I took our kids everywhere with us and even brought along a friend or two as they got into their teenage years. They love to vacation with us and they just turned 24 and 22 this summer. Our DD was in a mild state of shock in April when we took a cruise without her. It was the first vacation we ever took alone since our kids were born. Oh, well. We liked it and are going again next month. Take the family cruise. You won't regret it.

[chipq]

Here's another vote for family vacation. In my experiences cruising with my kids, it is like the best of both worlds. Both my kids really enjoy the youth program and attend very frequently, leaving DW and I like we were on a cruise by ourselves. Maybewe are lucky that our kids are very social and enjoy Camp Carnival.

 

http://luv2cruise.blogspot.com

[Tbay-eh]

We have done both and loved them but I would go with hubby on this one - it is a special anniversary and I would go for just the two of you. Ya, the kids won't be around forever but they will be for years and years. You never know what tomorrow can bring and you may not get to celebrate special anniversaries together for a number of reasons - but like others say, it is a personal choice and whatever works for you.:cool:

[SteelerCruiser]

My DH and I have been on 2 cruises, one in 2004 for our honeymoon, and the other last year just for fun. We are hoping to not wait another 7 years between cruises this time, so we are thinking about going again in about 2 years.

 

My dilemma is this...do we do a fun family vacation with our DSs, currently 4 and 7 years old? Or do we do a romantic 10 year anniversary cruise? My hubby would say to do just us, he thinks i'm crazy for wanting to take our wild children with us on a week-long, expensive vacation. We usually just go camping or day trips to a water park with them... But, I think they are getting old enough to do a longer, bigger vacation. The increased costs are quite daunting, though....

 

For all the parents out there, what would you do?

 

Take the little ones with you.......with the Camp Carnival you and your Husband will still be able to enjoy each other and get the big family vacation all in one

[Cruisegirl6]

Life could be too short, one never knows what tomorrow brings or if we have a tomorrow go on the family vacation take the kids....

 

Carnival has a wonderful kids programs and they also have times when the kids can have dinner and such so you two can enjoy your time together. They also have babysitting too I feel.

 

I always taken my children with us on our cruises, never left them alone ever well until this cruise only because both can't take off from their jobs this time but there is always next year.

 

You can get some good 3/4th person rates...honestly take them, because one day when they all grown up you will look back and say "I took my kids everywhere with me and gave them all I could" and you won't have any regrets, you will have a clean concious.

 

You and your husband will have still a nice anniversary and special times together, you can go to the Steakhouse while the kids are occupied with their activities, you can check into babysitting services if you wish so you can stay out late, you can have a couples massage and have your time together. The kids be fine in Camp Carnival they will have a good time.

[Tggrtoes]

I agree... this really is up to you on how your kids handle being in a "camp" situation, what you are comfortable with. Obviously, there are extra expenses with bringing the kids along. I will say for us, we have found cruising to be the best balance of family vacation and alone time. We usually spend mornings together as a family and then after lunch, DS goes to Camp Carnival for a bit. We have some family time before late dinner, DS (5) will eat quickly and then one of us will walk him over to Camp. Mom/Dad finish up dinner and then catch a show, play a bit in the casino, or just hang on our balcony. We've found the serenity is often deserted later in the evening, so it also ends up being a favorite spot. Port days, we try to pick one port where we can do a shorter excursion and have the rest of the day to relax the two of us while DS is in Camp for a short time and then have some extra family time with no crowds at the pool, etc.

[bphman]

Take the kids. They are our greatest joy. Ours are 26, 23 and 20 and they always went with us when they were younger. Now we travel alone and we miss them. This summer, our kids wanted to do a family vacation in Disney which was a wonderful event for all. Such great memories. They are out of the house before you know it.

[Mrs.C05]

Every year my Dad ask what we want for Christmas and each time we say a family trip. For 7.5 years my Dad has done a family vacation with all of his kids (us 4 kids and our spouses, which now include 3 grandchildren) and each one has special memories to them. I will always treasure these trips, as it's something we all look forward to each year.

 

Another vote here for making it a family vacation. The joy and fun you're children will have will be priceless.

[jonathansburden]

I say bring the kids!! We're celebrating our 10 year on the Pride next month and we're bringing ours :)

[tdk1938]

Another vote for family vacation. You can have romantic dinner at specialty restaurant for your anniversary.

[lizziez00]

We have booked the Sunshine Jan 2014 for our 20th anniversary.!!!!..with our 16 and 17 yr old kids....(in their own cabin:eek: )

Take them!! :)

[andiloveu]

I guess I'm in the minority here. I would say for a special anniversary go with just the hubby. It is good to bond with each other without the children. To remember what brought you both together to make those precious children. Sometimes after 10 years of marriage and children you lose the two of you and just focus on the kids. I say go on a 5 day cruise with hubby and then take the kids on another vacay as a family.

 

Two years ago we took our two boys on a cruise and had a blast. This December we are celebrating 20 years of wedded bliss and going on a cruise just the two of us. I homeschool and my husband owns his own business. We are busy people and hardly have time for each other sometimes. It will be nice to be with my groom and not have to cut anyones food or make sure showers are done. I love my boys to death but this vacation will just be mom and dad. Next year we will do the family cruise again.

 

Have fun in whatever you choose. Happy cruising!!

[misstopgun]

I agree it's a personal choice. My parents could never afford cruises for our family with 7 children. We did camp and fish together though and enjoyed it throughly.

 

I never knew what I was missing until I took my first cruise in my mid 30's but I never held it agaist my parents that the biggest thing we did as a children was 6 flags. It was great family fun.

 

Were you go as a family is not as important as if the time spent on vacation and recreation is quality time.

 

Also, I am a firm beleiver that if you don't take care of yourself you will not be there for others.

 

Two things come to mind. First you may find it better to do more vacations in the next couple of years with a less expensive alternatives allowing you more quality time together in the long run. Second, you may need the down time to recharge and rekindle to enable you to be better as a family unit. Only you would know this, so make the choice that is best for both your marraige and your family.

 

Happy cruising with or without the children!

[T. Advisor King]

This sounds like a no-brainer to me. If I'm right in guessing that you've never taken a week-long vacation without your kids in the last 7-8 years, then a 10 year anniversary is the right time to do it.

 

While it is true that kids grow up fast, they will grow up fast whether you take them on this trip or not.

 

The alternative to taking a special anniversary cruise with your husband is to concede that you are NEVER going to be willing to go away without your children. That is, if you won't do it now, there never will be a better chance.

 

And is the alternative that you would put all four of you in one cabin? On your 10th anniversary? Really?

 

My kids are teenagers and there is nothing I like doing more than going on vacation with them. But once in a while (and in my case, I mean way more often than once every 7-8 years), I want to go on vacation with my wife without taking my kids. I love them 52 weeks a year, but that doesn't mean I don't want to spend 51 weeks a year with them and maybe 1 week a year without them.

[westcruzer]

Your kids will be gone before you know it (although I know it seems unlikely right now). Take a longer family vacation and a shorter getaway weekend with your husband. Could you pull off a 4 or 5 night with the kids and a weekend somewhere with your husband? Let your kids know what is expected and go on a cruise or whatever you do. Preferably go aon a trip with with a kids club or an active vacation with something for them to get their energy out. Seeing where you are from you could drive to a port and make that part of the adventure. That's what I would (and did) do. By the way, we are finally taking those romantic vacations but what fun we had and memories we have from when the kids were younger on those trips.

 

I absolutely agree! Kids grow so fast. Mine are 12 and 9 (9 today!) and I want to take them everywhere! However that being said we need husband and wife vacation. So I agree with the above and make both trips work out by cutting a little time from one and give to the other.

[ronandannette]

Romantic anniversary cruise, definitely. Celebrate your marriage; a strong one is the best gift you can give your kids. DH and & will toast to our 17th on the Victory in a week. Over the years we've had ups and downs financially, some years have been easier than others to include DS on nice vacations. We have lots of family time together and the memories make themselves, even just in everyday ways. We never fail though, to set apart something special for our anniversary and we don't feel bad for one moment doing it!

[prattmom]

We went on a cruise last thanksgiving without our kids (17, 11 and 6). That was the first time we had been away that long. Enjoyed it so much we are planning another next year! This year, though, the kids are coming and we are super excited. They love to cruise and it is a wonderful family vacation ( although none of them want to go to camp carnival or circle c anymore...)

[kathy884]

Have a great time whatever you do. Do whatever appeals to you most. Neither is a wrong or right answer.

 

We have one son and have always taken him with us. For our 20th anniversary we had decided to do a trip just the two of us, looked at all kinds of possibilites, and picked Costa Rica, and then lol both of us almost at the same time were thinking about what a perfect trip this would be for DS, our little naturalist, and turned it into a family vacation. We just couldn't go there without him.

 

Now for cruises in particular, the main person who appreciates cruising is DS. We've just done two. DH and I enjoy cruising, but it wouldn't be our first choice. I think we'll have another one in our future, though, because DS loves them so much and it was fun for all of us.

[thomarvin]

I love travelling with my kids. My oldest is now in college and cant commit to joining us next summer when we travel on the Splender. I have booked without him and hope he changes his mind and comes. Could you swing 2 shorter cruises (3-4 days)? One with the kids and one without. This way you could see if the kids enjoy it as much as you do. The kids are old enough that they can stay in Camp Carnival and you could still have some alone time.

[sweetsixteencruisers]

Celebrate with your husband. I believe that couples need to rekindle every once in a while. My husband and I, started going away by ourselves when we were married for 10 years. We decided then, that we would go away every 5 years alone. Its good medicine! The children are our whole lives. Sometimes, I like to be selfish. We will be married 25 years next week and yes we will be on the Valor in January. Alone! Enjoy yourselves, we only have a one way ticket in life.