Single Parents Traveling with Kids

[garnet115]

I posted this on the solo cruisers thread as well, but thought I might get some useful advice, so re-posting here...

 

I will be crusing with my 10 yo dd on the Breakaway in Feb. My first time cruising alone with her. Any tips from those who have been there/done that?

 

Also, are there tips for socializing with others? I kind of feel like dd will be set with all the kids club activities, and the evenings will come and I will be sitting alone. Are there ever on-board activities organized for other single parents?

[cb at sea]

I would request seating with others, if possible.....not sure how that works when you have "Anytime" everything!

 

There are plenty of activites....so sign up for some and be friendly! There will be others (who even tho they may be sailing with someone) are alone for that particular event.....so talk to them!

 

At the pool....talk to your neighbors! I find that I end up around the same folks on the pool deck almost every day!

 

I know you can't guarantee that others will be receptive, but you will have to be open to starting the process.

[1025cruise]

The only other piece of advice would be to make sure you have a notarized letter from the other parent giving you permission to take DD out of the country.

[Onessa]

The trivia contests tend to be a good meet-and-mingle opportunity -- while not aimed toward other solo pax, most allow teams of 5-6 and it is a time I find it pretty easy to be included in another group.

[Kerry's Girls]

Cruising is very condusive to meeting others. If you sit in the dining room at breakfast and lunch, you will be seated with others. At night, you'll find sitting at a bar or the piano bar is very social, and as others have mentioned, join in activities - there are always teams looking to add a player, etc.

 

Best,

Mia

[djmess]

I posted this on the solo cruisers thread as well, but thought I might get some useful advice, so re-posting here...

 

I will be crusing with my 10 yo dd on the Breakaway in Feb. My first time cruising alone with her. Any tips from those who have been there/done that?

 

Also, are there tips for socializing with others? I kind of feel like dd will be set with all the kids club activities, and the evenings will come and I will be sitting alone. Are there ever on-board activities organized for other single parents?

 

I'm a single mother and I cruise all the time with my now 10 y/o son. It is an awesome vacation as we get to have family time and alone time. He loves the kids club.

 

Norwegian has begun doing Solo mixers on their cruises. The great thing with the Breakaway is that it is similar to the Epic in there are solo cabins and the studio lounge. Check out the Daily for the Solo mixer. Usually between 5-6:30pm each night in the studio lounge. You DO NOT have to be staying in the studios to attend the solo mixer.

 

generally there is a solo host that will help organize dinners. It's pretty helpful to go to the mixer that first night. Now Norwegian has changed hours for the kids club (I've ranted about this a bit as I feel it takes away from the freestyle concept, but...), This can be a bit inconvenient for the single parent as in my recent experience, the kids club is generally not yet open in the evening at the time of the solo mixer.

 

My son is a very experienced cruiser and he likes to have some alone time, so this is generally when I have him shower and then play on the hand held game device he brings on the cruise. I put the do not disturb on the cabin and go for the hour. Again, my son is very independent and also a very experienced cruiser.

 

If you have any other questions, please feel free to ask

[garnet115]

Thanks, everyone, for the tips and advice. I tend to be somewhat introverted, so I'll just have to force myself outside my comfort zone to meet people and have fun.

 

Debbie - thanks especially for your perspective. Not sure I will get to the solo mixer if the kids club isn't open yet, but I will see how dd is feeling. She cruised once before and loved the kids club, so I know she will be happy there, but leaving her alone in the cabin - especially the first evening- might not work. In any event, i will definitely keep an eye out for any "solo" activities.

 

1025cruise - thanks for the advice on documentation. My TA said to bring dd's birth certificate along with her passport so that I can prove I am her mother (we have different last names), but thought that the affidavit was only for nonparents/guardians traveling with kids. I will double check with her. I am not sure the ex will go along with the notarized letter, but I have sole custody, so I can bring the court docs if I absolutely have to (although who would want to carry those around?).

[djmess]

Thanks, everyone, for the tips and advice. I tend to be somewhat introverted, so I'll just have to force myself outside my comfort zone to meet people and have fun.

 

Debbie - thanks especially for your perspective. Not sure I will get to the solo mixer if the kids club isn't open yet, but I will see how dd is feeling. She cruised once before and loved the kids club, so I know she will be happy there, but leaving her alone in the cabin - especially the first evening- might not work. In any event, i will definitely keep an eye out for any "solo" activities.

 

1025cruise - thanks for the advice on documentation. My TA said to bring dd's birth certificate along with her passport so that I can prove I am her mother (we have different last names), but thought that the affidavit was only for nonparents/guardians traveling with kids. I will double check with her. I am not sure the ex will go along with the notarized letter, but I have sole custody, so I can bring the court docs if I absolutely have to (although who would want to carry those around?).

 

My son has been on 15 cruises with me. We also have different last names. I carry the custody papers and passport. I do have primary physical and permanent legal custody. I've never once been asked for the papers, but will always carry them. The one time I'd forget, I'd probably be asked. I have had the desk agents checking us in and a US customs officer ask my son "who is this lady you are traveling with?" They've always been very nice, I guess just doing their own little inquiry without asking for documentation.

 

I will also say, that I have brought my son to the solo mixers also. He's brought his handheld video game and headphones and sat in a corner with a pepsi and was very content and happy and away from the adults. Don't let others on this board or anywhere else intimidate you about bringing your child with you to various activities. Sometimes the board is not very child friendly. I just think to myself, hey I paid FULL 2nd passenger fare for my child. I don't bring him to places where there will be inappropriate behavior or language for his age, like the dance club after 11pm or shows that say 18+, but a solo gathering for one hour at the 5-6pm timeframe is not a problem.

 

I will say, at home I am quite the introvert. On a cruise, I am pretty outgoing. My son says I never stop talking.

 

Happy Happy Cruising!!!

[lovebelle]

I'll be traveling solo with my daughter who just turned 1yr, so I know my options are pretty limited in terms of socializing. But Im still really looking forward to our trip :) I joined my roll call for my cruise and we are doing an open bar meet and greet so hopefully that will provide opportunities to meet some people and interact. Also I know Carnival offers 'night owls' babysitting at night in the event I want to go to the casino or dance club. Otherwise I just plan on hoing with yhe flow :)

[Onessa]

. . . . My TA said to bring dd's birth certificate along with her passport so that I can prove I am her mother (we have different last names), but thought that the affidavit was only for nonparents/guardians traveling with kids. I will double check with her. I am not sure the ex will go along with the notarized letter, but I have sole custody, so I can bring the court docs if I absolutely have to (although who would want to carry those around?).

As others will point out it may be very rare, but sometimes a solo with kid will be challenged.

 

I got it once in Canada when they were training new border officials - they had an entire class there -- we were at the terminal very early and they asked me (and then my 8YO DD) if they could use us as a test case -- they were very nice about it (and DD got some a pin, a patch and some cool stickers). But I did have to pull out all my documentation!

 

If anyone is planning to fly to a foreign port as a solo parent, the airlines can be a bit more strict about documentation.

 

Otherwise, from what I understand it is a random check. If there is a national or regional security concern you'll find the number of the random checks goes up.

 

. . . I have had the desk agents checking us in and a US customs officer ask my son "who is this lady you are traveling with?" They've always been very nice, I guess just doing their own little inquiry without asking for documentation.

Even when traveling with my DH (my DD's dad) she has been asked who we are. (and she has always admitted that we were her parents :D -- as she aged there were a few times when that was a bit touch-and-go! ;))

 

I will also say, that I have brought my son to the solo mixers also. He's brought his handheld video game and headphones and sat in a corner with a pepsi and was very content and happy and away from the adults. Don't let others on this board or anywhere else intimidate you about bringing your child with you to various activities.

I agree, it your kid can sit for a bit off and entertain himself, something like a "solo mixer" or some of the other activities even those that are not specifically billed as "family" may be perfectly acceptable -- while my DD at age 8 may not have been interested in "napkin folding" or whatever, there were times she came with because Adventure Ocean was not open at that time. She never had a problem sitting and reading a book, watching a DVD (with headphones), etc. If she ever had become bored and started to disturb the other participants in any way, we both would have been gone immediately. Very often she would join in (and hey, she still folds a mean napkin :D).

 

The mere presence of a child may be an issue for a small number of people -- but the mere presence of someone heavily perfumed may be an issue for others -- and, well fill in things that might bother you here. Pity the intolerant, they shall never be happy! :))

[harleymouse]

Dont go with out your paper work saying you have custody. I have joint and have the ex wife give me the corect forums so i have no problems. Sit with other when you eat. I never have a problem talking to people. I travel with three Kids DD16 DS12 DD 10 and we have a great time tigether and apart on the trip. Go have fun. Dont miss try to get to one sunrise great photos> Me and my kids go to every sunrise on the trip.

[tkportersat]

I did many cruises with my kids while single and always had a great time.

 

As far as documentation goes, I would take it. My 1st husband (older kids father) passed away and I would always take his death certificate. They never asked for it but it always made me feel better if they ever tried to question me about traveling with my children alone.

 

Join your ships roll call. I met great folks over the years, including a fellow widower traveling with her children. We did excursions together.

 

Go to the dance club and hang out. I can't tell you how many times people would befriend me when they saw me by myself.

 

Others suggestions about going to eat in the dining room are great. I was at a table one year with a group of women from a church group and we would go to the dance club quite a bit.

 

Research your ports and have a plan, especially in places like Jamaica. I always came prepared so that I didn't look confused, vunerable, etc. I knew where we were going and what to expect.

 

Get a deck chair...sometimes when I would get a chair, the person next to me man or woman would just strike up a conversation.

 

Traveling solo can be a lot of fun. I am usually shy when I first meet people but going by myself made me more willing to step out of my comfort zone and try new things. Good luck!

[Kerry's Girls]

1025cruise - thanks for the advice on documentation. My TA said to bring dd's birth certificate along with her passport so that I can prove I am her mother (we have different last names), but thought that the affidavit was only for nonparents/guardians traveling with kids. I will double check with her. I am not sure the ex will go along with the notarized letter, but I have sole custody, so I can bring the court docs if I absolutely have to (although who would want to carry those around?).

 

I'm not clear if it was your TA or you who thought the affidavit is only for non-parents. In any case, just as you would not want your ex to be able to leave the country with your child based solely on being a parent, you do need to bring your custody paperwork to show you have the right. You will probably not be asked for it, but many, many of us have - though not every time.

 

I am also very shy by nature, but cruising makes being social very easy for me. Have a great time!

 

Best,

Mia

[garnet115]

I'm not clear if it was your TA or you who thought the affidavit is only for non-parents. In any case' date=' just as you would not want your ex to be able to leave the country with your child based solely on being a parent, you do need to bring your custody paperwork to show you have the right. You will probably not be asked for it, but many, many of us have - though not every time.

 

I am also very shy by nature, but cruising makes being social very easy for me. Have a great time!

 

Best,

Mia[/quote']

 

 

It was my TA who thought that, but I will definitely bring all the paperwork.

 

So glad to hear fellow introverts saying that cruising brings out the extrovert in them! :D It makes me hopeful!

[sherryf]

I travel with three Kids DD16 DS12 DD 10 and we have a great time tigether and apart on the trip. Go have fun. Dont miss try to get to one sunrise great photos> Me and my kids go to every sunrise on the trip.

 

You have teenagers who are awake for sunrise?! :eek:

 

The only time my teens are awake for sunrise on vacation is if they stay up ALL night. ;)

[harleymouse]

Dd 16, Ds 12, DD 10 all up for sunrise. :)

You have teenagers who are awake for sunrise?! :eek:

 

The only time my teens are awake for sunrise on vacation is if they stay up ALL night. ;)

[Mack2]

Dd 16, Ds 12, DD 10 all up for sunrise. :)

You have teenagers who are awake for sunrise?! :eek:

 

The only time my teens are awake for sunrise on vacation is if they stay up ALL night. ;)

 

There's so much to do on a cruise, there's no time to sleep... Disembarkation to that island is at 9:00, and you have that excursion at 9:30!!

[sherryf]

There's so much to do on a cruise, there's no time to sleep... Disembarkation to that island is at 9:00, and you have that excursion at 9:30!!

 

Ah, schedules are different in Alaska. Sunrise is at like 5 AM in August. Some ports you don't get into until noon, others you get to at 7 AM and leave by noon. They stayed up late and slept late, except that 7 AM port day, but they still weren't up early enough for the sunrise!