Cruising with husband and 2 kids (9 and 11) - is 3 wks on a ship too long when changings ships? Is 4 wks in Europe too long?

[Eli_6]

We are scheduled on a Barcelona to Barcelona cruise on Carnival Legend (going to Rome, Pisa, Malta, Sicily, Pompeii, etc.--basically to Italy locations) May 30 to June 7 2024.  I had a 5k future cruise credit with Carnival that was set to expire in August 2024 so I used it on this cruise.  I also have a companion fly free airfare ticket on British Airways that I have to use by June 2024 and another one that expires in November 2024.  I have enough Avios to get us 4 business class tix with the companion fares (my husband is older than me and says he doesn't want to fly coach on a long haul flight because his back and knees hurts...my kids are 8 and 10 - and will be 9 and 11 by this trip - so probably too young to stick them on their own in coach) but it will deplete me of Avios. (We also are going this year and went last year to Europe from Avios I had saved up during Covid.) 

 

Long story short - I probably won't be going back to Europe in 2025 because I have depleted my avios and I don't want to pay 6k-7k per person for international business class airfare.  Yet, I have really been wanting to see the pyramids. I was supposed to go with a group from the museum in the city where I live (Houston) in 2020, but it was canceled due to Covid. (I studied history and law at University and even studied Narmer and Neithhotep.) Now that my kids are a bit older, I would like to take them me.  I found a Royal Caribbean cruise going to Egypt (2 nights so enough to see the pyramids--and also stopping in Jerusalem where I have also always wanted to go!) on June 17th to June 24th 2024.  This sounds perfect because it will enable me to do all of my "bucket" list items in one trip and also use up my FCC and companion fares...only bad part is that there is ten day break between cruise 1 and 2. What would you do for that ten days?

 

One option is to take the Royal Carribean ship (same ship I will be on June 17-24) that goes from Barcelona to Athens (and goes to several places in Greece and Turkey) that runs June 10th-17th. This would be neat, but I feel like 3 weeks on a cruise ship with only 3 days off would be a lot.  (Although, I suppose it will be a bit more broken up since we would be changing ships.) 

 

The other option would be to get off and stay at an Air BNB for that period of time...or do land travel.  T

 

We did just shy of 3 weeks in Europe last summer and I was VERY ready to get home at the end of it so I worry a little bit about doing 4 weeks. But the 4 weeks is the only way to do the second cruise.  My kids are actually really great at traveling...better than me or my husband.  Will it be too long? 

 

 

[klfrodo]

Oh how I love drama.

 

I'm not sure how anyone is supposed to answer the question. Or, am I misunderstanding the thread and actually you're not looking for an answer but just wanting someone to feel the pain of the situation.

 

In my younger years, my financial situation determined how long and where my vacations would take me. Is it going to be a weekend at grandma's house? Or can we afford to go to the rive and camp for the weekend? As the financial situation improved, the longer and further we could go.

 

Myself? 2 weeks on a cruise is about all I can handle and to be honest, 2 weeks access to a casino is too much for the pocketbook. 2 weeks on a cruise and 2 weeks wondering around new places in Europe is about my max. (Personally and financially). I have friends who live in Cabo 5 months out of the year and Naples 4 months out of the year. I couldn't do it myself.

[Essiesmom]

You might be longing for that ten days in one place after the first cruise, picking a location you would like to explore at leisure.  Or you could hop around the eastern Med on the large cruise ferries that ply regular routes, usually sailing at night.  Or island hop with fast ferries.  Lots of options…. EM

[mrgabriel]

When I was 10 years old we took a six-week trip across North America in our travel trailer. I recall being so bored by the second week that I was almost in PAIN. (Yes, I was a bit dramatic). By the third week, my older sister and I were at each other's throats. My parents were ready to ship us home by week 4. Like truly - put us on a Greyhound across the continent. We were well-behaved, respectful kids who liked going to museums, could converse easily with adults, and were good at entertaining ourselves. 

 

If you're looking for opinions - it's too long. They won't remember it or appreciate it.

 

If you're concerned about being able to fly business and don't want to actually pay for the ticket in the future, gift your husband a business class seat while you and the kids fly in coach. Another option is premium economy. I've flown flat/lie-flat and premium economy across the pond many times and given the choice of one flight in lie-flat or two in premium economy, I'd take premium economy any day. 

Edited April 14, 2023 by mrgabriel

[Eli_6]

53 minutes ago, klfrodo said:

Oh how I love drama.

 

I'm not sure how anyone is supposed to answer the question. Or, am I misunderstanding the thread and actually you're not looking for an answer but just wanting someone to feel the pain of the situation.

 

 

Drama? The pain of the situation?  I am not sure what you mean.

[Eli_6]

3 minutes ago, mrgabriel said:

When I was 10 years old we took a six-week trip across North America in our travel trailer. I recall being so bored by the second week that I was almost in PAIN. (Yes, I was a bit dramatic). By the third week, my older sister and I were at each other's throats. My parents were ready to ship us home by week 4. Like truly - put us on a Greyhound across the continent. We were well-behaved, respectful kids who liked going to museums, could converse easily with adults, and were good at entertaining ourselves. 

 

If you're looking for opinions - it's too long. They won't remember it.

 

If you're concerned about being able to fly business and don't want to actually pay for the ticket in the future, gift your husband a business class seat while you and the kids fly in coach. Another option is premium economy. I've flown flat/lie-flat and premium economy across the pond many times and given the choice of one flight in lie-flat or two in premium economy, I'd take premium economy any day. 

That's actually a good idea re the children and I flying premium economy and let him fly business.

[LHT28]

If you do a port intensive cruise 1st then stay on land for a week or so  then a less intensive cruise   before you head home  your DH may appreciate  the down time  at the end of the trip

 

[mom says]

I just want to  get this straight. You've used the FCC for your existing cruise, and used your existing points for flights. But you want to spend several thousand dollars more on 2 more cruises, or one more cruise and a 10 day land vacation for the 4 of you. Just for 2 days in Egypt to see the pyramids. In late June when the Med is at its hottest and most crowded.. And then there's  the Egyptian heat. Not sure your kids would be thrilled. 

If Egypt is that important, why not save that money and use it to join a tour to Egypt for just yourself later in the fall and let your hubby stay home and take care of the kids.

[Eli_6]

1 minute ago, mom says said:

I just want to  get this straight. You've used the FCC for your existing cruise, and used your existing points for flights. But you want to spend several thousand dollars more on 2 more cruises, or one more cruise and a 10 day land vacation for the 4 of you. Just for 2 days in Egypt to see the pyramids. In late June when the Med is at its hottest and most crowded.. And then there's  the Egyptian heat. Not sure your kids would be thrilled. 

If Egypt is that important, why not save that money and use it to join a tour to Egypt for just yourself later in the fall and let your hubby stay home and take care of the kids.

 

We went to Europe (with the kids) last summer. We went to The Open (hubs thing) and did a UK cruise.

We are going to Europe again this summer.  Everything planned. No Egypt.

We are going to Europe in 2024.  Not planned other than the 8 day cruise.

We are NOT going in 2025.

 

In none of these trips has MOM (me) gotten to do the ONE THINGS she REALLY wants to do and was supposed to do in 2020, but wasn't able to because of Covid.

 

We are fine with the heat. We live closer to the equator than the pyramids. 

[Eli_6]

As an aside, please cut this crap with the snark.  I am an attorney and my husband is a physician.  We aren't broke.  My kids go to private school and we own two homes and an office building.  And own the homes outright without a mortgage.  No, I don't want to spend $7k EACH on business class international tickets when I can plunk down 150k avios and $900.  That doesn't make us poor or broke or poor planners.  So just cut that ISH out. If you don't have something helpful to say, keep scrolling. I didn't ask for your opinion on my financial decisions. I asked for whether it would be too much for young kids or too long on a boat.  If you can help with that, please comment. If you want to rake me over the coals for my financial decisions then keep scrolling and don't comment.  I don't need financial advice.  I am fine in that department. I am asking for cruising advice, not your opinion on whether I should be extending a vacation or not based on my finances. 

Edited April 14, 2023 by Eli_6

[Markanddonna]

Your kids are the major factor here and you said they were good travelers. I went on a two week cruise and traveled extensively with an 11 year old and her two wonderful parents. The girl was the best traveler EVER and knew how to entertain herself very well. I enjoyed her company. Before we met them, her parents proactively assured me she was a great traveler. I'd say if your kids want to, go for it!

[jsn55]

Why not discuss this all with your kids?  

[Markanddonna]

I noted you want to go to Israel. You may find it hard to interest your kids after three days in Jerusalem. Consider taking them on a day trip to the Dead Sea and Masada. Swimming should be a highlight. I hope your kids are interested in history because the Israel Museum is fantastic. You should do some prep on the basics of Israel's history.  We also took a two-day trip to the Golan Heights to see Caesarea Philippi, which was ground zero for evil in ancient times. We stayed in a kibbutz up there, which your kids might enjoy. There are some great companies that do these day trips. My favorite was Guided Tours Israel. I've used them four times. 

[ldubs]

Gosh, I think this is a question only you (the OP) can answer.  I personally would avoid any travel over 3 weeks because I don't like being on the road that long.  Others here like lengthy trips.    

 

If you are asking because you have doubts, then you may already have the answer.   

[martincath]

I'd be ditching the additional cruise and instead flying over to Egypt in your situation. Frankly there's not enough coastal stuff to make any ocean cruise a good option to visit the country. Alexandria is the only practical visit-by-cruise city IMO since it's coastal - we have incredibly fond memories of here, the catacombs, the Greco-Roman stuff, and it lets you check off the site of 2 more Ancient Wonders even if you can't see them;-)

 

Even with 2 nights the pyramids & sphinx and a bit of Cairo sightseeing is all you're likely to get on the cruise - and while the pyramids are obvious and huge, frankly the best stuff is much further up the Nile! Take an overnight train, check out the Valley of the Kings (and Queens, and various other temple and tomb complexes in and around Luxor), maybe a riverboat cruise to Aswan.

 

Jerusalem? You didn't specify that was also an overnight on the cruise, but even if it is that's likewise not enough - even for atheist me it was worth several days.

 

Then since you're already in that neck of the woods, there's Jordan - Petra is a fantastic place to visit, your kids will never forget floating in the Dead Sea, and you can bus to Jerusalem from Amman (which has a lot of Roman stuff right in town, as well as some excellent castles day-trip distance).
 

You could do reasonable justice to all these places in less time than hanging around then taking the second cruise, even if you spend an extra night or two in all the bigger cities to do laundry, chill out a bit, give the kids some down time. Given we've always visited this part of the world to see people we know, attend weddings and the like, so we've been around kids while traveling even though we don't have any of our own, I can also say that the fact you'll have kids with you will play in your favour - e.g. get the kids to do your haggling for you and many merchants will not just be amused and delighted but cut the price significantly!!!

[SPacificbound]

IMHO it is not too long, especially since you are mixing it up along the way. What I would do in that two week period is travel by rail to other areas of Europe you or your children haven't been. You could do that for a week or so and then spend a few days in beautiful Barcelona, or another city on the coast of Spain, prior to the RC cruise.

 

Of course remember I started this comment with IMHO, as in this is what I have done and recommend. 🙂

 

 

[VMax1700]

On 4/14/2023 at 10:03 PM, Eli_6 said:

I probably won't be going back to Europe in 2025 

Yet, I have really been wanting to see the pyramids.

but then the pyramids aren't in Europe. 😉

[Markanddonna]

Neither is Israel but the OP is a smart lady and knows that.

[Eli_6]

20 hours ago, VMax1700 said:

but then the pyramids aren't in Europe. 😉

But I have to fly into Europe to get there or to Israel and that is the point.   I was specifically saying that I won't have enough Avios to fly 4 people back to Europe from Houston so that is why I mentioned Europe. Not because either Israel or or Egypt is in Europe. The flights from Barcelona to Egypt are cheap. The issue is the long haul transatlantic flight.  Currently to fly 4 people business class from Houston to Egypt would cost me about $25,000 during the summer.  Yes, I could pay that if I wanted to...but why would I when I can instead pay 180k avios and $900?

Edited April 16, 2023 by Eli_6