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December 2011 Moms
belle785
member
Vacationing without LO?
belle785
member
We have a cruise booked for next summer on the Oasis of the Seas. Right now, LO is booked right along with us. We are going to Nassau, St. Thomas, & St. Marteen. I have a while to decide this but I wanted to get some of your thoughts on this. When we first booked this trip, we had no intentions of leaving LO with my mom because I thought that there was no way I could do it. So I booked a ship that is baby and child-friendly but it has a TON to do for adults as well. By bringing LO with us, we would probably miss out on some of this. We are bringing a set of grandparents with us, but this is their vacation too and I can't imagine that they would want to babysit too much on such a large and exciting ship. Anyways, my mom has offered to watch LO for the week. I know she would truly enjoy the time with him. On the plus side, DH and I will be celebrating our 5th anniversary during that time and would get some alone time. But on the other hand, I would feel soo guilty and sad leaving him for a week. Is anyone planning a trip without your LO for a week or so or has anyone done it before? Thoughts on this? I have a while to decide (until march) and probably won't make a final decision until then but I would like to see both views.
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Re: Vacationing without LO?
we're going on jewel of the seas on 1/5 and leaving DS with my mom. no qualms about it. we'll be gone for 6 days.
honestly, there's no way i'd take an infant/young toddler on a cruise. even if you use the ship's childcare, RCCL charges per hour for under the age of 2. me personally, i would want some "us" time without LO, and i am already paying enough for the cruise+gratuities+fuel surcharges (if any)+excursions (if any)+parking... you get the idea.
Your DS will be a year and a half old by then. Things will be different then. Right now, I can't imagine the thought of leaving my LO overnight, but a lot will change in a year. At this point, I'd say keep an open mind and plan to make a decision closer to March. Maybe you could even have him spend one night with your mom just to see how he does.
In thinking about it, a 1.5 year old will be running all over the place...I'd probably be a nervous wreck trying to keep up with him on a cruise ship.
As parents we wouldn't do it.
As a nanny I cared for my charges for many overnights. Once, a little one for a week and later her brother and her (they were 3 and 18 months) when their parents went heli skiing for 10 days. The kids did amazing but I always find that day 4 and 5 are tough on kids when their parents are away.
i guess i should add (since it appears so far i'm in the minority) this will not be the first time that we'll be leaving him for more than 1 night. we're planning a long weekend in october-ish and both DH and I have left DS for multiple nights already (though not at the same time).
This. I have let my DS go with my parents for four days while my DH & I went to a wedding when he was close to 2 & he appeared to have a great time. My DS loves getting to spend a weekend here or there with all his grandparents.
My DH & I are hoping to get a 5 day cruise in next year and leave the kids with grandparents. It's important to have family vacations but we want a couples vacation every now and then also.
There's no way I would take an infant on a cruise either! If you trust your mom, I would leave LO with her. In fact, DH and I are going to Vegas for 6 days next week and leaving DD with my parents. They are so excited. I HATE to leave her for that long but would never take an infant to Vegas. DH has to go for a business trip and they offered to pay for me also so we took the offer! You aren't a bad parent for leaving LO and taking a vacation....
ETA: I have been looking up the Oasis and the eastern caribbean cruise that you are going on! That ship looks AWESOME! I want to book but can't get DH to commit to a certain week. Royal Caribbean is definitely the way to go. You are gonna have so much fun!