We are looking to book the July 2008 Mexican Rivera 7 night cruise, and can't decide if we should make it just for mom and dad or if we should take our then almost 3 year old and 6 year old son with. There are pros and cons to each, and we've tried to wrangle grandma and grandpa to go to but they declined. What is your experiences? thanks

I wouldn't take a Disney Cruise without my kids. #1) The place is going to be crawling with kids and it would make me miss the kids. #2) If I was going on a vacation without the kids (which I firmly believe in and have done), I would go somewhere different, the carribean, Mexico, a more adult oriented cruise, the WDW food & wine festival, Napa, Vegas, etc. That's just me.

I guess the only thing I worry about is what there is to do for kids that age at the ports of call? Cabo, Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta (I think) I love cruises, they are so relaxing. But I am wondering if that will be lost when taking the kids. My husband also worries about their safety... But like you said, the place will be crawling with kids and I would hate to get there and say "I wish we would have brought the kids"

Well, it probably won't be the same degree of relaxation that you get when you are just you and hubby. We have went to either Mexico or the Dominican Republic for a four night trip for the past three winters. I really value those trips without the kids.

I wouldn't take a Disney Cruise without my kids. #1) The place is going to be crawling with kids and it would make me miss the kids. #2) If I was going on a vacation without the kids (which I firmly believe in and have done), I would go somewhere different, the carribean, Mexico, a more adult oriented cruise, the WDW food & wine festival, Napa, Vegas, etc. That's just me.


This makes me feel bad because my dh and I are going without our kids (15 months and 4 years) in June. :( We are going for our 10 year wedding anniversary though. :D I know we're going to miss them terribly.

That's why my fiance and I are going on DCL in 2009 (before we have kids). I think it would be too tough for me to leave them at home on a Disney cruise (RCCL no problemo, though). :)

Since we can never get babysitting for our DS and DD (Ages 4 and 6, respectively. They have extremely spoiled grandparents.), DCL is a Godsend as it is tailor made for younger children and their parents. Ironically, DW and I got more chances to "reconnect" on our Disney cruise than when we're at home. If we ever did get a week all to ourselves (whoa, flying pigs!), we would probably still take a Disney cruise (we think DCL is also great for adults as long as they're Disney fans) or maybe Crystal Cruise lines.

My kids would never forgive me if I even thought of going without them.

Well, it probably won't be the same degree of relaxation that you get when you are just you and hubby. We have went to either Mexico or the Dominican Republic for a four night trip for the past three winters. I really value those trips without the kids.

We went on a Disney Cruise (Bahamas) without our kids. :|

Loved. It. :D
(they were 9, 12, and 15 at the time).

We also didn't see kids running all around the place like you would expect on a Disney Cruise.

There is an adults only pool. An adults only restaraunt. And...there was not even a kid in the spa. At Castaway Cay...there is an adults only beach...and outdoor spa/massage areas...no kids.
At our dinner table, we were sat with several other couples...ALL WITHOUT kids.
One honeymooning couple, a set of grandparents, and another couple, like us, who left kids home. :)

Most of the kids are at the Disney kids area during the day.
We did see some kids at breakfasts...or in the theatres...but really...we weren't barraged with kids on this cruise.

But, we DID have such a good time...that we took our kids a year later. :) :D

My kids would never forgive me if I even thought of going without them.

I totally agree, depending on their age. My two girls are 4 and 15 months. My four year old went with us to WDW in December, so she's pretty much okay with just us going, as long as we bring her back a Minnie Mouse doll. She doesn't even know what a cruise is! :)

I can't speak for the cruise specifically because I have not been yet, but we did go to Disneyland for our Honeymoon and it rocked without kids. It was also my first time going so I got to really explore things at my pace and see what I wanted to see for once. LOL Of course we have now taken the kids and it's great too but thier is just something romantic about Disney with my hubby. If I had quality childcare I might consider a Cruise without the kids.