To make the boys share a cabin

[MrsWatt]

We have booked our holiday and have decided to go on a cruise around the med. I have booked two staterooms for our family of six and it is causing a lot of problems among my kids.

In the first cabin.
We have me and dh + DS(aged 4) and DS (aged 15). We booked a large room with a balcony since we all need the space,

The second cabin is going to be my stepson and my son both aged 17. I booked an interior since balconies were sold out and ocean view was only available on the lower decks and what I've read is that it can be very noisy. So me and dh upgraded the room to a luxury cabin. It isn't the biggest room but fine for two people to have enough space. The problem we have is that when i upgraded the room two singles became a double (i thought it would be a choice it wasn't).

My son doesn't want to share with Dss and instead wants to sleep on the sofa in our room. Aibu to think he is being a massive brat or should i let him. We have spent a lot on this holiday and changing arrangements at this point isn't an option ainu

I don't think he's being a brat. Presumably he was fine with sharing a room- it is just the bed making him uncomfortable.
I think it is unfair to expect him to share a bed with someone he doesn't want to share a bed with. Let him sleep on the sofa in your room, but he can keep all his clothes and shower etc in the room with his step brother.

Just stick a pillow down the middle. Christ almighty people have become so privileged, my dad shared with his 2 brothers until they all left home and never thought twice about it. Or if he did, he's kept stum for the 55 years.

I can imagine it's a big deal to a teenage boy. Change the room to a twin. Or expect one of them not to go.

We once booked a double bed cabin and when we got to it was two singles. The cabin steward asked if everything was ok, and we asked if he could make the twins into a double. No problem, they just put a topper on and joined the beds together.
What cruise line are you going on?

I've cruised a few times and the "double" bed has ALWAYS been 2 singles pushed together. Are you sure this isn't the case op? I'd email and check before you worry about any other options.

They may not like it, but the reality is they will hardly be in their cabins. Can they really not manage to share a bed for a few hours every day? (Maybe it's a female thing not to mind?)

The other option is that DH joins DSS in the lower grade cabin and you have the luxury cabin with the kids.

Or you both take the double room and the luxury cabin becomes the kidzone. Although personally I wouldn't be happy with the 4 yo in a separate cabin.

I suspect making a double into two singles will be slightly harder than making two singles into a double.

Some people are comfortable sharing - your DS clearly isn't. Agree with those saying ring up the cruise company again and get this sorted so they have two single beds.

Because I clash with my stepson and he is really bad in the mornings with the four year old.

I have enquired about the beds, we can't change the room without losing the booking which is £1000 lost.

I'm pretty sure that all cabins can be changed to twin, you've just got to tell them. Even if you tell them when you arrive the steward will sort it easily.

High -as a female I would definitely object to sharing a bed so it's not just a boy thing.

Seriously they cannot change it. I'd cry down the phone to them.

YABVVU to expect them to share a bed.

He is not being a spoilt brat at all; what you're asking him to do makes him uncomfortable and it should not be forced on him because you didn't properly check how things would change once you upgraded.

Which cruise line is it? Often on cruise ships and in hotels a "double bed" is two singles shoved together.

If there's enough floor space you could take a camping mattress, one could sleep on the floor and they could swap half way through the holiday.

I've cruised a few times and the "double" bed has ALWAYS been 2 singles pushed together. Are you sure this isn't the case op? I'd email and check before you worry about any other options.

It says double I have enquired.

It was a problem before it was double.

I think you should have checked it was okay for them to share before upgrading.

Can the 15 year old and DSS share, and the 17yo share with you?

What cruise line is this? We cruise with P and O and all the double beds we've had are actually singles pushed together. You can ask your cabin steward to do it when you get on board if it's not done beforehand.

You and DH take the double bedder.

The DC arrange thenself in any configuration they like in the other room. The 17 yos should be well capable of being responsible for their little brother whilst he sleeps, and you can come in first thing in the morning to get everyone up.

If they need a bit of training to be up to the task, you've got a while before the cruise to get in with it.

The obvious answer to me is as mentioned upthread -for your husband to share with his son in that possible double bed cabin if it cannot be changed and you keep your other children in with you! Use the cabins however you like during the day and then use the above sleeping arrangements at night.

Cruise ships are notoriously inflexible around hotel arrangement, and a lower grade cabin may not be suitable for conversion to a twin.

If you are lucky then there may be an overhead bunk option in the twin room, but I wouldn't bank on it. If they are fully booked a swap will not be an option. Sleeping bags in the double bed may be the best solution.

YABU making them share a bed. A cabin I could understand, but not a bed.

Swap the rooms - speak to your TA, cruisers juggle the rooms they originally booked all the time.

I think it is reasonable for them not to want to share a bed tbh.

Also, lower decks are often quieter and more stable than upper decks, no reason to avoid them at all.

tbh I can see his point. I really struggle to sleep as well with someone else in the same bed (even DP). Plus not only is it unpleasant to share with someone you're not particularly close to but (although there shouldn't be) there can be a bit of stigma with 17y/o boys about sharing with another boy=gay.

I obviously don't know what their relationship is like but I think a lot of adults (and he is nearly an adult) would be uncomfortable at sharing a bed with someone they don't know/like particularly, and while he is lucky to get an expensive holiday he shouldn't be obligated to do something that makes him feel uncomfortable because of that. In my job we go away a lot but work always pays for separate rooms - we wouldn't be expected to share a room with someone we're not dating/related to let alone a bed.

In fairness it was you that decided to upgrade the room - not him asking because it would be too noisy etc. I'm sure he would prefer you hadn't upgraded and still had the single beds. Therefore I'd let him have the sofa if you can't downgrade again.

Would dstepston share a bed with his dfather at least for a few nights? They you could have the smallest ds with you in double bed and other two in the single beds in your room?

They share the cabin and take turns one in the double bed and one on the sofa. The steward would make up the sofa bed for them.