To ask which holiday would you prefer?

[Hmmmm88]

Me and DH have saved up for a long long time for a fantastic holiday for next year.

DH has 2 wonderful son's who will be at the time we go on holiday 16 & almost 18.

We decided to have a special holiday because they are getting older and aren't as keen on holiday's as they were when they were younger.

We usually get ferry to France with motorhome and stay at very good sites with big pools flumes ect but last year they were a bit bored spent alot of the time shading under towels to see their phone screens

So what I'd like to do is a cruise on a royal Caribbean ship the specific one goes to numerous places in Italy Spain and France so we'd get to see a lot do a lot of exploring and the ships are incredible with so much to do for example surf machine football pitches swimming pools zip lining ice skating bumper cars cinema rock climbing ect ect plus you wake up in a different place everyday. It is very expensive £9,000

DH wants to go to a balearic island for 2 weeks which is hotel & swimming pool for 4 of us 14 nights between £6,500 & £8,000.

The thought of spending 2 weeks sat round a pool is my worst nightmare i like to see things and do things and i find all inclusive to structured eating sleeping sitting round a pool and i think DSS's will be bored.

It is a big decision because it's a one off and like i say we have saved a very long time. The boys like the sound of the cruise but DH just doesn't. We have to go during school holidays because next year youngest has GCSE's and eldest is in college so will also be doing exams.

So YABU = husband's holiday
YANBU = cruise

Can i also add me and eldest hate flying (the cruise is from UK)

@Hmmmm88 sounds good. And I’ve heard good things about those courses. Enjoy your travels, wherever they may be 😊

If neither of you are willing to relent then look seriously at a different 3rd option. I'd look at a Mark Warner holiday or Club Med with your budget.

@Alsohuman the motorhome is wonderful but there's not a lot of personal space for 2 teenagers. It was fantastic though when they were younger. The train sounds exciting though and like a bit of an adventure

@MadamePewter thank you 😊

I agree, Neilson or Mark Warner somewhere might be good for teens.

I agree with a PP it is too much money for you to 'compromise' on a choice, do some more research, all of you come up with ideas. We have had two fantastic holidays with Neilson with our teenager, really good holidays and plenty for everyone to do (or not do!). In fact we enjoyed them so much we are going back just as a couple this year as our DS can now plan (& pay for!) his own holidays.

You don’t have to do the excursions through the cruise line- you normally pay a lot more if you do. Unless you are in a port where there could be delays in getting back then it is normally easier and cheaper to do your own or use a private company.
Have a look at the cruise critic forums and they can give you some really good ideas about trips in the ports etc. If you go you can join the toll call and often book private tours together meaning only 8-10 will be on the excursion rather than a coach load
We did a med. cruise the other year (with a teenager) and are doing one again this year and none of our excursions were/arewith the cruise company. Our teenage dd loved it as she got freedom on the ship (within reason), did the excursions with us and got to make loads of friends who she hung out with in the evening.
My DH had to be persuaded to do his first cruise as he hated the thought of it but enjoyed it a lot more than he expected and he was the one who said about doing the med Cruises. Granted we don’t go on the ships with 4000+
.

I'd look at a Neilson holiday as a compromise. Full board apart from three (I think) evening meals so you can sample local cuisine. Loads of activities so you and your teens won't get bored and pools for your husband to relax.

Over the last 10 years I’ve cruised 11 times with my DC who are now 21 and 19 and really recommended them. Cruise and stay and stay and cruise holidays are really good too.
If you you have any questions please ask away?

Another thing to factor in is the food. In a hotel, although nice it’s very samey day after day. The food on the cruise ships is lovely. So much choice too, you could eat one evening with your husband and the boys could eat pizza, burgers etc elsewhere if they wanted. Also bear in mind your ship is a floating hotel with all the amenities of a hotel but in a different place each day. My husband went on our first cruise with reservations but loved it. We are doing a 13 night from Southampton this summer

Just had a thought.... Sani in Greece!! Perfection for al
Thanks @Mixitupalot

Hmmm I wouldn't be booking a cruise stopping in Italy at the moment as it's likely to be cancelled.

Also the thought of being stuck in quarantine on a ship isn't very appealing.

I'm not a Majorca fan so would not go there again but would keep looking for a hotel with more to do that just a pool.

Riviera Maya in Mexico was my DCs favourite holiday at that sort of age but it's a 10 hour flight.

Last time we flew we went on a 4 & half hour flight and DSS sobbed the whole flight and every day of the holiday at the thought of the flight home. It was a particularly bad landing and very turbulent and he's very reluctant to fly but i think a short flight he'd be ok with.

Ok so you can’t fly. You really can’t.
BUT. I would strongly urge you to arrange for him to do the amazing flight course, I think BA, for anxious flyers. It is a couple of hundred but my friend did it and it helped massively, hugely, with her fear

Neither of you are being unreasonable here. It's not unreasonable to dislike the idea of the cruise or the island. I think you need to keep talking and try to find a different idea you're all keen on.

I voted YABU because if I had to choose between the two I'd prefer your DH's plan.

£9,000 is massive for a cruise. A cruise is a brilliant idea, but frankly, for a 1st one especially, I'd make it one week. There's one that goes from Southampton and takes you to North Spain and France, or one for 10 days that will to the Canary Islands.

Don't do all the excursions with RC. There are a rip off. You can often find similar excursions from local companies when coming off the cruise for much cheaper, or you can book something online before you go. A lot of the time, you can just take a local bus that will take you to the same place for 1/10th of the price. Personally, I would cut on the such cost to upgrade for a balcony instead for you and your OH (assuming you are looking at two cabins).

RC are amazing though, so much to do on it, and incredibly, the bigger they are, the easier it is to find quiet areas where you can escape from the crowd.

If you went to Mallorca, there's loads more to do than sitting round a pool.

Palma city, get the train through the mountains to Soller.

Watersports galore. You could all learn to scuba dive, or stand up paddle boarding, coasteering, all sorts.

For the cruise, check if it has WiFi and if there's a cost. It can be expensive and unreliable on ships, which might be good at getting them off their screens but they might just moan about being out of touch.

Stick with the cruise. We have 2 DC and they are a wonderful way of having a taster of a place. Try and choose one with lots of ports to stop at, that way you will see more places and the ship will be less crowded as people disembark throughout the day.
Don't do excursions through the cruise company. Search for local companies offering trips on the web. They will be way cheaper, have great knowledge and pick you up from the ship.
You don't have to do organised excursions. Some ports, Villefranche, for example, you can board a train to Cannes or Nice for the day. Palma, is very walkable as is alot of the island stops
Personally, we only pay for a balcony if they are on special offer or if its a wildlife cruise. For the Med, I would save money and get a window cabin. We also stick to smaller (2000) people ships.

I put YABU but that is just because I really dislike cruises.

Large cruise ships are an environmental outrage, I'm amazed no one has mentioned this.

Large cruise ships are an environmental outrage, I'm amazed no one has mentioned this.

Yes, i had to bite my tongue when my cousin made a big song and dance about not flying on holiday and went on a cruise instead

I think the cruise but accepting that your DH will skip some excursions to laze by the pool.

It’s his holiday too and for so much money you both need to be happy.

I find both options a nightmare holiday with a teen. Not only is the environmental impact of cruises awful, the idea of imprisioned on a ship with thousands of others and no escape - horror. With an AI holiday you can at least leave and do your own thing.

If your Child can battle the flight issue than I would suggest long haul, a week New York and a week beach or safari or if your DH insist on pure relaxation choose a destination where you can do all of this and leave him at the pool.

We plan this when DD is 15 in 2 years, saving as mad at the moment, as I know the typical AI will be of less interest and she we want to do things a bit different.

For Europe your could do Greece or Cyprus but this is also 4 hours plus flight.

What about interrailng OP? With that budget you could spend a long time travelling around Europe and splash out on some lovely hotels and experiences (and first class trains!). I've done it twice and always had such fun.

My sister goes to sports camps/hotels with her sports mad teens. Club la santa in tenerife.

@reluctantbrit

Baffled that you express distaste at the environmental impact of cruises and then in the next breath suggest duel holiday to New York and safari (so long haul and multiple flights!) and indeed your planning on doing the same yourself!