Can I go on a cruise alone with DC?

[swimmingincustard]

Well i know I can but will I be in the minority?

DH can't come for various reasons and I've seen a lovely cruise around the med next Summer. DC 6 & 10 and quite self sufficient.

I've been abroad with one DC before as a toddler and enjoyed it but didn't do any day trips so it's the time off the boat that I'm worried about.

Never been on a cruise before, I'm quite happy following the kids about to various activities.

I've done this. I didn't love cruising it turns out but it definitely wasn't a problem that I was there as a single parent.

Yes it won't be a problem. There is plenty for them to do, and they usually have kids clubs as well, if they like that sort of thing. We didnt see DD for most of the week, as he stayed with the kids club. They did all sorts of stuff, as well having pool tables and games consoles in their room.

I would think it would be a great holiday on your own with kids, lots for everyone to do, opportunities to be sociable or not depending on your preference.

My first cruise was me and ds1 and 2 aged 15 and 11.
The 15 year old entertained himself (agreed to come only if we didn't force to do anything)
Youngest loved it and spent most of the time in the swimming pool though he did try out the childrens area once or twice.

Thank you everyone.

Will I need to be super organised for the days in port or will there be help/suggestions for places to visit and how to get ourselves there and back? Barcelona is one of the stops for example.

If you go in the summer holidays you might find they'd rather stay on the ship rather than walk around a city in the heat. The problem is then that you have to stay there too!

It all depends on what you want to do. If you want to pay the extra you can do the organised excursions. If you want to save money you can do the same excursion yourself and save a lot of money. Look at port guides for your itinerary. Make sure you get back to the ship on time though as they will leave without you if you are not on an organised excursion. We always make sure we have enough cash on us to get a taxi back to the ship from wherever we go to.

Some cruise lines let the children stay in kids clubs while you are in port, others don't. We have just come back from a cruise and our daughter wanted to stay in kids club most days. We tried to get her off in most ports and then she would go to kids clubs just before lunch.

Cruising is a fab way to holiday. If I win the lottery I am living on a cruise ship for a year!

Not necessarily! Kids clubs on a lot of ships open when in port and allow the adults to get off and kids stay in the clubs.