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On cruise and kids so ungrateful and bored

334 replies

Fishnchips22 · 31/10/2024 12:02

On our first ever week long cruise, ship is amazing, loads to do. Family of four, kids are 19 and 12. They’ve enjoyed some
of it but now can’t be bothered to get up in the morning, spend loads of time on phones, haven’t done the pool/slides etc. DH pretty lazy too, so unless I organise stuff we don’t do anything. I’m so frustrated, last day today and I’m off doing my own thing cos they can’t be bothered. I’m just so fed up, it was a very expensive holiday and I’ve had a crap year with losing a parent and just wanted some lovely family time. My 12 year old DD just can’t be bothered, despite being blown away by the ship when we first boarded. I went to a show last night on my own as none of them fancied it. And just had lunch on my own as they were still in bFeel like holidaying on my own in future and saving my money! I just feel they’re so ungrateful. Does anyone else have this?

OP posts:
AnonymousBleep · 31/10/2024 14:52

I've got a rule on holiday - largely made for the purpose of me not getting irritated with my beloved relatives - that everyone on holiday can do whatever the fuck they want (so long as it's legal/doesn't hurt anyone else obvs). So if someone wants to spend the week in a darkened room on their phone, they can, and that's fine. I think this rule is actually essential for any family with teens tbh!

PollyPut · 31/10/2024 14:53

I'm assuming the kids have a separate cabin? That might be part of the problem and you might need an apartment next time you go away on a family holiday so that it's more of a shared experience. Not sure they exist on cruise ships though?

Elphamouche · 31/10/2024 14:54

I don’t get why kids these days can just do this. I’d have been in serious trouble. Phones in the safe on holidays and I’m 32. Had a smart phone since I was 16. But thems the rules!

However, I disagree that cruises are for oldies. Depending on the cruise line and the ship, there is MORE than enough for everyone to do on a lot of them now. And a lot of oldies won’t touch some cruise lines because of that! I know a fair few teens that have asked to cruise because there’s always something to do, they visit different places.

Teens can be twats, why MN has such a problem admitting that I don’t know. They can be lazy by the pool. They don’t need to stay in bed. I wouldn’t be getting them up at 7 but 9 is fine! And I am not a morning person.

The 19yo should contribute to their share of the holiday. All the family should have an opinion and your husband should be leading by example. Everyone should compromise, to cover something everyone likes.

Honestly OP, holiday by yourself in future.

thegirlwithemousyhair · 31/10/2024 14:55

You could take them to see the Seven Wonders and they'd be bored because phones. Apparently OP according to the MNers you should just let them chill and do fuck all on the 'family holiday'. SMH.

The whole point of a family holiday is to share experiences and do things together othewise whats the point? You may as well go it alone. In fact, you should do that next time, or take friends with you and let the kids stay at home with some in-laws or something...

LuckySantangelo35 · 31/10/2024 14:56

Next year just go on holiday on your own! Leave your kids and husband at home. This will mean you will have more money to spend on excursions, cocktails, etc etc - winner!!

Autumnalsun · 31/10/2024 14:57

Surely the best thing about a cruise is that you can all do what you want to do.

If you want to see a show and they want to lie in, then that’s exactly what you can do.

I do understand you feeling like they’re not taking full advantage of it but this is your holiday too and it doesn’t really matter what they do/don’t do because you can do what you want.

One of the best things about a holiday like this, is no cooking, cleaning or commute etc.
Focus on those things and start enjoying yourself properly.

Let them have a lazy holiday, if that’s what they want and you can do all of the activities you want.

CurlyhairedAssassin · 31/10/2024 14:59

The age gap of the kids is a difficult one when it comes to holidays. They aren't really going to want to hang out together. 12 is the age around the time their friends start being more of a focus in their lives. The 19 year old is probably ambivalent about being there at all, as nice as it probably is, and as cost-free (for them) as it probably is.

A cruise is difficult as if they are a bit more reserved they are going to want to do activities with someone. But neither of them would probably choose each other to do it with, or their parents. I bet either of them would have got up earlier and done stuff if they'd had a mate with them. That's easier to do if you hire a self-catering place somewhere , a villa or something big enough to house their mates. But I guess you'd still have your husband's behaviour disappointing you.

And it IS disappointing. There is no way I'd be happy with having lunch on my own on holiday if my husband was too lazy or grumpy to be up in time to come with me. What is he getting out of the holiday that he couldn't have got either somewhere much cheaper, or by staying at home?

I pay for our holidays so I'd hate to spend a load of money for us all to go on something that was a waste of money, OP, so I have sympathy. And let's face it, despite everyone saying let them lie in if they want, enjoy their holiday how they want, what exactly is the point in forking out for nice food, activities etc if the others don't want to partake of them? It's a lesson learned, though, isn't it?

I'm guessing the kids might be step-brother and sister? So I get the feeling of wanting to all spend time as a family. But with the age gap being what it is, I'm not sure it's going to work unless you can think of a holiday that would really suit both of them. We had great success with my late teens with a California road trip. (not cheap, though. But would suit both 12 year old and 19 year old). They helped plan it, I gave them editing rights to our shared Tripit app and they loved helping to forumulate a route based on what sights we all wanted to see. We all loved it, there wasn't much lazing around but they knew that would be the case because well, it's a road trip! Sometimes tee(nagers just get a bit lazy and apathetic if they're in one spot, choosing to go on their phone etc, but if they're on the go seeing and doing interesting things all day and being part of the decision-making on where to go to eat etc, what bus you need for X/Y/Z activity, navigation etc it can keep them a bit more excited and focussed rather than staring into a screen.

A city break may be a better option too, so that the whole idea is going out exploring. If you get a hotel with a rooftop pool then you can do a bit of relaxing and sunbathing up there.

Or share a villa with another family with similar age kids who get on? I doubt DH would be in bed till 11.30am if other people were around.

CurlyhairedAssassin · 31/10/2024 15:01

Autumnalsun · 31/10/2024 14:57

Surely the best thing about a cruise is that you can all do what you want to do.

If you want to see a show and they want to lie in, then that’s exactly what you can do.

I do understand you feeling like they’re not taking full advantage of it but this is your holiday too and it doesn’t really matter what they do/don’t do because you can do what you want.

One of the best things about a holiday like this, is no cooking, cleaning or commute etc.
Focus on those things and start enjoying yourself properly.

Let them have a lazy holiday, if that’s what they want and you can do all of the activities you want.

all well and good but it's just not value for money to be paying to have those facilities available but three quarters of the group not using them. OP may as well make it a whole lot cheaper for herself and just take herself away. Leave the others to it.

Autumnalsun · 31/10/2024 15:01

thegirlwithemousyhair · 31/10/2024 14:55

You could take them to see the Seven Wonders and they'd be bored because phones. Apparently OP according to the MNers you should just let them chill and do fuck all on the 'family holiday'. SMH.

The whole point of a family holiday is to share experiences and do things together othewise whats the point? You may as well go it alone. In fact, you should do that next time, or take friends with you and let the kids stay at home with some in-laws or something...

But why is it they all have to do what OP wants to do?

If they want to lounge around, should OP do that too just because it’s a ‘family holiday’?
What if DH wants to stay in the bar all day, do they all have to sit there with him too?

Many people go on a cruise so everyone can do their own thing.

I would have set things that should be done as family, which I assume happens mostly on the excursions but then rest of the time everyone should do what they wish to do.

A family holiday doesn’t mean everyone needs to be stick together the entire time.

craftysnake · 31/10/2024 15:05

I think it sounded tricky separation of ages to entertain.

PointsSouth · 31/10/2024 15:07

@thegirlwithemousyhair

The whole point of a family holiday is to share experiences and do things together...

No, it's not. The point of a family holiday is that each member of the family gets a break from real life.

For some adults, that'll mean sitting in the sun, or on the sofa, doing damn all.

For teenagers, it may well be a week's respite from being told what to do all the time.

Why's that a bad thing?

gabsdot · 31/10/2024 15:08

If they're enjoying themselves what's the problem. We've been on cruises with our Teens. They're actually really good holidays for families with Teens IMO.
Our rule is that we have dinner together every night and we all go onshore together for day out. Apart from that everyone can do what they want

user47 · 31/10/2024 15:08

You need to get them involved - give the 19yo a day to organised and get the 12yo to plan a lovely lunch for you all or something - I always give mine a full day each to plan - I do it a month before we leave - mine are 19 and 21 so they also pay for the day now. Having skin in the game increases their enjoyment ime.

CurlyhairedAssassin · 31/10/2024 15:08

If it's a cruise, OP, are they not even going off the boat at each port stop?

marmaladeandpeanutbutter · 31/10/2024 15:11

I feel for you. I had a holiday when mine were teens where they (and DH) stayed up half the night and slept till lunch. I was livid, started to do my own thing, sightseeing and suchlike. I casually mentioned one evening that it would be the last family holiday, DH included, and that I'd go with friends in future, to have some companionship from like minded people on holiday. Kids didn't care much, as teens don't, but DH sure shifted himself!

user47 · 31/10/2024 15:11

PP suggesting the behaviour is fine, seriously WTF? The time to say they did not want to come was BEFORE their mother spent the money. The ungrateful 19 yo is appalling - a grown adult feeling entitled to his mothers money like that is grim.

LetThereBeLove · 31/10/2024 15:12

Unbelooth · 31/10/2024 12:07

You chose a cruise because it was what you wanted to do. You spent the money on it.

I bet neither of your children would have chosen a cruise with loads of oldies, given the chance to decide themselves.

Not all cruises have mainly oldies on them.
We took our DCs on cruises and they enjoyed them but that was before phones took over!

IceCreamCookies · 31/10/2024 15:18

I don't think most teenagers or young adults would enjoy a cruise, it's a slightly older thing.

taxguru · 31/10/2024 15:18

I'd excuse your kids because kids do what they want, when they want, and a seaside based med holiday would probably be the same for them, i.e. can't be bothered doing anything other than lying in bed or lying on the beach.

I have less respect for your OH, a grown adult. Is he usually lazy and "can't be arsed" with things. I think he's a bigger problem than your kids.

But at the end of the day, it sounds like you chose the cruise because YOU wanted that cruise. How much input did DH and the kids have on choosing to go on a cruise, which cruise to go on, etc? You can't expect them to be enthusastically throwing themselves into an activity they didn't want, weren't bothered about, etc.

TwistedWonder · 31/10/2024 15:19

AnonymousBleep · 31/10/2024 14:52

I've got a rule on holiday - largely made for the purpose of me not getting irritated with my beloved relatives - that everyone on holiday can do whatever the fuck they want (so long as it's legal/doesn't hurt anyone else obvs). So if someone wants to spend the week in a darkened room on their phone, they can, and that's fine. I think this rule is actually essential for any family with teens tbh!

Completely agree. My DS is an adult now but the last couple of times we went away just the 2 of us I got up about 8 had breakfast and sat round pool with headphones in while he stayed in bed until midday. It was bliss to have a few hours absolutely to myself.

Tbh even as a grown adult a cruise is my idea of hell

Katiesaidthat · 31/10/2024 15:19

Fishnchips22 · 31/10/2024 12:19

Actually we all chose it and it isn’t full of
‘oldies’ at all.

OP, with all due respect, when I was 19, I was shocked someone I met was 32, I almost imagined them to be hiding Tena lady and zimmer frames...

BruFord · 31/10/2024 15:20

marmaladeandpeanutbutter · 31/10/2024 15:11

I feel for you. I had a holiday when mine were teens where they (and DH) stayed up half the night and slept till lunch. I was livid, started to do my own thing, sightseeing and suchlike. I casually mentioned one evening that it would be the last family holiday, DH included, and that I'd go with friends in future, to have some companionship from like minded people on holiday. Kids didn't care much, as teens don't, but DH sure shifted himself!

@marmaladeandpeanutbutter 😂

Yes, sometimes we just have to accept that family holidays are over for the time being. My DD (19) had a great time with her friend in the summer, it was far better than going away with us.

Although family holidays can come back around though. In recent years, my DH has started taking his parents away for a week in October. They don’t feel so confident traveling alone now (in their 80’s) so DH organizes everything and they spend quality time together at an age-appropriate pace.

Widowtoo · 31/10/2024 15:21

NerdWhoEatsMedlar · 31/10/2024 12:10

Don't know and 19y/o who'd enjoy this sort of cruise. Their best chance is to befriend a couple of crew members and join their parties.

Mine loved it it was a fave holiday. Loads of people their age and they enjoyed the ship and also exploring

SerenityNowSerenityNow · 31/10/2024 15:26

IceCreamCookies · 31/10/2024 15:18

I don't think most teenagers or young adults would enjoy a cruise, it's a slightly older thing.

That's not been the case on the cruises I've been on.
There has been loads of things that are specifically aimed at teenagers and young adults.

People assume they are for 'old people' but there are many cruise lines which market themselves at the the family market. We had teenagers with us the last time we went and they loved the sports complex, the water park, the teenage hangout/club, the chocolate bar, the AI/Robot bar, the VR games and cinema, the staff comedy/talent shows, the late night buffet ( which was essentially a pizza takeaway)..........there was so much for them to do!

Unbelooth · 31/10/2024 15:30

Well OP's teen and pre-teen clearly haven't been getting good vibes from the cruise. She did not understand the assignment, which was to let them be.