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Unfortunately can’t go on holiday because of cruise lines policy

648 replies

CAMO1984 · 21/07/2025 11:24

Hi all,

just wanted other peoples opinions please as it’s really getting to me.
So a cruise was booked for my dads partners 70th all paid for by him as he wanted us all to go, which was extremely generous from the start.
A few days ago we found out I can no longer go as will be 24 weeks pregnant and the cruise line won’t accept pregnant ladies at 24 weeks pregnant or more.
Very upset and disappointed by the news but stated my partner and our son along with my 2 girls from a previous relationship could all still go which only leaves me missing out.
Partner then states he wouldn’t be taking our 2 year old son as he would be too much hassle and wouldn’t be able to enjoy himself and relax, his he grandad who paid for the holiday also agrees with this. I am very upset and saddened that my little boy would be such an inconvenience to them.
Also to add to this my father in law decides to invite his friends instead which also means my girls missing out too. I know he paid for all this so it’s his decision but still upsetting to let them down.
So basically now my partner is still going, along with his father in law, wife and his friends and me, my son and my girls are left at home on a holiday we were supposed to go on.
Am I being unreasonable to kick up a fuss about this? How would other people feel?

Thank you in advance

OP posts:
BuffaloCauliflower · 21/07/2025 11:50

McSpoot · 21/07/2025 11:48

I assumed that the mix up happened at the beginning and should have stated that her partner's father paid for the trip (not her father's partner). The rest of the story doesn't really make sense if it is her father's birthday trip.

It says that the end her partner is going away with his father in law, which is her dad

Hodgemollar · 21/07/2025 11:50

It’s a bit odd to expect your boyfriend to bring your two children, who he’s not the father of, on a holiday to celebrate his father’s birthday.

TheFinePrintess · 21/07/2025 11:50

Can you clarify as it’s a bit confusing.
Was it your father or partners father who booked and paid for holiday?
If it’s partners father it makes more sense that partner would still go on his own…
I can see why partner wouldn’t necessarily want to go on a cruise with a toddler and no other half to share the load. Also not taking your daughters - depends how long you’ve been together as there’s a difference between only knowing then a few years to being with you for most of their lives.

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doodleschnoodle · 21/07/2025 11:51

Pretty sure it’s not OP’s side of the family. It says FIL multiple times, the only time it says her dad is at the beginning but then the rest of it makes no sense. I think it’s meant to be ‘partner’s dad’ in first bit and it has just been transposed.

AppropriateAdult · 21/07/2025 11:51

BuffaloCauliflower · 21/07/2025 11:46

It’s not her FIL, it’s her dad who’s booked and paid for the holiday for his partners birthday. This is OPs side of the family, not her DHs. I think she’s mixed up and said FIL in the middle.

OP sounds like they only wanted you for childcare, not really a family holiday. I would kick up a fuss too, only you need to stay home and you’re the only one who will be staying home, everyone else who was invited can still go and should go. Not fair to uninvite the kids, especially the older ones who will understand

This - it’s the OP’s family, folks, not her partner’s family. I cannot imagine going on holidays with my husband’s family while he stays at home minding our children Confused

ThejoyofNC · 21/07/2025 11:51

BuffaloCauliflower · 21/07/2025 11:49

Its the 2 older kids Grandad as well, its OPs side of the family

Oh that's confusing, I thought she was talking about her FIL

doodleschnoodle · 21/07/2025 11:52

If it is her family then the whole thing is even more bizarre. He’s going off on holiday with his inlaws without any of their grandkids or even their own daughter? Confused

Oasisafan · 21/07/2025 11:52

Unfortunate, but I don’t necessarily think him saying taking a 2 year old on a cruise is too much for him is wrong.

Taking a 2 year old on holiday is hard work and not relaxing generally. If there are two of you then you can share the load, but for one person I can see what he means. It is his dad’s birthday and a one off.

oviraptor21 · 21/07/2025 11:52

If it's his Dad then I think it's fair enough to go although he should certainly be taking the two year old. If it’s your Dad then he shouldn't be going.
And if he does decide to go, I'd take you and your DC on an alternative holiday, somewhere with plenty of childcare options so you can relax.

Pennyforyourthoughtsplease · 21/07/2025 11:52

doodleschnoodle · 21/07/2025 11:51

Pretty sure it’s not OP’s side of the family. It says FIL multiple times, the only time it says her dad is at the beginning but then the rest of it makes no sense. I think it’s meant to be ‘partner’s dad’ in first bit and it has just been transposed.

Maybe it's another made up thread 🤔

McSpoot · 21/07/2025 11:52

BuffaloCauliflower · 21/07/2025 11:50

It says that the end her partner is going away with his father in law, which is her dad

Which is really awkward wording - you'd normally say "my father/dad" which is making me think that it is an error. Though we need the OP to confirm. My guess is that she tried to change some things to stay anonymous and got herself confused (I've done that myself).

AppropriateAdult · 21/07/2025 11:53

I think you’ll have to come back and clarify the family relationships, OP!

CAMO1984 · 21/07/2025 11:53

I didn’t for one minute expect him to cancel the trip, it’s his 70th birthday, it’s a special occasion, that’s not what my point is. My point was we we’re all booked to go and now just because I can’t go the other kids can’t go. My girls are not babies, me and my partner have been together 10 years, they are 13 and 15 and have grown up with him. It’s such a shame to let them down that’s through no fault of their own.
I guess there is no right or wrong in this, I just wanted other peoples opinions that’s all.
Thank you ☺️

OP posts:
MauriceTheMussel · 21/07/2025 11:53

doodleschnoodle · 21/07/2025 11:42

I think your partner is a knob. He can’t take his child because he won’t be able to ‘relax’, what does he think you’ll be doing pregnant at home with three kids?

I agree it speaks volumes about what you were going to be doing on this trip: childcare so the rest of them could have fun. So maybe it’s best avoided anyway as it would probably have been miserable.

This.

I’d massively kick off with your partner. You can’t say anything to the dad/partner, but I’d certainly look at the dad differently now.

MauriceTheMussel · 21/07/2025 11:54

Oh, OP. There is a right and a wrong in this. The girls were all jazzed to be going and now because another adult CBA to mind them, they’re denied a holiday.

CAMO1984 · 21/07/2025 11:55

Sorry it’s not my dad it’s my father in law, my mistake which I made in the beginning message

OP posts:
Cherrysherbet · 21/07/2025 11:56

That’s so weird. If I couldn’t go, my Dh wouldn’t go either. We’d go somewhere as family instead.

castleclass · 21/07/2025 11:57

CAMO1984 · 21/07/2025 11:55

Sorry it’s not my dad it’s my father in law, my mistake which I made in the beginning message

Ok that’s absolutely changes things for me. I thought it was your family holiday, it’s his family so of course he should go. Not sure about your girls though. I would take them in the same situation but I absolutely understand what some wouldn’t want to and I think both options are reasonable .

edited to add… just saw your girls are teens. In that case absolutely they should still
be able to go

Merryoldgoat · 21/07/2025 12:01

CAMO1984 · 21/07/2025 11:55

Sorry it’s not my dad it’s my father in law, my mistake which I made in the beginning message

so it’s your partner going on a cruise with HIS family rather than yours?

And your older girls are not his children?

ChicaWowWow · 21/07/2025 12:02

How long is the cruise? I would lie and say I'm 22/23 weeks pregnant. They can't ask for proof of date.
I agree with others that your partner and his dad just expected you to do all the childcare, lazy twats. I'd point that out to them and kick up a fuss that they take you as such, tbh.

SallyD00lally · 21/07/2025 12:03

Oh that's a shame for the girls, I think he should've taken them.

I wouldn't be too fussed about the 2 year old as they wouldn't understand or remember anyway.

Daffy25 · 21/07/2025 12:04

I’ve been on a few cruises and one with an 2 year old and it would be no fun taking a 2 year old on my own - I’d sooner not go at all. Yes it’s disappointing but it is what it is. I would suggest that you are able to go on holiday with your family or friends once you’ve had the baby

Gerwurtztraminer · 21/07/2025 12:04

As the saying goes, you have a "DH problem". Clearly doesn't want the 'hassle' of looking after the children, doesn't see the older girls as truly 'his' despite being in their lives for a long time and doesn't want to have to look after a 2 year old. Latter is perhaps understandable as that is a quite a lot of work and wouldn't make for a relaxing holiday, but not taking the girls is just mean.

Not sure what I would do in your situation but I'd be pissed off. Can you take the kids away yourself in the UK instead?

NewsdeskJC · 21/07/2025 12:04

Id have thought that wrangling a 2 year old not much fun on a cruise. Id also not be leaving a 2 year old in the charge of likely pissed up adults on said cruise.
Count yourself lucky.

CopperWhite · 21/07/2025 12:10

So you wanted your partner to go on holiday and take three children on his own, one being a toddler who would need a lot of supervision on a cruise, and two who aren’t even his?

Yeah, YABU.

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