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Mom And Daughter Laughing together on Hammock at beach
  • On Jan 11, 2011
    Kristin from OH Asked Note: This answer was provided prior to the change to planDisney and may still contain references to Disney Parks Moms Panel.

    Experiences, policies, pricing and other offerings are subject to change and may have changed since the date of this answer.

    I'm looking into our first Disney Cruise. I'm wanting to do the 7 night Mediterranean cruise but my husband doesn't think that would be appropriate for our 7 & 5 yr. olds. Any input? Can children be left on ship while we got off for an excursion?

    In May 2010, we went on the 10-night Mediterranean Cruise with the Disney Cruise Line. It was my dream vacation!

    Our son was 10 years old and we spent many months learning about the ports-of-call, practicing simple phrases in different languages and choosing our shore excursions.

    Our 10 night cruise was very port intensive with less sea days than offered on Caribbean voyages. Since we were flying to all the way to Europe, we knew that we'd want to make the most of seeing the sights. Still, even as adults, we were worn out by the time we arrived at our last couple of ports. There were a few places that we were just too tired to explore.

    I felt our son was at a great age to enjoy all of the historical sights. Knowing his stamina level, he would not have held up at a younger age on the exhausting but awe-inspiring shore excursions. For instance, it takes over an hour just to get into Rome. We spent sun-up to sun-down seeing as much of Rome as possible.

    I strongly suggest flying in at least one day prior to your cruise. We arrived Barcelona at 9 a.m. and had that entire day and night to catch up on some sleep. We woke up the next morning feeling refreshed for the cruise. Only my husband slept a little bit on the overseas flight.

    I think travel is wonderful for the young and young-at-heart. Just tailor your vacation to meet the needs of your family. You might want to leave the children on the ship if you choose a ten-hour day of touring such as the norm in Rome. Other ports, such as La Spezia, would be perfect for your kids. A fun train ride to Pisa, see the Leaning Tower and enjoy a gelatto in the charming town.

    Yes, the kids can be left on the ship and Youth Activities is very capable of keeping them occupied and fed!
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Meet the Panelist: Kimberly, Tennessee

I am a stay-at-home mom with a 12 year old son. I thrive on planning vacations, especially to WDW. Inspiring families to vacation at Disney with a memorable itinerary and budget-saving tips is extremely rewarding for me. Learn More About Kimberly

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