Would you do a cruise for a big reunion family vacation?

[ninjabridemom]

Jake's family is trying to plan a reunion for summer 2016. Some great locations have been suggested (Outerbanks, Myrtle Beach, etc) that are pretty central to the East Coasters (the ID fam would have to fly regardless of where we go, since ppl want a beachy vacation).

Someone added a Disney Cruise and then just Cruise to the list.

I am pretty anti long-term cruise (but would do like a day cruise around islands or whatever) but the thought of doing it w 20 other people (yes, including our family it's 24 people) makes me physically nauseous. Does that sound appealing to any of you? Even if you like cruises that's a big fucking group of people for a tiny cruise ship.

[wambam]

Yes, absolutely. But I'm a cruiser.

We went with my entire family three years ago. We barely saw them, except at dinner.

[fryjack2]

NO.

I'll take the boys on a sailboat but no way would I take them on a cruise ship. I'm too nervous.

Plus, I don't want to be stuck on a ship.

[Muddled]

Yes. Everyone does their own thing during the day and then you meet up for dinner.
Plus, childcare.

[bonnie]

I think it's actually a great way to do a family vacation together. The ships are so big that you may not even see your family unless you plan to. It can provide a nice balance between together time and alone time.

[Captain Serious]

I typically am not crazy about cruises, bit if I was going to do a several-day family reunion, I think a cruise would be a great idea. That way, there are plenty of activities and things to keep everyone happy and you could interact as much or little as you want at any given time.

[caddywompus]

A cruise would be fun, because you wouldn't have to be together all the time- people could branch off and do their own thing during the day but then get together for meals &/or nightime entertainment.
It would also be fun to rent a couple big beach houses near each other. That way you could all hang out together as much or as little as you want. And you could take turns preparing meals.

[ECB]

I go two ways on this.

One way - I'm not a cruiser. never taken one and I don't have a huge desire to go on one. So... there's that aspect to it.

But the other way - cruise ships are huge! 24 people is actually a small % of the # of people who will be on the ship. I feel like there would be enough space and various excursions that I wouldn't feel I had to be w/ them the ENTIRE TIME.

But if you don't wnat to do it, that's fine. speak up and say so. this is your vacation too.

[nomad100]

If the reunion was just DH and I with my parents? Yay! Let's go.

If it included anyone else, even my brother and his wife? Hell no. I don't like my relatives that much. Even being in a hotel with them would be awful.

If it is the big extended family? Picnic in the park. 4 hours max. Boom. Done.

[ninjabridemom]

I am very pro beach house, caddywompus. That or a lake house, but same concept. That's my big push.

We'll see if it even happens. One SIL already poo-poo'd on the idea entirely and the other has been having issues so I don't know if they'd want to commit to anything.

[ninjabridemom]

May 29, 2015 8:22:59 GMT -5 nomad100 said:

If it is the big extended family? Picnic in the park. 4 hours max. Boom. Done.

We live in 4 different states. MA, WV, VA, FL, and ID. No way we're all traveling just for a 4hr picnic lol!

I will for sure speak up but if it's majority rules I don't want to NOT go entirely just b/c I don't like the vacation. The family time is important. Like I said, we hardly ever see each other. I haven't even met two of the newer members!! (babies, 1 is 4m old now and the other 2yr)

[livinitup]

20 people on a cruise ship is a drop in the bucket - THOUSANDS of people cruise on most ships. Why are you picturing a "tiny" cruise ship?

Anyway, I've heard great things about big-ish families on cruises. Lots of activities, lots of space to get away from each other. I can pay for a cheapo inner cabin and moneybags cousin can pay for a suite with a balcony - so its a LOT easier to split wants/costs than the average family vacation house(s). Plus, lots of handicap access for the olds if needed. Child care and teen zones. No carpooling to restaurants, no grocery shopping, no cooking for ungrateful relatives.

[ninjabridemom]

I don't know, I am just picturing kids running from tiny cabin to tiny cabin.

I guess I mean the rooms are tiny. Will I even want my kids in the same room as me on a cruise ship?? lol

[aliciaflorrick]

Our enormous family does this and it works out great. When there are around 50 people it is a nice way for everybody to do their own thing and then get together for dinner and a couple excursions. It provides options and you aren't stuck doing what the group wants.

Also, no one has to cook which is a big bonus with a larger group.

[ds1013]

Yes, as long as everyone went into the trip with the same expectations of how much time was going to be spent together. When big groups cruise together, you can get some great deals!

[Deleted]

I dont know, it depends how obligated you would be to spend time with everyone when you're all trapped in the same areas. When I'm on land, I can be all "Oh, we're going to go drive around go find something for the kids", and there is no room in the car for them to come too. But on a boat, I just worry we would all get sick of each other.

[VeryViolet]

I absolutely would. The thought of being in a beach house with 24 members of my family makes me feel hot, light-headed, and generally panicky. A cruise ship is enormous, I can do my own thing, meet up when I want, have free childcare, and have plenty of access to booze.

[jinkies]

I mean, I wouldn't choose it, because cruises do not sound appealing to me. Especially if I have to share a cabin with my kids.

BUT. If the whole family was going, I would go.

I think there is usually a child center where you can drop your kids off during the day. That part sounds appealing.

[ECB]

May 29, 2015 8:27:07 GMT -5 ninjabridemom said:

I don't know, I am just picturing kids running from tiny cabin to tiny cabin.

I guess I mean the rooms are tiny. Will I even want my kids in the same room as me on a cruise ship?? lol

FIL took us on a family trip last year (he wanted it to be him, MIL, us and my BIL and his GF.  BIL and GF didn't go).  His first idea was a cruise and the bolded- that was EXACTLY my main issue.  DH and I have done many a vacation w/ DS in our room and in the end.... I'd rather not.

AND on a cruise ship, I felt we'd be basically quarantined at night once DS goes to bed.  Where do we go, what do we do?  HUGE reason I didn't want to do a cruise.  OR if we did - I wanted a room w/ a balcony so that at a minimum, we could go sit outside.  Adjoining room to BIL would have been nice too. 

But that would mean more $$ and this was on FILs dime.

Luckily we ended up going to Disney instead and he got 2 condo's - one for us where we had 2 rooms and DS could have his own room. 

[nomad100]

May 29, 2015 8:25:12 GMT -5 ninjabridemom said:

May 29, 2015 8:22:59 GMT -5 nomad100 said:

If it is the big extended family? Picnic in the park. 4 hours max. Boom. Done.

We live in 4 different states. MA, WV, VA, FL, and ID. No way we're all traveling just for a 4hr picnic lol!

I will for sure speak up but if it's majority rules I don't want to NOT go entirely just b/c I don't like the vacation. The family time is important. Like I said, we hardly ever see each other. I haven't even met two of the newer members!! (babies, 1 is 4m old now and the other 2yr)

Yeah, but it sounds like you like your extended family.  

Many of my extended family members are racists bigots so I won't spend any more of my time than I absolutely have to with them.  So I if I had to use vacation time?  I would likely skip it all together and blame it on DH's job .  

It is so weird how different my dad is from the rest of his family members.  It is like he is from another family entirely.

[shell403b]

I would totally do a cruise as a Family Reunion. We're trying to put together an Alaska one for my parents 50th wedding anniversary. We are a total of 9 people, though, so I don't if my answer would change if we were a family of 24.

[bittybomb]

I think you'd have more personal space and privacy on a cruise ship rather than renting a giant house for everyone on the beach.  Plus, there are so so so many activities to do on a cruise ship, so you don't have to spend every waking moment with those 20 other people.  I would vote cruise all day long.

[ninjabridemom]

Mormons, no boozing.

The childcare doesn't appeal to me either actually but I know that's my own issue.

I hope the cruise gets veto'd entirely lol. Jinkies that's how I am feeling. If everyone is gung ho we'd just do it but I will try to make it not happen lol.

[nomad100]

I will say if it was my mom's side of the family, I would be all for it. They are normal people and I like spending time with them.

[shopgirl07]

The thought of a cruise is miserable to me. I'd much rather do a beach house.

[ECB]

So, knowing you don't really like them...

first, i wouldn't want to vacation w/ them no matter what.

BUT past that, I actually feel that a cruise would almost be better. In a house, you'd be spending your down time in the common area, right? With JUST the family. Where as on a cruise- I'd think there would be more places to go hide. Granted, your room would be small, but if you could find other lowkey areas on the ship to hang out... I'd rather do that than have to sit around the kitchen or living room of a house where I'm stuck w/ these same people.

If you LIKE the people, a house is great because yo ucan all hang out together. But w/ people you don't like? It just seems harder to get away from them, actually.

[wambam]

May 29, 2015 8:32:50 GMT -5 ninjabridemom said:

Mormons, no boozing.

There are SO MANY bars on a cruise ship. I'm sure you can find a place

[ninjabridemom]

ECB I like them! I don't think I said I didn't? The Christmas we all spent most of our time at 1 house and while we were down 3 kids (unborn) at the time it was still crazy but totally fun. I like the hub-ub.

[Yankees21]

My grandma took all her kids and grandkids on an Alaskan cruise 4 years ago. It was so much fun, and my uncle died of cancer less than a year later, so I know my grandma in particular is so glad we all went and have those memories together.

[screwedup]

I think a cruise is an ideal family vacation. I am super private. The idea of sharing a house with with my entire family is my idea of hell. I would much prefer to be able to do my own thing on a big boat. of course, I love cruises and I don't have kids.