A ‘ Three Generation’ holiday

Barmeyoldbat is that the place that used to be the Nalgo holiday camp? I spent a holiday there when I was about 10. Didn't realise it was still there.

Hate the idea of a cruise, and as for taking young children that is a no no to me. Children like to run about, have a bit of freedom who;ch is hard to do if you are a parent on a boat, however big. I had a holiday with all the family and 5 gc at Croyde Bay at the Unison Holiday Resort. Excellent facilities for kids, right next to the beach, Benny Bear Club and kids disco in the evening and best of all happy staff.

Utterly hated our cruise and turned down the suggestion that we might accompany my DD and her family on one this summer.

My daughter came into a bit of money and offered to take everyone to a lovely villa for a week. One of her brothers said why would I want to spend a week with you all,I'd prefer my share of the money to have our own holiday. More fool her, she paid for his holiday too.

Problem is, if you do opt for the villa holiday it will surely be self catering and who will be doing all the cooking? ?

..."we had only met'...

We approached two 3 generation holidays (2017 and 2018) in a large house in the highlands with some trepidation as our 'family of origin' are all people who like our own space and the two partners were last minute "Oh, alright then" people whom had only met a handful of times over the years. We were rather taken aback that DS and his partner bore the children (6 & 3 yrs) off for the whole of their 3rd day during their 3 day stay and then DD's partner did the same for 2 days of their 6 day stay. However, we were also surprised at how tired we were doing stuff altogether on the other days and really needed the respite. We particularly appreciated the day we spent exclusively with DD while her children were out with her brother and his partner. It was not quite the gathering we imagined for DH's 70th but it worked out fine. A cruise would not, however, work for any of us. I think ours is a family of folk who tend to need time to themselves.

I’m another who’d recommend Centre Parcs for this sort of family holiday. We did as a previous poster, had one super duper villa there with its own sauna, games room, parking and hot tub, and a couple of standard lodges nearby, then we could all share the facilities. Lots to do for everyone, together or separately, and we all got together for evening meals, sharing the cooking or eating out. It was great. But.... I’ve just looked at prices with a view to doing it again next year, and the cost in school holidays is at least double what we paid. We’ve all shared a big holiday home as well, but it was very near interesting towns and sights as well as beaches. Lounging about by a pool or on a beach for a week would drive me mad with boredom. As for booking two holidays - apart from the cost, doesn’t that go against the whole idea of a family holiday?

After reading these I'm glad I haven't booked for dds1 and2 and family to celebrate our golden wedding. We're going to Seahouses! It's lovely in a fish and chippy way but if the weather is bad you just hope for the wifi to work to download kindles. I think op should just have two holidays, one cruise,one beach.

Go back to the others and just tell them that not everyone is happy with a cruise and then find something that would suit everyone - Centre Parcs is a good idea, a hotel that caters for children, villa etc. etc. Ask the couple who do not want to cruise for their suggestions. I suppose it is possible they are not keen a big family get together?

vickymeldrew I've been on one cruise- now known as the "Cruise from hell". My mother had a fall on the first night and the captain threatened to disembark us at the next port because I asked for a wheelchair (she felt unsafe walking far after the fall). We were stuck in a force 9 gale outside Lisbon (so never saw it)-there were objects flying about the cabin and I sent 2 days laid out with sea sickness (in spite of taking tablets). I hated the queues to get off and on and the checks to examine what you brought on board. I hated the pretend 'luxury' which is just Philippino and Asian staff working long hours for very little. I hated that they tried to sell you photos etc all the time. And to cap it all on our last day a passenger had to be lifted off by an Air Sea Rescue helicopter because he had had a stroke. NEVER AGAIN!

I’ve done two cruises, and been sea sick on both, it wouldn’t be my first choice to do again. Nor would I take a young family on one just to please other people.

Every family has different needs. I’m surprised by people saying that son should suck it up/be more grateful.

I would either find another option, or do two separate holidays.

I think it’s lovely you want to treat your family in this way

I know there are always exceptions, BUT I firmly believe that the only people who ‘don’t like cruises’ are those who haven’t been on one !!

We had a 3 generation holiday at Center Parcs in France, a wonderful time had by all! The weather was great and the children had the thrill of learning a bit of French along with all the usual attractions of CP.

Have you thought of doing a separate holiday with the family who would like the villa holiday as well as the cruise.That way everyone gets a holiday they would enjoy.You could later all have a short break at center parcs or similar.Children could contribute if money is an issue.

I ve never wanted to cruise and if I had the choice between a cruise and a lovely beach the beach would win every time especially with young kids involved
Hellsgrandad I ve just had a lovely long weekend at Centreparc with daughter and two grandchildren Everyone loved it I ve also had beach holidays in Menorca, Tenerife etc etc when grandkids were smaller I personally wouldn’t want to confined kids to a boat at all much more of an adult holiday in my opinion

Not my family Twinkle but a close friend paid thousands for a big family holiday for their 50th wedding anniversary two daughters, husband, plus their children the two daughters had a huge falling out and one daughter and family left after a few days, they didn’t talk for nearly a year putting the parents in a horrible situation, although things seem ok now The grandparents who paid for it all were badly hurt

Have you thought about taking each family separately to do what appeals to them and then take a short break for all at somewhere like center parcs. Then everyone does what they enjoy and you still get to be together.Children could contribute if money was an issue for the center parcs type break.

twInkle sounds horrendous, but at least you all remembered THAT holiday!

Good grief twinkle! Do you want to tell us more? (Nosey cow)

Can young children run about on decks of cruise ships?

Be careful what you wish for. Our 3 generation holiday in UK for my DH’s 70th, which we booked and looked forward to a year in advance, was supposed to last a week. It was almost a bloodbath, we all came home after 2 nights. Oldest GS was traumatised. Resulted in my eldest DD separating from her husband. However 2K well spent to be rid of SIL. x

Thank you all for your fascinating (and diverse!) comments - so much truth in all of them.... and I am still no further forward, until we have a family conference!

I'm sure a pool & a beach would be far more to their taste.
Children love the sea & sand & lots of other children to play with. Leave the cruises for older people.
But then I find the idea of being stuck on a ship a thing of nightmares. Nothing on earth would get me on one- all that water around & no land you could swim to if you had to ( even if you could swim & I'm not very good at it)
I couldn't stand having so many people around either- I like a very quiet, secluded cove with just half a dozen sunbeds & a nice shallow bay.
Luckily I know just the spot- roll on July!

I think you have two choices.

1. Do the cruise. Tell your offspring, this is what's on offer, all are welcome, let me know if you're coming.

2. Choose something else, which maybe all will be happy with.

IN all probability no. 2 will not be possible. Maybe your eldest DS and DIL don't want to cruise, maybe they don't want to go on a big family holiday? My ILs sometimes come up with ideas like this, and DH and I never go. I'm fine with my PILs, and I can handle one BIL at a time, but the whole lot together? Absolutely not! This kind of thing may work for some families, but many other adults don't really want to spend precious holiday time with their siblings.

Your DS and DIL are not being unreasonable in declining the cruise, but neither do you need to accept their suggestion of a villa. You decide what you want and do that, and let them then accept or decline as they wish.

trisher With you on this
I am on the side of a parent with small children who do not want to take up an offer of a cruise.
It is my view that until a child is old enough to appreciate what a cruise can offer ie going to bed,waking up to a different country to explore, party nights, entertainment, all the food you can eat so until then a villa, sea and sand, your own swimming pool for a week or two I am sure is ideal rather than the child /children placed in the on board ship nursery, and given the ships idea of child entertainment while mum /dad are elsewhere. We have children so it is up to ourselves to make sure they can enjoy a holiday as much as mum and dad and I cannot see a cruise as being one of them.