5 tips for bringing your kid on a Mediterranean cruise

We recently got back from a wonderful 7-night cruise of the Mediterranean, starting in Barcelona and going to Cannes, Cinque Terre, Rome, Naples, Mallorca and then back to Barcelona. And yes, we brought our six year old along. I think some of our friends thought we were nuts, but it was a great trip with him. That being said... here are my top 5 tips for bringing a first grader along on such a trip:

1. People will tell you that Rome is hot and crowded in the summer. You will likely say "OK, thanks for the tip." But you will not understand what they were trying to tell you until you are shoulder-to-shoulder at the Trevi fountain, hoping nobody pings you in the head with a penny. (See that elbow in the below shot at the fountain? I did not know that dude at all but I suspect I am also in HIS Trevi fountain photo...). I know everyone in our group found it overwhelming, even the adults. But to be a foot or two shorter than everyone else, in that kind of crowd, is especially scary, I think. We got in and out as fast as we could.

2. Unless a guided tour is especially for kids, it's probably not going to engage them. Exhibit A: our six year old repeatedly dabbing the blood from his loose tooth on his tie-dye (thank God) t-shirt for about a half hour during our Colosseum tour. I don't think he picked up a single word of the tour! But he did manage to leave behind a drop or two of blood on the floor of the Colosseum. Just like the gladiators, I told myself... (erp). 

3. Cruising on a ship with a great kids' program (we did the Disney ship) is worth every penny. Little Dude cheerfully stayed for most of a day at the Oceaneer Lab while we hiked Cinque Terre, and again when we toured Sorrento and Pompeii. He also dashed off to the Lab as soon as he finished dinner, which let us drink coffee and have dessert without worrying about his patience unravelling.

4. Bring Clif bars or other tasty meal-replacement bars with you when you're in port. This was a lifesaver one day that we got tapas in Barcelona. There was nothing that interested Little Dude except plain bread--but since he ate a Clif bar instead, I didn't worry that he was starving. Of course a regular course of gelato in every port helps with this too!

We also pumped that kid full of lemon Fanta. I'm not proud but I'm not apologetic either. If that was the fuel it took to keep him smiling and marching down Las Ramblas... I'm buying. Even if it's ten bucks for a liter. (The straw provided about an hour of entertainment too...)

5. The best ports for Little Dude were the ones without a Big Plan--ones where we could wander and discover things. For him, at least, a leisurely pace was the best. This of course is exactly counter to what most of us do when we have ONE DAY IN A PORT GO RUN GO HURRY MUST NOT MISS THINGS! For example, we had a great time just playing in the water at the beach by the Cannes ferry terminal (at right). 

If you have the chance to go on a big overseas trip but think your elementary-age child is too young, I say GO FOR IT. Just be ready to make space for their needs and pace in your travel plans. It's totally worth it.

Comments

[Erin Dionne]

Love this post, Pam! We took out 3 year old to Italy for a month, and all of us had a great time. Really, it's about being cognizant of their needs and balancing your expectations,