Cruising with Five!

Becky Criswell2.1.20Nervous About Cruising with a Family of Five? Fear No More!There’s one thing I learned when we made the jump from (two) to (three) kids. Vacationing gets a little more difficult! There often are not as many options when it comes to accommodations for a family of five.If you’ve ever looked into a Disney Cruise, you probably know that there are in fact, rooms that will accommodate a family of five. While there are no inside staterooms for 5 people, there are rooms with verandahs that will fit your larger party, as well as a few oceanview staterooms that will fit the whole crew. But will it really be big enough(?) If you’re like me you may be asking questions such as:

• Will we be sleeping on top of each other?
• Where will we put all of our stuff?
• How will we all get ready at the same time?
• I have little ones, how will they take naps and get the rest they need?
• Won’t we be driving each other nuts by the end of the cruise?

I’m here today to put your mind at ease. After just experiencing a 4-night cruise aboard the Disney Dream with my husband and 3 small children, I can happily answer all of your questions and I think you will be pleasantly surprised.

• The room was more spacious than I expected. We were in an Oceanview Stateroom, which featured a queen bed, and 3 twin-size beds. The couch opened into a twin bed, while two other twin beds pulled out from the wall and the ceiling. Our stateroom attendant came into our room every night while we were at dinner and converted the beds for us. The next morning while we were eating breakfast (he?) folded up the twin beds, so our living space was restored. It worked out perfectly for us! I will say that if you have older children or growing teenagers it may feel a bit tight, as they may not be comfortable in the twin beds.
• My greatest delight upon arriving to our room was the ample amount of storage space! There were 2 decent sized closets, several drawers, and multiple shelves, as well as a very large counter space. The queen bed is positioned high enough off the floor that you are able to slide all of your suitcases The bathroom included several shelves for toiletries and we packed suction(-)cup toothbrush holders to attach to the mirror. Not once after unpacking did I ever feel cluttered or unorganized, and that’s saying something when there are three small children in tow!
• I admit the room did seem a bit tight at times when we were all trying to get ready at the same time, but it really wasn’t bad. There’s a decent amount of room when the twin beds are folded. The split-bathrooms are wonderful. If you don’t know what this means, the bathroom is split into two separate rooms. The first is where you will find the toilet and sink. In the second room you will find another sink and shower. It was very convenient to have these spaces separated. We were never fighting over the bathroom.
• There is a curtain that divides the room in half. On one side of the curtain is the bathroom and queen bed. On the other side of the curtain are the three twin beds (or sofa), and your verandah or porthole window. The curtain allows either side of the room to be completely dark and private. This is wonderful for naptime or earlier bedtimes! My little ones were able to nap every day in the queen bed while we hung out on the other side enjoying the view or evening watching tv at times.
• As far as driving each other nuts, I can’t make any promises!

I hope this has been helpful if you are considering a cruise with your family of five. Stay tuned for future updates, as we are about to become a family of six! I’d love to answer your other cruising questions and assist you in planning the perfect vacation for your family – big or small! Email me at beckyc@wishesfamilytravel.com