Janis Rossers's report about cruising with her son, DIL and grandchildren and Sue's subsequent comment about her son and DIL refusing to cruise has promoted me to write this.
We started cruising in 2004, firstly alone and on occasions we have taken Kai who those of you who have got to know me on here, will know is my grandson who has Aspergers and is fascinated by travel, in particular cruise ships and loves nothing better that not be on one. We have taken him on three short cruises before and he still talks about them now. Our other grandson (Liam), same age as Kai has come with us and he too loves it.
So in 2011 my daughter was 40 and wanted to try cruising, her OH was not at all keen, but we offered to pay for Becky as her present, which cut down the cost if he did not like it. Even though it was his sister's 40th, we still could not talk my son and DIL into coming and so, without them, we embarked on a 4 days cruise on Azura, and took Kai with us, as well as Liam. Did my SIL enjoy it..........he absolutely loved it and they are now hoping to come to the Caribbean with us next Jan. One down
Two to go Of course Kai being Kai he talked about Azura, his three cruises and how much he wanted to go again, and maybe Mum And Dad would take him for his 18th birthday. Most boys reaching that age would go to the pub, but for Kai that was never going to be an option. My son and DIL were still resisting, "too many old people", "too closed in ", "will be sick" ..... all the same old excuses came out..... Kai was still relentless. In 2014 Steve, my OH was going to be 65, the two boys were going to be 18, so what better time to do something together. We were all up for it, but still son and DIL were digging their heels in. We could have taken Kai again, with my daughter and her family, but it was a special trip and so both my OH and my daughter called Stu, told him this was about Kai, not him, and he should go.. it was not as though they could not afford it. Next day they agreed, we booked 6 cabins, as my other granddaughter, who is at uni, her boyfriend and our friends wanted to come. That was in April 2013, we had a year to wait and we could not tell Kai, as he would be jut too excited ... But we also never spoke about it as neither son or DIL we really bought into it. It was not until 3 days before we told him and still DIL was not overly happy
At the check-in in the Ocean terminal, I thought DIL was going to be sick, she so did not want to go. Checking in was quick, we hustled her on the ship, her face was a picture when she saw the size and enormity of the atrium and Azura, they went off round the ship like excited kids. Sailaway was delayed until 8pm, so by then we were in Brodies. Around 9am DIL asked when we would be leaving and I told her we have been sailing for an hour!!!! They loved the formal night, my son who does not do restaurants loved the Pennisular and the food, they loved Breakers, the decks, the swimming.. In fact fair to say there was nothing they did not like. I asked them on the last day, will you go again, it was a resounding yes, we want to do the Fjords on Britannia...... Two more down
So Sue, the moral of this long story is never say never........
PS.. Granddaughter who is 7 loved it., wants to go on a longer one so she can do more swimming! Other granddaughter and boyfriend,who are serious clubbers, loved it so much they want to make it an annual event, despite, leaving passports and money in safe and enduring a three day hangover - so all family converted - job done
) and will be going on Azura at the end of August and Britannia in June 2015, You could say we are hooked. 
