An ex-colleague of mine had a spate of amazing, off-the-beaten-track holidays during our time working together. He and his wife had been married some years and I guess I missed the 'about to start a family' vibes (at the time I was happily single and had never been married). With five parenthood years and two-point-five pregnancies of hindsight, here are 9 things I have learnt are best enjoyed before wee ones arrive...
- Date night - the sort without a babysitter curfew.
- Babymoon - possibly a modern, fashionable thing, but since Papa and I missed not only the babymoon but the honeymoon also (work followed our wedding and the pregnancy came shortly afterwards) I recommend that others learn from our oversight. Our "honeymoon" included a very young Miss.
- Take a 'day' - spa day, golf day, fishing day - whatever sort of day suits you. Thanks to a dear friend (who clearly knew better than me about such things) I indulged in one delightful spa day after Miss and before Master - absolute bliss.
- Lie-in - as often and as much as you can enjoy. You may not have such opportunities again for a long, long time.
- Live music/theatre - I am yet to see a live performance all the way through without a "Mama, I need a wee..".
- Travel - most especially to intrepid locations. It will be far easier without all the baby stuff (even with children, I travel light, very light) and without worrying about any dangers to wee ones.
- Snowboard/Ski - Miss and Master cannot join ski school until age three and a babysitter would be needed for apres ski activities (see "Date night" per curfew).
- Movies - catch a latest release on the big screen, at nighttime. Kiddie movies and "baby screenings" are always during the daytime.
- Study - while not out of the question as a parent (many of us do it), things are far easier without juggling study with morning sickness or family life.
I had always thought that cruises were for 'old' people (maybe I am one of them...). But it turns out that cruises are fabulous for families and I have just enjoyed one of my best holidays ever - on a cruise ship! I have packed for many types of travels and Papa always ribs me for my minimalist packing style, but packing for a cruise is something else. Here are a few things I have learnt about packing and prep'ing for cruises.
Lanyard - for your all important 'cruise card'. All on-board transactions are conducted via the cruise card - no cash, no cards, no cheques. Your cruise card serves as your identification, cabin key, restaurant key, spa pass, meal ticket, bar tab, credit card and more. It is needed when you swim, sunbathe, eat, drink, sleep, shop and relax. You will use it more than your mobile (well, I did). You need it nearby, always. I purchased a lanyard (with my cruise card) and it really was the most convenient way to ferry and flash it about.
Chiffon-fabric type outfits - and 'male' equivalents. If it is light to pack, hard to crease, easy to wash and quick to dry then it is a winner. Evening dress code is formal and day dress code is casual - so a stash of light-weight, wash & wear, dress up or down items is essential.
Sun dress - the sort that suits for over-swimwear pool-side wear and daytime-casual restaurant wear.
Drinking bottle/receptacle - pinterest gifted me this tip and I dutifully packed three (Miss, Master, myself), plus my Victoria's Promise travel mug for tea. These were a massive over-pack. Our package deal included all the drinks we would otherwise pay for (large bottles of water/soft drink etc). If you do not arrange a such a package deal then, yes, pack your drinking receptacles because complimentary drinks are available at designated points in small cups (and if you like to enjoy your drinks pool-side or in-cabin then you will be purchasing them - with your cruise card).
Beach/Day bag - big enough to hold your 'stuff', but small enough to not be a burden. I recommend a bag with compartments or one that holds one of those handbag organisers as it makes searching for cruise cards (if no lanyard) and small items much less hassle (first world problem, yes, but then cruises are for relaxing, yes?). Items for your bag might include: cruise card, sunglasses, hats, mobile/walkie talkie, suncream, pool towels (provided on board), reading material, music device(s), ipad (etc).
Spa treatments - do your research at least a week before you leave home and book all your treatments upon embarkation. My package afforded me one treatment every day (bliss, I assure you) and it cost me the same, if not less than similar treatments at my local estate house spa (Hampshire, UK).
Food/drink packages - booking our cruise included purchasing an "all you can eat/drink" package. Food was available 24 hours of every day, as were drinks, and included in-cabin breakfasts (necessary to combat morning sickness). All cruise providers offer packages of this genre (and varieties beyond) and I recommend these as a serious consideration!
Paperwork - you will probably find a pen in your cabin but a highlighter (my Mama status means I always carry crayons which work just as well) quickly identifies activities and information of interest on your daily cruise schedule. As we also had Miss and Master's "Kiddie Klub" schedule to take track of I used my mobile to photograph such paperwork rather than filling my day bag with them.
