The Griffins - Caribbean Cruise Gimme a Break

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This is Gimme A Break, where kids take over the family holiday.

It's show time. On Gimme A Break, the kids have all the say.

They decide where they go, what activities to do

and, most importantly,

they're in charge of the holiday rules.

Today, it's the Griffin family.

Meet the Griffins. Postman dad,

housewife mum,

12-year-old Joe

and 11-year-old Jack.

So why do the kids need to be given a break?

My mum and dad are always lazy.

Mum never joins in.

I'm a girly girl

and I like doing

serene, relaxing things.

One thing mum does like doing on holidays is shopping.

-Accessory shops...

-Perfume Shops...

..jewellery shops...

..handbag shops.

And she drags me and Joe behind her.

They like doing that.

My dad is a bit of a moaner.

"Oh, I don't want to do that."

What starts it off is they do a lot of moaning.

You can't go talk to him, because he just goes, "Ssh."

Moan, moan, moan. And I might moan because of that.

When it's really, really hot,

he'll just go, "Oh, it's freezing. It's going to kill me, this is."

It takes me probably half an hour to get into the sea.

And that's just up to my kneecaps.

We go on caravan,

boring, boring holidays.

-SCREAMING

-It's interesting to me,

but of course the boys find it really quite sad.

We take their views into account but, at the end of the day,

-we do what we want to do.

-We're mum and dad.

-We are.

-And that's what mums and dads do.

Right, Griffins, quite frankly, this is not on. OK? Family holidays

are meant to be fun, so it's time to do something about it.

Boys, are you ready to take control of the family holiday?

-Whoo!

-Hands on hearts please, and read out the parents' promise.

"We, the parents of Joe and Jack,

"hereby hand over control of the next family holiday."

The holiday is yours, gentlemen.

We'll chat about holidays. Parents,

I'm sure you've got something interesting to do.

If you'd like to go off in that direction and do it.

Let's go.

'What do the boys want in the next family break? I went to find out

'in the dreaded caravan.'

I'm not able to get my head in here. Look at this, this is tiny.

What do you want from your holiday?

Something we'll never forget.

-We love animals.

-My dad, he hates the water.

-But who's in charge of a holiday?

-Us.

-Exactly.

-Hold on a minute!

-Get out of here.

Something every day.

Busy, busy, busy.

So I've heard what they're looking for

and we've lined up three great breaks to choose from,

but can they figure out the holidays on offer

from the cryptic clues we've left?

First up, all Joe and Jack have to do is bring

the treasure chest back from the island.

Oh, yes, dressed up as pirates.

Oh, this is really working my muscles.

But as soon as they set sail, Joe gets into troubled waters.

-I need help.

-Land ahoy!

I've got it.

Safely back on dry land,

the boys examine the clues.

-Coconuts.

-A map.

We looked at the clues and we thought it was going to be somewhere hot.

-Oh, a ship.

-It might be a ship.

I think this break will be...

-going on a pirate ship.

-If it was that kind of holiday,

-then I wouldn't enjoy it because I get seasick really easily.

Oh dear.

Maybe that's not a good choice after all.

Right, on to 2, where I've set

the boys a slippery task,

to rescue these puppies from the middle of the ice.

Joe, come on. Go slow if you want.

Come on, Joe. I've seen the huskies.

We found two huskies and a card.

It says:

All right, Joe, the flag.

And this is the Finland flag.

Well, we found some really strange meat.

It was something like dog or husky or something.

-That's a disco ball.

-Probably the Northern Lights.

We think it was Finland and we think it will be like

to go on a husky ride or something.

Well, it will be fun for me and Jack but Mum and Dad won't like it.

They don't really like the cold.

Right, time for break 3.

Joe and Jack are getting

all wrapped up in this one.

Tuck it into my shoe.

There was this figure thing of Tutankhamen.

All that gold stuff in the tombs and everything.

And my brother had to put some goggles on and dip his head

in the water to read out the clue.

It says...

I think it's a scuba-diving

or water holiday and in Egypt.

Right, that is it.

Clues over, but have they guessed the breaks on offer

and which one will they choose?

Now then, we're about to find out where you could be going

on your break of a lifetime. Excited?

-Yes.

-Yes.

-Right, do you want to talk breaks?

-Yes.

-OK.

Break 1. It's a seven-day Caribbean cruise.

-Oh yeah.

-Would you like to know a bit more about it?

-Yes.

-Yeah.

-Take a look at this, have a look.

Forget the rowing boats, boys, on this break

you'd be living on the world's largest passenger ship,

complete with swimming pools, climbing wall and its own ice rink.

Your dad wouldn't find anything to moan about here, would he?

That's it. Hands up who's ever been surfing before.

Hands up who'd like to have a go.

Good, because it's got a surfing machine.

You literally stand on a surfboard and surf. You like that?

-Really?

-Yeah. That's genuine.

-Cool.

-But one thing, Joe,

you mentioned that you were seasick.

How concerned are you about this?

Well, it's not really on big ships.

But are you worried about it?

-If so, speak up now.

-No.

-Are you sure?

-I'm sure.

-OK,

I can now reveal that Break 2

is a freezing Finnish adventure.

Yes.

There would be no chance of your mum going on shopping trips.

You can go ice climbing,

riding on snowmobiles and sledding with your own team of huskies.

And the disco lights? Well, on this break,

you're in with a chance of seeing the Northern Lights.

-Amazing.

-So, how do you think your parents

would feel about having a slightly cold holiday?

-My dad would moan a lot.

-Have you ever been anywhere like that?

-No.

-No.

-No, never.

Time to tell you all about Break 3,

-an Egyptian scuba-diving holiday.

-Cool.

-You like the sound of that?

-Yeah.

Good, you'll like the look of this. Take a look.

You must to get used to plunging your head into the water

if you pick this one. You'll be staying in a hotel by the Red Sea

that has loads of water activities,

and you'll be learning how to scuba dive.

Your mum and dad couldn't laze around on this break, boys.

Well what about that?

-Yes.

-That was good.

It's non-stop, isn't it?

That's what we like about it.

Non-stop holiday.

Well, one of these is going to be their break

but they've got to decide which one.

I wonder which one they'll choose.

Give me your answer...

-..now.

-Break Number 1,

-the Caribbean cruise.

-You're going on the cruise!

I thought you were going to go for the frozen Finnish adventure.

You surprise me. Why the cruise, Joe?

Because it has the Flowrider

and it will be really, really funny seen my dad go on that.

Your mum and dad getting on the surfboard. That is genius!

Well, I think you've picked a fantastic break.

There'll be a very special treat for you.

During the holiday, I'm going to pop up and ask you a little quiz.

Get the quiz right, and you'll win a one-off extra-special treat.

Get it wrong, and your parents win the treat.

-Oh no.

-So as well as a holiday,

there's a little extra something. Good luck and have a brilliant time.

So the Griffins were squashed in to their caravan on holidays

are off to set sail on the largest cruise ship

in the world, whose top speed is a whopping...

How will mum and dad cope with not being able to laze around?

I'm seriously thinking about backing out.

And who will win the final treat?

We're going to have to guess.

No, this can't be. We've got to guess.

The Griffins leave tomorrow and because Mum and Dad

don't know where they're going, Joe and Jack get packing.

They always stitch me up, constantly.

So this is going to be an even bigger stitch-up.

-These should go, yeah?

-Yeah.

Can't wait to see them like this.

They'll have a field day in my wardrobe.

Hilarious.

My wardrobe is all labelled.

-Let's swap all these around, look.

-I do the packing.

I get nice white tissue paper and put it between the layers.

-Bra...

-I think that's...

-And they're folded like they are in the shop.

Just put this drawer in.

T-shirts rolled, socks are put in shoes.

We'll have them.

Everything's just ready to hang up.

The boys certainly will not pack to my standard.

Mum, I think you might be right.

After a little difficulty getting the cases in the car...

..the Griffins are off to the airport and Mum and Dad

still don't know where they're flying to.

-I think we might be going to Turkey.

-It's nerve-racking

telling Mum and Dad where we're going. BOYS: We're going to Miami.

-Miami?

-Miami?

Oh, my God. What, America Miami?

Yes, Mum, America Miami.

That's only the start of their break and the boys choose to keep

everything else a big secret until they get there.

-Mum, Dad.

-Yes.

-We said we were going to Miami, yeah?

But we're not going to stay in Miami.

-Right.

-OK, Joe,

get ready. This is our break!

A Caribbean cruise.

Blimey.

I was expecting them to kind of scream with excitement,

but they kind of just stood there, just doing facial emotions, like...

Opened our eyes and there's a big cruise ship there.

I was imagining the worst sort of thing and this, to me, is luxury.

I just... I don't... I'm sorry, I'm just lost for words.

They're really excited, but they don't know

what's on board and what we've got in store.

Longer than three football pitches and bigger than 50,000 caravans,

this cruise ship is an enormous floating hotel.

-That's really warm.

-Definitely going in that.

Look at the view!

Who says I'm volunteering for this one?

You're doing it as well.

No way are you getting me up there.

Woah!

-A bit bigger than the caravan, innit?

-Yeah.

Shops, shops everywhere.

It's like the Titanic.

Having found their cabin,

amongst the 1,800 on board,

Joe and and Jack let Mum and Dad unpack.

-I'm not looking forward to this.

-Right, the moment of truth.

What are we going to find in here then?

They were speechless when they opened their cases. It was funny.

They're creased. What are all these handbags for?

We like just chucked it in.

-What's that?

-We had no time to fold.

It was like an explosion of clothes.

You know how I like my clothes.

Look at the state of it.

They're creased, they need ironing. Mum?

We like to look smart, you know, and we just felt a bit scruffy.

Look at that...

It's not creased!

What is this?

Dad, can you put your fairy wings on as well please?

Are you seriously thinking that I've got to go out in this?

You never know.

When I pack for our holidays, you fold...

Yeah, three weeks before.

And you fold, and you roll.

You unfold, and you throw.

Out of ten, I would rate the boys four.

The way they've packed, minus ten out of ten.

But for what they have packed, I would rate them six out of ten.

The ship sets sail and Miami fades into the distance.

Next stop, Puerto Rico in two days' time. Let the cruise began.

Ahoy there m'hearties! Actually look,

it's only Jake. I hope you're well.

Did you know that on pirate ships every pirate

was given a vote to decide where to go and which ships to attack?

Well, on your break, Joe and Jack are in charge, so Mum and Dad,

listen up, because these are your holiday rules. Rule number 1. Mum,

because you make the boys go shopping,

you will be allowed in shops

for a maximum of one minute at a time.

No...

Rule number 2, Dad,

no morning, no groaning and no grumbling.

If you do any of those, there'll be a punishment. You have been warned.

And rule number 3, Joe and Jack can be as messy as they like.

Have a brilliant break and I'll be back soon

to tell you all about your chance

to play for one final treat. See you soon.

ALL: Bye.

I'll find it really hard, because the boys think

that when I open my mouth I'm moaning but I'm not.

I'm just going to be my normal self and it'll be proved

that I don't moan, moan, moan, moan, moan, moan.

I'm seriously not happy.

I come on a beautiful big ship like this with loads of shops,

and I'm allowed one minute in each shop.

After an afternoon of splashing around,

Mum begins to bend the rules.

See, boys, line.

'Not officially in the shop. The shop's come to me.'

So the following day, Joe and Jack decide to up the tempo a bit.

Up, up, up! Out of bed! Come on! Come on, get up!

-Mum...

-Oh, shut up.

The surfing simulator was a reason why Joe and Jack picked the break.

But Mum and Dad are beginning to wish they'd never got out of bed.

I'm dreading it, to be honest.

-So who's going to be first?

-Mum.

I'd sooner go to the dentist and have root canal treatment.

You're doing it awesome, man. You're riding it.

Mum surprises everyone by staying on her feet, something that Dad...

..Joe...

..and Jack don't quite achieve.

Perhaps they'll have more luck with the boogie boards.

First of all, we want the bottom of the boogie board

right into your waist. OK?

We're going to hold the board three-quarters up,

tuck your elbows in.

OK, once you guys get going, you can do a whole bunch of tricks.

You can do the barrel roll, you can get on your knees,

you could do Supermans, and all sorts of things.

Ladies first again?

One, two, three, go, go.

Awesome.

It takes a lot to get me in to the water but I really enjoyed it.

Once I'd been on, I wanted to go again.

Yeah...

Awesome.

Yeah!

The body boarding was really fun and I did quite well.

People were telling me to do 360s, but I kept falling off at the end.

Well done, Jack.

Very good, my man.

Go, go!

So much better than being in a caravan.

Something that we definitely would not have done

if we hadn't have been on this holiday. So it's been a change.

It's all about trying new things

as the boys challenge Mum and Dad to a game of crazy golf.

Don't want to start moaning but I think it's a bit too windy for...

Stop moaning!

Come on, Jack.

Come on, you're useless!

Look, I can't even keep the ball...

Dad has just moaned about it being too windy and he can't hit the ball.

I can't keep the ball still.

I can't keep myself still. This is absolutely stupid.

You can see, it's blowing a gale.

-Caught you.

-Caught me what?

-Moaning.

-I won't moan no more. OK?

-Good.

But old habits die hard. Before long,

he's moaning about something else.

Boo! See, the wind did that.

-Do you think I'm moaning?

-Yeah.

Be as well to stop. It's too windy to play today.

-No, we're carrying on, Dad.

-I'm off.

Family rule number 2 says that if Dad moans,

he'll receive a punishment. And the boys have had enough.

He's got too moany, so he's walked off.

Because he's moaned, he's going to have to have a punishment.

So they take him to the promenade deck. But Dad's not happy

that it's only him who's getting told off.

I've got to admit that Mum has been in the shops.

I just went in for a bit.

-More than a minute?

-Yeah.

More than a minute.

But you weren't there, so I didn't think it counted.

I'm sorry. I didn't think.

Mum, sorry's not good enough, like you always say.

"Sorry's not good enough."

Ha-ha-ha!

Show-off!

You just sneaked off, when the boys weren't here, you just went.

And I've got to work so hard not to moan. It's really hard.

-I'm ashamed.

-It's a natural instinct for me and shops, we're like that.

Why don't you get it over with and just punish me.

I'm fed up with waiting - punish me.

Put them on.

You what?!

And your matching wig.

Are you going to have a little dance?

Hit the street, go on.

Go and dance.

# It doesn't matter what you wear

# Just as long as you are there So, come on

# Every guy and every girl

# Everywhere around the world There'll be dancin'... #

Of all people, he doesn't really like embarrassing himself.

I think it was a little bit over the top, to say the least.

-It's not going to stop him from morning, is it?

-No.

# ..Dancin' in the street. #

The next day, the ship docks at the island of St Thomas.

Where the boys have got a special activity planned.

Joe and Jack lead Mum and Dad off the cruise ship

and straight on to a smaller boat skippered by Cap'n Jim.

Welcome on board.

-I hear you two fellas chose this.

-Yeah.

-You're gonna drive

your own personal submarine. And getting in it is very, very simple.

Now this hand sign, coming from a diver to you,

this hand sign's a question.

And the question is, "Are you OK?"

You have two choices.

You're either OK.

Or you're not OK.

While you're going down in the scooter,

each of us,

we have to equalise our ear and our sinus airspaces, during descent.

Pinch your nose shut and then try to blow gently

against pinched nostrils. Or blow your nose.

But the journey to the dive site is much rougher than expected.

And, as Joe feared, he's feeling seasick.

Joe's not feeling very well.

He's just feeling sick.

I don't think he'll do it.

I feel really, really ill.

And I'm... I'm quite disappointed that I can't do it.

With Joe bowing out,

it leaves Mum, Dad and Jack

to take the plunge.

Safely in the submarines, the Griffins begin their adventure.

When you're down there, you see all fish,

rocks, shipwrecks and everything. It's really nice.

I did feel a little bit scared when I first went in,

because the bubble took my breath away a little bit.

But that soon settled down and then I felt totally at ease.

It's like being in a goldfish bowl.

Everything went quiet. It was really relaxing and serene.

It was quite emotional really, especially when we held hands

and I could feel my family around me.

After 20 minutes underwater, it's time to come back to the surface.

That was just unbelievable.

-I want to do that again.

-Unreal.

It was really good, but don't you ever accuse me,

boys, of not doing anything again.

Mum and Dad may well be joining in all the activities,

but the rules aren't going very well at all.

At the next island of St Martin, there are loads of shops

and Mum is struggling to resist.

She's just sneaked off into a shop again

when you were looking the other way, and off she went.

They better go and find out.

..37, 38...

1, 2...

She's been getting away with it all week, basically.

But I'm not moaning, of course. That's not a moan.

..58, 59, one minute.

So back on board, Joe and Jack

decide to confront the rule-breaking head-on.

Mum, sit down. The rules haven't been going very well.

No, they haven't, have they, Mum? Rule number 3

says the boys can be as messy as they want,

but Mum just couldn't resist.

You have took our clothes to the laundry

and folded them, put them away.

And we've hardly got any clothes now.

It's not funny.

I had to send your clothes to the laundry,

because the smell was like seeping in to our cabin.

We couldn't smell anything.

It was seeping.

The punishment we have in store, is they'll have boxing training.

-That's it .

-Come on, Dad.

-Come on, this is your punishment.

-Nice and high for me, reach up.

Now, I want this to be a clean fight.

Remember why you're here.

You've been arguing, disobeying the rules,

and me and Joe aren't going to stand for it any more.

Now touch gloves.

Let's fight!

CHEERING

As the break comes to a close, Joe and Jack take everyone

to an ice show and they even get Mum up the climbing wall.

-Go on, Mum.

-She's going to get to the top

and that means I've got to get to the top.

Well done, Mum.

CHEERING

Can I come down now?

But before long, it's time for Joe and Jack to try to win

the final treat, to become captains of the world's largest cruise ship

and sound the ship's horn.

Hi there, guys,

time to play for the treat.

I'm about to ask you three questions. Get two right

and you win a treat. However, if you don't, your parents win the treat.

OK guys, here we go. Question number 1.

What did your mum say was the best thing about the break?

Did she say...

I think it would be B.

She was more excited to see the ship.

-Are you sure?

-Yeah.

-OK, we'll go for B, yeah?

You're saying B, having the ship revealed. Here's what she said.

The best thing about this break

has to be when the ship was revealed to us.

-Yes!

-Yes!

-Well done, guys.

Get this next question right and you win the treat.

Here we go. Question two.

What did your dad say was the scariest moment of the break?

Did he say...

I think it would be B...

Erm...

-..being at the top of the climbing wall.

-Yeah, B.

-OK.

-Here's what he said.

The scariest moment was standing on the surfboard.

Dad...

Yey!

Guys, if you get this next question wrong, your parents win the treat.

However, get it right and the treat will still be yours.

Question 3, what one word did your mum use to describe the packing?

Did she say...

Terrible, disgraceful, terrible,

disgraceful...? Which one?

She said both of them so often.

I need an answer.

-We'll go for B.

-If you want to.

-You're going with B, terrible?

-OK.

Here's what she said.

If I had to describe the packing in one word, it would be disgraceful.

Oh, no!

Joe and Jack have lost the treat. It's the end of the Griffins' break.

Joe and Jack managed to get Mum and Dad involved and all the activities,

even if the rules didn't always go to plan. But they lost

the final treat, meaning Mum and Dad get to play at being captain

and sound the ship's horn.

HORN BLARES

We had a fabulous holiday. It's been superb.

Even though we didn't win the treat, it's been a really good holiday.

And I really enjoyed it, so that was good.

Overall, it's been great for us and the kids.

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