Cruises & Kids (2.5 year old)

So my mom is planning a massive family cruise summer of 2011. My DS will be 2.5.

Either Royal Carribean or Celebrity

Questions:
1. Is he too young for the kids program? He is very social & active and LOVES other kids
2. Do they offer evening babysitting for a charge? So DH & I could go out a couple of nights
3. How young would you bring a child on? We're not TTCing, but baby #2 could be possible by then. I personally wouldn't bring a young infant on board anyway. Just curious. Luckily my MIL would watch a young infant but I know my parents want my DS there so leaving him is not an option.
4. What did your toddler do for dinners? I'm a frequent cruisers and I know those meals last for 2 hours. Did you have them at the table and bring maybe a DVD player? Or did you put them in the kids program.
5. Do kids have to be toliet trained in the kids program?

Thanks!

Message edited 2/16/2010 9:32:53 AM.

Re: Cruises & Kids (2.5 year old)

My nephew is almost 2.5 and they just got back from a cruise last month.

Once he warmed up, he was able to go to the day camp/care they had on board during the day. They do not have to be potty trained however, they do not change poop diapers. They will page you on the pager they give you if your DC has a poop. (At least that's what the cruise line my sister was on did).

Dinner, the kid loves to eat, so the fact dinners lasted long wasn't an issue for my nephew. He ate dinner with them every night.

I do believe they have babysitting in room for a charge, my sister didn't utilize them because my two younger step-sisters were with them and she bribed them to babysit on occassion. Otherwise she would put him in the kids camp for a few hours.

Re: Cruises & Kids (2.5 year old)

Either Royal Carribean or Celebrity
*We did Carnival with DD when she was just 2

Questions:
1. Is he too young for the kids program? He is very social & active and LOVES other kids
*I didn't put DD in Carnical's programs, but every parent we talked to raved about it. So I would say give it a shot for one day, if it works...continue!

2. Do they offer evening babysitting for a charge? So DH & I could go out a couple of nights
*I know Carnival offered babysitting and I think that after a certain time they charged, but not 100% sure about that.

3. How young would you bring a child on?
*Not sure I would bring an infant...it's a lot of work in general and I think I'd rather just go with a toddler.

4. What did your toddler do for dinners?
*Dinner was a challenge at first. DD doesn't like to sit still, but thankfully we had my nephews there to keep her entertained. They gave her crayons and paper to color with, we played games, the entertainment throughout dinner kept her occupied and before you knew it, it was over. She had her moments, but all in all it wasn't as bad I expected. After the 1st few nights she kind of "got" what dinner was about and got progressively better behaved.

5. Do kids have to be toliet trained in the kids program?
*they didn't on Carnival

Re: Cruises & Kids (2.5 year old)

Thanks!! I'm so excited!!

Re: Cruises & Kids (2.5 year old)

I agree with the other posters, I just want to say that we brought DS on a cruise when he was 8 months old and while it was fun (a big group too, on RCCL) it was really, really hard. He needed a lot of crap and it was just annoying

Re: Cruises & Kids (2.5 year old)

Posted by KateDevine

I agree with the other posters, I just want to say that we brought DS on a cruise when he was 8 months old and while it was fun (a big group too, on RCCL) it was really, really hard. He needed a lot of crap and it was just annoying

Re: Cruises & Kids (2.5 year old)

I don't know about RCCL but my parents cruise on Celebrity a few times a year and I used to go on their cruiseline a lot before the girls. Their program is really designed for 3 and over AND potty trained. You can participate but I believe you have to stay with your child if they are under 3 and not potty trained. This is partly why I haven't gone with them since I had my girls. Also I can tell you that if they are not potty trained you can not bring them into the pools on board.

RCCL has different policies so I can't help you there.

As far as young infants - most cruise lines have an age minimum (6 months on some - 1 year on others) so you to check out each line and the itineraries.

This is what celebrity says on their website about their toddler (under 3 program):

Children participating in organized Fun Factory events must be age 3 and fully potty trained. However you can accompany your child to the Fun Factory or any organized activity. Toddler Time is also offered to allow the parents of toddlers and their children to interact with other children their age. The Youth Staff (X-Club) team will provide suitable toys and products for your toddlers. Please check the Fun Factory (X-Club) daily program for times and locations. In accordance with USPH policies and standards, Celebrity has provided each vessel with lavatory based changing tables and baby wipes.

Celebrity is a fabulous cruiseline - but it isn't as family friendly as say carnival or disney - RCCL is more family friendly than Celebrity.

Message edited 2/16/2010 11:26:18 AM.

Re: Cruises & Kids (2.5 year old)

Just to add this is celebrity's policy on in room babysitting:

Babysitting (Stateroom Services): For a nominal fee of $8.00 per hour, for up to two children within the same family, parents can arrange for a private, in-cabin babysitter. Children have to be twelve (12) months old or older to be eligible for in-stateroom babysitting and there are to be not more than two children per babysitter. Babysitting services are available through the Cabin Services Desk onboard all Celebrity vessels. Parents are asked to make all private, in-cabin babysitting requests 24 hours in advance. Private, in-cabin babysitting is subject to personnel availability.

When I went - people did bring their children to dinner - and yes meals are a long affair on Celebrity - you get 5 course dinners. You can opt to eat at the buffet however and I did see lots of families doing that. But yes people brought their children to the dining room. I didn't see people with DVD players however. You will want to get early seating for dinners though b.c late seating it at 8 pm. Early seating has far more families.

Re: Cruises & Kids (2.5 year old)

OMG, I'm extremely bummed. Yes I know Celebrity is great, but the kids program is age 3 years AND potty trained. Oh no, I'm extremely upset right now....


I don't want to be selfish and ask to look into other cruise lines, but that's really upsetting to me.

Message edited 2/16/2010 1:08:01 PM.

Re: Cruises & Kids (2.5 year old)

We are going to Bermuda on Celebrity. It is a huge family event just like yours (parents, grandma, siblings, in-laws, BIL, and the 4 of us). There are very few if any children's programs that will take them without being potty trained. Disney and NCL are the only options I found. Even then, they still need to be 3 years old to participate in the group events. Also, most cruise lines won't allow non-potty trained children in the pool.

Lastly, if you have a second dc, they need to be over 6 months for most cruise lines. I think Disney is lower. From what I read, transatlantic cruises require DC to be over 1 year old to even get on the cruise. There are also restrictions on cruising while pregnant.

I am trying to potty train DS in time for our cruise this May. He will be almost 3. I know that we can accompany him to the children's play area to play with the toys. I am not comfortable leaving him alone there anyway so I am actually happy to have an adult required to be with him. I think the earliest I would feel comfortable leaving a child alone in that kind of program is 5.

Re: Cruises & Kids (2.5 year old)

actually I was on the Carnival website and their kids program starts at 2 years old and they don't have to be potty trained.

I just spoke to my mom and she will consider Carnival then. I'm sorry, but if can't do the kids program and can't go in the pool, then I wouldn't even consider bringing him.

I know Celebrity gears towards an older crowd (I've been on every cruiseline). Carnival does cater towards kids so I'm hoping we use them.


I would have no problem leaving DS at 2.5. He's with tons of different people weekly anyway.

Still bummed out unless we use Carnival. Disney is not an option.

Message edited 2/16/2010 1:27:41 PM.

Re: Cruises & Kids (2.5 year old)

Re: Cruises & Kids (2.5 year old)

Thanks! I can't imagine my extremely active 2.5 year old (he's 13 mos now and bouncing off the walls, climbing, running, etc) not being able to do much of anything for a week. No way!!!

Re: Cruises & Kids (2.5 year old)

Re: Cruises & Kids (2.5 year old)

Posted by chelle

Posted by kerrycec03

actually I was on the Carnival website and their kids program starts at 2 years old and they don't have to be potty trained.

I just spoke to my mom and she will consider Carnival then. I'm sorry, but if can't do the kids program and can't go in the pool, then I wouldn't even consider bringing him.

I know Celebrity gears towards an older crowd (I've been on every cruiseline). Carnival does cater towards kids so I'm hoping we use them.


I would have no problem leaving DS at 2.5. He's with tons of different people weekly anyway.

Still bummed out unless we use Carnival. Disney is not an option.

IMO Carnival was all about the kids. Most of the pools were filled with kids...even the hot tubs. DD was in both ALL day long. They were all playing, it was so cute. DD even made a few "boyfriends"

There's an "adult only" pool and hot tub, so people who don't want to deal can get away there.

Camp Carnival is great....DD will most definitely be hanging there next time we go

Re: Cruises & Kids (2.5 year old)

Re: Cruises & Kids (2.5 year old)

What about RCCL - I know they are pretty strict too - but less so than celebrity. Celebrity is a great line - but IMO not so great for young kids - better when they are older and can do more. RCCL seems to be more family oriented of the two lines. I didn't look at their site to see what their policies are - but the larger ships have sprinkler park areas I'm not sure if they are strict with the potty training issues there as they are with the pools. Especially the new boats that have the carousel might work for you since they have a splash area.

What about Princess - I have traveled with them but haven't looked into their policies - they have some new larger ships that might work. I do think that they have age minimums to travel if there is a chance you might have an infant.

I feel your pain though I am a huge cruise fan but have several friends who didn't like carnival so we haven't wanted to try it - and so many of the lines aren't really "baby" friendly since kids can't go in with swimmies and the programs start at 3. We are dying to take a cruise but are holding off until DD#2 is at least 3 and potty trained so we can all get the most out of the trip.

NOT that I am advocating this but I have read on cruisecritic that some people get a balcony room and bring a small blow up blow up pool and put their child in that - um that isn't something I would consider but if you are taking a family cruise and it might be better than not going - esp if you are going on a cruise with say only one sea day - then you will be off the ship 90% of the time and you might not care as much.

Re: Cruises & Kids (2.5 year old)

I just got back from a Celebrity cruise with a 10 month old and a 3 year old. They do have a program for kids, but they need to be 3 and potty trained. Our boat had a "fun factory" that parents could take their younger children to, but they had to stay with them.

They offer in-cabin babysitting for children over a year. Babies must be 6 months to go on the cruise.

My boys had a great time. They went to dinner with us every night and the staff was wonderful and so super-kid friendly. My 3 year old could stay up for some evening activities and the baby just fell asleep in the stroller, so we weren't stuck in our room every night.

ETA: Unpotty trianed kids are not allowed in the pools. It kind of upset me, but I can understand why. My 3 year old is potty-trained and my 10-month old was too young to care.

Also, I have been on both Carnival and Celebrity and Celebrity was soooo much nicer. I found them to be really kid-friendly, too. The staff oooed and awed all over the kids and our waiters carried them around the formal dining room during dinner. They were great.

Message edited 2/16/2010 5:10:45 PM.

Re: Cruises & Kids (2.5 year old)

Re: Cruises & Kids (2.5 year old)