Cruising with a child under 2

We're thinking of planning a real last minute cruise out of New Orleans for the holidays when Dh is back and before we go see the infertility specialist.

If we take Jack do we have to pay for him, he'd be 18-19months.

Also for anyone who has cruised before do they have porta cribs?

Re: Cruising with a child under 2

We booked a cruise on the Norwegian Dawn and DS will be 13 months. There are no programs for kids under 2 and they cannot go into the big pools or the kiddie ones either. At least these are the rules for the Norwegian Dawn. DS does not pay for a full fare. Only the taxes and the port charges.

As for the porta crib, yes they should give you one. My friend took a cruise when her DS was 9 months old and she said that they gave them a crib.

Re: Cruising with a child under 2

We took John this past July on a cruise. They do have porta-cribs. You do pay for him but they charge you the 3rd passenger in a cabin rate. I think we paid 3 or 400 for him (7 day cruise)

Re: Cruising with a child under 2

They do have pack n plays. We only had to pay taxes and some other kind of fee for Miranda (total was $99).

Re: Cruising with a child under 2

we just went on a cruise with brendan last month. i think all of the cruise lines will give you a pack n play type crib. as far as paying for them, i don't know what the cutoff age is, but norwegian is the only cruise line i know of that doesn't charge 3rd/4th passenger rate. they just charge you for port charges and taxes i think. we just went on royal carribean and we paid $300 plus port charges and taxes for brendan. ridiculous considering he didn't eat anything and was too young to be in the kids club activities. on all of the cruise lines kids have to be potty trained to be in any of the pools (kiddie pools included) and no swimmy diapers are allowed in the pools. besides the price, another advantage of NCL is that they have freestyle cruising so you don't have to adhere to their schedule for dining. you can just go eat whenever it's a good time for you to bring jack.

Re: Cruising with a child under 2

Depending on the cruise line.

Carnival has a program "camp carnival" but it's for toddlers aged 2 - 5.

Royal Caribbean provides Pack and Play's for use onboard. Pack and Play's are similar to a playpen. Cribs are no longer provided.

Pack and Play's should be reserved in advance so that we are sure we have enough onboard.

Babysitting is offered both in a group setting, and individually in your stateroom. In stateroom babysitting must be reserved through the Guest Relations Desk (Purser's Desk) at least 24 hours in advance.

It cannot be reserved prior to the cruise vacation and there is no guarantee that sitters will be available. The service is offered when personnel is available.

Children MUST be at least 1 year old.

Approximate Rate: $8.00 per hour for one or two children within the same family or $10.00 per hour for three children within the same family.

Times and prices are subject to change without notice. Payment must be made in cash.

Both Cruise lines your DS will be considered a 3rd guest and you will have to pay the full 3rd guest rate. It is generally lower then the 1st and 2nd guest base rate, but taxes, fees, and port charges will be the same.

Re: Cruising with a child under 2

Disney and Norwegian will give you a discount for a baby under 2 (you just pay port charges and taxes). The other cruise lines, he would be considered a 3rd passenger, it is a discounted rate but not as cheap as if you were just paying port charges and taxes.

The cruise lines don't really have kids clubs for babies.