Cruising with an infant/toddler

Not really sure what to do. Dh wants to take a cruise later on this year and it will most likely be just the three of us. DS will be under 2 at the time.

I want to enjoy the cruise and time with both of them but I'm not sure about activities and nighttime entertainment that we can enjoy if either one of us has to stay in with DS or if we can take him along with us.

Am I making sense? I mean I don't want to go without DS just yet but I can't exactly picure doing the midnight buffet with him either?

KWIM?

Re: Cruising with an infant/toddler

Personally, for ME it wouldn't be worth it. If there were others going with you guys (grandparents, aunt/uncle etc..) I'd consider..they could at least let you both enjoy a night out, but if it were just me, DH and DS I wouldn't go. I don't think it would be too enjoyable for us. However my DS is also a HUGE handful and I could picture it being a disaster

Re: Cruising with an infant/toddler

I took a carnival cruise with my ds at 11 months, and we loved it. We had a great time together during the day and my son who was not a big sleeper would take a two hour nap each afternoon by thre pool giving my dh and I some time to relax. On carnival at night after ten pm they do have babysitting. We would walk the baby around in the stroller until he was asleep and then bring him in. They would give us a beeper and I asked them to beep me if he woke up. We only used the babysittin twice but it was really nice to have time to ourselves. My son really enjoyed himself and slept better than at home. During dinner they had there little shows just when he was getting bored and they would bring us anythin to the table that we requested. SO each night my ds had a healthy four course meal and he would sit through dinner no problem.

Of course it is not like cruising pre-baby, but I do think it is so worth it. Others will disagree. My son, now 5 can't wait to go on his third cruise next January with his baby sister who will be 2 at the time.

Re: Cruising with an infant/toddler

I just came back from a cruise without dd whose 14mos. We left her with grandma for 5 days. Royal Carribean told me that she couldn't go into the babysitting until she was 3 yrs old. Plus the fact that we had to pay for her as a 3rd passenger in our room was beyond me....its not like she was really going to eat anything. I think we will take her on a cuise when she is 3. I don't know I was glad she didn't go with us....I definately missed her but don't think I we would have enjoyed ourselves as much.

Re: Cruising with an infant/toddler

We'll be taking a 9 day Carnival cruise in June with DD who will have just turned 2....

I know there will be adjustments, but I know she's going to have a great time. She's been a great traveler so far and I expect nothing less this time.

I will be able to put her in Camp Carnival during the day if I choose to, so that would give me some down time.

And since I'm PG I won't be doing much partying or drinking, so I'll most likely be going to bed when she does

Re: Cruising with an infant/toddler

Posted by maybebaby

Personally, for ME it wouldn't be worth it. If there were others going with you guys (grandparents, aunt/uncle etc..) I'd consider..they could at least let you both enjoy a night out, but if it were just me, DH and DS I wouldn't go. I don't think it would be too enjoyable for us. However my DS is also a HUGE handful and I could picture it being a disaster