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Due to customs, authorities are fairly serious about not bringing things from the ship onto land. There is some bad news — the inputs on cruise ship television sets are typically disabled. That means you can’t switch over the watch a DVD player hooked up to an HDMI port. That means the kids can stay and play while parents go explore ashore. If you are on an excursion from the cruise line, then the ship can contact you if you’re needed. If you’re exploring on your own, you’ll want to leave instructions on how reach you.
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Helping answer all your questions to find you the perfect cruise. Please note that these services aren’t available on these Royal Caribbean ships Adventure, Explorer or Jewel of the Seas ships. It’s important to check with your cruise line regarding their specific policies. Cruise lines will try to get you to avoid the competition by letting you build up loyalty status. But if your schedule is flexible and you like to shop around, you can save money without having to cruise with the same company every time.
When You Get on Board
Most large luxury cruise ships have nurseries and special activities specifically tailored to children, so if your baby is under three years old, this is probably the best option for you. However, some family-friendly cruise ships may have more limited options, and you’ll need to do your research to make sure you’re choosing the right one. Most cruise lines offer portable sleeping cribs for babies and toddlers. They are free of charge and available on a first-come-first-served basis. You should request and reserve one at the time of booking to ensure you get one since supply is limited.
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Be sure to pick your child up by closing so as not to forfeit any future use of the service. If your toddler is out of diapers and can use the pools, consider bringing their preferred flotation device since most ships do not have these available. According to Cruise Critic, you can book a cruise anywhere from 18 months to one week ahead of your sailing date. The earlier you book your trip, the more choice in accommodations you have. Additionally, the closer to the sail date you book, the better price you may find (excluding holidays or high travel periods). Taking a cruise with a baby requires having the necessary documentation, buying a ticket for your little one, packing the gear they need, and planning ahead for your onboard experience.
Cruising with a Walking Baby
Passengers are advised to let the cruise line know ahead of sailing if a crib or other supplies are required. Complimentary Pack 'n Plays are available for in-cabin use. Parents should look out for the fun Baby Chef activity for two- to three-year-olds, with toddlers getting to prepare dishes such as a pizza under the supervision of a chef. Carnival's standard cabins are relatively large, measuring 185 square feet for an interior stateroom and 220 square feet for an ocean-view cabin. Instead, if you need something for your kids to eat, you’ll want to make a stop at a store or restaurant to get something while visiting.
Booking Your Cruise with Your Baby
We offer plenty of kid-friendly shore excursions that can be enjoyed by all members of your party. If traveling with a toddler, make sure to choose a shore excursion that doesn’t have an age restriction. To start, all of our ships include a large outdoor pool, in which kids of all ages who are potty trained are welcome to swim, play, and splash around while onboard.
What’s the best stateroom for families cruising with a toddler?
Everything will take longer, from check-in to simply getting organized. And, as we discovered, the onus is on you -- the parents -- to ensure things go smoothly, from picking the right ship and cabin to figuring out nap times and sleep schedules. When you are booking your cruise, you can request your crib then. You can sleep with your baby in the bed, but this may mess up their sleeping schedule. If you don’t want them to sleep in a new bed, you can also bring your own portable crib. This is why you should research the cruise line before you book.
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As for gratuities, some cruise lines expect you to pay tips for the child and some do not. For example, Carnival’s policy is that any guests under two years old are not expected to have gratuities added to their account. Royal Caribbean, however, automatically applies gratuities for everyone — including babies. Norwegian charges gratuities only on children three years and older.
And nearby you’ll find racks of different sized life jackets. They are free to use; just find one that fits and put it on. Even if your kid thinks he is a good swimmer, a life jacket — and keeping watch — isn’t a bad idea. Cruise pools usually don’t have a shallow end and if the ship is moving, the water can surge back and forth making it more difficult for smaller kids to swim.
It’s easiest just to have them stand while you give them a quick bath. If they like playing with a water hose, then showers with the spray handle are a lot of fun for them. Most people envision eating in the main dining room, cracking into a lobster or slicing a steak.
On select ships, you can also take advantage of the onboard nurseries where experienced caregivers will look after your baby while you explore the ship. Some may even offer special baby laundry bags for parents, so you don’t have to worry about washing those tiny clothes! If your cruise line does not provide such a service, there are usually laundry machines on board the ship that you can use. However, this has started to change somewhat, albeit slowly, with most changes geared towards older children and teenagers, not infants and toddlers. If you’re considering a river cruise, keep in mind that rooms are not sized for family groups, swimming pools and fun kid activities are mostly non-existent, and childcare is not typically an option. Going with the flow and taking each day as it comes is a great way to manage expectations and learn how to cruise with your baby.
Kids love to swim, and there is only so much space in the cabin to hang wet clothes. You can stick these hooks on the metal ceiling, and use them to hang up wet swimsuits. Be ready and expect that you might not get the greatest night’s sleep while your little one is sharing the cabin. Some excursions have a ton of elements — taxi rides to adventure parks to beach breaks to boat rides. The smaller your kids, the smarter it is to keep things simple. It’s not often mentioned, but the heat and humidity of the Caribbean can zap the energy of even the most energetic kids.
Other times there are baby-friendly things to do that were put on by the cruise line. This includes events like character dress-ups and small parades for the little ones. Many ships (especially newer ones) also have designated areas where kids still in diapers can splash in the water by the pool.
And the background buzz could lull them into a stroller nap. Infant formula is not available onboard, so bring your own. Otherwise, you may bring your own pre-bought, unopened baby food and snacks. Children must be at least 12 months old on all transatlantic, transpacific, Hawaii and select South America cruises, as well as other voyages and cruisetours with three consecutive sea days or more.
To make sure your family cruise is as smooth and enjoyable as possible, there are a few things that you should know ahead of time. Somewhat surprisingly given Disney’s reputation, we found that the crew on our Princess cruise were far more thoughtful and attentive. Though the ship’s Camp Discovery program was too old for our baby, the staff allowed us access to Camp Discovery spaces when they weren’t busy (and as long as my husband or I was present).
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