cruising_w_kids

I disagree with this statement, based on my personal experience (May 20 cruise to Alaska on the Grand Princess with my 1-1/2 and 3 year old granddaughters). Perhaps you will find some helpful suggestions for cruising with toddlers in my review:

http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=223953

 

I do think that your nephew will probably sleep through most of the train ride.

Hi. Thanks for this! :)

Gave me a number of ideas.

First, regarding the pools, they will be slightly heated, so they will be usable. However, unless the two year old is fully potty trained, he will not be able to use it (no swim diapers).

The on land transfers will be by bus or train, so I don't think its possible to install car seats in them.

 

Now, with all that being said, on land is going to be a lot of time in transport. You may wish to rethink this with a two year old.

About the car seats ... If it is true that it's not possible to install them, then why does Princess say on their website and Cruise / Cruisetour answer books that we are required to bring a car seat or a booster seat when traveling with a child?

Is there someone out there who has traveled on the trains & buses with a toddler? What is the protocol?

I agree that it'll probably be pretty darned cold. We arrived in Whittier on the Diamond on May 19th in the middle of a snowstorm.

 

As for the 2YO, they would have to be fully potty trained (no swim diapers) to use the pools or even stay in the kids area on the ship without out.

Hi Pam. Is this May 19th of this year? Is it normal to encounter snowstorms in Alaska in May?

We took our kids and grand kids on a HAL cruise to Alaska when they were maybe 8 and 11. They loved the kid's clubs since they had relatively small groups like maybe 15 kids per group plus a couple of nice counselors. They really enjoyed hanging with their new friends. The next year we cruised RCCL to Mexico and there were hundreds of kids in each group and the grands hated it and refused to go. I think your older kids would enjoy the experience but the baby might like a week at grandma's more?

Grandma is coming too. :) And Granddad might not be able to handle my nephew on his own.

********edited reply.********

Hi everyone. Thank you for your inputs / advice (good and bad). :)

Unfortunately, the decision to bring my nephew is up to the parents. And I don't believe they are comfortable leaving him for that long a period.

To 1025cruise: Thanks for letting me know that the pools are usable. And my sister is already planning to potty train my nephew. Also saves space for diapers. :)

About the travel time: We will be bringing our iPads to help keep my nephew occupied.

To nukesubsailor: I'm sorry that you had a bad experience with cruising with kids. But as said by others, not all kids are naughty. :) We will endeavor to teach the youngest to behave properly so as not to spoil the experience for other guests. Anyway, we ourselves don't tolerate bad behavior.

Thanks again!:)

Hi. This might be a dumb question but ... During the Tundra Wilderness Tour, were you allowed to explore / wander the park or was it just a viewing of the park?

Hi. This will be my first time cruising w Princess and will be going w my family including my 2 yr old nephew and 10 & 7 yr old nieces (age by the time we cruise).

We are booked for the 12 Night Denali Explorer on May 10, 2014.

Few questions...

1) Is it advisable to use the pools? The kids are avid swimmers. Even the toddler.

2) on traveling on land.. Is it required that we have the 7 yr old use a booster seat?

Would appreciate input & advice. Thanks! :)