Midwest_Traveler

I might exaggerate bit 🙂 Prior to the baby, we were a carry-on only family and now I actually have to check a bag! Oh, and we have the Guava Family pack-n-play, which is worn as a backpack and can be carried on a plane. Huge gamechanger! Kiddo so far has been to Florida, road tripped across country twice to see family, camped in the Rockies for a weekend amid other multiple weekend trips in the mountains, and done a week-long journey through the Canadian Rockies. Infants do change the travel game, but it's been a lot of fun to get to take trips with him. I am just a touch neurotic and like to be overprepared, especially when I'm not able to easily get to the store to stock up on items.

I'm hesitant about the cabins because Carnival guaranteed that our balcony dividers would open. They did not and were literally rusted shut, so now I feel like I can't trust deck plans for details like that. But we're hoping to have a better overall experience than that cruise anyway 🙂 Are bottle warmers allowed? I haven't been able to find a clear answer online.

Can I request certain washes? We wash in only cold water. Or is it just take what you can get? We aren't going to use the porters because my son needs to take a nap, so we will need our large luggage and pack n play immediately. We can't really wait until dinner time or later to have all of the baby supplies.

I've cruised many times before - mostly on Disney, but one cruise on Norwegian and Carnival each - but am new to Royal. We are going on the 8N cruise on Wonder leaving 1/7. I did not realize that you needed to book a reservation for MDT (🤦‍♀️) and now, 18 days out, the only times left at 8 pm or later. We will make it work but I would have stuck with "traditional" dining if I had known it was not just eat whenever you want... However, that made me realize that I might not know other things about Royal that I should be aware of before boarding. I am the family "travel concierge" so I do get to make all of the non-major decisions. Everyone else just literally shows up to vacation without even printing the daily itinerary I have carefully prepared and emailed to everyone (the HORROR). Here's where we are right now: -Two linked parties: my parents and our fam (me, husband and 1 y/o) -OV balconies that should hopefully possibly maybe connect -All shows that we're interested in are booked - everything but Voices. We'll see if my dad/husband/son are interested in any of them 🙂 -Lunch reservations at Giovanni's and Hooked -Chef's Table for some of the adults -Drinks package for all the adults but me...I will be 20 weeks pregnant and drinking the ship's supply of ginger ale -Internet package booked for my dad who has work meetings that he can't cancel -I've checked us all in. Port arrival time at 12:30, so we are hoping to be able to go straight to our cabins with our mountains of luggage before doing anything else. - We're bringing our own pack n' play. It was easier with hotel stays before/after and I worry way too much about germs for someone whose kid licks her dogs on a regular basis. -No excursions booked. I wasn't sure how my son would do - he's never been to the beach - and the most fun options in my opinion prohibit pregnant people. -For the baby's sake, we are sticking to Mountain time throughout the cruise which is how an 8 pm ET dinner is possible for our group. -Rented a van to get to/from the port so we can stop by Wal-mart and buy a pile of diapers and sunscreen before boarding. - Yes, my OB knows I am cruising and has 0 concerns. Same for the kiddo's pediatrician. There's no laundry on Wonder, right? How easy is it to book a baby into the Adventure Ocean for under-3s? Kiddo has never been to daycare, but it would be magical to get to go to dinner with only adults. Are the casitas on Wonder shaded? Can I bring/borrow on board a bottle warmer? It would make life easier. Do I request a fridge as soon as we get on board for bottles? Or do I call beforehand? Is there anything else I should be thinking of/packing/preparing for as a newbie to Royal/mom of a baby/pregnant woman?

We're cruising in January with my son who will be 14 months old. I've been to most of the other ports that we're stopping at, but have never been to the Dominican Republic. He's so young that we can't go on any of the excursions and I also don't want to be locked into an 8-hour trip with a possibly grouchy baby. Is there anything near Taino Bay that anyone recommends? Is there a decent beach that's a quick walk/taxi ride so that if he gets unhappy, we could quickly get back to the ship? If not, I can stay on the ship while my husband and parents check it out. Thanks!