mengel246

Hi!

We are traveling on the Getaway next week (yay!). I have a 3 and 5 year old. The newly 3 year old was potty trained specifically for this trip and has done an amazing job (I thought he'd be 30 and still in diapers). I was just wondering if there were bathrooms all around the ship (including the pool area) so we can continuously have him go? We've been accident free for a while and I'm only having him in a diaper for our 2 hour flight to Florida.. but jus wanted to see if there were bathrooms around the ship for us to pop in with him as well. He's fine on a regular toilet.

Thanks!

So excited for our first cruise

COZUMEL, MEXICO (CHANKANAAB)

We were in Cozumel 6 months ago and went to Chankanaab and it was by far our favorite port of the cruise. We knew when

 

 

Hi!

Can you please let me know how you went about booking something in Chankanaab?

Hello!

I asked about the thermal suite a while ago and I don't need to know whether or not it's worth it (it definitely sounds like it is!) but I have a weird follow up question to that.

We're traveling on the Getaway next month. This is our first time cruising and we're bringing along our 3 and 5 year old. We're all getting very excited! However, I definitely need "me" time during the day, even when we're on vacation. When we travel on land I'm usually able to find a pool to swim a couple of miles a few days a week and come back relaxed and good. Obviously there's not a pool to workout in so I immediately figured I would go to the thermal suite. The Getaway has 4 ports on our 7 or 8 day cruise and we have plans to get off and do things at the ports (crossing fingers we don't miss any!). With that said, I'm not sure it's worth still spending the $179-$199 for the week or if they'll be other quiet areas I can sit outside and read/hang out that will be just as sufficient and save me the cost.

Any advice? FWIW my husband booked us an ocean view so I don't have a balcony to hang out on.

Thanks!

I believe they have some version of it. Do they provide snorkeling gear? Can you rent it there? I tried searching on CC, their website and Trip Advisor for an answer really quick but fell short with an answer.

Thanks!

I think you'll have time for both beach and turtle farm....beaches are public, so no need to pay the turtle farm to swim there. Unless you're from the Caribbean, you won't want to spend more than an hour or two in that sun...it's FIERCE!!!! It will burn you up, if you aren't slathered in sunscreen!

7 Mile Beach is on your way back to the ship....buses run regularly, so that's easy!

Thank you so much for your help!

Cayman is a 'tender' port

 

this means the ship does not tie to a pier ... rather it stays at anchor off shore and you must transfer from the ship to a smaller 'tender' for the ride to shore ... the ride is just a few minutes BUT

 

If the seas are too rough, tendering is not safe (crossing between the boats) and the ships don't stop at Cayman. This is more frequent in the spring than other times of the year. My last week stay in March, ships only came in one day, and THAT day the weather turned in the afternoon and getting folks back on the cruise ships was 'interesting" (I could watch from my hotel)

 

 

Most private excursion companies are 100% OK with refunding your $ (or not charging in the first place) if your ship does not stop. I dunno about advanced purchase tickets to the T-farm ... not the same thing. You should ask . . it is not mentioned on their web page.

Oh man thanks for the education! I didn't know any of that or even consider that would ever happen. First time cruising education :)

Hello!

We are traveling with our 3 and 5 year old children. Would you recommend doing just the Turtle Farm and pool area or leaving and finding a beach (or something else.. suggestions?)

My kids can nap if I force them but can also technically miss naps too so that's not an issue for them. I believe it's a pretty early port day and ship leaves around 4.

Thanks!

due to the frequency of ships missing their Cayman stops in the spring

 

I wouldn't pre-purchase any non-refundable tickets for Cayman "stuff"

Really? Why do they miss Cayman Islands? This is the first time we've ever been on a cruise. I think they refund if your ship doesn't make to port

Thanks all! I emailed them a couple of days ago but nobody responded and I wanted to purchase tickets for our upcoming trip.

Morning!

I looked on their website and the pricing says ages 4-12 for children. Does that mean my 3 year old will not need a ticket for entry and we only need to buy one for our 5 year old?

Thanks!

Next month we'll be on our first cruise. We will also be traveling with our 3 and 5 year old. I've been researching the ports and am wondering if there are some that are not really worth doing excursions for and just getting off and exploring since we have our young kids.

I'm trying to work on the port days for our vacation but find it kind of overwhelming when we have to consider the two toddlers.

Thanks

Hi! Your pictures are really great. What type of camera are you using?

Random question but do you know if they fold up the extra bed each day to turn it back into a couch or if you use it as a bed does it just remain an extra bed everyday?

Thanks

This is just a thought, but do your kids still nap? If so, ask your DH to consider how much fun it will be to stay in a pitch black inside for the hours they nap during the day. Cause having done that (except in a balcony) last year, I'd recommend trading off who gets "free time each day and who gets to play "sit in the dark trying not to make noise" game.

 

Might convince him for at least a OV. And keep checking prices

Hah this is the exact argument I've had! They both do nap still. My 5 year old is starting kindergarten in the fall, where she won't be able to, but on weekends and days they are in nursery school part-time they both nap. So funny you brought this up.

We are traveling next month on the Getaway with our young children (3 and 5). This is the first cruise for any of us. As much as I love my family I definitely need alone time to relax and get some quiet and peace of mind.

I was thinking of getting myself the weekly pass to use the Thermal suite but i don't want to drop almost $200 if it's going to an environment that is loud and not relaxing. I know the pass doesn't include additional services (massages, etc). My husband definitely doesn't need something like this so it would be just me purchasing.

Thoughts?

Original poster here..

The boy has done an amazing job in the last week and will definitely be potty trained by the time we sail so we'll be good to go for sure!

Thanks for all the help and feedback and words

We are traveling on the Getaway next month and my husband booked an inside stateroom. This is our first time on a cruise and we will be with our very young children (3 and 5).

I'm trying to stay positive about this but it seems extremely tight and extremely small for four people and I'm almost having anxiety thinking about it. The bed situation makes me a little uncomfortable (idea of my 3 year old being high up on a bunk bed) as I have no idea if the upper bunks handle adult weight). Am I overreacting and it'll all be ok or would you recommend looking to up to something else?

For what it's worth, I'm assuming the reason he chose this particular room is his notorious streak of cheapness (he even joked his new years resolution was going to work on being not so cheap).

Thanks for the help and guidance.

My husband booked an inside stateroom for us and our 3 and 5 year old children but I'm thinking of contacting NCL to see about switching that to a balcony. I don't know if that is possible.

Any advice on making that not completely break the bank and have that happening? This is the first time we're cruising and there's something about sitting on a balcony, especially when we are stuck in the room during naps/bedtime that seems pretty perfect.

Thanks!

Hi! We'll be in Ochos Rios in April. There's several options for excursions.. any good ones people have experienced with young children (3 and 5 year olds)?

It seems Dunns Falls might be a little too dangerous??

Tough call - it is not a petty or pretty matter.

In so much as the pools are chlorinated small urine accidents are overblown.

I have worked in an athletic club and serviced the pools jacuzzis and hot tubs

urine accidents while seemly disgusting do not warrant shutting down a

facility that is what the chlorine treatment is for - some cruise lines empty

the pool waters daily (nightly) and refill to specs suggested that if a kid had

done something that concerns you in a pool leave and come back the next day.

The chlorine does it work in the fresh water pools & hot tubs - the sea water

pools are drained and filled nightly and kids don't belong in them anyway.

Heck there are adults inebriated and as such that have manners that are

much worse and know better.

Number two is a matter of prime urgency and parents should be alert for that

no matter what their young one is wearing approved or not.

Remove from the pool immediately and matters attended to.

If noticeable residue alert the appropriate personnel to service the pool.

 

One very important cavet !

 

DO NOT EVER EVEN THINK ABOUT FLUSHING A DIAPER OR OTHER RELATED ITEM DOWN THE SHIPS TOILET !

 

It most certainly will jam the vacuum sanitation system and the maintenance

people will come looking for you with intent to have you walk the plank !

When this is done a whole section of the toilets on that line have to be shut

down and roto-rootered to unblock the jam. After the maintenance folks have

had a talk with you your cabin neighbors may have something to add. Oh and

airing out the pipes in the process is an oh so pleasant experience best you

not be at the scene of the crime.

 

But realize that accidents happen - be on alert to prevent matters made worse !

Hah so with the athletic club pools. . I swim for my workouts, doing several thousand meter swims several days a week with lots of other swimmers. I'm positive there's peeing going on in the water somewhere. All professional swimmers admit to it ;)

They can go near the water area but not actually in the water. I recommend:

 

I am not above this style of parenting... my threats have become empty with this boy on not being able to do anything fun on the big ship unless he's out of his diapers

How do you select boarding and disembarkment times?

I saw the option under my account, online check-in. Good luck!

We are going on our first cruise in early April with our two children, 5 and 3. I'm trying to get my three year old son out of diapers before this trip, but he is struggling hardcore. If we weren't going away I would give up and come back in a few months but because of this trip I'm sticking to it.

I did a quick google search but didn't see an answer come up about the kids area. If a kid is still in swim diapers are they allowed to go near the water area? And if not, what else do you do during the day with them, especially with a BFF slightly older sibling that is able to do things like this?

Second kids are completely different than the first.. oy.

Thank you both for these answers! Changed the check in time to 1 pm. Getting very excited for our first cruise and the unknown and trying to eliminate all the stress and anxiety I have in advance!

Hello!

We are going on our first cruise and will be with our 3 and 5 year old children. We are going on a NCL Getaway out of Miami in April. Any suggestions on the best boarding time to choose so avoid long lines, as we will have the children which adds an extra layer of stress and chaos? I read first time slot but that isn't available. The next one that's available is a 10 am one and it goes until 2 I believe.

Thanks in advance!