nivek82

Our DD went on 3 cruises on EN before she was 3 and each time was in the nursery. It's great! The hours posted were what we saw last in Oct! They will give you a pager on the EN in the event you need to come back. Our DD was potty trained and 2 months shy of 3 in Oct but we kept her in the nursery instead of trying to get her up. It was worth the money to let her have a bit more one on one time and the key was a place to sleep early.

 

Now that she is 3 she loves aquanauts but I sometimes miss the attention of the nursery.

 

Have a great cruise!

I haven't seen it reported but our experience last year with the drink packages is that they were carding EVERYONE each time. This was the Jewel 4 night in March so maybe "spring break" was the reason or the packages were rather new but they required an ID for everyone every time (even the bartenders you would see many times.) Wasn't a problem but odd the first time we heard this but no worries carried the extra card with us (and actually got better service because we were prepared.)

Sleep

They might get refunded as OBC once onboard. I'm not sure why but we booked a b2b on the Liberty in Jan and everyone had about 30 or so pp credit on their accounts. I couldn't understand why but wasn't going to ask. :) We didn't midd any ports and the weather wasn't bad (so no real problem that would impact everyone.) Talked in the D lounge and others received it too but not sure why so everyone assumed that port fees changed at the new year and we received the credit back.

Called on Sunday (yeah I know what was I thinking, but then again do I trust the website on the weekend :) ) I was on hold for 15 minutes for the D+ desk. There were two of us using a NCC and after I booked mine I handed the phone over to the other family member (also D+) when the lady asked "is there anything else I can help you with?"

 

Maybe people can start this on CC. If you have a rep on the phone post it and then others can post their phone number and you can conference the other people in. No hold.

 

HA, maybe not.

If you have kids (or a kid at heart) the BR has a kids pool area that includes a slide (open limited hours.)

 

Our DD is now 3 and spent more time in that area then even the H2O zone on the Liberty.

Yes done many times. Depending on the ship though the tables might be close together but enough space to be "alone."

I think the poor LA's are going to be swamped now. It was nice to fill out the form and drop it off. Would be nice if they found a way to self service this on a ship (say using the pc's they have) but who am I kidding the normal website has so many problems I doubt they could do some thing like that.

Great review. We were onboard 2 weeks before you and again in 3 weeks. If it makes you feel better I also got stuck on the slide with my 3yo. At the time I thought it would be a bad place to spend the rest of the cruise and I swear the water was running off the sides behind me.

 

Do you remember the hours of the CL?

I usually go around 6:30. TONS of seats available, because most guests have left for dinner.

 

Same here and you should see all the seats left at 8:30! :)

 

Our plans normally MTD at 5:30, DL 6:30 or 7, back to the cabin around 9.

after my own experiences on the Liberty in Jan and Brillance in March really starting to think large ships are not the way to go. Good review but seams more and more of us are not having that perfect vacation as in the past (be it too many people not enough staff, other peoples attitudes, etc)

 

I wasn't there nor has it happened to me but if I was asked to move cabins I would sort of be unhappy that your family and friends were put in that situation (as I too would of felt bad saying no.)

Interesting thread. Our DD (3yo) has 60 points for 57days. Question for anyone would she keep any double points for diamond in December? I'm not counting those but it's a thought. We figure she will be at least D+ on her own by 18 but also won't want to cruise again. Also noticed on the last few cruises how the D lounge overlooks the pool. Had visions of years from now mommy banging on the vcl windows yelling at our and the other kids below. 😝

Our experience has been in front of the kids club area around 5 to 8 each night

As someone else mentions the only issue we had was the quest. This was the last night late on a 3 night cruise and it kept us up as the base was a bit. We also tend to depart and go straight to work the next Monday morning. If you plan to go to Quest should be a fine cabin.

Our DD has been on 13 cruises since 11months and has just started going to "the bid kids toy room" as she calls it. The kids program for our newly 3yo was just as good as the nursery was before she was 3. This was on the Liberty but I've read similar experiences. We were given a phone when we dropped her off so they could call if anything happened. They are real strick on potty. Must be fully potty trained including going without being told. This was a bit of an issue for us but we took her before and after. They will be in the room as up to 5 year olds but our DD loved the crafts they did. There were movies most nights and for us the only time we were called was when she fell asleep during a movie woke up and didn't know where she was.

 

So happy we don't have to pay anymore for daycare and she can do stuff like crafts and games.

 

Next cruise later this week and already I've been hearing about the big kids toy room and ice cream by the pool.

that 8 month old will not be generating any extra revenue( drinks, Bingo, spa) and WILL generate a LOT more work( diaper removal, pureeing baby food and vacuuming up all the crushed zwieback toast off the carpet) they are also taking up a spot on a lifeboat, away from someone who WILL spend money on board, which is where all the profit comes from.

 

Exactly! Though as someone who has paid for an infant it's worth it!

 

Speaking of prices. The last two cruises we booked with our DD the 3rd rate was MORE than the first two. (Resident rates on last minute cruises typically only apply to guest 1 and 2).

 

Even with that I don't think there's a better vacation for the family even when the kid was real little. Sure it's a different experience but so nice and the crew has always been so helpful.

I used Skype on an iPhone 4S on enchantment at coco cay a few times with great success.

Yes but it's more just the fountain and some sitting areas (and bathrooms) that is close to the ships. The public beach is a few blocks down the road.

Stroller depends how far and how much your kid likes being in one. Our DD doesn't like it but it helps going quickly off the ship and walking farther out. The free beach is about a 10 minute walk to the right of the port so a stroller helps us there

 

If you just want to stay close there is a fountain in an open area by senior frogs that the kids can play in. We found our dd likes that better than the beach and every time we have been there no one else knows it's there. There are also bathrooms right there too (in this open park not part of senior frogs)

We used them a few times before our dd turned 3 and the last time she was about two and a half. As she got bigger she could more easily stick her foot out and try to get out (but couldn't lift herself.). I doubt a cabin attendant would mind getting you one.

 

It really depends on the child but after our dd started the climb out of the crib and we got into potty training a cot like ones mentioned on here worked just as good.

 

I'm sure you will be fine with what you choose and your child will have a great time.

I've seen the hours match in port times with the kids area open earlier for "ship sponsored excursions". Not sure though if they check or not (meaning if they know that the families with kids in the age range don't have anything booked they don open)

Looks like you're not going after (for embarkation) or during (for disembarkation) on a Belieze cruise. It's been reported here and I've heard even reps for rci say that for whatever reason that port stop makes customs longer.

Great review. Our DD's first cruise was on the Liberty when she was 11 months. That was 2 years ago and our last cruise (I think we were on the same sailings) was her first cruise in the kids club not a nursery.

As you have said family and preparing helps. It's so cool to see a cruise though a kids eye. (Though as they get older it does get more challenging)

This review is bringing back memories of our first cruise with our daughter.

BTW you had the crib as soon as you boarded! Lucky you. When DD was in one the 6 cruises never once did we get that before the first night at turndown.

Cruise Critic can often scare the pants off you! If you use Cruise Critic's advice, and properly plan, you will be just fine!

 

We self disembarked this morning from Liberty of the Seas. We had a 10:55 a.m. flight out of FLL. I read and read the boards before cruising and they scared me to death. I took their advice, and it was the absolute EASIEST disembarkation I have ever had.

 

My son timed it on his phone from the moment we lined up in Studio B. 28 minutes and we were in a taxi.

 

We lined up at 7:20 a.m. after having Windjammer breakfast. Windjammer opened at 6 a.m. We took the elevator down to floor 3 with our luggage. You aren't able to take the elevator back down to floor 1. So you must carry your luggage for 2 flights of stairs. And through the winding lines. No big deal at all.

 

We were at the airport a little after 8:00. Easy! We were way early for our 10:55 a.m. flight.

 

Cruise Critic often makes me stress about things. Use the information wisely that is given, and you will do just fine like us! Enjoy your cruise.

 

I'm glad you had a good experience. I was just posting what I was seeing and hearing and not trying to cause panic. If your family had waited an extra hour you would of seen what I saw.

Well back this morning and things went much better today it seams. One thing of note at this port that I haven't seen at PC is that bags were all ready at 830ish regardless of what number they called. We had tags 3 and left when they said but three ladies got in the elevator with us and said they didn't know what they were doing but they were leaving. We asked what # they had and they said 31! Well they got off the ship and all the way to their bags no issues. In port canaveral it doesn't work like that to my knowledge. It does though make longer lines when people just do whatever.