Thanks, and one more toddler question!

[mmcruise]

First of all, thanks to everyone who has helped me get ready for our first cruise next week (!!!) on Jewel of the Seas with RCCL. I have just one more question for anyone who's cruised with a toddler (my son is nearly 2 1/2).

 

We pretty much have port days planned, with my friend's wedding (the reason we're going) one day, and excursions to the beach at every other port, all set and signed up.

 

But there is one day at sea, and I have no idea what we'll do with him...

 

I know that he can't go in the pool, and he can't go in the playroom because he's too young for Adventure Ocean. Any tips on fun things to do with an energetic, non-potty trained toddler on a cruise ship? He's used to being outside every day, no matter what the weather (well, except in falling rain or snow or brutal cold) and has lots of energy. He's a pretty well-behaved kid and we keep track of him, but the boy needs to play, play, play!

 

Any tips, especially from RCCL cruisers, and anyone who's been on Jewel (but everyone else too) are so welcome! I will post my experiences when I return.

 

PS-big bummer is that RCCL is starting a daily playgroup for kids my son's age with parents, sponsored by Fisher-Price, but I called and it doesn't start on Jewel until March. Oh well...

 

Thanks in advance! mm

[tammitd]

I wouldn't worry too much about taking him in the pool. Just got off Navigator with my 1 1/2 year old. There were plenty of toddlers in the main pool. I would venture to guess that it pretty much goes like this. Unless somebody voices a complaint, they really don't enforce it. All of the parents on our cruise kept their toddlers in the ankle high wading section which is fenced off on the Navigator. Not sure if your ship has this though. I made sure that I brought my son after his morning BM to eliminate any chance there would be a problem, even though he had a pull up swim diaper on. I'm not looking to start a thread here of why kids shouldn't be in the pool. Just stating my experience. Have a great time

Tammi

[mmcruise]

Thanks, Tammi. Yes, I've read all the posts on little kids in the swimming pool, and know how controversial it is, so I agree there's no need for all those folks to chime in here, as it's all been said.

 

But other than the pool/not pool question, where did you go to play when it was time to run around? Is there any good public area on ships that serves well for just playing?

 

Thanks so much for responding - this board has been so great!

 

mm

[tammitd]

:) Finding a place to let my little one get his energy spent was not hard at all. He discovered how much fun it is to go up and down and up and down the steps repeatedly. I think I burned off plenty of calories myself. There was a big arcade on the Navigator so I was able to take him in there and let him run around also. The decks were safer than I imagined to let him run also. (mainly the pool deck because it's mostly closed on the sides. I think most of all being in a different environment with different people to look at kept him entertained. There were a few moments that I wished I was in the comfort of our home with his toys, but all in all it was a great trip. Put it this way, we're already planning for next years!

Best of luck. Let me know if there's anything else I can answer.

Tammi

 

PS I did take the suggestion of one mom and I brought a few toys that were not opened yet and I would open a new one every day or two. It was enough to spark his interest

[ALIASapoFan]

I haven't cruised yet, but I just wanted to say HAVE FUN!!! I am sure you will find something to do with him. I'm kind of sad for the little non-potty trained ones that don't have a pool to go in. I'm sure it won't ruin his trip though! :) You'll find something to do!!!

[lisaland15]

My almost 18 mo. old has been on two cruises--one at 14 mos. and the other at 16 mos.

 

We brought a stroller the first time and used it for about an hour. The second time, we didn't bring it at all. Making her walk everywhere really helped in letting out energy and by the time we were ready to sit or nap, she was ready too!

[KimberlyH]

My just-2-year-old didn't play with a single toy on our 4-day cruise... not ONE! I brought a small pop up hamper from Wal*Mart and put some of her favorite small toys in it and she totally ignored it. Dancing on the deck to the pool band, walking all around the ship, the afternoon in Nassau wandering the straw market and harbor area, etc. kept her plenty busy. Good luck!

 

Oh, and we only used the stroller in Nassau.

[dianelevene]

I would suggest bringing a bucket and a bunch of toys that can get wet. Even if he can't go in the pool, there is no reason he can't do a lot of playing in water. You could probably even buy a bucket on the ship so that you don't have to bring it. We borrowed a couple of those big cups for the tokens from the casino. They worked just fine for buckets.

[CruiseSuse]

I wouldn't worry about keeping him busy either. There are so many new and exciting things to see aboard, and yes, the stairs! Up and down! All day long!

I always have some party favours to bring on a trip (and also in a restaurant), e.g. little colouringbooks and a few crayons, little puzzles, tiny books, bouncing balls. There are little bottles to make bubbles. They are always a favourite with my son!

Don't worry and just have fun in the sun!!:)

[lisaland15]

When we had a balcony, I brought a small bubble machine ($10 at Walmart). We all really enjoyed it (see link below)!

 

http://community.webshots.com/photo/212146923/212152128utMkZN

[larkwind]

We took our just barely three yo on Celebrity Millenium last December for his first cruise. The first day he was really attached to our cabin (a familiar place). Then he adopted the Fun Factory as his default setting (the crew up there was superb!). We only left him there for an hour or so at a time so we had him most of the day--I would definitely hire a sitter for a few hours of adult time if he can't go in the childcare. His dad introduced him to the arcade... which he referred to as "the guys' place". What fun they had on formal night in their tux/little jacket playing James Bond. I pretended my sea card didn't work there--only Papa's. We blew bubbles off the balcony and just watched and talked about the water/bouys/boats as we pulled into San Juan harbor. We made a memory book (Walmart sells a blank Little Golden Book for $5) where each day we pasted postcards of the ship and ports and pictures of special crew. "A Trip on a Ship" by Andrew! We took a couple of new Jay Jay the Jetplane diecast metal planes into dinner with us each night and named them after our waiter and sommelier--who were sad when Andrew didn't show up on formal nights! We were the first into dinner and usually out first...no leisurely dining this cruise. We went to bed early (usually by 9 or so) and got up early, had breakfast in the cabin, played--generally kept our active times balanced with our quiet ones. We walked and walked and walked...and rode elevators (he knew our floor number and loved to push it!) Didn't need most of the toys I brought...you can borrow toys at the kids' place. Stroller used only in Nassau, but the crowd was horrendous so we went back to the ship and had the best day of all alone at the pool. Beach days were spectacular fun as he discovered the water and sand. Avoided sunburn like the plague. T-shirt, hat, sunglasses, suncreen, etc. someone had a blow-up ring w/seat at the beach and it made life easier for those parents.

Just tune into what your child needs even if it doesn't seem to fit the moment and enjoy the simple times. And don't forget to feed him often--or have little snacks in the swim bag--low blood sugar (yours or his!) creates big problems. The crew loved calling him by his name--even ones I had never seen before would say "hi, Andrew". And it was almost sad to know some of the waiters were missing their own little boys near Christmas so we were happy to share ours and brighten their days.

It wasn't our typical "us and no kids" cruise as in the past, but still relaxing and fun.

[mmcruise]

Thanks for the ideas and cute pictures. We were planning to bring some bubbles; those are always a summer favorite, and so simple. Water toys are a great idea, and so are those stairs. Love the memory book idea; maybe I'll find one before we go, or we can just collect stuff. He's a big people watcher; loves the mall, so people alone will be an amusement, that's true. He also prefers to nap in weird places (stroller, high chair, wherever) surrounded by activity, so he'll surely take his daily nap if I pop him in our trusty stroller. The balcony scares me; he's a climber, and quite the little Spider-Man. I'll scope it out when we arrive and may declare it off limits to him if it makes me go :eek: . I'm paranoid mommy, what can I say?

 

Anyway, you're all my heroes. I will share my experiences when we return. We've already planned to do another cruise next year if we like this one (our first ever), when he will be old enough for the kids' programs.

 

6days6days6days and so excited I can hardly breathe...

mm