Questions, questions, questions!

[knox72]

Through a major change of events, we just booked the Legend and sail in two weeks! Have cruised before but its been quite a while. We'll be cruising with two young children, ages 2 and 3.

 

We've spent the better part of the weekend reading through all the information on this great site. We have made a list of some questions that have come up as we've sifted through the info. Thank you in advance for your patience!! Here goes:

 

1) Are the pools filled with salt water? Does that bother people/kids?

 

2) Is there an age limit for the water slides? Will my 3-year-old be able to slide with a parent or is it only one person at a time?

 

3) In the ports where there are water trampolines, is there an age limit on those? What about the port that has a chairlift- is there an age limit on that? (Port questions are coming in a new post!)

 

4) Does the no-swim-diapers allowed rule apply only to onboard? Will we have any trouble swimming at the beaches if the younger child is in swim diapers or should we make alternate plans?

 

5) How do you communicate with your cruise mates? Are walkie talkies really necessary, or is it better to just plan a meeting time/place?

 

6) I've read that the Lido deck buffet is pretty chaotic, especially for lunch and breakfast. Is this something we should avoid with two small children, or is it manageable? Again, we are cruising on the Legend.

 

7) When the kids are with me I usually have wipes, diapers, sippy cups, etc. for at least the younger one. Do most women carry a purse around the ship? Beach bag?

 

8) Are water/beach shoes necessary for things like Mahognony Bay, Playa Mia Beach Break, etc, or will flip flops suffice?

 

9) Are toddlers frowned upon in the dining room, even if they are well-behaved? We have any-time dining. Any tips for that would be appreciated. I'm envisioning having the kids with us a few nights but not all.

 

10) Are (nice) jeans ever appropriate in the formal dining room? Would khaki pants and a polo shirt be okay or do the males need to go dressier? My husband wears a full suit and tie 5 days a week so he has plenty of dress slacks but would love to leave those at home!

 

11) How much CASH do you take with you? Is there any other place we'd need cash besides in ports and for "above and beyond" tipping onboard?

 

12) If our return flight is late in the day (4:30pm) can we take our time getting off the ship, or do they push everyone out at the same time?

 

If you've made it this far, bless you! Thank you for any and all input you can send our way. I have lots more questions but will continue to read through the message boards and will probably inundate you all with more tomorrow! Thank you.

[firefly333]

Are you kids potty trained, thats required to swim in the pool, but no swim diapers, since they are required to be potty trained.

 

One at a time on the slides, I think some slides are 48 inches and some are 40 inches, not sure about the slide on your ship, depends on if it ends in the pool or not what the height requirements are.

 

As far as beaches, thats up to you, since Carnival doesnt own the beaches, whatever you decide to do, Iv seen bare assed kids.

 

You say formal dining rooms, but only on elegant night do people dress up, the other night jeans are fine. There is a buffet and other places to eat, like pizza or the grill if you dont want the two nights to wear nice pants and a nice shirt.

 

Cash is for gambling on the ship or for shopping in the ports. I bring a envelope of ones and fives for tipping, shuttles, room service, baggage handlers, it adds up, so I bring ones to make sure I dont run out. You will want to pay a taxi if you take the kids to a beach and dont pay for a excursion in ports in cash. If you get a cabana you will want another at least $10 etc.

 

I bring a few hundred with us, you may want more or less. Depends on how much you plan on shopping in the ports too.

[starstruck05]

Through a major change of events, we just booked the Legend and sail in two weeks! Have cruised before but its been quite a while. We'll be cruising with two young children, ages 2 and 3.

 

We've spent the better part of the weekend reading through all the information on this great site. We have made a list of some questions that have come up as we've sifted through the info. Thank you in advance for your patience!! Here goes:

 

1) Are the pools filled with salt water? Does that bother people/kids?

Yes they are salt water. Hasn't ever bothered me. Its ocean water and filter before put in the pools.

 

2) Is there an age limit for the water slides? Will my 3-year-old be able to slide with a parent or is it only one person at a time?

 

I don't remember if there is an age limit but if you fill conforable with your 3 year old on the slide then go for it but I wouldn't with my godson, I would let him ride with me.

 

3) In the ports where there are water trampolines, is there an age limit on those? What about the port that has a chairlift- is there an age limit on that? (Port questions are coming in a new post!)

 

I'm not 100% sure what ports your going to. I think Montego Bay has a chair lift? I'm pretty sure your kiddies are too young to do either by themselves so a parent would have to be with them.

 

4) Does the no-swim-diapers allowed rule apply only to onboard? Will we have any trouble swimming at the beaches if the younger child is in swim diapers or should we make alternate plans?

 

No swim diapers is correct for onboard, child must be potty trained. and in regular swim wear, however i doubt on a beach they will tell you anything about swim diapers.

 

5) How do you communicate with your cruise mates? Are walkie talkies really necessary, or is it better to just plan a meeting time/place?

 

we use a walkie talkie and notes in the room. We pick a channel like 7 or 8 and keep them on the keep in touch or you can leave messages on the voicemail in the room

 

6) I've read that the Lido deck buffet is pretty chaotic, especially for lunch and breakfast. Is this something we should avoid with two small children, or is it manageable? Again, we are cruising on the Legend.

 

the best Lido logic is to eat at off times, breakfast go early or eat after docked on port days which everyone is trying to get off the ship, or order room service instead on port days. on Sea days go early or about half hour before breakfast is over. Of course I've never been on the Legend but these are my experiances. But travel towards the back of the buffet and you will certainly find it less crowed than the front. I would find a table first and rotate getting food and sitting with the kids.

 

7) When the kids are with me I usually have wipes, diapers, sippy cups, etc. for at least the younger one. Do most women carry a purse around the ship? Beach bag?

 

Its personal preferance. Some have purses, tote bags, backpacks and cinch bags. I usually have a cinch bag or tote and a clutch for dinner. Tote would be find to carry in place of a diaper bag

 

8) Are water/beach shoes necessary for things like Mahognony Bay, Playa Mia Beach Break, etc, or will flip flops suffice?

 

Depends on you honestly. I'm a flip flop person but I can't wear then walking on the wet lido but I wear then in port and to the beach.

 

9) Are toddlers frowned upon in the dining room, even if they are well-behaved? We have any-time dining. Any tips for that would be appreciated. I'm envisioning having the kids with us a few nights but not all.

 

Depends on you, plenty of kids eat in the dining room, some bring a dvd player to keep the kids ocuppied. Some bring coloring books and such.

 

10) Are (nice) jeans ever appropriate in the formal dining room? Would khaki pants and a polo shirt be okay or do the males need to go dressier? My husband wears a full suit and tie 5 days a week so he has plenty of dress slacks but would love to leave those at home!

 

You CAN wear jeans in the dining room. and Khaki and polos are very commen. Neither on formal night however. Jeans and a nice shirt would be fine for any other night. No shorts however.

 

11) How much CASH do you take with you? Is there any other place we'd need cash besides in ports and for "above and beyond" tipping onboard?

 

We bring about $300 cash, but cahs depend son what you think you will spend and what you think you will need in an emergancy. Its all on you. But I know theres a way to get cash from the cage at the casino for a 3% charge i believe, been a while since my last cruise :rolleyes: but there are atms on the ship too. There a transaction charge as attention to what your bank will charge.

 

12) If our return flight is late in the day (4:30pm) can we take our time getting off the ship, or do they push everyone out at the same time?

 

You don't have to leave with your zone is called. You can wait for a later zone if you wish, so you can take your time, or you can make it easier and take your zone tags to the desk after you get them the last night and ask for a later zone number. They may look at you kinda crazy since most people want an EARLIER zone but they will change it!

 

If you've made it this far, bless you! Thank you for any and all input you can send our way. I have lots more questions but will continue to read through the message boards and will probably inundate you all with more tomorrow! Thank you.

 

Replies in red.

[katbat2]

I have observed people with small children in the Lido buffet area procure a table first, then one of the parent's takes one child goes to the buffet and comes back with food for the 2nd child, then other parent goes thru line and gets more food for the children because they usually change their mind about what they want when they see different foods:). We did a family reunion cruise and this is what family members with small children did.

Jeans are fine on casual nights, on formal nights you can get really dressed up or just wear either nice pants suits or dresses for women, while the men wear dress slacks and nice shirt with just a tie or no tie at all. Have been seeing men wearing the nice linen or silk shirts that are not tucked in on the past few Carnival cruises for formal night. So if DH doesn't want to bring a suit he can get by with khaki's and a nice dress shirt for formal night. Carnival is more relaxed on this than other cruise lines.

Have seen small children in MDR, most are well behaved, so this shouldn't be a problem for you and if you need high chair after the first night your server usually remembers and has one placed at your table when you arrive the 2nd night.

Definitely take about $50-100 in one's and take mostly smaller $$ easier to get change back than if you hand someone a $50 or $100 bill. If you plan on buying alot of souvenirs then of course you will want to take more $$. We usually take around $500-600 of course, depends on length of cruise. The ship has an ATM but charges about $5 give or take for each transaction.

Kids can swim in swim diapers @ beaches, have seen many doing this. The OP is right about potty trained to get in pools on ship. Yes, the pools are filtered salt water but they also use chlorine as you can smell it at times. Hope this helps with a few of your questions.:)

[KenMo]

1) are the pools filled with salt water? Does that bother people/kids?

 

yes...salt water. It might sting the eyes a little.

 

2) is there an age limit for the water slides? Will my 3-year-old be able to slide with a parent or is it only one person at a time?

 

no age limit that i remember, but there is a height requirement. It was also posted that only one person could go at a time. The rules will be posted at the top of the slide.

 

3) in the ports where there are water trampolines, is there an age limit on those? What about the port that has a chairlift- is there an age limit on that? (port questions are coming in a new post!)

 

don't know....never used them.

 

4) does the no-swim-diapers allowed rule apply only to onboard? Will we have any trouble swimming at the beaches if the younger child is in swim diapers or should we make alternate plans?

 

yes...no swimmies. The child must be potty trained. Doesn't matter at the beaches.

 

5) how do you communicate with your cruise mates? Are walkie talkies really necessary, or is it better to just plan a meeting time/place?

 

post-it notes.

 

6) i've read that the lido deck buffet is pretty chaotic, especially for lunch and breakfast. Is this something we should avoid with two small children, or is it manageable? Again, we are cruising on the legend.

 

i would say it's manageable. I would find a place to sit. One adult sit with the children while the other one gets their food. Then, one at at time, mom and dad can get their food. I'd also avoid going at peak times.

 

7) when the kids are with me i usually have wipes, diapers, sippy cups, etc. For at least the younger one. Do most women carry a purse around the ship? Beach bag?

 

i haven't cruised with small children yet....can't help with that one.

 

8) are water/beach shoes necessary for things like mahognony bay, playa mia beach break, etc, or will flip flops suffice?

 

i wear flip flops, but the sand might make it a little difficult for the kids.

 

9) are toddlers frowned upon in the dining room, even if they are well-behaved? We have any-time dining. Any tips for that would be appreciated. I'm envisioning having the kids with us a few nights but not all.

 

some people frown on it...but don't let that stop you! They will be welcomed in the dining room by those that matter.

 

10) are (nice) jeans ever appropriate in the formal dining room? Would khaki pants and a polo shirt be okay or do the males need to go dressier? My husband wears a full suit and tie 5 days a week so he has plenty of dress slacks but would love to leave those at home!

 

jeans are allowed on non-elegant nights. You can see the recommended dress code on carnival's website.

 

11) how much cash do you take with you? Is there any other place we'd need cash besides in ports and for "above and beyond" tipping onboard?

 

depends on what we'll be doing on any given cruise.

 

12) if our return flight is late in the day (4:30pm) can we take our time getting off the ship, or do they push everyone out at the same time?

 

you can take your time, but they'll kick you off around 10-ish. There's an aquarium right across the street from the port that the kids might enjoy to kill some time.

 

if you've made it this far, bless you! Thank you for any and all input you can send our way. I have lots more questions but will continue to read through the message boards and will probably inundate you all with more tomorrow! Thank you.

 

hth

[DaDivaMom]

Since most of your questions have been answered, I will suggest that for the Lido buffet dining you head upstairs. It's usually very quite up there and tables are readily available, no fighting the crowds.

[Essiesmom]

On ships where the slide ends IN the pool, height requirement is 48 inches. If the slide does not end in the pool, height must be 42 inches. No going down tandem. EM

[okwriter]

 

5) How do you communicate with your cruise mates? Are walkie talkies really necessary, or is it better to just plan a meeting time/place? NO, they aren't necessary. You'll probably be together more often than you think.

 

6) I've read that the Lido deck buffet is pretty chaotic, especially for lunch and breakfast. Is this something we should avoid with two small children, or is it manageable? Again, we are cruising on the Legend. On some days, you can also eat breakfast/lunch in the dining room, and don't forget about room service! But you'll manage fine at the Lido buffet, too. ;)

 

7) When the kids are with me I usually have wipes, diapers, sippy cups, etc. for at least the younger one. Do most women carry a purse around the ship? Beach bag? You can, but you're never far from your cabin while on board.

 

9) Are toddlers frowned upon in the dining room, even if they are well-behaved? We have any-time dining. Any tips for that would be appreciated. I'm envisioning having the kids with us a few nights but not all. Don't worry about it! Take your kids!!!

 

10) Are (nice) jeans ever appropriate in the formal dining room? Would khaki pants and a polo shirt be okay or do the males need to go dressier? My husband wears a full suit and tie 5 days a week so he has plenty of dress slacks but would love to leave those at home! Jeans are appropriate, yes.

 

 

Enjoy your cruise!

[Shelleywood]

You got a lot of good answers so I'll just throw in a comment or two. The water trampolines on most of the beaches in Cozumel do not have an age limit. The problem you will run into with such small children is the trampolines are not in shallow water. You have to swim out a good ways and then climb on board. Shouldn't be a problem for you once you get there and get them on.

 

We have always cruised with our children and I always bring a backpack/beach bag. I keep everything in it they may need and drag it all over the ship and in the ports. Breakfast and lunch on the lido is chaotic at times but can be done. I recommend, as the previous poster suggested, one person finding a table while the other fixes the food and brings it back to the table. Or if you eat at the earlier or later dining times it shouldn't be too crowded. If you feel overwhelmed after trying it then try eating in the dining room. The breakfast and lunch there are very nice also.

Good luck and have a wonderful cruise!:)

[blroper]

It sounds like you will be on our sailing (May 2). We have a roll call. Come join us.

[ms-getaway]

Are you kids potty trained, thats required to swim in the pool, but no swim diapers, since they are required to be potty trained.

 

One at a time on the slides, I think some slides are 48 inches and some are 40 inches, not sure about the slide on your ship, depends on if it ends in the pool or not what the height requirements are.

 

As far as beaches, thats up to you, since Carnival doesnt own the beaches, whatever you decide to do, Iv seen bare assed kids.

 

You say formal dining rooms, but only on elegant night do people dress up, the other night jeans are fine. There is a buffet and other places to eat, like pizza or the grill if you dont want the two nights to wear nice pants and a nice shirt.

 

Cash is for gambling on the ship or for shopping in the ports. I bring a envelope of ones and fives for tipping, shuttles, room service, baggage handlers, it adds up, so I bring ones to make sure I dont run out. You will want to pay a taxi if you take the kids to a beach and dont pay for a excursion in ports in cash. If you get a cabana you will want another at least $10 etc.

 

I bring a few hundred with us, you may want more or less. Depends on how much you plan on shopping in the ports too.

 

 

I love it Fire!!! Bare assed kids:D

[cjackso8]

I don't have kids, so I can't comment on a lot of this. I will say that I did the Playa Mia beach break, (I had a blast) Water trampolines are quite a ways out, I don't know that I would feel safe taking kids that small out to one (and I'm a very strong swimmer) It just doesnt seem like a good Idea to me. Plus, there were a lot of "big kids" using the trampoline (there's only one) and they were being rough, and were on it for pretty much the duration of the excursion. The beach is nice there. I would say you should be ok with flip flops, I walked around barefoot the whole time and didn't have a problem other than the sand was HOT. also, they don't have beach umbrellas if it is windy, which makes shade scarce (unless you sit in the pavillion the whole time) so take lots of sunscreen and maybe some hats. There is a playground at the entrance of the resort, which includes a trampoline if they really want to do some jumping.

 

As far as cash, I take about $300. I've had a hard time with my credit card in foreign countries before, so I feel more confident using cash for the things I need.

 

Hope that some of this helps!

[poobears]

For the beach I would get water shoes for the kids. Will be much easier for them to walk without tripping and you won't have to worry about scraped up or hot feet.

 

I would not take children that age out on a water trampoline, like mentioned it's a ways out and the water can be decieving. Looks smooth on top but kind of swift underneath as you go out further. If you do at least put a life jacket on them in case they fall off.

[poobears]

Oh dont' forget you can always bring a few floaty toys of your own. They don't take up hardly any room when they are deflated and woudln't take much to blow them up. If there are other kids around you can always leave them for them to play with if you don't want to haul them back to the ship. Sand bucket and shovel are fun at that age too.