Best cruise for 2.5 year old

[pitz0005]

My wife and I have been on several cruises (Carnival, NCL, RCCL). We now have have a 2.5 year old and a baby who would be 6 mos at the time of the cruise. We have never brought the kids along. We are debating on bringing the 2.5 yr old along in January 2012 and leaving the 6 month old with G-Ma. We are also trying to convince some friends in a similar situation to come along with their 2.5 year old.

 

Based on my reasearch it appears the best options would be Carnival or NCL. I am thinking it would be nice to go out of Port Canaveral due to the cost of flights to MCO versus MIA or FLL. The only NCL cruise they have is the Sun which I have done and was not a huge fan of. Carnival has the Dream which has mixed reviews.

 

I was looking at the western route with Cozumel, Belize, Roatan, and Costa Maya. We most likely would not do anything in Belize due to the fact that we have been there several times and don't like it; plus it is a tender port. The others ports seem to have fairly easy access to beaches to hang out on.

 

I would like to bring the 2.5 year old with, but with nap times, etc it could be trouble. What have others done? Also what about dinner? Have you put them in camp or mix it up (buffet, mdr, room service) depending on the night? Also we usually put him to bed at 8:00 but babysitting does not start until 10:00. Do most people keep them up till 10 or just crash early? We would not be out every night and could switch nights with our friends if they come, but it would be nice to go out to a show or the casino between 9:00 and 12:00 a couple of nights.

 

I am just trying to get a feel for what we would be in for. I realize ideally we would wait until next year when he is 3.5, but life is short... Sorry for the long post. Any help is appreciated. Thanks!

[pitz0005]

Another question. Does anyone know if Carnival has any pools/splash areas for non potty trained kids? He is working on it now, but I don't want to count on it 6 months from now.

[MentalVacation]

I will tell you that we are doing Carnival with our 2 1/2 yr old in Feb, b/c their camp is ages 2 and up. NCL might be as well but I have an inexplicable bias against NCL that is based entirely on how they paint the outside of their ships. I told you it was inexplicable. Don't try to comprehend it. LOL

 

We are taking a 5 1/2 and 2 1/2 yr old. Ironically, we are pondering taking them cave tubing in Belize b/c I read on here you could do that with kiddos in the lap. Last time we were in Belize we loved it -- did a great snorkeling tour. But that is obviously a no-go this time, if we end up in Belize. We are down to two itineraries. The other hits GC, Jamaica and Key West.

 

We're going to mix it up with MDR and other options. I hope to bring the kids to the MDR at least 1 or 2 nights but we will see.

[pitz0005]

Thanks Mental, but there must be others out there who have some info on what to expect. Also am I correct that the Dream has no baby splash zone like some of the RCCL ships. Is there any in room baby sitting? My biggest question right now is about camp at night time. Is camp carnival closed from 5-7 every night? My thought right now is to take the 2.5 yo to the buffet at 6 a few nights then drop him off at camp at 7 (if he allows it), then go to dinner. Will they put the children to bed or do they keep them awake until you show up? Sorry if some of these are stupid questions, but I have not had much luck so far with the serach function. Thanks again for any help.

[boulders]

Thanks Mental, but there must be others out there who have some info on what to expect. Also am I correct that the Dream has no baby splash zone like some of the RCCL ships. Is there any in room baby sitting? My biggest question right now is about camp at night time. Is camp carnival closed from 5-7 every night? My thought right now is to take the 2.5 yo to the buffet at 6 a few nights then drop him off at camp at 7 (if he allows it), then go to dinner. Will they put the children to bed or do they keep them awake until you show up? Sorry if some of these are stupid questions, but I have not had much luck so far with the serach function. Thanks again for any help.

 

No baby splash zones on Carnival ships. No in room sitting either. Both of those are found on RCCL ships.

 

Sometimes Camp Carnival takes the kids to the buffet for dinner.

 

Not sure about the "putting to bed" part.

[milton333]

RCCL Oasis, Allure, Freedom, Liberty (and Independence? not sure) have a baby pool for non-potty trained kids. It's literally 2 inches of water in a tiny area, though. Technically, the splash zone with the sculptures is off-limits to non-potty trained kids. The issue is fecal contamination, though, so if your little one is fully #2 trained but still working on staying totally dry, you would be fine. Swim diapers are not allowed in the sculpture area. Freedom of the Seas leaves out of Port Canaveral.

 

The above RCCL ships have a couple of other options for child care. One is in-room babysitting, by a team of 2 volunteer crew members. This is pricey (prices vary, I've heard between $12-19/hour per child), and there is limited availability, but it's an option.

 

The ships above also have the Royal Babies/Royal Tots nursery that watches kids 6 months to 3 years, for an hourly fee. I believe it is generally open from 6pm to midnight, except on night 1, as far as dinner is concerned, and mostly open during the day. I'll be sailing on Freedom next month and will report back. Here's a report from the Liberty of the Seas: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?p=28325488#post28325488

 

NCL Epic has a splash zone that is technically off-limits to non-potty trained kids, but there are reports of parents with tots in that area. YMMV. That's the only NCL ship with any kind of splash zone.

 

Many of the Carnival ships have a splash zone, but it's not for non-potty trained kids. Magic, Dream, Splendor, I'm not sure all of them, but if you google Carnival splash zone you'll find some relevant results, and can read more on the Carnival website.

 

Otherwise, Disney ships have swim pools for kids not in diapers, and have nurseries that take kids as young as 3 months. Disney charges an hourly rate, and hours of availability "vary." As far as pricing, Disney is generally more expensive, but can be quite comparable to RCCL during off-peak travel (not spring break or summer).

[milton333]

One thing I should ask is whether you've traveled with the kids before, and what your parenting style is like.

 

We've traveled quite a bit with our son, now 18 months, though we have not yet cruised with him (next month). We're also attachment parents and spend a lot of time with him, and I breastfed, so leaving him behind was never an option.

 

I would recommend a balcony cabin. When we've traveled to resorts, we've had balcony rooms, and it's pleasant to be out there while DS was napping during the day. We found that quiet time to sit and talk with each other, maybe have a drink, out on the balcony was quality couple time. It wasn't dancing and fine dining, but it was really connecting with each other.

 

We have a video baby monitor that we bring when we travel. We have used it on the balcony to monitor what's happening inside the room. We have "traded off," with one of us going to do something while the other hung out while LO was napping.

 

If you get a good quality umbrella stroller that reclines, you may be able to get your LO to nap while you walk around the ship. As far as I know, all ships have walking tracks. The RCCL ships have indoor promenade areas with cafes and shops that you can walk around. I believe that most ships have a shopping area that you can walk around. It's a way to be out and about while LO naps during the day. Some people have reported success with taking a napping baby in stroller to evening shows.

 

We're still getting up at the crack of dawn with our son, so staying out at night just really isn't practical for us. When we have traveled, we have either been out on the balcony, or if we're staying with friends/relatives, have been out on a patio or elsewhere in their homes, with the video monitor on.

 

We are exploring the nursery on Freedom of the Seas for maybe 1-2 late nights for us. DS would fall asleep there and we would retrieve him and get him re-settled when back at our room.

 

But we also believe that DS is young for a very short time, and we really want to be together as a family, since we're apart so much during the work week. We can accept that there will be limitations on what we can do on vacation while he's young. We don't feel cheated, and we aren't trying to force a honeymoon-style couples vacation onto a family trip. DH and I were high school sweethearts and have been together for 20 years, married for 15 next year. There has been plenty of fun couple time, and there will be in the future. We take a long view of things.

 

If your parenting philosophy is different, or you don't want to spend the money on this vacation if it can't be just like what you've done in the past, then you may want to reconsider traveling with kids, or do it in the future. But IMO, life is all about growth and change, and adapting to new circumstances is part of what helps us grow. It may be a different vacation with your children, but not a "lesser" vacation. But opinions do vary, and some people cannot tolerate adapting their schedules to accommodate napping toddlers or teething babies, and will declare that you should leave the kids at home. An honest self-assessment is where you need to start when planning a family vacation.

[JennLuvs2Cruise]

I sailed the Dream twice with my son.. once when he was 9 months, and just this past June when he was 21 months old. The Dream is a fantastic ship. Otherwise I wouldn't have sailed her twice. There was so much to do on board!

 

But to answer your question ; No, there is no splash pool area on board the Dream. Do you believe that your child may be potty trained by 2.5 & the time of the cruise? If so, you are more than welcome to use the two pools on board, as well as the Water Works area as long as he/she is potty trained. We managed to get our son potty trained by 19 months so he was OK to go in the pools with myself.

 

I agree with the above poster -- Before deciding on a cruise, you need to fully understand that its going to be hard work at times, and you can't possibly do & see everything on your list. Things come up. Luckily for you, your child will be old enough for Camp Carnival. I am not familiar with the hours of operation since my son has been too young for it. But I do know that they give you a pager cell phone for the week to call you if there is an issue with your child. So as you can see, you could be in the middle of a show and be called to pick up your child.

 

I also recommend a balcony. Balcony cabins are useful for families with young children. There will be times where your child will want to nap, or is having a cranky day. You could easily retreat back to your cabin, and yet still enjoy a private & sunny balcony.

 

I agree with a lot of the points the above poster made. Its unrealistic to go on a cruise as a family, and yet get the romantic aspect. It never works out. You will be on your child's schedule. I highly recommend cruising with young ones because its a great experience and great time for families to bond. My fiance works 6 days a week, third shift, so family time is pretty rare in this household. So when we get together for a cruise, its a great way for all of us to bond & be together. Our son will be 2.5 on our upcoming cruise, and I plan to try Camp Carnival 1-2 times during the week to maybe have a meal at the Steakhouse or get a massage at the Spa. We will see.

 

A reclining stroller is a GREAT recommendation. I brought ours from home both times, and it worked wonders. I would walk him around the Lanai at night after dinner, and he would fall asleep.. then I would sneak into a show in the theater & he would sleep thru it. But even if he was awake, he would sit there & watch as long as we were relatively close to the stage. My son loves music & energy. You kind of just have to play it by ear. Don't get too stressed over having a plan so you don't get disappointed if things don't work out. Take what your child likes to do & work with it that way.

 

:D

[pitz0005]

Thanks for the good tips. We are not at all worried about "dealing" with the LO during the day. We both really enjoy seeing him have fun and smile. We both like beach days and would likely just bring him along to the beach and spend some time playing in the water, relaxing, making sand castles etc. On sea days, nap time will not be a big deal as we can just relax on the balcony. Our biggest concern is the night time. We both like to go to dinner, show, and maybe the casino. This is the only part that we will have to figure out. Our thought was that if we go with another couple we could switch nights if the kids don't enjoy camp. He may be potty trained by that point, but we won't force it. He is 2 now and is working on it. We have traveled with him before, but never a cruise. Any thoughts on a cruise vs. land vacation. For the two of us it seems a cruise is easier; no deciding where to go for dinner, what to do, drive here or there, etc. My thought is that on a cruise at least they have the option of camp carnival, whereas I don't know about land resorts daycare options.

[crusinmama06]

NCL might be as well but I have an inexplicable bias against NCL that is based entirely on how they paint the outside of their ships. I told you it was inexplicable. Don't try to comprehend it. LOL

 

HAHAHAHAHA! This is so funny! We have the opposite here! When my kids saw the Gem and how it was painted they were SUPER EXCITED! HAHAHAHAHA!

 

:D:D:D Hey, they are little girls, anything painted with big giant jewels, they get EXCITED! :p

[Mom2B&Z]

Thanks for the good tips. We are not at all worried about "dealing" with the LO during the day. We both really enjoy seeing him have fun and smile. We both like beach days and would likely just bring him along to the beach and spend some time playing in the water, relaxing, making sand castles etc. On sea days, nap time will not be a big deal as we can just relax on the balcony. Our biggest concern is the night time. We both like to go to dinner, show, and maybe the casino. This is the only part that we will have to figure out. Our thought was that if we go with another couple we could switch nights if the kids don't enjoy camp. He may be potty trained by that point, but we won't force it. He is 2 now and is working on it. We have traveled with him before, but never a cruise. Any thoughts on a cruise vs. land vacation. For the two of us it seems a cruise is easier; no deciding where to go for dinner, what to do, drive here or there, etc. My thought is that on a cruise at least they have the option of camp carnival, whereas I don't know about land resorts daycare options.

Personally I find cruises much easier with little ones. I don't trust the in-room babysitting in either situation (that's just me), but I do trust the cruise line group babysitting much more than those found at land based resorts. Our experience has been that staff are much better trained and able to meet our childrens' needs.

I can only speak about NCL, there were many parents who shifted their children's schedules so that they woke up later, napped later and thus stayed up later at night. Some did the buffet supper for the kids then drop at kids club so they could go to the MDR, others just brought the kids to the MDR. FWIW DS2 (who had just turned 3) opted out of kids club the night we planned to have dinner ourselves, so along he came and discovered strawberry soup. He was a very happy little boy ;) As for the shows, we brought the boys, sat at the back in case a quick escape was needed, and enjoyed the early performance. We don't do casinos, but many parents were there while the kids were at kids club.

Honestly I was exhausted at the end of every day, so I was often in bed by 9-10pm. DH spent the evenings on the balcony reading or out exploring the ship. As previous posters have said, as long as you know what you're getting into before you go, everything should work out. Just beware that even if your LO goes to day care, they may not go to kids club. I saw a few parents get thrown this monkey wrench and were quite frazzled-looking outside the kids club. We knew it could happen and were prepared to roll with the punches. The trip was great and we are hoping the next one is even better!

[cathep]

I have discovered day beaches on these boards that you might want to consider. In Costa Maya and Cozumel there are all-inclusives that have a bed. We plan to let our 4yo nap in one while we enjoy the beach and the food and drink. Some limit the number of people to make it more serene. You might look into those on the boards for your ports.

 

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[pitz0005]

I know we will have a good time, but like everyone points out it is good to know what you are getting into. That is the exact reason I am doing the reasearch, so thanks for the responses. I have not found too many say don't bring the LO yet, so that is good. I fully expect a different expereince, but just trying to get a feel for the differences. B&Z's Mom what do you mean by:

 

"Just beware that even if your LO goes to day care, they may not go to kids club."

 

I assume you mean the LO may not like it.

 

Thanks again for all the tips. Any other tips also appreciated.

 

Anyone have a Cove balcony on Carnival with a toddler yet? The gaps between the bars seem quite large.

[cathep]

Another thing - Have you looked at the family suite on the NCL Star from Tampa? A balcony makes me nervous with younger kids and those are huge suites with floor to ceiling windows. You get a separate bathtub and shower. The room has a Murphy bed and a sofa bed. You can divide the room into quadrants for sleeping privacy using drapes. Plus you get the suite perks which I hear are the best in the mainstream lines. We ate booked in April.

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