Advice for New Cruisers with 5 year old

[gaiagrrl]

Hi. My partner and I and our 5 year old daughter will be cruising on the NCL Pearl in just a few weeks (yahoo!) but I'm trying to wade through all the information and options and it's overwhelming, especially when you add a child into the mix. So, I guess I'm just wanting to hear from other parents - are there do's and don'ts we should know about, ideas for excusions, advice about things to do or not.

 

I've been told to pick up some floaty toys and bring them for any beach excursions. But I've also read that for instance, NCL Great Stirrup Key can have huge waits to get to the island and is really crowded when there. So is it better to just hang on the ship? Do excursions feel worth it when there is a young'ish child to figure in? We've booked a dolphin thingy in Cozumel but other than that, I don't know what might make sense.

 

Ok, a big rambly post but I hope there's something in it to respond to! Tips appreciated! Thanks...

[Keith1010]

i've found at that age not to do many excursions. Going to a beach is nice too.

 

There is a family board on Cruise Critic which would be good for you to also post on.

 

Have a wonderful time on the cruise.

 

Keith

[Keith1010]

Here is the link to the Family Cruise Board on Cruise Critic.

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=49

 

Keith

[cb at sea]

Unless there's some reason to be 1st off the ship at the private island, just wait a bit....you won't have a long wait to get there, and the island is MUCH larger than the ship! Don't worry about crowding.....go and enjoy. You don't have to stay all day...you can come and go as you please.

 

Do a little research on your ports (a guidebook is best!) and find out what things are there that might interest a child...then, check the Port of Call boards and find out how and what others have done with that particular interest.

[gaiagrrl]

thanks!

[Mom2B&Z]

I'll echo the comment about checking out the family forum, there is lots of experience cruising with children over there.

Our last cruise was with a 5 year old, as well as a 3 year old. Our best plan was to be flexible. DS1 never naps at home, but did when on the ship, so we went with it. Rested children are happy children :) We did plan excursions at all ports except one, but kept them short, doing things that we thought would hold the kids interest and involved opportunities for them to run around without bothering other people. Our boys do better with some structure to their day, so we kept the routine similar for each day: breakfast, excursion, lunch, rest/quiet time, pool, supper and our evening "treat". Of course we strayed from this occasionally, but our youngest really needed some sort of routine.

For a 5 year old, you may also want to bring along a few favourite snacks and some familiar books/toys. We didn't see the need to bring beach/water toys, there were enough on board and we made do with plastic cups and our hands when playing in the sand.