If you have cruised with a toddler, please help!

[wework2play]

We are wanting to book a cruise, taking along our kiddos ages 14, 12, and 3. The older kids have been before and we know they will love it. But, will my 3 year old love it?

 

I need reassurance from people who have done this!

 

Should we get a balcony room?

Any tips/suggestions?

 

Thanks for the help!!

[taragl]

We travel extensively with a 13-year-old and a two-year old, so we're right in line with your age groups. My toddler has loved cruising, but we are careful to keep his usual naptime and bedtime routine.

 

Before he was too young for Camp Carnival, we simply put him in the stroller and brought him everywhere with us during the day; trivia games, meals, excursions, etc. while our teenager hung out at Circle C and with friends. We went to dinner as a family and only once had to take him out of dinner early (a no-nap day -- go figure). Our waiter was more than happy to wrap our desserts for the room.

 

In the early evening (we have early seating always) our teenager watches the toddler for a couple of hours while we have a "date" of a show or two and some casino time. Then we're back in the room around 9 or 10 and the teenager goes out with his friends for the rest of the evening and we have a few hours "alone" while the toddler is asleep. Three cruises, it has worked like a charm.

 

Our little guy loved the beach in Cabo San Lucas and the zoo in Puerto Vallarta. The little chicken toys caught his interest in the Bahamas and there's nothing like a curious toddler to break the ice with locals and get a price dropped with a smile. This time, we have Disneyworld as an excursion and I keep hearing about "seeing Mickey." It's a balancing act, trying to plan around two adults, a teen, and a toddler, but it helps that everyone has the attitude that every day is an adventure, no matter what we're doing.

 

We had a balcony on the first trip, ocean view on the second, and french doors on the third. In my experience, the doors are too heavy for a toddler to open on their own, but everyone should be instructed to take care that the door is never propped open and the toddler is only brought out there for very closely supervised visits. You can bring along something to secure the door like a bungee cord if you prefer the peace of mind.

 

You know your toddler best, but if they take to new experiences well… go for it!

[rstout]

Absolutely! As soon as our youngest was 3 we took our boys on their first cruise and they had an amazing time. The kids clubs are great for kids that age, too. We found that there were not many cruiseline excursions that would allow kids that young to participate that we were interested in, so we found some private excursions that we loved. And we had a balcony, which the kids loved. The doors are too heavy for them to open and the railings are high. They understood not to be out on the balcony without us (and they were never not within eyesight of us, so we knew they weren't trying to sneak out there). One night the 3 YO took a little nap during dinner, which was fine. Otherwise, they napped if they had to but we at least tried to have a little down time in the room before dinner. We were off our usual schedules a bit and it was all good.

[Tapi]

Will my 3 year old love it?

 

Should we get a balcony room?

 

Thanks for the help!!

 

Our 2 year old has already been on 3 cruises (Carnival Fascination, Allure of the Seas and Carnival Dream), and YES, he has LOVED it! I do have to say that the older he gets, the more he enjoys it.

 

YES, get the balcony. We didn't for the first 2 fearing that he would jump off, but then finally decided to on his 3rd cruise. GREAT decision. We could go outside and chill while our son took a nap. Other times, our son would be outside with me while wife would take a nap. :)

[im4clowns]

My daughter is 3 and afew months and will be on her 5 th cruise on the 24 th. she loves it. Always asking me when do wego on the ship.

[Tapi]

she loves it. Always asking me when do wego on the ship.

 

I had to make additional copies of our cruise vacation DVD's to put in our son's DVD case along with his Thomas & Friends, Wiggles, and Elmo movies. He was always begging to see the "boat" movie again, and again, and again, and again.....