Cruised with twins

[bearette]

We just got off a 7 day carnival valor with our now 9 month old twins ( they turned 9 months on Xmas eve.). Some things to know-

No changing tables in bathrooms. Right after we boarded I changed my daughter in the empty theatre since our rooms weren't ready. Not enough counter space to put them up by the sink and no way was she going on the floor. Was easier to take them back to our room or an empty room.

If you stay the night before order things to your hotel through diapers .com. It worked out great for us. Overbought diapers and wipes but we were frightened we would run out so better over then under prepared.

They will to purée foods on carnival for you. Will only bring mashed potatoes so plan accordingly.

I was thankful for the advice of using 2 umbrella strollers. The rooms were so cramped I would have never been able to function with our double stroller.

The cribs are small so plan on two if you have twins. Ours roll over on each other so we needed two.

Plan your dinners with nap or feeding time. Ours would eat right when we got there and most of the time sleep. Bring toys to dinner as well.

 

I am sure there are other things but those were the things I thought others traveling with young babies would like to know!

[CarnivalGirl3]

We just got off a 7 day carnival valor with our now 9 month old twins ( they turned 9 months on Xmas eve.). Some things to know-

No changing tables in bathrooms. Right after we boarded I changed my daughter in the empty theatre since our rooms weren't ready. Not enough counter space to put them up by the sink and no way was she going on the floor. Was easier to take them back to our room or an empty room.

If you stay the night before order things to your hotel through diapers .com. It worked out great for us. Overbought diapers and wipes but we were frightened we would run out so better over then under prepared.

They will to purée foods on carnival for you. Will only bring mashed potatoes so plan accordingly.

I was thankful for the advice of using 2 umbrella strollers. The rooms were so cramped I would have never been able to function with our double stroller.

The cribs are small so plan on two if you have twins. Ours roll over on each other so we needed two.

Plan your dinners with nap or feeding time. Ours would eat right when we got there and most of the time sleep. Bring toys to dinner as well.

 

I am sure there are other things but those were the things I thought others traveling with young babies would like to know!

 

WOW. No changing tables in any of the bathrooms? I never notice, but I never needed to notice. I guess we won't be on Carnival till all kids are potty trained. Going back to the room would be a pain. (We did Disney and they are changing tables in many bathrooms/not all).

[bearette]

I never noticed either until I needed one! They are not built with kids in mind.

[angelndscz]

I am pretty sure on the Carnival Sensation there was a changing table in the larger stall in the public bathroom just outside the casino.

 

Did you look in the larger stall (handicap stall)? This is a popular location for changing tables.

[mikesteg]

Was easier to take them back to our room or an empty room.

 

We found this to be the case as well. We always try to book up higher on the ship, and usually with CCL a sale comes along to make the price 'right'.. but this is an added reason to perhaps spend a bit extra to be able to be on/near lido and be get there quickly.

 

Supposedly there are diaper changing tables on every (CCL) ship, I have heard on deck 1 and also "near the MDR" on some ships... well I guess near one of the MDRs anyway. I don't know if that means a table in the women's and a table in the men's room, as in common in the U.S., or if there is literally just one.

 

Congrats on cruise with twins! I hate to break it to you, but it goes downhill from here. :eek: :D When they walk, then walk well, then run... it becomes tougher. Obviously they won't sleep through dinner for long, but if they are trained to sit and eat as a family the MDR still works fine. We only had to abandon the MDR when they were 13 months.

 

It's still well worth it, and the same rules apply: anything you do is some amount of work with kids/twins, but cruising takes much of that load off of you. Plus the food exposure is great: my daughter (now 3YO) shares sushi with me several times a month. My son has tried frog legs. They both drew the line at escargot though! :D

[bearette]

We are doing another cruise on royal Caribbean in march when they turn 1 and we will also have my sister who has an almost two year old too. I don't think this one will be as easy. We are going to do my time dining this time so we can plan around their fusty times. I am not looking forward to them walking- or running- around the ship.

Maybe they only have changing tables in some restrooms but honestly I only checked two bathrooms. since I was breast feeding I found it easier to go back to my room and change them there as well as feed them. We had to clean bottles too and I needed my room for that.

We did spend a lot of time catering to their needs but since we opted for the balcony this time I didn't feel like I was robbed of my vacation since I could always see the ocean.

 

I agree with everyone who says that before they walk is great time to go. They are still cute and stay where you put them. Plus anything is a toy and they are up for anything.

 

FYI: I am breast feeding but have been pumping and giving it to them In a bottle. The fridge will keep things ice cold but originally I had one that didn't work that well. as I was storing breast milk a " cooler" didn't work for me. When I insisted they brought me a new one that kept things iced cold.

[Ms_Flo]

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?p=35961289#post35961289

 

This sounds more complicated then I thought. We may end up just having some of us go and I will just shop by the ship with the babies.

 

What did you decide to do in Ocho Rios? Did you take the twins to Mystic Mountain (or Dunn's River Falls), or did you just take them shopping?

 

Sounds like you had a pretty smooth trip overall. :) Hope your next cruise with your sister is just as good!

[bearette]

We ended up going to Dunns River and then shopping. I wouldn't take babies that young again since the hike down to the beach was horrible. A lot of steps and up hill all the way back.we had fun and two of our group actually climbed the falls but it would be easier just to go to a beach anywhere. Plus the $20 entrance fee is steep ( the babies were free).