Traveling with a 7 month old on the Allure

[jebridan]

We just booked yesterday for the 2/15 sailing and are so excited! My grandson will be 7 months when we sail. First of all, a gripe. I had no idea that they charge full price for infants! Yikes! I was expecting to pay something but not full price! Why don't they do a reduced rate for infants? He won't be eating the food or enjoying the entertainment so why full price? I know the cabin steward will have some extra work and would expect port fees.

 

Anyway.... What do we need to know about traveling with an infant? We've obviously never done this before. Will RCCL provide a pack and play or something for him to sleep in? Do people cruising with infants usually bring their own stroller/carseat? Is there a guide somewhere that anyone knows about for cruising with an infant?

 

I appreciate your help!

[Havingfun2010]

We just booked yesterday for the 2/15 sailing and are so excited! My grandson will be 7 months when we sail. First of all, a gripe. I had no idea that they charge full price for infants! Yikes! I was expecting to pay something but not full price! Why don't they do a reduced rate for infants? He won't be eating the food or enjoying the entertainment so why full price? I know the cabin steward will have some extra work and would expect port fees.

 

Anyway.... What do we need to know about traveling with an infant? We've obviously never done this before. Will RCCL provide a pack and play or something for him to sleep in? Do people cruising with infants usually bring their own stroller/carseat? Is there a guide somewhere that anyone knows about for cruising with an infant?

 

I appreciate your help!

 

I have been traveling with kids for quite some time, and I got to give it you on your bravery. The infant is being charged the 3 or 4 person rate, so it is not full rate, but a discount. However, it is not based on age, or what activities are used, but the space that is occupied.

 

The ship has day care, but it is not free for this age. I believe it is something like $6.00 an hour to $8.00 depending on time of day.

 

People usually bring their own items, and I believe, you can have a crib sent to the room. Everything else, you would need to bring.

 

Go to RCCL webpage, and see what is offered.

 

Good luck!

[Travalerie]

Hi

They will provide a pack n play. Bring your own car seat and stroller. You can preorder some baby things, specifically diapers and baby food, to be delivered to your room, but it will be less expensive to bring your own.

 

Disney does discount babies a bit. I have priced cruises before and slightly lower rates for infants, but they make up for it in what they charge for adults!!!:)

[Travalerie]

Also, were you able to get a balcony? That is nice to have for the person watching the baby during naps. You can enjoy the sea, while the baby enjoys the good sleep!

[sjb317]

Post on the Family Boards as you can find a lot of helpful information there.

A pack n play will be provided but I would take my own sheet for it. Also, we found a small stroller to be a necessity but did not use a car seat as most taxis in the Caribbean were not equipped to install one safely. We ended up walking most places.

 

We had a great time taking our 14 month old grandson, although it was a different cruise than what we were used to, we still enjoyed it!:D

 

Sherri:)

[Travalerie]

You will still need the car seat if you have a car or a taxi coming to and from the port. Also the car seat is helpful at that age in the dining room. DD took great naps in the car seat while we were enjoying our meals.

[jebridan]

Yes we got Central Park balcony cabins.

 

We are actually being charged full price, not the 3rd person rate. He is the 2nd person in the cabin, not the 3rd. And like I said, I expected to pay something but just not the full rate the rest of us are paying.

 

We are all so excited. We will make the best of any challenges we face.

 

Keep the advice coming. Thanks!

[Bellyflopchamp]

You can visit this page: http://www.royalcaribbean.com/findacruise/experiencetypes/category.do?pagename=onboard_cat_kids_teens_and_families&pagenameMain=main_family&discriminators=1

 

They have a little info on it. We will be traveling with our daughter next year and she will be about 20 months old at the time. From what I have heard is that they have a great nursery for the kids. You will be allotted a certain amount of time based on the amount of kids under 3 years that are sailing. It will then open up more time based on availability. Make sure you go early to book it. They also do in-room babysitting for about $19/hour it hink it was. That also needs to be booked right away, and at least 24 hours in advance.

 

They also have a toy exchange program at the nursery where they will give you a bag full of age appropriate toys so you wont have to worry about packing a lot. They do have a program for diapers, wipes, formula, etc but it is very very pricey. We plan on flying into FLL a day before and buy some of that stuff down there so that we dont have to pack it for the flight, and it will save us some money.

 

For the pack and play you should ask to have it in your room now. Do not wait until you get on the ship as they may run out. I think they only have a limited number of them.

[bplazo]

The baby is taking up a space. Maybe the cruise line should just start charging by how much you eat, what shows you go to, what onboard activities you participate in. A thought.

[LisaGoeke]

A car seat will be great for him to nap while in the dining room. When my daughter traveled at that age we had her in her car seat and I believe she slept through every dinner. Also an umbrella stroller. It's much easier to get around, especially onboard, with a small umbrella stroller.

Have fun!!

[LissyTx]

We just booked yesterday for the 2/15 sailing and are so excited! My grandson will be 7 months when we sail. First of all, a gripe. I had no idea that they charge full price for infants! Yikes! I was expecting to pay something but not full price! Why don't they do a reduced rate for infants? He won't be eating the food or enjoying the entertainment so why full price? I know the cabin steward will have some extra work and would expect port fees.

 

Anyway.... What do we need to know about traveling with an infant? We've obviously never done this before. Will RCCL provide a pack and play or something for him to sleep in? Do people cruising with infants usually bring their own stroller/carseat? Is there a guide somewhere that anyone knows about for cruising with an infant?

 

I appreciate your help!

 

Hi Jebridan! We just traveled with a 7.5 month old on Oasis in June - it was a great experience. Please read my Oasis review linked below for all sorts of travel recommendations. Let me know if you have any specific questions. (Saw pack and play already answered.)

[CI66774]

Yes we got Central Park balcony cabins.

 

We are actually being charged full price, not the 3rd person rate. He is the 2nd person in the cabin, not the 3rd. And like I said, I expected to pay something but just not the full rate the rest of us are paying.

 

We are all so excited. We will make the best of any challenges we face.

 

Keep the advice coming. Thanks!

 

Have a great trip. As others have said, babies take up space. Cruise lines typically charge full price for the 2nd pax in the room no matter what age. Now if baby was 3rd or 4th pax in room, he/she would be charged less.

[gerif]

Yes we got Central Park balcony cabins.

 

We are actually being charged full price, not the 3rd person rate. He is the 2nd person in the cabin, not the 3rd. And like I said, I expected to pay something but just not the full rate the rest of us are paying.

 

We are all so excited. We will make the best of any challenges we face.

 

Keep the advice coming. Thanks!

 

I know it seems like a lot, but understand that the baby will not be buying alcohol, playing bingo, using spa services, playing in the casino or eating in specialty restaurants, all major profit centers for the cruiseline. Only so many "souls" are permitted onboard, be they 7 months or 70 years, and the 7 month old is cutting into the amount of profit they can make.

[S.S.Oceanlover]

Yes we got Central Park balcony cabins.

 

We are actually being charged full price, not the 3rd person rate. He is the 2nd person in the cabin, not the 3rd. And like I said, I expected to pay something but just not the full rate the rest of us are paying.

 

We are all so excited. We will make the best of any challenges we face.

 

Keep the advice coming. Thanks!

 

Unfortunately even if you were booked in the room by yourself you'd still have to pay full fare for the 2nd person,you just wouldn't pay the taxes/fees for the 2nd person.

 

Bill

[CruisingTeacher19]

I wrote a review about traveling with my 14 month old that has info for it a lot of your Questions

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2007733