Bringing A Doll?

[Sundsgn]

Question...My 6 year old daughter is kind of talking like she's bringing her "Not An American Girl" 18 inch doll along on the cruise, and packing her a little suitcase with dresses and swim suit, etc. I am not so sure I want all this extra baggage. Has anyone else let their kid bring or not bring along something like that? Any suggestions? My thinking is she will be just way too busy to even have time for it.

 

Thanks!

[Essiesmom]

Sure, let her bring her. But make it HER extra baggage. Get her a backpack and have her pack all the stuff in it and wear/carry it. EM

[cb at sea]

Yes...but she needs to carry it all....that's the only way to do it! You're right, she probably will not even think about it, once on the ship, but it's a good learning experience!!!

Edited January 4, 2015 by cb at sea

[Woody14]

my girls did that all the time. they each have their own backpack in which they pack colouring, activitiy books, candy, stuffies or dolls. works great keeps them responsible for it. make them pack it themselves. Although I did break down and help my then 5 year old with her backpack through the maze of the metro in Paris and through the streets of Venice. but now that they are 9 & 11 no mercy :)

[LuCruise]

Sounds so sweet, and something my DD would do too. I agree with others. Get a bag to carry the doll and accessories and let you DD carry it on the plane. It will help keep her occupied and I'm sure nice for her to have "a friend" from home come along. On the cruise, perhaps try and keep it in the cabin, or only for simple events (e.g. shows but not pool time)

[Sundsgn]

Thanks everyone for the tips and thoughts!

[Nebr.cruiser]

I've seen plenty of kids on cruises with dolls and other toys. At her age, I'd get her a special backpack for her doll and other toys that she is responsible for.

 

We have taken grandkids on cruises and each one had a backpack/small rolling suitcase for snacks, toys, things to do on the plane, etc. Only the very young should need help.

[Profnew]

A smallish rolling kids tote for her doll and any specialty snacks. She is responsible for it and don't take it to dinner or the kids club. Plenty of toys at kids club. My six year old grandson takes several things and it is comforting to him to have his stuffed animal at night.

[Cruisin' Chick]

When my daughter was taking a little beanie bag sized bear with her on a cruise, I made a little necklace of sorts with a tag with our cabin number just in case the bear got separated from us.

 

On my last couple of cruises I took along Moo Cowlatta (see my profile pic), and I made her a small size version of a Princess cabin card, putting in the cabin number and sailing date. I glued it onto a tag (you can get these at any office supply store -- for attaching to keys so you can identify its usage). The string went around her neck.

[Sundsgn]

That's cute...I should make her little doll Emma a sail and sign card. Since this is my first time cruising with the kids - do they get a card too? Maybe i will lay one out ( I am a graphic designer) and print it and tuck it in with the little suitcase! I could really make this fun for her...

[Essiesmom]

I actually travel with a small doll, and on Carnival, Cunard, Celebrity, HAL and Princess I have bin able to persuade guest services to make cards for her. They even opened the door, but I didn't give her charging privileges. I think one Celebrity cruise, she got a statement at the end of the cruise. EM

[Wavesprite]

Absolutely. My daughters AG doll goes on every vacation with us.

[Cruisin' Chick]

That's cute...I should make her little doll Emma a sail and sign card. Since this is my first time cruising with the kids - do they get a card too? Maybe i will lay one out ( I am a graphic designer) and print it and tuck it in with the little suitcase! I could really make this fun for her...

 

Each passenger will get a cabin card. When you're about to board your ship (I believe it's the same on each cruise line), your photo will be embedded into the card. So when you return to the ship from any port, security will check your face against the one that comes up in their machine when your card is inserted into it or scanned. Even the little kids'. With minors, a parent can decide whether to allow charging privileges or not (and usually with smaller kids, you're holding onto their cards anyway).

[katiedidthat]

I think it will make for cute memories. I think as long as she can take care of the extra luggage herself, that you should let her take it. I know when I was that age my parents had a "if you want it and its not a necessity- you carry it" rule.

[Essiesmom]

If she leaves it in the cabin in the evening, and the cabin steward sees that it is important, it might get incorporated into the towel animals...EM

[Sundsgn]

Thanks all, I think I'm going to let her bring it, along with a couple of choice outfits. If she loses it, then so be it, it would be a fun/or learning experience either way! It'll be fun to take some pics for her birthday book.

[Carnival_Brides]

Our niece brought her AG doll on our Thanksgiving cruise--she wasn't the only one we saw at least four other dolls over the course of the week. She has a special backpack (from Target) that held the doll and her outfits. Our niece likes dressing like her doll (mostly Dollie and Me), so she had matching items for the Dr. Seuss brunch and formal nights. The doll was allowed out of the cabin for some family events, but it was not allowed anywhere near the kids club. She played with her a few times, but if space is at a premium again, the doll would be the first thing to stay home.

 

Oh, and we even managed to get a Blue Sail & Sign card for the doll since it was her first cruise--it was niece's gold cruise. There may have also been a doll-sized boarding pass and luggage tags.

Edited January 7, 2015 by Carnival_Brides

[LREcruise02]

Oh my gosh such cute ideas! You have me wishing that my daughters would ask to take their dolls! Ha! :) sounds fun for her and now you've got some great ideas to help incorporate her little friend into the cruise!

 

 

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[A&Jfamily]

Question...My 6 year old daughter is kind of talking like she's bringing her "Not An American Girl" 18 inch doll along on the cruise, and packing her a little suitcase with dresses and swim suit, etc. I am not so sure I want all this extra baggage. Has anyone else let their kid bring or not bring along something like that? Any suggestions? My thinking is she will be just way too busy to even have time for it.

 

Thanks!

 

Well, I have boys and they "outgrew" their baby doll by 3 or so. BUT...they did need things to entertain them, so they carried their own backpack with their stuff - whatever it was from books, to cars to a stuffed animal, blanket etc.

 

And, keep in mind that most ships have some form of build a bear - which was a HUGE hit and we went the first time it was offered each cruise and they had a new buddy to sleep with at night.

 

So my rule? Pick a bag she can be responsible for rolling.carrying etc and telling her she can pack for her doll and any other toys she needs in there.

[Queen of Oakville]

I'm seriously LOL at your description of her "not so American Girl doll".

 

Oh, I FINALLY broke down or should I say that Santa was stuck on ideas this year, and my daughter received a AG xmas morning. She was thrilled beyond belief, and the tears streaming down her face made my feel like such as scrooge all these years for not getting her the doll sooner.

 

This xmas, I bought her lots of the Our Generation clothes - so Breanna has formal wear, bathing suits, and summer dresses for our next cruise : )

 

 

There is also an AG travel kit that comes with a dolly passport and a little duflle bag.

 

 

 

 

 

My kids each pack an entertainment bag (backpack). This is their carryon for their entire trip. They pack their own snacks and toys. Usually, its their ipad and ipod, plus books for the trip, sunglasses, hat. We also include bathing suits and the first change of clothes. This way - they can go swimming and have dinner clothes if the luggage gets delayed. They carry their own bag through the airport, onto the plane and onto the ship. I'm sure when my daughter brings her AG doll on our next trip (universal) her dolly clothes will be put in her back pack.

 

My son also carries his epipen in his backpack.

[LuCruise]

I'm seriously LOL at your description of her "not so American Girl doll".

 

Oh, I FINALLY broke down or should I say that Santa was stuck on ideas this year, and my daughter received a AG xmas morning. She was thrilled beyond belief, and the tears streaming down her face made my feel like such as scrooge all these years for not getting her the doll sooner.

 

This xmas, I bought her lots of the Our Generation clothes - so Breanna has formal wear, bathing suits, and summer dresses for our next cruise : )

 

 

There is also an AG travel kit that comes with a dolly passport and a little duflle bag.

 

...

 

OMG...that is so adorable. And how cute that her AG doll can literally join in with the cruise

[myverycreativescreenname]

Thank you for the great idea! My kids both have stuffed kitties they have taken on every trip, ever. My daughter, 8, dresses her kitty up for church and sets her up to watch tv and buckles her the car. I am printing passports for both kitties.

 

My kids started off as infants with a travel bag each, we used beach bag totes and packed a blankie, stuffed animal, toys and snacks. As they grew to toddlerhood, they got to pick some contents of the bag. Then we got kid-size rolling bags at preschool age and they got to pack and tote. We just got larger backpacks to replace the small rolling bags. They will hold a change of clothes, swimsuit, travel pillow, camera, books and toys for the cruise. DD's will contain a wardrobe for her kitty I am sure. DS lets his kitty go au naturale and saves room for toy motorcycles and Pokemon cards.

[Jasalth]

I agree there is nothing wrong with letting her bring it at all. If she is really attached to it though, make sure to include it in things! Take pictures around the ship (I wouldn't bring anything important to port). I have seen the staff being really accommodating with things like this also. Not even just for kids, I remember a threat on here years ago about a couple who brought teddy bears on all their cruises. They even set them up for dinner and such with outfits and plates and the whole works.

 

That being said, I don't go anywhere without one of my teddy bears. My husband won it for my at a theme park on our very first out and about date 22 years ago. I have come back to the room to find it cuddling with town animals. One cruise the steward even tucked it into bed when he made the beds up. Not the ones for my kids, but actually the main bed for me and DH. Also years ago on my kids first cruise, we brought a stuffed Mario and Luigi. They still come even though my boys are 16 and 13 now. They don't get played with, but they are part of our experience now!

 

Also remember your daughter won't always be busy. She will probably need downtime at some point. There isn't much to do in the rooms, and children's shows aren't the same as they are in the U.S. on TV. Also when you see her starting to get tired and need a break, you can always let her know her doll needs attention back in the cabin as a motivation for the break.

[CeleBrat]

We've had many a Build-A-Bear travel with us for cruises, escorting my daughter. I did require that she carry all of the BAB clothing in her own carry-on, and I required that the bear bring a casual "shore" outfit, a swimsuit, a sparkly dress (for formal dinner), and PJs. Usually, despite my daughter's best intentions, the bear ended up sitting on the window ledge for the whole cruise (watching the ocean), or hung out on her bed during the day.

 

CeleBrat

[notentirelynormal]

We were doing a 10 day Caribbean cruise. My DGS was around 5 at the time. Ar day 7 he said he wanted to go home. I asked him why. He said he wanted to go home because he missed his toys. I told him that then the cruise would be over. No, grandma, you don't get it. He said that he wanted a few of his favorite toys, that he missed them but then he wanted to come back to the cruise. Let her bring her doll. You take your favorite things afterall.