Just Back...Cruising with a Baby!

[DYKWIA]

We're in our 40s and don't have kids. Like others have said Celebrity isn't an adults only cruise line so we book knowing there might be children on board.

Edited July 15, 2016 by DYKWIA

[LMaxwell]

Another thread has been discussing how folks bathe the little ones...blow up bath tub or ?

Wondering how OP and others handled this...just read through quickly here so sorry if I missed it..

 

We got a little blow up bathtub. Worked great. Left it inflated the whole time and stood it up in the shower when not in use.

[hcat]

We got a little blow up bathtub. Worked great. Left it inflated the whole time and stood it up in the shower when not in use.

 

Thanks....hoping to cruise with dtr, sil and new grandbaby in the future...the blow up tub sounds like the best idea

[LMaxwell]

Thanks....hoping to cruise with dtr, sil and new grandbaby in the future...the blow up tub sounds like the best idea

 

It is this tub.

 

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Garanimals-Inflatable-Baby-Bathtub/19757212

[tinkr2]

Another thread has been discussing how folks bathe the little ones...blow up bath tub or ?

Wondering how OP and others handled this...just read through quickly here so sorry if I missed it..

 

Bought a small blow up baby pool for the bath but found it easier to shower with baby. The pool is nice for on deck since babies can not go in pools. Also nice for the beach, but take a foot pump:o

There is every kind of food in the world available on the ship. Just ask them to toss it in blender or mash it with your fork. There is nothing special about baby food except it has no seasoning. I have never bought commercial baby food.

[emo]

I participated in this thread before and got some great tips from the OP. We have since returned from our cruise on the Silhouette (it was actually 2 months ago now [emoji26]), so thought I'd come back and add a little about our experience.

 

Overall, we had a fantastic time and everyone we encountered on the ship from employees to fellow passengers doted on our daughter. She loved all of the attention and was treated like a little celebrity :).

 

The pack n play was in the room as requested and the steward offered to set up/take down every night, but we just had him leave it. It made the cabin a little cramped but we weren't there a lot anyway. It did seem a little unstable as the OP mentioned but never seemed in danger of collapsing even with our daughter standing, walking, and even jumping (15 months old, ~24 lbs).

 

We didn't take an inflatable tub, and just showered with the baby. She loved it and now asks for showers at home.

 

We had a strange experience with baby food. Per the Celebrity Special Needs department, they will provide packaged baby food on request, supposedly delivered to your stateroom on embarkation. They emailed a form, I sent it back, and they said they would do their best to honor the request. Our daughter doesn't normally eat a lot of puréed food but we thought it would be handy to have some for snacks or quick meals when we were out and about in port. There was no food when we got to our cabin, and still nothing by the next morning, so we went to guest relations. They were very nice, but said that they were sorry and they had no record of our request. Still not a big deal, as we had picked some food pouches along with diapers and other supplies before we boarded in Southampton. So we assumed the request form just hadn't made it to the ship, but then that same day, before dinner, a Walmart bag full of baby food appeared in our cabin. Given that we were cruising in the North Sea, far away from the nearest Walmart (and the food had American labeling), I can only guess that it was on brought on board before the TA and by some miracle made it to us, even if guest relations apparently had no record of it.

 

Our experience with finding high chairs was similar to what others reported. There were a few floating around in the buffet and we would try and grab a free one when we saw it. If a staff member saw us first, they would help, but usually we managed ourselves. We did select dining in the MDR, and after the first night, there was a high chair waiting for us at dinner when we sat down. I never saw any in the Aquaspa cafe, Al Bacio, etc, but we really didn't take her there to eat so it wasn't a problem.

 

The only restroom on board with diaper changing facilities (that we noticed) was the one outside of the Fun Factory, so we had to plan accordingly. They did provide diapers and wipes at that station, so that was a nice touch, one less thing to carry around on the ship.

 

I really can't comment on keeping her entertained on the ship, as our itinerary was port intensive so it didn't seem like we had a lot of time to kill on board. I do feel like the Fun Factory could have had extended hours for toddler play. It wasn't usually manned by a staff member anyway, so I didn't understand the limited schedule. The toy lending program was very handy.

 

We used the in cabin baby sitting service one night so we could enjoy the Lawn Club Grill, and had no complaints. The sitters took her outside of the cabin to play (we signed a permission form for this), and she was in bed asleep by the time we returned.

 

We also spent 5 days in a hotel following the cruise (and a week at Disney a few months prior), and while we love land based vacations and had a great time, life on the cruise ship was so much easier than vacationing on land with a baby!

 

 

 

 

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[Dave&Robin]

I dont even understand why the OP would post that they had a wonderful cruise with their baby. That everyone loved their baby. That someone gave their baby flowers. That everyone should bring their babies on cruises. Well the last sentence wasnt really there, but is that the point of the post?

 

If that is the point, that everyone should bring babies on cruises, how wonderfully they are received by staff and passengers, then maybe I should post my cruise experience without babies and kids as well.

 

In February we had an amazing cruise to Southern Caribbean. There were very few children aboard. Those that were there, were not seen and not heard from.

 

The pool area had no kids. No kids in hot tubs, no kids in the Adult only area. No kids in bars or casino. No kids yelling and screaming in the dining room. No strollers parked in the dining room and NO highchairs. No babies crying and so on.

 

And my point,

 

No one posts how wonderful it is to cruise without babies, kids on board, nor should anyone post how wonderful it is to cruise with them. To do so is to invite those of us who do not feel as you do, to tell you why and when we do, you dont like it.

 

Yes they do! I read posts all the time where people mention they had a wonderful cruise and there were no or very few kids on board! Why shouldn't the OP share her experience just like anyone else would?? Celebrity is a mass market cruise line and the OP and her family have just as much right as the rest of us who choose to travel without children to purchase a vacation.

You can't pay mass market prices and expect an exculsive experience. :D

[Katemusical]

I started the bathing post the other day. I'm still not sure what to do.

 

Are there locks on the balcony doors? Just wondering.

 

By the way, I just bought online a travel bottle brush/dryrack kit from OXO. It fits in the pocket of the diaper bag for our cruise. I was very excited I found it.

 

Any other special hints/tips that can save my nerves this week. We leave Friday...ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

[emo]

I started the bathing post the other day. I'm still not sure what to do.

 

Are there locks on the balcony doors? Just wondering.

 

By the way, I just bought online a travel bottle brush/dryrack kit from OXO. It fits in the pocket of the diaper bag for our cruise. I was very excited I found it.

 

Any other special hints/tips that can save my nerves this week. We leave Friday...ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

 

 

Don't stress! It's no different than taking care of your kid at home, except for someone else gets to do all of the cooking and cleaning for you :).

 

The balcony is locked when the handle is rotated all the way up, and unlocks and opens when it's all the way down, if that makes sense. Our daughter couldn't open it, but I bet a kid 2+ could.

 

I didn't see how old your child is, but ours was 15 months on our last cruise and we didn't bother with bringing an inflatable tub, just got in the shower with her and it worked great. All she does is play in the tub anyway. However, I assume you're on a warm weather cruise (unless it's Alaska), and in that case I could see the tub being handy for playtime up on deck since young children can't use the pool.

 

Bring whatever sippy cups or bottles you might need, we thought we could get by just using a straw with a regular cup at mealtime, but she kept wanting to hold onto it and it was a hassle.

 

You'll want either disposable bibs or napkin clips if you have a messy eater. Stain remover wipes are handy too.

 

A few small toys that I'm sure you keep in your diaper bag anyway, for when the wait is a little long at dinner. You can borrow bigger toys or books from the kids club.

 

Packaged snacks or purée pouches for when you're in port.

 

Diapers and wipes of course. I also packed a small medical kit (which I always do anyway) with baby Tylenol, band aids, gas drops, sunscreen, anything that you might possibly need.

 

 

 

 

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[LMaxwell]

Any other special hints/tips that can save my nerves this week. We leave Friday...ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

 

A great place for babies to fall asleep in their stroller is the exterior decks by the lifeboats. Quiet, breezy, background noise of waves.

[LMaxwell]

I dont even understand why the OP would post that they had a wonderful cruise with their baby. That everyone loved their baby. That someone gave their baby flowers. That everyone should bring their babies on cruises. Well the last sentence wasnt really there, but is that the point of the post?

 

If that is the point, that everyone should bring babies on cruises, how wonderfully they are received by staff and passengers, then maybe I should post my cruise experience without babies and kids as well.

 

In February we had an amazing cruise to Southern Caribbean. There were very few children aboard. Those that were there, were not seen and not heard from.

 

The pool area had no kids. No kids in hot tubs, no kids in the Adult only area. No kids in bars or casino. No kids yelling and screaming in the dining room. No strollers parked in the dining room and NO highchairs. No babies crying and so on.

 

And my point,

 

No one posts how wonderful it is to cruise without babies, kids on board, nor should anyone post how wonderful it is to cruise with them. To do so is to invite those of us who do not feel as you do, to tell you why and when we do, you dont like it.

 

Cruising with our baby was a great experience both times and I can't wait for the next one in a few months. He's pretty easy going, and the whole set up of food/cabin always nearby makes it very easy for us parents. I'm sorry you've got such a mean streak as a kid hater, would you like a huge?

[webecruzin2]

I dont even understand why the OP would post that they had a wonderful cruise with their baby. That everyone loved their baby. That someone gave their baby flowers. That everyone should bring their babies on cruises. Well the last sentence wasnt really there, but is that the point of the post?

 

 

 

If that is the point, that everyone should bring babies on cruises, how wonderfully they are received by staff and passengers, then maybe I should post my cruise experience without babies and kids as well.

 

 

 

In February we had an amazing cruise to Southern Caribbean. There were very few children aboard. Those that were there, were not seen and not heard from.

 

 

 

The pool area had no kids. No kids in hot tubs, no kids in the Adult only area. No kids in bars or casino. No kids yelling and screaming in the dining room. No strollers parked in the dining room and NO highchairs. No babies crying and so on.

 

 

 

And my point,

 

 

 

No one posts how wonderful it is to cruise without babies, kids on board, nor should anyone post how wonderful it is to cruise with them. To do so is to invite those of us who do not feel as you do, to tell you why and when we do, you dont like it.

 

 

Yikes!

That entire diatribe was so unnecessary. And plain mean.

To the OP, just ignore Norwegianwood57. [emoji849]

So glad to hear you were able to enjoy your cruise with your baby. We're looking forward to a cruise with our grandchild for the first time next year.

 

 

 

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[aquashark]

On 3/24/2016 at 1:57 PM, Wonders10 said:

Hi everyone,

 

My new husband and I just returned from a 5nt cruise on the Constellation. Our 8 month old daughter and my mom came as well. We stayed in 2 side by side A1 Aquaclass cabins on deck 11.

 

We ate in Blu every night, except for one because of a late excursion. The guests could not have been more welcoming and the crew was very accommodating! She slept great, loved the music by the pool and I never felt like we shouldn't be there because we had a young baby. Obviously all babies are different, but ours has been bitten by the cruise bug!

 

Feel free to ask questions about cruising with a baby or just cruising in general!

2

 

Thank you for posting this!  We're about to go on a cruise with our 18 month old in Aqua Class on Celebrity and haven't seen too many posts about children in Aqua Class.  I think my daughter will also have a blast.  Thanks again--this is very helpful!