Cribs on Mercury

[allygator]

Has anyone used the cribs provided by Celebrity? Are they safe and in relatively good condition? Did you have any problems with the crib?

 

The cribs provided by another cruiseline were a bit scary.

[fauxpaz]

I do not have an answer to your question, but I am sailing Celebrity on 4/7 and have requested a crib so I'll let you know what they give me. My TA said that usually they are pack 'n' plays.

[cruisePRN]

Do you enjoy your cruise with a baby? I would think it hinders your ability to enjoy all the things the cruise has to offer. Celebrity is not known to be a kids cruise. I'm curious.

[shadow8899]

I called Celebrity yesterday, they said they have Pack N Plays and not the old wooden cribs.

 

Do, I enjoy cruising with a child? I don't know because I have not been on one with one. But, I tend to enjoy everything I do with my kids, because they are my kids. I don't know what kind of things PP plans on doing on a cruise that a child would hinder. But, I found that once you became a parent, you work your plans around the child and that would probably include the things one does on a cruise.

[fauxpaz]

I think it depends on your expectations. I am looking forward to spending 10 "Saturdays" with my daughter with the added bonus of no cooking, no cleaning, some sightseeing and relaxing. As a parent that sounds like a great thing!!!

[allygator]

I don't have a baby so I can't say if it will hinder all that a cruise has to offer. I was asking the question for my sister. Although, I can't imagine how a baby can stop anyone from enjoying a cruise. If we think of what's offered on a cruise ship (not the destinations), what can't one do if they have a baby, except maybe go to the casino or the bar. If you're talking about visiting the ports, I view it as no different than taking a plane to the destination. I know many parents who have tossed their few months old babies into a babypack and took them along on hikes and tours of foreign cities. I don't mean to offend the elderly, but would one ever question if a grandparent would stop them from enjoying a cruise or if a person doesn't get the full enjoyment of a cruise because they're old. You probably can't take a baby kayaking or snorkeling, and I would assume that my 80+ year old grandmother won't be participating in those activities as well. But does grandma enjoys her cruises...yes she does.

 

This cruise might be slightly different from past ones (i.e., packing a suitcase of diapers and toys) but I doubt having a baby and a toddler with us this time will make us miss out on what we've loved about cruising. With four generations going on this cruise, the important part is that we'll be with our family and my grandmother will be able to spend time with her great-granddaughter and great-grandson.

[cruisePRN]

Not to be argumentative but grannie does smell up a diaper in the dinning room requiring someone to excuse themselves for a diaper change. grannie won't cry in the middle of the show making someone have to leave early. I'm not saying not to bring a baby i was wondering if it's an enjoyable type of vacation. The cruise has two formal nights and burping a baby in my good clothes and getting "spit up" on me wouldn't be enjoyable. I started my kids on cruises after elementary school age when they had an attention span and they have been cruisers ever since. By age 21 they were diamond members so I'm certainly anti kids. When I started cruising with my kids back in the late 70's there were no kids programs and nothing was geared towards families. They've changed into family vacations since then.

Enjoy your vacation

[shadow8899]

Right because when grannies do stink up their diapers and they do not excuse themselves to go change it, making things worse.

 

If I am home and my baby poops in his diaper while I eat, I go change it. Is there any difference? Yes, I might walk a bit further to change it, but when i come back, my food will come hot from the kitchen.

 

I doubt I will go to any shows, but then again I haven't watched a TV show or movie in one straight shot since 2/19/2004, so it's not an issue for me. I'm sure that if my husband or I want to go see a show, one of our travel companions will watch our kids.

 

I would imagine a cruise would be the best vacation with a child, like PP said, I will get to spend 7 "saturdays" with my children and get waited on hand and foot.

 

Getting spit-up on my clothes while burping my baby? That is what burp clothes are for. Also, who is to say that I won't drop something on me? I just dropped a meatball with tomato sauce on my khaki pants last week.

 

I have been on a cruise with my husband's grandmother (who was in a wheelchair) at the same time as with my then 6-month old nephew, was there a difference? Yes, it was easier to get around with my nephew.

 

Allygator & fauxpaz, I hope you and you families have wonderful cruises.

[cruisePRN]

I meant to say I'm not anti kids in my last post had a typo.

Enjoy your cruises.

So you think if you need to excuse yourself to go back to your cabin and change a diaper you can come back and expect the waiter to drop what he's doing to serve you a hot dinner while everyone else is up to dessert?

Enjoy your cruise at a different dinner table then mine.

[BrooklynGirl2]

I started cruising with a 5 year old but if I knew what a wonderful family vacation cruising would be I would have started earlier. Celebrity is fine for kids and on our Zenith cruises there were quite a number of babies in the 6 month to 18 month age ranges. They were also in the dining room with us and were just fine. My son adored one 9 month old baby at the next table and would ask to go over to play with him during dinner. No one seemed to mind or be put out about having children in the dining room. Of course, none of them were screaming and the parents were very focused on not intruding on other people's enjoyment. Most of these babies and parents were traveling with extended family (grandparents, aunts and uncles) so they all sat together.

 

As for getting a hot meal after others were served....on Celebrity that would never be a problem. One very rocky night my son became somewhat seasick and could not eat his dinner. Our wonderful waiter asked if he could take it back to the kitchen to keep it warm for him until he was feeling better (we had given him a half-bonine for his stomach). No one else at our table seemed offended or horrified at this prospect.

 

To everyone traveling with children .... go and have a wonderful time. Just be a little considerate of others and you will have no problems. I'd rather have a child at my table than a sloppily dressed, drunken bore.:D