11 month old

[weebotk]

Hi -

We've cruised in the past but never with an infant. Now that a milestone anniversary is coming up, we're thinking about taking our 9 year old and our 11 month old on a Med cruise. Any major suggestions? Are there any cruise lines besides Disney (which doesn't do the Med) that offer nursery services for our 11 month old? If not, is there any way to get top-notch, reliable care if we want, say, just one night to sit down and have dinner together sans children?

Thx in advance!

[ChBoxers800]

Take me with you........I'll be happy to babysit :p

[leighuf]

Royal Caribbean doesn't have babysitting or nursery services for your youngest. I thought Disney did go to the Med... anyway, maybe see if a grandparent is willing to come along. My parents joined us on our recent Caribbean cruise and they were a wonderful help. We didn't rely on them too much but they did babysit one evening and one afternoon allowing us to have dinner alone one night and do an excursion in Jamaica. Be aware that Med ports of call in Italy often require long drives to get to major cities like Florence and Rome. Also keep in mind that many sites are not stroller accessible like Pompeii or some villages in France. Be sure to do your homework on things to do with a baby before choosing the Med (walking around Monaco, visiting the museum, and seeing the changing of the guard. Also strolling around La Rambla in Barcelona. Pisa is only about a 30 min drive from the port. Your oldest could go to the top with your husband while you stay below... etc etc.). The trip may be more work than fun. I found the Caribbean very doable with a 11 month old. I think Alaska or Hawaii would also be very doable. The Med might be a challenge. :confused:

[6rugrats]

For all the reasons listed above, I would seriously rethink a Med cruise with an infant. IMO, it would be a lot of work and not enjoyable for the baby. That in turn means not enjoyable for mom and dad.

[gazingm42]

I would re-think this myself. I would think about warmer Caribbeans weather with your small children. There more that they will enjoy.

[crusinmama06]

For all the reasons listed above, I would seriously rethink a Med cruise with an infant. IMO, it would be a lot of work and not enjoyable for the baby. That in turn means not enjoyable for mom and dad.

 

I agree with this 100%! Usually I tell everyone to go everywhere with their kids....except the Med. ;)

 

The Med is so port intensive and from what I understand it requires alot of travel time in ports. We have held off on doing the Med until my kids are a little older. I am thinking when the youngest is 8, we'll go.

 

That's not to say that people don't do it. I have seen many families do a med cruise with an infant. But I think you would have to be willing to give up alot of things to do/see when you have a baby on that kind of cruise. :(

[pmfan]

Have you thought about taking a family member along as a sitter? It would help you out and give you and DH more adult time.

[aaklang]

Celebrity offers in-room babysitting for infants 6 months and up. I've never tried it but I plan to when I bring my 11 month old to Alaska in May. Just one or two nights so we can have a quiet dinner. You may want to look into cruising with them.

 

We took Celebrity (Millennium) to the Med in 2006 and had an amazing trip. We didn't have our baby with us. I agree with some of the others that it's probably a rougher trip to do with a newborn, but I wouldn't rule it out completely. We did a ton of walking in Athens and Barcelona, some of which may have been pretty tough with a stroller. If you are strong and can wear the baby in a backpack all day, you might be happier trying that instead.

 

Also, we did private car tours in Rome and Naples (Sorrento, Amalfi Coast, Pompeii) that would have required a carseat, so you may need to bring the carseat along with you.

 

There were a couple of babies on our cruise, but I didn't see more than 2 or 3. Whatever you do - have fun! The Med is AWESOME if you can make it work.