First time cruising with a kid

[Lady_Jag]

Hi, everyone!

 

I just booked my fifth cruise for May 2009. I pretty much know what to expect as far as dining, rooms and amenities, but what makes this cruise so different, is that it will be my first time cruising with a child.

 

My daughter will be 3 years old when we sail on the Carnival Glory for a 7-night itenerary. My hubby, our daughter, and I will occupy one cabin (OV guaranteed), and my mom and her friend will be sailing with us (IS guaranteed).

 

So, let's have it. I am collecting any and all tips, hints, tricks, and warnings you can give me over the next 10 months!

 

I am both excited and nervous about this venture. I mean, hubby and I want to do a few adult excusions, like a segway tour. My mother LOVES being with our daughter, and she isn't much for walking or standing for long periods of time. Still, I don't want to just dump my daughter off on my mom and call "she's all yours!" over my shoulder as I run off the ship for some jeep adventure or something. I'd feel guilty that I ditched both my mom and my daughter.

 

Anyway, my initial questions are about the cruise ship facilities:

- I can't remember if the shower sprayer is a handheld model. Is it, or should I bring a small inflatable tub to bathe my daughter?

- How easily can a stroller navigate the ship?

- What are the best excusions (Easter Caribbean) for a 3-year-old?

 

Thanks!

[mandyq]

We were on the Carnival Pride with a 4yo, 1yo, and 5mo old and the

shower was a handheld spout and worked fine with our kids. Strollers worked great throughout the ship. There are ramps everywhere. The stroller even fit in the room pretty well. You can even take the stroller on the tender if you have a tender port. Our youngest 2 rode in the stroller while on the tender.

[Lady_Jag]

Thanks so much. Here's another question - do I bring a car seat for shuttles and such? What about taxis in ports? How well do the travel/portable car seats work?

[neya]

Hi:

 

We went on the Glory in September of `06 (EC) when our daughter was 18 months old. We also brought along our parents and like you I didn't want to burden them with our little one (although they adore her).

 

She didn't go to camp carnival due to her age so I can't comment on that. I did bring her (at Camp facilities ) a few times to play with the toys when they didn't have the children using the room. They had nice toys, the room was large and the counselors very, very loving. We could the facilities for about 1 hour until camp started. We didn't care for the kid's pool, the water was cold, and on a very windy part of the ship.

 

I didn't bring her an inflatable tub and use the shower to wash her up it worked out pretty good.

 

In Nassau we just walked around downtown for a little bit. I heard about Adarstra Gardens (zoo) and The Cloisters ( gardens?) but we ended up staying around the port area. We did go to the Atlantis resort a few years back. We didn't use the facilities or the beach we just walked around and took a few pictures.

St. Martin we took a taxi to the Butterfly Gardens(there were 6 of us). They were right outside of the port entrance and the gardens were about 20 minutes or so from port. The gardens were small and rustic but oh so beautiful (imho). My daughter loved the butterflies, she took her shoes off, and grab dada's hand and chased them around it was so cute. Like I said this was not a fancy place, it is off an upaved road their main concern and so care and teach the public about butterflies. Right down the road from the gardens, is Le Gallion Beach. We were planning in walking there but our driver waited for us to finish our tour of the gardens and drove us 5 minutes down the road. We asked him to return for us around 2:30 in the afternoon which he did so.

 

Le Gallion is your typical caribbean beach. Calm warm waters perfect for little ones. There was only another family there. We rented chairs and umbrellas and spend the whole morning there. A few feet away is Chez Pat, they sell drinks, burgers etc... They also have a small bathroom with sink (no showers). Around 1:00 pm it started to rain (no thunder) we played on the rain, and I realized the ocean water was warmer then the rain!! By the time our driver came back it was pouring. He said it hadn't rain there in few months. He took us downtown to buy some Guavaberry and dropped us off by the pier around 3:30 or so.

 

In St. Thomas we toured the island with Godfrey. The tour was a mixing of shopping and beach stop. If we wanted to stay at the beach (shapire beach) he would come back for us or we could returnd to ship. We just took a few pictures of the beach (which was gorgeous) and return to ship.

 

I posted a few tips on this thread under "family cruise" look it up or search by my name. If your daughter will be 3 by the time you take this cruise she will be able to be enjoy the camp carnival which from what I have heard is a big A+. The crew on this ship was exceptional. Everyone was very kind and gave us excellent service. I didn't care for the ship itself but the food and staff were awesome.

 

Hope this helps! Good Luck!

 

Neya

[Catrin]

We brought our daughter first when she was 2, and a second cruise at 3.

 

Here are some tips....

 

We brought a small umbrella stroller - and used it in port. We did not use it at all on the ship.

 

The crib was fine as a two year old, and the couch was fine for a three year old. I would be concerned, however, if the third bed was an upper. Maybe you can ask for a room with a Queen Bed and convertible sofa.

 

We have her her own "Backpack" which she filled up with her "friends" before the cruise. Each night the cabin steward would line up her friends and tuck them in bed. We also bought her a "Fun Ship Freddy" stuffed doll to keep with her at night.

 

Meals - we brought sippy cups with us, and they filled it with milk each night at dinner. We ordered off the kids menu, but also had plain pasta for her and a fruit plate. They are so accomidating with kids. Breakfast Cereal Boxes - we took a few extras each day and kept these for snacks. Speaking of snacks, the bar near the casino had Goldfish, I asked for a small bowl for daytime snack for her.

 

Eastern Caribbean - we took a tour with Sunny Liston in St. Thomas that she loved. 25 people fit on the bus, and he played fun music during the travel. She was free on the tour as well.

 

Schedule - keeping her on a schedule is key. We had our daughter take her naps each afternoon, and we did not keep her up past 10PM. We realized that we were going to have a different type of cruise.. early mornings, early nights ... and just as enjoyable.

 

Good Luck and ENjoy!

Cat

[beejayeak]

Ok - I totally got this idea from off of these boards but it worked so well for us last year with my friend's kids - aged 3 and 7. This was on the Carnival Glory.

 

We wanted them to experience the dining room and begin to learn how to behave in this setting, but quite frankly, it was new to them, and they were antsy after awhile - plus we still wanted to enjoy our meals without feeling like we had to rush.

 

We had a dining time of either 6:15 or 6:30 - don't quite remember - and the kids club opened at 7. So the kids ate their meals with us - and did very well. Once they started to get too antsy, my friend went and signed them in to the kids club. This worked so well for us:

 

The kids got to enjoy a meal with us and practice their dining manners.

 

Sometimes the kids stayed with us for an hour and a half, sometimes they went right up at 7, depending on the day's activities and how they affected the kid's moods at dinner.

 

We got to enjoy our dining room time, both with the kids and then just as adults.

[Lady_Jag]

Wow! Thanks for the awesome tips! I am getting so excited now - 10 months seems like it's a LIFETIME away!

:p

[NanciRDH]

Carnival Glory was our youngest's first cruise last year, and she still talks about Camp...she had a great time. She was 2 years and 3 months.

 

I bought an inflatable tub because she doesn't like showers at home, even with the removable sprayer, and it was worth the added expense to me to keep her happy...she just screams with the sprayer. It was also easier to get the sand out of all those places it likes to creep into after a long day at the beach. ;)

 

I made sure she napped every day, and the first few days really tried to keep the schedule the same, but as things usually go on vacation, it didn't stick...but because it was a gradual change, she didn't get out of sorts, we were able to enjoy sleeping in a bit because she got used to staying out later and slept in to make up for it...something she never does at home. We used the ships crib...it's a metal portacrib. I brought sheets from home and wiped it down completely with Clorox wipes, just to be sure. She's a tiny 2yo, and needs a crib because she's a wiggly sleeper. The crib was very new looking

 

I used disposable bibs, sippycups and toddler sized utensils. The bibs got tossed but I washed everything else and recycled them as long as I could, but if they got left behind it wasn't a big deal. The times I forgot the fork and spoon at the dining room table, they were washed and waiting for us the next night!

 

We had an umbrella stroller too, but rarely used it onboard. It made embarkation easy, we were sent to the front of the line to use the elevator. I can't remember if it helped getting off, we were one of the last numbers called anyway, so crowds were light by then. I like to keep her secured in a stroller during croweded times, especially when I'm preoccupied with luggage, tickets and security, just for safety reasons.

[As You Wish]

My then 2 year old DD's first cruise was on the Glory. She had just turned 2 a couple weeks prior to sailing, and she absolutely loved Camp Carnival. She wanted to spend as much time as I would let her spend there.

 

We did bring an umbrella stroller which we only used off the ship, but it was still useful to have. I did bring a portable car seat for use traveling to/from the airport and in the taxis at the ports. As mentioned, the shower head was removable, but I still brought a small inflatable pool for use in the shower and on our balcony as she was still in diapers and could not use the ship's pools.

 

My sister and mom were on this cruise, and they did help out and watch my DD several times which was wonderful. I used a tip from these boards and let my DD run around in the disco a few time when it was not in use. That was a nice way for her to have some freedom and burn off steam. You may want to bring a portable DVD player for down time in the cabin. I especially recommend it if you are flying. I'd also bring a book or two, some quiet toys for use at dinner time, and some inexpensive beach toys.

We did the western itinerary, so I can't make any excursion recommendations. Have a great trip.

[Julienatul]

We,ve sailed with my DD at 7 mo, 12mo, 18mo, 2yr and 2yr3mo. We have done both inside, outside and balcony cabins. We always fit perfect. We did bring the blow-up tub, dvd player, coloring books/crayons, stickers, sand toys/water toys, snacks, juice boxes for in port. We also bring a small ball and go to en empty lounge during the day to let her run off some steam. We always bring our stroller because if we are out in port or on deck or somewhere on the ship, DD knows she can sleep in it reclined. Although I have to say as she gets older that happens less often since she doesnt want to miss out. We eat in the dining room every night and she does very well, always has. She slept in the crib up until the last cruise where she slept in the pull out couch. We havent used camp carnival much since she didnt want to go both cruises she was able. She LOVES the shows with all the costumes and music. We also stock up on lots of little dollar store toys to play with and throw away to make room for souvenirs. You will have a great time with your little one, not as relaxing as cruising without kids but definitely a great way to travel. There will be so many new things for your daughter to see and explore that she will have a great time.

[oavcech95]

Hi, everyone!

 

I just booked my fifth cruise for May 2009. I pretty much know what to expect as far as dining, rooms and amenities, but what makes this cruise so different, is that it will be my first time cruising with a child.

 

My daughter will be 3 years old when we sail on the Carnival Glory for a 7-night itenerary. My hubby, our daughter, and I will occupy one cabin (OV guaranteed), and my mom and her friend will be sailing with us (IS guaranteed).

 

So, let's have it. I am collecting any and all tips, hints, tricks, and warnings you can give me over the next 10 months!

 

I am both excited and nervous about this venture. I mean, hubby and I want to do a few adult excusions, like a segway tour. My mother LOVES being with our daughter, and she isn't much for walking or standing for long periods of time. Still, I don't want to just dump my daughter off on my mom and call "she's all yours!" over my shoulder as I run off the ship for some jeep adventure or something. I'd feel guilty that I ditched both my mom and my daughter.

 

Anyway, my initial questions are about the cruise ship facilities:

- I can't remember if the shower sprayer is a handheld model. Is it, or should I bring a small inflatable tub to bathe my daughter?

- How easily can a stroller navigate the ship?

- What are the best excusions (Easter Caribbean) for a 3-year-old?

 

Thanks!

 

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http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=763541