Cruising with a 2yr old....

[Tasheetash]

Hi Cruisers,

 

My little boy will be 2 years and 8 mths old at the time we cruise. I'm travelling with 2 older sisters and my Mum. I've been getting alot of negative comments from friends & family about taking him - either a cruise is not a place for him, he'll get in the way, you won't have any fun etc etc. BUT I want him to come and experience this excitement with me and I know he will love it. Can anyone who's travelled with a child under the 3yr age minimum (for Turtle Cove) give me any insight into what it's like to cruise with a child not allowed to stay at Turtle Cove by themselves.

 

I'm planning to go to TC every day and supervise him and as he is a really easy going kid, I'm hoping they will eventually let him stay there by himself for a couple of hours each day as the cruise progresses, so I can have time experiencing the ship with my sisters & Mum. But I'm wondering about all the other stuff on board - is it toddler friendly?

 

Thanks in advance,

Tash :o

[karmac]

Don't take any notice of the negative comments. I'm one of these people who do not believe in leaving kids at home whilst going on holidays so personally I think you're doing the right thing. Sure, he'll tie you down a bit but hey, that's what kids do & we know that when we decide to have them. Someone on here who cruised recently mentioned that they were able to leave their under 3 year old in Turtle Cove without supervision for a little while each day. Of course that would also depend on how many kids are on board. I would say that the ship is toddler friendly but someone who has cruised with toddlers would be a better judge of that.......mine are past that stage. You will have a wonderful time and maybe your mum could babysit him at night now & again whilst you go partying with your sisters(unless of course mum is a party animal:p and wants to be there). Go and enjoy.

[edtam26]

Hi Trish, We have been on 2 cruises in the last 8 months with my now 2.5yr old daughter - both cruises were on Sun Princess but the principle is the same. We all had a fantastic time even though we had to look after the 2.5yr old ourselves. The kids club would not let us leave her alone so we took in turns to watch her - a good book or magazine helps.

It helps if there are a number of adults to share the minding around as it gives everyone a break, especially at night when they are sleeping. We also had our 6yr old son who had a ball and wanted to go to the kids club every chance he could. It would be fantastic to get to spend time with your partner without the toddler so we are looking forward to next year but if there was a special on we would cruise again now !

A tip with the meals - the staff are fantastic and you can ask for extra vegies or mix and match whats on the menu etc depending on what your child likes.:)

[Tasheetash]

Thanks karmac & edtam26,

 

karmac - I feel the exact same way about children. I think I'd stress more if he wasn't with me anyway so I've got my answer.

 

Mum is a bit of a bingo freak and loves the casino, but I'm sure she'll be tuckered out after the first few days (she's 66). I know that she'll be happy to mind him and when he needs a nap she can have her Nanna Nap ;) hee hee.

 

Thanks for the tip on the meals, edtam. I'm waitlisted on the 1st dining. Fingers crossed I can get a spot. Mum booked mths before me and has everything confirmed already. Lucky old duck.

 

All I have to do now is try to pack our bags so we get as much in that we need but still are under the baggage limits. We are flying to Brisbane to board PS. That's going to be a challenge as I usually pack a suitcase for each of us and that's just for a weekend away :( .

[Ela 2]

Thanks for the tip on the meals, edtam. I'm waitlisted on the 1st dining. Fingers crossed I can get a spot. Mum booked mths before me and has everything confirmed already. Lucky old duck.

When you check in at the dock and get your cruise card, if you don't have first dinner sitting see the Maitre D' as soon as you can after you board. Is your booking linked with your mother's? I assume that your Cruise Personalisr on the P & O website still shows waitlisted? With a young child in your group it is likely you will be put on early dinnner. If not, when you see the Maitre D' and explain, you will go to the front of the queue. Alterations to dinner allocation are from the next night.:):):)

[Tasheetash]

Thanks so much for your post Ela 2. I have been worrying about dining late since I first booked. I'm not linked with my Mum, I booked early for her and then got the cruise "bug" and decided to tag along too.

 

I'm so glad that they are so flexible. You have made my day.

 

Thanks again :)

 

Tash

[dea71]

Hi Tash,

 

You and your son will have a wonderful time - we took our then 20 month old on the Pacific Dawn in March. He had a fantastic time even without the kids club. The crew in the dining room were great - they were just amazing with the kids (we travelled with our little boy, plus my 3 year old daughter and 2 other children aged 2 and 5) and really made the difference for us adults!!

 

Alot of the crew actually have young children at home and are missing them terribly and so are very happy to play with and talk to your children. Each morning at breakfast we had a waiter who would come and collect our little boy and carry him around the dining room chatting to the other crew while we ate our breakfast - he had a ball!!

 

I am not sure about Turtle Cove on the Pacific Sun but on the Dawn you couldn't leave under 3 year olds there without a parent/guardian present all the time.

 

On shore days - make sure you take plenty of water/drinks for him - you and I are patient in the heat if there is a wait for a drink - little people generally aren't!! If I had my time again I would also take ashore small snacks (I know they say that you can't - but sometimes it can be difficult to get something quickly for a little voice saying 'I'm hungry now!') - maybe little cracker packs or muesli bars.

 

Another little thing - if you are taking a stroller/pram - and even at 2 and a 1/2 I would take one - make sure that it is not of the three wheeler/jogger variety - they don't fit through the cabin door whilst they are up (and hopefully your little one is dozing off to sleep after a busy day at sea and a yummy dinner while you have a drink in the bar!;) ) and also take up alot of room in the cabin when folded down. Also if you have a compact stroller it is great if they can lie down rather than just be upright (again for those little post dinner naps or waiting for a tender boat!) - I picked up a great one from K Mart on special for about $75.

 

I hope that you have a great time - and poo poo to all those people who say don't bring kids - blah blah blah - ignore them - they haven't seen the excitement on a little one's face when they see the 'big boat' for the first time!! When else do we mums get someone to tidy the 'house', cook all the meals AND clean up and really just spend some time with our kids!!!

 

Enjoy!

Dea

[Ela 2]

Hi Tash,

I have been thinking about your dilemma. You not only want to be on the first dinner seating, but I assume you would also like to be at the same table as your mother. I suggest you phone your travel agent and discuss the problem. Ideally she/he will link your bookings so you will share a dinner table. You have to quote names and booking numbers. I got the impression that the same TA booked all of you. Your TA would have to stress to P & O that it would not be any good putting all of you on the second dinner because of the age of your child. Best of luck. I think you have a very good chance that linking bookings will give you early dinner. Let us know how it goes. You can keep the "see the Maitre D'" as your fall-back option if linking the bookings doesn't work.:):)

[Tasheetash]

Hi Ela 2,

 

I'm actually booked direct with P&O. (With my next cruise I'm going to check & compare around - the wonderful things you learn when you join CC). As soon as the phone lines open on Monday I will try to link us up to my Mum's booking. Hopefully it'll work just as you say, but if not, I'm still happy with trying the Maitre D'.

 

Dea - I've been mostly ignoring the comments, but some have made me wonder. But after your post I'm really happy and back to being excited about it all. Poo hoo to sooky-la-la's.

 

Thanks again,

 

Everyone's feedback is much appreciated.

 

Regards

Tash

[Ela 2]

Hi Tash,

Good. If the first option doesn't work, you have a fall-back option. If P & O can't fix it for you now and you have to do the change once you board, your Mum will probably have to move from her original table to your new one. Be prepared for this (if you have to see the Maitre D') by knowing your Mum's table number.

 

Have a fantastic time.:):):)