Cruising Carnival with 15 Month Old

[rass2008]

We are cruising on Elation later this month with our 15 Month old daughter and I was looking for suggestions from those who cruise with their infants. This will be our first time cruising with a child so any feedback or suggestions would be great!! We would love to get in a dinner together if she would be allowed to be babysat while sleeping?? I know she is too young for Camp Carnival, but is there anything else available??

 

Thanks so much :)

[Julienatul]

Congrats on your upcoming cruise. You will have a good family vacation. It's a working vacation since you will still have all the reposnsibility of caring for your toddler but better because you have someone cooking, cleaning and waiting on you for a change.

 

Unfortunately Carnival only has babysitting for under 2's from 10p-3am nightly so the dinner idea is out but you might be able to fit in a show or visit the nightclub/casino/piano bar after 10.

 

We started sailing with DD when she was 7mo. We went at 7mo, 12mo, 18mo, 24mo, 27mo and 36mo. She will be going on her 6th cruise this summer at age 3.5 yrs and our new DS will be joining us at 8mo.

 

Tips at 15mo, carnival provides a porta crib (small metal) you may want to bring your own sheets. Bring any things your child likes to sleep with (blankets, stuffed animals, pacifiers). Bring a blow up bathtub to use in the cabin shower (target sells it, a duck for $9) you can also use this as a pool in deck since your little one cant use the pools if she isnt potty trained. Bring stroller, great for strolling around after dinner, in ports and all around the ship and for naps on the go. Try to stick as close as possible to your child's schedule-meals, naps etc. I always bring plenty of magazines, books, ipod etc to use in the cabin while my DD slept. Bring plenty of diapers, wipes etc. Bring any infant meds-tylenol, motrin, etc. Toys-we brought small water toys, bubbles, a blow up beach ball, stacking cups...really any portable thing your child plays with.

 

You can attend any family activity Camp carnival offers. There is a realy fun family welcome aboard party the first night after early seating dinner with music , dancing, balloons etc. Your little one may love this. At 18mo my DD was also mezmerized by the shows, she loved the costumes, music and dancing and would sit through the entire thing. You could try it.. Just sit in the back and if she acts up just leave.

 

be flexible, just go with the flow and relax your expectations and you will have a great time!

[lamolesky]

We have sailed with our little ones too and they had as much fun as we did. They are still asking us to go all the time! I have our stories on my site which has lots of advice. Have fun!

[vi reynolds]

Thanks so much everyone for your tips. We haven't book yet but my husband and I are considering a Carnival cruise since they accept infants on board. We would be a family of five, ourselves, my parents and our little 6 month boy.

 

We are looking at sailing from NY or thereby since we are currently based in NY state although my parents will be coming from England. We're Brits actually, long story. Our preferred destination is the Caribbean but I'm wondering if this is wise with a child so young even with all the sun protection available.

 

We are also very open to suggestions in terms of other cruise liners, cruise styles etc. We don't mind formal or informal.

 

Now, yes I was aware of the babysitting facilities onboard a Carnival ship. Now, good point about the dinning. I know that we are trying to do too many things here, we want it to be a family holiday but also a romantic one for us. My husband has had a very hectic time at work lately (well, that's an understatement) and desperately needs to get away. Whilst my parents haven't been able to get as much time as they would want with our little one (we moved to the States when he was 2 months old), and would be delighted to take care of him, I don't want it to turn out to be a working holiday for my mum. Now, my question is can we take the baby to dinner with us, for instance?

 

Any tips, comments most appreciated.

[Kerry's Girls]

I took my twin 13 month olds to dinner every night of our cruise and we had a great time. Carnival is particularly good with babies. Just bring small diversions to dinner with you and you'll probably be fine (I only added "probably" because every child is different, but I've seen lots of little ones enjoying dinner in the dining room on cruises).

 

I have to be particularly careful with my girls and the sun, but I'd still do the Carib. Of course we're careful about sunscreen; sun-safe clothing & swim gear and make sure any resort we go to in port has shade, or we choose excursions where we don't have to be in the sun all day.

 

You may want to consider RCCL since they do offer in-cabin babysitting, which would allow you to go to dinners alone when you want to.

 

Best,

Mia

[vi reynolds]

I took my twin 13 month olds to dinner every night of our cruise and we had a great time. Carnival is particularly good with babies. Just bring small diversions to dinner with you and you'll probably be fine (I only added "probably" because every child is different' date=' but I've seen lots of little ones enjoying dinner in the dining room on cruises).

 

I have to be particularly careful with my girls and the sun, but I'd still do the Carib. Of course we're careful about sunscreen; sun-safe clothing & swim gear and make sure any resort we go to in port has shade, or we choose excursions where we don't have to be in the sun all day.

 

You may want to consider RCCL since they do offer in-cabin babysitting, which would allow you to go to dinners alone when you want to.

 

Best,

Mia[/quote']

 

Oh, thanks so much for that information. It seems that it's doable after all. I thought that my husband was a bit mad for wanting to do this, especially in the Caribbean. Our baby is quite alert and yes, I probably will need to entertain him a bit but my mother will be very good. She's dying to see him again. I think a mixture of taking him to dinner and dinning alone and/or as a family some nights would probably be the best option. I'll check RC, thanks for the tip.:)

[BBigfoot613]

Oh, thanks so much for that information. It seems that it's doable after all. I thought that my husband was a bit mad for wanting to do this, especially in the Caribbean. Our baby is quite alert and yes, I probably will need to entertain him a bit but my mother will be very good. She's dying to see him again. I think a mixture of taking him to dinner and dinning alone and/or as a family some nights would probably be the best option. I'll check RC, thanks for the tip.:)

 

Since in your original post you said about carnival, I'd like to add that on our first cruise I saw a child across the way that was in a highchair. I don't recall if it was an actual highchair or a booster that you place at the end of the table. Either way if your little one can sit up on his own I'd make sure that when you book you have it requested/noted with your dining. That way they can make sure to get you into a location that would support the room needed for a chair like this for times you take him to dinner.

[vi reynolds]

Since in your original post you said about carnival, I'd like to add that on our first cruise I saw a child across the way that was in a highchair. I don't recall if it was an actual highchair or a booster that you place at the end of the table. Either way if your little one can sit up on his own I'd make sure that when you book you have it requested/noted with your dining. That way they can make sure to get you into a location that would support the room needed for a chair like this for times you take him to dinner.

 

Thanks so much, that seems like the sensible way forward.

[boulders]

Be aware that Royal Caribbean offers in cabin babysitting for ages 12 months and older.

[boulders]

I'll amend my last response: Oasis of the Seas will have a nursery service for 6 months and up.

[vi reynolds]

I'll amend my last response: Oasis of the Seas will have a nursery service for 6 months and up.

 

Oh, Dan jumped the gun and booked Carnival yesterday, last minute thing. We had just read that yes, it was for children over 12 months. I wasn't aware that one of their ships offered this for over 6 months. Oh, well, maybe it wasn't the write itinerary or departure port.

 

Thanks very much for the info, though. It's unlikely that we will have another holiday before he turns 12 months (very unlikely in fact!) but it's good to know.

 

Thanks.