Grommet
August 30th, 2006, 04:16 PM
I have an 8-month old I'm cruising with for the first time and I have lots of questions!! Please advise...
1. Will there be highchairs available during all the other meals besides dinner? What about at the buffet or casual restaurant?
2. Can I bring baby to the shows and/or theatre? Is it recommended?
3. Can I bring a floatation to the pool for the baby?
4. Any secret quiet areas?
5. Do I need to bring my own bath tub for the baby?
6. Is the "cooling box" in the room usable (cool enough) to store formula/baby food?
7. Dinner rotation - what if you want to change? Would like to change server or be seated at a different table possibly even on our own?
8. Are babies allowed in the fitness/spa area?
Any recommendations will be greatly appreciated!!! ;)
mom x4,grandma x4
August 30th, 2006, 06:37 PM
Hi, well I can answer a couple of your questions.
Babies are NOt allowed in the spa areas at all. Flounders nursery has child care, although they limit the hours during the week, so if there are a lot of babies sometimes it may behard to get the time you want. It is $6 per hour,2 hour minamum and there is a 2 way window to check in anytime plus you will have a pager in case they need you.
There is one Mickey ear that is reserved for babies who are NOT potty trained. It is the ONLY water area they are allowed in. Swim diapers are required!! This is not a deep area, instead it has jets of water and only an inch deep, little ones just love it. Parents can sit on the edge of the ear so they are only inches away from the kids too. bring lots of swim diapers, they do sell them but they are spendy and they can run out.
Lots of people take babies to the shows, tons of kids in there, after all this is Disney, Kids rule!!! On the longer cruises they often have a 2 p.m. matinee that is really nice if you have little ones because it is not as crowded. plus it make sfor a much more leisurely time at dinner, no need to rush to the show before and after dinner.
If the ship isnt full and there are empty tables they will change you if there is aproblem, but they will try to seat your family with another family that also has small children or sometimes you will have a table all to yourselves. If you are on a 7 day cruise the buffet is also open all but the first and last night, it is much more relaxed in there for families, plus it's not really a buffet, only the salad bar the rest is the same menu as the main dining room and you are waited on.
Yes there are high chairs in the buffet and all the restaurants. Again, this is disney and they are prepared for kids. you can eat all meals in the restaurants if you want or buffet. Plus lots of food around the pool areas, but no high chairs out there.
At the time of booking you can request a port a crib at no extra charge. Your room host will set it up and make it each day for you.
The little frig is cool, but not cold like a frig is. So I would only make up a little formula at a time or take the ready made cans and only open a can at a time and hope for no leftovers. You can request ice from your room host in an ice bucket so maybe you could set the leftovers in that for a couple of hours to keep it really cold to start with too.
The tubs are tiny ones on the ship, I think you could easily bend over and bath an 8 month old child in it.
Quiet areas, the very back of the ship on deck 7 is a secret verandah with lounge chairs. Very quiet accept late at night when the teen club often gathers there for activities. But it is in th edirect sun.
Deck 4 outside is a jogging deck and shuffleboard. If you grab a padded lounge away from the shuffleboard area it is very quiet, lots of people read or take a nap out there. This is the best place.
Plus inside the area in front of the walt disney theater is very quiet with a few chairs to sit at, but near show times it is loud!!!
There are a few quiet area in front of the elevators on most decks with just 2 chairs for sitting too.
deck 4, 5 at the atrium are padded chairs that are very comfortable. deck 5 is close to the kids clubs, but deck 4 is very quiet there.
a padded bench outside the movie theater on deck 5 is often very quiet until showtime too.
The Promenade lounge when it's not in use is very nice place to just sit and people watch or look at the sea. They do have events in there sometimes and music in the evenings, but it does have it's quiet times too.
Hope this helps some. please bring sun block the kiddie pool is in the direct sun!!
mom x4,grandma x4
Strollers work great if they are the umbrella type, the larger ones are a really tight squeeze around the ship, not practical at all.