Kerry's Girls

There's no rule addressing it that I'm aware of. The problem is finding space to put it between two deck chairs - better to go where it's less crowded a bit away from the pool. But no cruise line will allow a blow up pool near the pool or in an open space where it would be in the way of others. When we talk about inflatable "pools", it's really a small bathtub size to splash in (like the duck tub), not an inflatable pool. Have a great time!

I started taking my twins at 13 months old. I didn't care if they were old enough to appreciate it - someone else was doing all my cooking and cleaning, bringing me room service in the morning, taking us to new places to explore/play each day while we slept, my kids were treated like royalty by the staff. As a result, we all had more fun. For me, there's no better vacation with little ones.

As someone who actually sailed Princess with 2 year olds (twins), yes, there is plenty to do (my profile pic is my 13 month olds on their first Princess cruise and we loved it so much, we kept going back). Head on over to the family board where people aren't so cranky about young kids. Princess is unique in that under-3s are allowed in the kids play area as long as one parent is with them. My girls LOVED this - lots of fun things to play with. But even without the play area, and without the pool (as you probably know, must be potty trained for the pools - no swim diapers), my girls always had a great time. The crew treats young kids like royalty (many of them are missing their own). We brought a little blow up duck tub that we'd put in an uncrowded area on deck and have a little splash play (the small tub also then works as a bath tub in the cabin shower). We'd go dancing on deck or in one of the lounges, we'd bring a blow up ball and play in an empty lounge, throw in meals and naps and the days fly by. Happy to answer any questions.

I bring a fan. I have two travel fans: Vornado FIT Personal Air Circulator Fan, Aqua which is a small regular plug in fan that folds so it takes relatively little space and the Quiet Desk Fan, Moucit 4-Inch USB Small Table Fan with Twin Turbo, 2 Speeds and Pivoting Head Personal Electric Fan for Office, Home which is charged or runs like a phone, so I plug it into a phone charger and place it on the nightstand. Both are great. The first is stronger, but if I'm flying I bring the second, smaller one because I also get hot on planes. If it's about the noise, there are apps for that. I need the blowing air and don't travel anywhere, cruise, hotel, flight, etc., without a fan.

We did a two week cruise over Xmas & NYE last year through the Panama Canal. There were a good number of kids and teens who all seemed to be having a great time, but didn't bother us at all. Easy enough to avoid. Every once is awhile there'd be a pack sitting on the stairs in an area or hanging together at the back of a lounge. Not an issue.

What is more family friendly than a vacation with a kids club, babysitting services, kid activities, kid menus and marketed to families? Cruising on mass market lines is one the most family friendly and vacations available. That said, I completely agree that longer cruises during school holidays or cruising during school months is the best way to have a better mix of passengers. Even when cruising with my own kids, none of us want a ship overrun with them 😀

I'll answer what I can: 1 - There is no expectation to tip on top of the gratuities you paid at booking. Some people will give a little extra to their room steward at the end of the trip and I've given a particularly wonderful waiter something extra at the end of the cruise, but there is no daily, on the spot tipping. 2 - There will be set times for breakfast in the Dining Room and the Buffet listed on your daily schedule. You just show up any time within that window. Many ships don't offer lunch in the dining room except on sea days and those times will also be listed. 3 - You have to buy an internet package or you have no access to the internet. Please make sure your devices are set to airplane mode while on board or you could suffer some horrific charges from your cell carrier. 4 - Drink packages vary by cruiseline. Packages usually are set up for alcohol drinkers but you can also find soda packages and only you can decide if it's worth it. A package may not be economical unless you're having more than a few sodas a day. You might ask about juice and chocolate milk availability on the cruise board for your specific cruise line, but for a child those would often be "free" if they're offered outside of breakfast. 5 - You can absolutely have twin beds. There should be a place to note in your reservation how you want your room set up. Occasionally certain suites will have a bed that can't be split, but most rooms are versatile. Have a great time!

Touring is tiring for everyone - adults and kids, but I strongly suggest taking private tours when possible or hiring your own taxi at the port so you can go at your own pace, stop for a meal or snack or gelato any time something looks fun and really enjoy your day rather than doing the on-the-bus/off-the-bus cattle type tour that can be deathly boring for a kid. The plus with a private tour also is you can get to the popular sites quickly before the bus tours/longer lines. Choose outdoor sites to explore rather than museums/shopping. Get back to the ship for an activity, swim, rest, dinner, kids club for awhile and start all over the next day. Don't feel like you need to see everything - the point is to enjoy your days in port and enjoy your time together. A couple suggestions about the cruise you're looking at - for Rome (or really any embarkation city), please get there at least two days early. Many people missed our last cruise even who tried to arrive the day before because a missed connection (which is very common these days) can take more than a day to catch up. Also that gives you time to enjoy the city a bit and get used to the time change before the cruise begins. After the cruise I find it's easier to just head for the airport, so we always enjoy a few days somewhere beforehand. Please avoid the suffering donkeys in Santorini. Their treatment is horrible. Really it's best to avoid any tour that includes animals. Have such a great time - we've loved our family Med cruises.

We did a Norwegian cruise with these ports when my girls were 5 (and again at 18). It's a fantastic, stress-free way to see Europe with a kid because the ship is your floating hotel and you wake up in a new place each day. Most of these itineraries have few sea days, but any of the ships will have a swimming pool, kids club with lots of activities, movies, etc. Some of the ships will have other bells and whistles, but most days after touring everyone will be tired, so a swim and/or playing with other kids in the kids club is perfect. As for doing the Caribbean instead, my twins have been on at least 10 cruises since they were two, and none have been the Caribbean - there are lots of other wonderful places to go if the Carib doesn't interest you.

In addition to the notarized letter, remember the certified birth certificate because it shows the names on your letter are the parents. Have a wonderful cruise with your grandson!

It's been some time, but since no one has responded I'll chime in - when my girls were 5 years ago I'd read that taxis in Spain were diligent about requiring child seats so I brought boosters in a tote bag with us. I brought 2nd hand ones that were given to us and then I left them when our trip was over. Things may have changed, but it wasn't that big a bother.

Cruising is a great way to travel internationally with kids since the ship becomes your hotel that moves while you sleep to a new place to explore, removing the packing/unpacking, stress of transit, changing beds, etc. In the summer, Northern Europe can be best since the ship docks at or closer to the sites and doesn't have the heat/crowds of Mediterranean cities. But if you can go early summer, the Med can be wonderful too - esp with private tours.

Someone else may jump in here with more specific information, but I can offer a little based on my experience cruising with a special needs child (intellectual disability). Cruise lines are VERY in tune with making things easier for kids (and adults) with special needs. On our last cruise there were at least six families with kids on the spectrum. If you contact the special services department of your cruise line you can find out how to arrange to do the life drill in a quieter way (though on our last cruise on Princess it was all done in our cabin); give the kids club a heads up that he's coming (they used to let my daughter age down a group if she would be more comfortable), arrange dining room table in a corner, etc. Also check out Autism at Sea for further tips/info.

Just was on the Jade last summer. It's a fantastic family ship and will be packed with kids your kids' age on a June Alaska cruise. They will have a ball. I think Alaska is the best destination for kids, even more than the Carib. So much to do and explore in each port.

You reported to staff that you didn't think something was safe. That's it. Then it's up to staff to decide if they want to confront parents about what's safe/not safe and allowed/not allowed. A central area will always have more kids. It was sweet of you to be so concerned that you left. I think we all know the feeling of having to choose to move away from other passengers - thankfully lots of other places to go/things to do!