2yo Toddler at Dinner

[shaunyb33]

Hi everyone,

Just wondering if RCCL have "boosters" for kids to sit on at the table??

We are travelling with our almost 2 year old who now refuses to sit in a high chair so we have been using a booster seat at home.

Does anyone know if RCCL have these?

We have a portable dvd player, colouring and games to try and keep entertained for the duration of dinner service!!!

Hoping for a peaceful and co-operative child!!! LOL

Shaun

[cruiseguy1016]

Yes, RCI has booster seats in the dining room.

[kyriecat]

Just an FYI, if you are not eating with just your family/friends, it would be polite to ask you dining companions whether a DVD player would disturb them during dinner. Many people are used to talking over the TV during dinner at home so it probably wouldn't bother them at all. However, others prefer to be away from movies and television while on vacation, even if it's someone else doing the watching. Enjoy your trip.

[tankersbabe]

We found a collapsible booster on Amazon that we are bringing for our two year old to use on our next cruise. We'll use it in other places too, so it's a good investment. We also found a collapsible cot for him too for the cabin rather than attempting to work out sleeping arrangements with him.

Our travel agent has requested a small top (2-4) at the first seating. Hoping we score that so we are not worrying about the comfort of others at our table. I'd hate to be the 'talk' of the boards when we get back.

Thankfully, our kid is a good eater and very social. We eat out a lot, and he does pretty good. I'm hoping it goes smoothly.

[cb at sea]

It will be fine...there's alot going on in the dining room, and kid's tend to be entertained. Your waiters will (almost always) be VERY attentive to your child. Kids do much better than expected in the dining room, for the most part!

[Marie51]

It has been my experience traveling with my young grandchildren that they try to put you by yourselves or at a table with other children.

When we were on the Mariner we asked the waiter on the first night if they had applesauce (a favorite of one of the children) and every night after that when we showed up for dinner there was a huge bowl of applesauce already on the table. Yes, they cater to the kids.

[lisaf1]

I have been cruising with my daughter since she was 18 months old. she is now 4.5 and going on her 5th cruise this Nov. The wait staff is wonderful with kids and cater to their every need. They have booster seats as well as highchairs for younger children. If you child is a juice drinker, i would recommend bringing an extra sippy cup or 2 to breakfast and fill with juice for later. They only offer juice for breakfast all other meals you have to pay extra for it.

Lisa

[rjm1cc]

Hoping for a peaceful and co-operative child!!! LOL

No reason well behaved children should not eat in the dinning room. It is your responsibility to see that they are well behaved or removed.

[kooljamming]

Originally Posted by rjm1cc

Hoping for a peaceful and co-operative child!!! LOL

No reason well behaved children should not eat in the dinning room. It is your responsibility to see that they are well behaved or removed.

I agree!

I have met 2 year old that I know I would rather have a meal with (not saying I gave birth to any) than some adults. I know which adults on the board I would never wish to share a table with, can't say that about a 2 year old. I did not try the formal setting with toddlers because it was too stressful for ME.

[pcur]

Good for you to bring things to keep her occupied during dinner! So many, many parents don't do this. Drives me nuts! We always did this for our two boys, too.

Just a request for you on behalf of the other diners around you: see if you can get a table where your daughter's dvd player can face toward her and a wall behind her. There was a post on this board a while ago from someone who had to stare at the flickering images on a kid's dvd player at another table for the entire cruise. If the screen faces the wall, then no problem.

[Desert Cruizers]

Last Cruise, a couple brought their 2 yr old daughter in every evening. She was a true delight every evening, seeing her all dressed up in her prettiest dress. They and another young couple with two boys must have been served quickly as they wre always the first to leave, except final formal night when many stopped the couple to take pictures of their little girl.

[GoldenRose]

We took our son on his first cruise at 7 months and his second at just shy of 2, and he generally did beautifully in the dining room. We were not seated with families or other children on either of the cruises, and both times, the first night the other people at our table looked absolutely horrified that we were bringing such a young child to dinner. He was already used to eating out regularly at nice places, and people at our tables always eventually relaxed when they realized he wasn't going to disrupt their meals. I will say, on the 2nd trip, our waiter quickly learned what his favorite snacks were and brought him milk and fruit from the start to keep him happy.

Whenever he got at all noisy, we removed him from the dining room. We were traveling with my mother both times, so there were three of us to spell each other if he started acting up. I will say that at the not quite 2 yr old trip, he really needed to get down and run around on deck. The meal was just too long for him to stay entertained the whole time, so between courses someone would take him out of the restaurant for a little while to give him a chance to move around.

[Marie51]

Originally Posted by lisaf1

I have been cruising with my daughter since she was 18 months old. she is now 4.5 and going on her 5th cruise this Nov. The wait staff is wonderful with kids and cater to their every need. They have booster seats as well as highchairs for younger children. If you child is a juice drinker, i would recommend bringing an extra sippy cup or 2 to breakfast and fill with juice for later. They only offer juice for breakfast all other meals you have to pay extra for it.

Lisa

I have ordered juice from room service, get extra and keep in in your little fridge for when you need it.

[Happy ks]

Originally Posted by pcur

Good for you to bring things to keep her occupied during dinner! So many, many parents don't do this. Drives me nuts! We always did this for our two boys, too.

Just a request for you on behalf of the other diners around you: see if you can get a table where your daughter's dvd player can face toward her and a wall behind her. There was a post on this board a while ago from someone who had to stare at the flickering images on a kid's dvd player at another table for the entire cruise. If the screen faces the wall, then no problem.

I find this a bit odd. Why would anyone have to stare at something they didn't want to see...can't they just look in another direction? Or, change seats with someone else at the table? I'm sometimes astounded at what will bother people, but I suppose I'm just a bit more tolerant.

Now if the sound of a cartoon was blasting every night, then you have a complaint.

[shaunyb33]

Thanks for all your tips and recommendations.

We took her last year at 10 months but she was still in a stroller and we timed it that she was asleep for first and second courses and usually woke when dessert came (she is something of a sweet tooth!!!).

We were seated with another family with 3 young kids and we all became great friends.

She is very sociable and generally well behaved and we will make sure the TV (if needed) will be at a low volume and not disturb others.

Thanks again,

Shaun