How bad would it be to take a baby on a cruise?

Grandma

I've cruised with kids for years and I agree with your DH. It's a lot of work and I didn't enjoy the cruise we took when my son was 13 months old. My son was a great traveler, not fussy at all- but I never relaxed. We did have parents along and incabin babysitting at night, but my husband went to the shows, lounged in the hot tubs and did the things I wanted to do but couldn't. I was constantly watching our son. By the pool all he wanted to do was climb the metal stairs. He loved exploring the ship (and running mainly). We ended up staying at a hotel for two nights in Bermuda (we were docked there for two nights) and that was the best part because we had a huge suite and they offered babysitting at night. He was allowed in the pool in swim diapers. My advice would be go to a resort instead that allows diapers in the pool and has babysitting or leave the youngest home with grandparents or friends. I did leave same child home when he was 19 months with my sister. I took my older son to Europe for 10 days. While I missed my younger son, it gave my older son a chance to do things that we wouldn't have enjoyed with a toddler.

Babies are actually pretty easy, aside from toting all the extras. 14 months is an entirely different story, because kids are generally mobile but lacking in skills and experience.

We are big proponents of cruising with kids, doing about 2 per year since the kids were 7MO. That time frame (12 to 24 or maybe 30 months) was definitely the most difficult. The cruise when they were 13MO was simply exhausting. That said, we were doing it with twins and no 'spare' adults. With a singleton and 2 adults it's probably much easier. Your older boys may also be able to keep him entertained for part of the time, while keeping him away from stairs and foot traffic, if they are the right age.

I cruised alone with my twin 13 month olds (picture below). GREAT trip. Yes, there's a lot to pack/prepare ahead of time, but once on board we had so much fun. We cruised on Princess, where we were allowed to go play in the kids room even though they weren't old enough to be left. Or you could choose RCCL with a nursery for child care. If you want to stick with Carnival, I'm pretty sure they watch under 2s after 10:00 for a fee, but someone else will know better.

Re: medical - I've visited the medical center way too many times, and you'd be amazed how well outfitted they are - and a couple of the doctors I wished we could take home with us to be our pediatrician. Since they handle the entire ship crew, they're prepared for all kinds of emergencies.

So, to answer your question, lots of people on this board have had fun cruising with that age. Clearly, some would not. It absolutely gets easier and more fun as kids get older, but for us it was certainly worth it to start young.

All the best,

Mia

I don't have a lot to contribute as we are just getting ready to go ourselves this summer. If I had my choice, I wouldn't take a cruise with a toddler. 5-6 would be when I would start feeling good about a cruise as a family vacation option. But this is an extended family trip for us and the cruise is what my mother-in-law chose so I don't have much choice.

Our little guy will be 18 mo when we go and he is so very active. There is no sit and play for even 5 minutes. But being too young for camp carnival and not allowed in the pools leaves me wondering what the heck we are going to do to keep him entertained. I have a feeling we are just going to be doing laps around the boat for 5 days lol. Ha maybe I can look at it as a workout cruise!

I'm sure we will have fun in the end but I'm stressed about getting everything we will need down there, transportation/car seat issues, and the fact that we are going to pay a lot of money to do this and have to sit in our room when he goes to bed at 7pm (he is not flexible with bedtime :-( ) with little else to do.... at night

Our little guy will be 18 mo when we go and he is so very active. have to sit in our room when he goes to bed at 7pm (he is not flexible with bedtime :-( ) with little else to do.... at night

After he falls asleep, put him in the stroller, cover the stroller with a beach towel, and head out. Wander the ship, sit in a lounge, grab a cocktail and sit out on deck.

During the day, go to an empty lounge/disco with a blow up ball and let him run around. One nice thing is the little tables don't have corners, so letting him run around the empty dance floor or explore the lounge, he can have fun and not cause damage.

All the best,

Mia

I understand your concerns regarding heart surgery. My daughter has an unrepairable complex cardiac condition and has had 3 open heart surgeries with more to come. We had the go ahead to cruise with her last year when she was 22 months. It was a fantastic holiday!

I wasn't too concerned about medical issues knowing that there was a doctor on board. I know they aren't specialist but they know enough to deal with an (highly unlikely) emergency. We had to visit the medical facility when my daughter had a temperature. She had a ear infection which they treated and they were very cautious and considerate about her condition.

I would also definitely recommend a balcony. It was essential to get some space when the little one was sleeping.

I really enjoyed being able to spend time with my daughter and my husband without having to worry about cooking and cleaning. I wouldn't hesitate to go with her again.

(On another note please don't cover your little one in a towel when in a stroller as suggested by the previous poster - it's stops the flow of air and can make the temperature soar to unsafe levels)

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Wouldn't think twice about it. My daughter will be taking her fourth cruise this year (she will be turning 3) she started at 10 months. We will be taking my 8 month old this time around. You know your kids interests. If they like tv download a few episodes on an iPad and they will sit on a pool chair or at trivia with you. As for meals- bring whatever you would bring to a restaurant at home- books, coloring books, toy cars. I would highly recommend a balcony so you can stay up after they go to sleep- the cabins are small.

To poster who took twin 13 month olds on a cruise----

wow you are super mom!

Go and enjoy! We just got back from 10 days on Grand Cayman with our 14 month old and 4 year old, and we had an amazing time. Before we left, the first question anyone asked me was who we were leaving the kids with. Neither set of grandparents has ever offered to watch the kids for an extended period so it isn't really an option for us, but I think it's awesome for kids to be exposed to different places and get out of their comfort zone from a young age. We're going on our first family cruise in April when the boys will be (barely) 2 and 5.

Depends entirely on the child and the parents. Children cry, it happens. When the parents ignore it or spend several minutes failing to quiet the child, people get irritated... I know I do. I have grabbed my kids and took them outside from many stores and restaurants when they were little because no one should be forced to listen to them scream or cry except the parents.

... go for it! We celebrated DD's first birthday on a 7 day western with my parents. We still have the passport we got for her when she was 10 months old (she's on her 3rd and final kiddie passport and has Global Entry). Prior to the cruise, we had flown a few times, so had the baby travel thing nailed. That cruise was in 2003 and the Paradise was still completely smoke free, so it made the decision much easier for us. Fast forward to today and she'll be 2 nights short of platinum on Carnival and has easily 40+ nights on other lines. I think her first cruise made her seriously love cruising.

 

That first cruise scored us a massive Cat6 to Cat12 upgrade for free too, so we consider her our lucky charm. :) :) :)

About this time last year, I took my then 17-year-old to get her first adult passport (her first one she got at 3 years of age for her second cruise, and that was on the Paradise).

My hubby was reluctant to take her on a cruise when she was 23 months of age (previously she had been on day trips to places like Sea World and Disney) but we booked a three-day that was just driving distance for us (and then we paired that with a hotel stay in another city). Worked very nicely. She didn't even cry...and she was a pretty bad teether. She even saw a show (we sat in the back just in case, and she had been to Blues Clues Live the month before).

You just have to really plan your packing list. Take extra diapers, medicines (don't rely on the ship's store to have those), favorite snacks. If you're not driving a short distance to the port, go the day before and plan a trip to the store to get whatever you couldn't pack.

I wouldn't take any kid that couldn't walk yet and even then it would be pushing it. The baby won't remember anything about this cruise so you can tell him he's been on a cruise but he won't have any memories of it. I would personally leave him with grandparents if that's an option and have an adult vacation.

 

If you think you'll be happier on a cruise with your child then go for it. Many people take babies on cruises so it's nothing new and if you do take him I'm sure you'll still have a wonderful time enjoying family time.

Many child experts believe that experiences such as traveling will help increase the synapses in little ones' brains. I would say taking plenty of photos will be appreciated by kids later on because they will know they got to go with their parents on a cruise.

For us, leaving our daughter with the grans was not an option as neither set tended to not be all that careful.