milton333

Thank you!  Roatan is the big snorkeling draw for us, but figured we might as well try to snorkel on CocoCay if possible.  That's good information about the vest!

Since the cruise line offers snorkeling as an excursion, does anyone know if someone will give you a hard time if you have your own equipment and try to just snorkel a bit on your own? 

For what it's worth, I travel a lot for business and need white noise to sleep, I have apps on my phone and ipad for that purpose.  Since the screen can be off, the phone or ipad charges fully even if the app is running all night.  Doesn't address air circulation, if you need that, but if you're using a fan for white noise (as I've done for years at home), maybe an app will be helpful for you with travel.

A bit late to this, but I've sailed Disney many times and the pricing differential is most pronounced with regard to the typical U.S. school year.  If you can sail when most kids are in school, rates are substantially lower, and with a 2 year old maybe you can.  We cruised Disney a bunch before DS started school.  Now, spring breaks, summers, and winter holidays are all very expensive on DCL as compared to other lines, but of course families are their target demographic.

I loved the Disney ships I was on.  All the rooms are great, the service is absolutely fantastic, and it was such a relief to not have anyone giving you the hairy eyeball for having a kid onboard.  We did one sailing with my parents, and my mom is disabled.  She was struggling with cutting her food and the way that our waitstaff inconspicuously and compassionately helped her was amazing.  If you can swing it, I do believe that Disney is worth the price, certainly in the "off" seasons.

I didn't sail Disney with a 2 year old, so I'm not positive of the kids' club situation at that age, but the kids' clubs were really great beginning at age 3.  The splash zone area for diapered kids was fun for littles, too.

I cruised Royal Caribbean when DS was 18 months, they had a nursery service that did charge by the hour.  We didn't really use it, but didn't really want to be separated from DS on vacation.  To each his/her own.  Many of the larger RC ships have splash zones for kids in diapers.

I will say that, because we didn't really drop kiddo at the kids' clubs for extended periods of time, he had nap time in our room on multiple cruises.  Disney ships were the only ones where I could tell our room steward what nap times were and that we'd need access to the room then, and it always happened.  On RC and Carnival, we had experiences where kiddo was over-tired and needed to sleep but our room was not available.  I get it, stewards have rooms to turn over, but in terms of level of service, Disney always made sure that we were not inconvenienced that way.

We cruised with DS on Freedom OTS when he was 18 months.  There are open/parent-supervised play times in the kids club areas where you can stay with kiddos while they play.  There are toys for lending.  It's been a while, but for sure you could borrow a toy during that open/parent-supervised play time, and I'm pretty sure you could just ask at the club any time.  There were a lot of toys appropriate for an 18 month old, I didn't really pay attention for older kids.

My son's favorite thing to do was to run over the lit glass bridge on the promenade.  That and walking up and down stairs was huge entertainment at that age.  The splash zone was a huge hit.  He liked the walking/jogging track. The nursery for non-potty trained kids was very new on Freedom at that time, everyone seemed very nice, but DS was not having it, so we did not leave him in a club.  The ipad from home was absolutely vital - lots of pleasant time with mom and dad sitting on the balcony and kiddo lying in bed playing with his apps.

I understand that RC is no longer offering half-day passes for the water park.  I'm reluctantly going to have to buy water park access with my 10 year old.  I'd also like to do the stingray feeding, however.  Aside from the highway robbery of it all, does anyone know if you get a wristband or something that allows you to come and go from the water park so that we could detour to the stingrays for a bit?

Just FYI, there are indications that Zika can have an effect on the brain functions of non-pregnant adults, too, so I believe that mosquito-repellant should be in everyone's arsenal.

http://newswire.rockefeller.edu/2016/08/18/zika-infection-may-affect-adult-brain-cells-suggesting-risk-may-not-be-limited-to-pregnant-women/

You might also look into whether there is anything affordable in Lauderdale by the Sea. Kind of a small beach town feel, lots of walkable dining and entertainment. You could probably Uber there from the port. I'd look into a shuttle or car service from Lauderdale to the Miami airport (it's about 20-30 minutes, usually, but traffic-dependent).

Throwing this out there - have you considered one-way car rentals? You could magical express back to MCO to pick up the car heading out to the cruise (airport rental will be cheaper than Disney's onsite car rental, but price that as well). Drop the rental near the port, use the rental agency's free shuttle, reverse for the way back. I've done this several times cruising out of Port Canaveral and it's so much cheaper and honestly less hassle than it sounds. I have no experience with shuttles or car rental, sorry.

We will be cruising out of Port Canaveral for the first time,next year and see it is about 45 minutes from the airport to Cape Canaveral. We will be staying at least 1 night pre cruise, are we best to take a shuttle from the airport to the hotel then cab to the Royal Caribbean cruise terminal for the Oasis.

We've sailed several times out of Port Canaveral. In my opinion, unless you are staying at a Disney property pre-cruise and want to use their bus service to get to the port, renting a car is cheap and easy. Unlike many rental locations, there's no draconian one-way rental fee tacked on, lots of people do this. It's 45-60 minutes from MCO to the port area. There are tolls on the highway out, so be prepared to have quarters and dollars with you (you can Google the toll costs, I want to say I spent maybe $4 each way but you'll want more current information than that). The rental car's toll pass costs far more than paying the tolls in cash yourself.

We have dropped off family and luggage at the port and had one person return the car. All the rental services have a free shuttle to the port. That is optimal for causing less hassle to others, there can be a considerable delay waiting for the rental car agency's shuttle bus when it's loaded up with entire families and all their luggage, versus one luggage-less driver headed back to the port after dropping the family.

But keep in mind that you can't check in to the cruise without your entire party present. My experiences sailing out of Port Canaveral have been mostly in September (around 9/11 anniversaries) so this procedure may vary, but we could not go through security without our entire party present and sometimes the first security screening starts close to the door or there is someone looking for boarding documents right at the door to the lovely air-conditioned building. We were basically waiting outside the building in the heat for husband to come back from returning the car. Just plan for it - I still wouldn't pay the cost of a car service or shuttle just to get to the port, but there are logistical considerations.

Oh: and there's really no cab service from Orlando to the port. You can get car services or shuttles, but should not expect to be able to step out of your Orlando-area hotel to catch a cab to the port.

In an effort to avoid very high spring break airfare, I am flying into SFB (Orlando Sanford), renting a car, and meandering around Florida before and after my cruise.

The last time I rented a car at SFB was through Dollar, and it was a BAD experience. It took nearly a half hour just to pull up the reservation and get documents printed and a key located. Then the paperwork I had did not match the VIN of the vehicle, so security on the rental lot wouldn't let me out. Went back, got new paperwork, still no dice, again turned back at the gate. Finally had to transfer the child, car seat, luggage, etc., into a new vehicle. Three trips to the counter. In all, nearly an hour and a half of nonsense. Absolutely no way I'm doing Dollar/Thrifty at that airport again.

So, I have Hertz Gold and Avis Preferred. Hertz is considerably more expensive than Avis for this rental, but I'm hoping to breeze off to my vehicle, which usually works well with Hertz.

I'm looking for anyone's experiences with Hertz and Avis at SFB. I'd rather do Avis because it's far cheaper, but will be arriving late at night and cannot deal with a hassle at the desk if that's a known issue. Thanks for any thoughts.

For us, just cruising is the splurge. Most people I know simply do not vacation. Everyone who talks about making memories is right. Yes, I could have sunk this money into the house or other obligations, but I prioritize having at least a nice vacation every other year. There's an unending list of things I could be spending money on, but I make it a point to include some "want tos" with our "must dos."

I do tend to splurge with the itinerary, too, I prefer Eastern or Southern Caribbean over Western. While I'd love to do Alaska or a more exotic route (Mediterranean), for now that's a "someday" plan.

We vacation with a toddler, so the balcony cabin is less an indulgence than a matter of logistics to my mind. We need somewhere to be while he is sleeping, which he does 2-3 times every 24-hour period.

We do generally tend to splurge on things for our son. I grew up poor, and while we're not wealthy now by any means, we are relatively secure in our jobs and stable. It makes me happy to be able to give my son toys and games and things that make his eyes light up. Not everything, obviously, but some things. So, we'll probably end up with an over-priced "build-a-bear" toy and some toy ships on this cruise, and will happily pay for them.

We will, generally, splurge on small extras, things like a cupcake from the $ cupcake cupboard on RCCL ships, a meal in the $ Johnny Rockets diner, ice cream from Ben & Jerry's, a fancy coffee a couple of times over the course of the cruise. Things for my son, and also for my ice cream-loving husband. Not enough to add up to serious $, but enough that we don't feel deprived of experiences. We don't do fine dining.

Beyond that, I shop ruthlessly for rental car discounts, hotel discounts, and cheap airfare.

I like to cruise during peak hurricane season (September) to save money. The cruise fare is cheaper, and summer clothes are on clearance by the time I do some stock-up shopping in August for the trip. Swimwear and gear is also on sale.

I tend to collect mileage reimbursement for travel for my job and squirrel that away for spending money.

I like to buy myself onboard credit in small amounts ($50) with each payday, to build up a credit onboard and to avoid some of the sticker shock of onboard expenditures.

I research ports and plan activities that we can do cheaply or for free. I really enjoyed taking the free tram to El Morro on San Juan, for example, just learning that I could wait at the bus stop outside the cruise pier and get a look at historic Old San Juan while en route. Our interests are generally beaches, though, and it's easy enough to cab to them, for the most part. We rarely do ship's excursions.

FWIW, I've seen other parents report taking a BJCM onboard without incident. It may need to be folded to get past housekeeping carts in the hallways. It may also be problematic getting it into the elevators if there are other folks hoping to utilize the elevators ;) I'm not positive how the BJCS compares size-wise to the BJCM, but I think they're pretty similar. Other parents report storing the BJCM in the closet.

FWIW, with an older toddler, I'd personally look on craigslist for a used Maclaren Volo, or you can get them on ebay new for $60 from a seller called babyproductstore, which is widely believed to be the Maclaren US outlet (same address in CT, new-in-box product). Volo is super lightweight and folds up tiny for storage. Comfy but without the bells and whistles I'd want for a younger kiddo. I have used the Volo with a 1 year old for airplane travel and a quick weekend away, and it served its purpose, but if I wanted to walk the ship and hope for LO to sleep, I'd want something with a recline. For an older toddler, though, it would be my first choice. I would not, however, pay upwards of $130 for it new - the $60 free shipping one on ebay is great, or you can probably find one on CL cheap.

Then bring your Joovy Kooper for the little one.

ETA: I should add that my DS has fallen asleep in the Volo, it just wouldn't be my first choice for a "sleeping stroller" for a kiddo under 2.

Finding a good price requires a lot of flexibility in when you can travel, and a ridiculous ton of research. Taking the example of Disney, we're looking at a Disney cruise next year in a balcony/verandah cabin that is only $100 more than what we're paying to sail in the smallest category of balcony on Freedom OTS during hurricane season. The Disney price, in turn, is a hair more than a huge suite on a Carnival Spirit class ship with a 220 sq. ft. balcony! You get a lot more room and balcony on the Carnival ship, vs. the Disney experience, and it's honestly tough for us to decide.

A lot of research can help - for example, on the Disney Magic and Wonder, there are "secret verandah" cabins. They are categorized and priced the same as the navigator's verandah (which is like an open porthole with an enclosed balcony and limited line of sight to the water. The "secret verandahs" have the steel structure starting to impinge on the balcony, with the top corner of the balcony enclosed by the structure, but are otherwise a great-sized and very open balcony. The vista suite that I'm looking at on the Carnival Spirit class is incredibly hugely enormous for only $10pp/day more than a "normal" suite that has a balcony maybe 1/4 the size.

It also depends on what you're looking for from the cruise - the ship, the particular cabin (if you spend a lot of time there), the itinerary, departure port, time of year, etc. The more of these factors that you can put into play, the easier it is to find a deal. But it's a LOT of work to find deals, even very far in advance, and too risky for us to wait until last minute with our work schedules. So I spend a ridiculous amount of time on the computer.

Keep in mind that you can also save money with other components of your vacation - fly out on less expensive days, go with a discount carrier, accept connections over nonstop flights. See if you can book travel with rewards points - AmEx has some decent rewards options for travel. Search your reward card's website for ways to earn points multipliers - if you're going to buy "x" anyway, why not buy it online through your card's website and get triple points for it? You can cut the cost of a rental car in half with the right coupon. There are lots of ideas out there.

Have you seen a show called "Extreme Couponing"? It shows people who manage to buy thousands of dollars of groceries for tiny amounts of money (one guy who got $5k worth of stuff for around $150). It is possible to save money, but it requires a whole disciplined approach and a major investment of time to scope out deals, earn points, and watch for price drops. This level of frugality is really a way of life.

Royal Caribbean's ships Oasis, Allure, Freedom, and Liberty have the Royal Babies and Tots Nursery, where they will watch kids between 6 and 18 months and 18 and 36 months for a fee.

I believe that all RCI ships offer in-cabin babysitting on a first-come, first-serve basis for a fee (it's a team of two crew members who watch your child in your cabin). They recently imposed a 2-hour limit on this babysitting, though, so it's not terribly useful.

I'm not sure if RCI will change diapers.

I do know that Carnival rents strollers/buggies, I believe it is $25 for the week.

ETA: Oasis, Allure, Freedom, Liberty and Independence all have a kiddie pool for non potty trained kids.

How your child travels depends on personality and the particular circumstances of that day, and it's hard to predict far in advance. FWIW, my family just got back from a short trip with my 14 month old, and would travel with him again. I wouldn't say that there's a one-size-fits-all answer here. You know your family best.

As far as flights, if you take a toddler, try to get a nonstop flight if at all humanly possible. And buy your child his own seat, it really is impossible to contain a toddler in the miniscule space you get on your lap for an extended flight. DS was fine for one flight. But when every single flight of the entire vacation was delayed from 30 minutes to over an hour, it adds up. He maintained composure on the first flight and had fun. Sitting an hour+ on the tarmac while the second leg of the trip out was delayed was not so much fun. My personal opinion at the moment is that if I can't fly there nonstop, it's not an option for us to travel there with a young one.

DH and I just took DS to a nice resort and had a lot of fun with him. Yes, it's different than when it was just DH and I. But it was a great family vacation and I love every moment of my son's life, I wasn't willing to give up time with him. He's only young once. DH and I have been together for 20 years, since we were in high school. DS followed years of infertility, and will likely be our only child, and we savor every moment with him. I regret that I don't see him as much because I work full time, so for me, vacation time is an opportunity to catch up on DS time.

DS is a good-natured, easy-going, happy little guy, but even when he's frustrated or over-tired, it's a passing moment, and I can get through the clouds to see the sunshine of his happy smile, kwim?

You're asking for opinions, and mine is that I couldn't leave my son for an extended period of time like a week's vacation, not at his age. If I wanted an adult getaway, I'd aim for a weekend in a fancy hotel, nice restaurants, maybe a Broadway show. But a week is a very long time for your little one to wonder what happened to you, and for you to worry if your mom is doing okay with the little one.

It really is a full-time job raising a toddler, and it's a lot to ask your mother to do. I work full-time outside the home, and even I don't spend a week 24/7 with my son, so I couldn't really expect someone else to deal with all that entails. Also, I'm 36, which isn't that old, but it is often physically taxing for me to be lifting him, struggling with him during diaper changes, trying to keep him safe when he has a tantrum and wants to throw himself backwards. There's a reason why we parent when we're younger ;) I also have backup from DH. I'd be sure that your mom is physically up to the challenge.

All the taxi's when we got off the ship in St Thomas were van type. They make sure it is full before they allow it to leave. Same when on our return from Red Hook back to the ship. On St John's they were all open aired safari type, no way of hooking up a car seat to them.

So, van type with seatbelts? Just want to be sure I'm understanding.

Milton ~ All of the taxis we've taken from the ship to Red Hook have been safari type but I haven't made a point to really look. I'll be there in two weeks so I'll double check. All of the taxis on St. John are safari type. I'll confirm that as well. I'm a seat belt wearer but I don't think the safari taxis have them or a way to attach a car seat. But I'll double check that for you, too. When are you planning on going?

We'll be there in September. Thanks!

We will be traveling with a toddler, and had hoped to get off the ship to head to St. John. However, I'm hearing a lot about open-air "safari" taxis, which makes me nervous. Is it possible to install a child's carseat in one of these? Are there seatbelts? Are there more traditional taxis available for the both the ship to Red Hook and Cruz Bay to beach (probably Cinnamon) legs, which would have seatbelts?

I'm not one of those people who believe that the laws of chance and physics don't apply on vacation :rolleyes:, so I can't ride in a vehicle with my toddler without installing his carseat. It's okay if the answer is that St. John is out for us, I just want to know what to expect.