Vickitoria10

The poached eggs on toast sound lovely! I just know with a buffet I'll be too tempted by everything but if I have to order something I can just order one thing, have that and be done. We aren't going on any excursions so will be nice to have a leisurely breakfast instead and then getting off the ship!

Thanks! That's fab! :) It might make breakfast a bit less hectic too!

I've been on slimming world and am trying to be good, I know this won't last completely on a cruise but one of my downfalls is a Buffet, especially at breakfast! I don't know when to stop!! What are the options in the main dining room? Does anyone have any menus?

Also we have a 2yr old with us, would he be able to have just a bowl of cereal in the MDR?

We don't really want room service as with a 2yr old we won't have a highchair in the cabin.

We're travelling on Britannia.

Thanks!

Thanks! Will ensure my roaming is switched off at sea!

Is it obvious when you're connected to the maritime network? I know when in port and close to land you connect to the local provider but will it come up with maritime or something similar where it normally says 'O2' when on the UK or say 'movistar' when in Spain?

Except on the captains gala nights when the classic selection is not available, theres still plenty of choice though.

 

 

 

Sunny seas

That's great, I'm sure he'll find something for one night, if not, he can go raid the buffet after!

Fab! :)

These are great! So every night you always had the option of chicken, steak or salmon from the classics section? This will please my fussy husband if so! :)

Can I ask where did you find the children's info book? I can't see it on my cruise personaliser[emoji53]

It's under 'life on board' then entertainment and there's a link to guidelines and then one to the registration form in case you want to fill it in prior to getting on board. I found the guidelines a bit off putting to be honest for a family friendly ship.

This is from the P&O advice centre-

 

"Children are welcome to use the friendly family pools. Due to public health regulations, children in nappies, swim nappies, pull ups, or who are not completely toilet trained are only permitted to use designated pools, which are:

 

Aurora - Children’s Splash Pool (Deck 8 Aft) and the Terrace Pool (Deck 8 Aft)

Azura - Children’s pools (Aft) and the Coral Pool

Britannia - The Reef Adventure Zone and the Lido Pool

Oceana - Forward paddling pool

Ventura - Children’s pool (Aft) and the Beach comber Pool"

Yeah this is where I got my info from! :)

I think the children's info book was under life on board? It was at the side I think, it was a pdf that you download, it says you get it on the ship. I've only just seen it so I don't know if it comes on a certain time before a cruise.

In the info book it states paddling pools must not be taken on board as if already had that thought! Unfortunately he's not potty trained yet and unlikely to be before the cruise, I've read he can use the children's splash area and the lido pool according to the p&o website. He hasn't got swim nappies anyway, it's all integrated in to his shorts do we'll see what happens. He's water mad and can actually swim so will have a hard time keeping him out the water!!

Our 18month old and 3 year old ate with us in MDR no problems, we would take them to kids tea for a snack at 5 as we were on 8.30 sitting. we didn't do this every night and we used the night nursery so we could have some couple time. The kids love being up in kids club at movie time rather than being with us ha ha

That's reassuring about the MDR, we are on the 6.30 sitting as this is our sons meal time at home so hopefully it goes okay, if not we will be armed with an iPhone and his apps! That normally keeps him quiet! :)

Well Vicktoria,

 

It is tricky writing a rule book without giving out bad vibes. They have probably experienced a wide range of children and have to make sure they have got something written down for the worst case scenario.

 

 

 

Things on board are not exactly like what people perceive on reading the brochure or website. You might find that when on board they let two parents in with a toddler. There seemed to be a clause about "if the club isn't full"; firstly you are cruising outside school holiday times in September so fewer families. I know your son is not of school age but other families with a wider range of children will likely be absent therefore fewer pre-schoolers too. Did you know you can ask the age demographics of the children in the club if you wish? Phone and tell them your cruise number and ask for a children total in your age range or email if you prefer. It is amazing that sometimes children get carried away and play with other children who suddenly take their attention away and it is good for them to make social contact with other little ones. Things like this vary a lot if interesting playmates are not there sometimes they are.

 

 

 

Dining in the MDR. This needs thinking through. Do you want a fixed time or flexible time? The bigger question is shared table or not? I always go for a big shared table at a first sitting even with my daughter aged 24 months when she started cruising and have had no problems with her or people about us she is now 12 and cruised a lot. I find people expect children to be like children and as parents we used to sit either side to keep her away from mishaps. If you are on a table as a family on your own it might be less stressful. The waiters are good with children and typically they are missing their own and fuss little ones and sort out the high chair situation. I like the same table same waiters on a fixed sitting but you need to be ready to eat at the set time. Youngsters will recognise "their" waiters and be more comfortable.

 

 

 

Overall I suspect you are over worrying about the cruise, people think there are so many rules to this type of holiday when really it is a lot more laid back than people think. You can get a lot of help and information on board. Ask the cabin steward questions and reception desk by phone or go down there.

 

 

 

Have a lovely cruise,

 

John

Thanks so much, this has reassured me. We are a family of 7 and have requested a table to ourselves at the first sitting which fits in perfectly with our sons tea time at home. I'm pleased to hear that once on board we may find a bit of flexibility! I can understand rules etc it just makes it quite daunting! Thanks for the tip re phoning about the number of children on board, that will give us a better idea of facilities.

Thanks again

We are going in September with an adventurous 2yr old too so I'm interested in this thread! I'm getting quite anxious about him and us going on the cruise! I've read the children's info pack on the cruise personaliser and it really feels like it's not as family friendly as we first thought! (Like the children's soft play area being in the kids club so as a couple and our sons parents we can't both take him in the play area, only one can go and only if the club isn't full-I could understand if he's older but at 2 years old we want to spend the time playing with him, not leaving him with strangers) We holiday as a family and our 2yr old will not want to be left in a children's club so will be in the MDR with us, the info pack infers that although they are allowed they must not cause nuisance to other passengers (which I understand) however he is 2yrs old so is likely to make noise but he is well behaved (he won't be running round the restaurant and if he caused a scene we would take him out) but he is also still 2yrs old! I'm worried we'll get looks (you know the sort you get when you sit down on a long haul flight with a 2yr old next to an older couple! Yes this happened to us in May and our son was actually quieter than the teenagers that were sat in front of said couple!) but this is why we chose a family friendly ship! Can anyone offer reassurance that my 2yr old will be allowed to be a child and we won't be subjected to 'tutting' for the week!?

There is no need to spend extra cash on special items for toddlers. They just need to be clothed reasonably as the dress codes are do not relate this age group. What you have described as already obtained for him are well above what most other parents will be doing and you should have no worries on this issue.

 

 

 

Regards John

Thanks that's great! He will be in the MDR on formal nights so we wanted to make the effort but really don't want to be buying more shoes! He was just going to wear trousers and a shirt but grandparents wanted him to have a tux like his dad, grandad and uncle! :)

On similar lines we have a 2yr and worried about shoes! He has a little tux that his grandparents bought him as they want him to look the part and we have got dark navy chinos/jeans for smart casual nights which he will wear with short sleeved shirts. As for shoes he only has trainers! I've bought some £2.50 black canvas slip on shoes to go with his tux, and some navy ones to go with his navy denim, will he be okay in these? They aren't trainers but I was looking for some cheap 'school' shoes for him and they don't go small enough! I'm not wanting to spend £30 on some proper Clarks shoes for him to wear for a week!! Do you think he'll be okay?!

I've been told you have priority embarkation with a baby/toddler and to go straight to embark and it won't be a problem. Same if you are doing the valet parking, another thread someone said if you tell the guys you've got a baby you won't have to wait in the queue as they know it isn't ideal with a baby on the car.

Do you know if they have booster seats too? My son will be 2 on our cruise and doesn't use a tray, he sits at the table so the wooden/ikea ones are ideal for us!

The priority queue sounds great! Have to say I didn't fancy waiting in the terminal with a 2yr old!

Thanks! Only taking one pair of trousers for my son for the evening cos he'll never wear them again so a good laundry will be handy! Do they provide powder or do you take your own? Did you have a buggy? Do you have to go off the ship where the wheelchairs go? I seem to think the other exit is normally steps?

That's good to know! Looking forward to the food! :)

That's good then, do we just ask the kids club when it's available to use? Our son is 2 and a half so I know he won't want to be left on his own. We go on the first cruise after the 6 weeks hol so I'm assuming their wont be loads of kids on the ships making the kids club quieter so hopefully more chance of us staying with him.

John, yeah we're a party of 6 plus the child and have our own table on the early sitting. This fits perfectly into our sons tea time and he's also used to eating out with us so will be fine in the MDR. We're not planning any of the other dining anyway.

Thanks so much, the pics are great. Is the splash adventure zone part of the kids club where we have to sign him in or can we both take our son to that?

Thanks! We have one requested and have the option of a sofa bed in the room so will see which works best, I've read the arms of the sofa almost act as a bed guard at the top? We don't want an actual bed guard as this would be placed on the main beds and one of us then have the sofa bed!

We are fine with the big cases, it's just what case we carry on with us. Think I'll go for smaller ones and put luggage out late on the last night!