Taking a cruise with a 3yo and a 6m old- Are We Crazy?

[cruisenguy2]

My wife and I have been on several cruises before, but never after we had kids.

We are looking in to booking a Bahamas cruise on the Explorer of the Seas in the late winter/early spring out of NYC, probably in a balcony room if the price is right.

How are the kids programs on RCL- specifically the Explorer. I called RCL and was told the that ship was going to be getting a nursery in December of this year so in place when we go. our soon to be 3yp goes to preschool so should have no trouble with being in the childcare programs on the ship.

 

We briefly looked at Carnival and NCL but we have been on the Voyager of the seas and loved it, but might consider another line out of NYC/Baltimore.

[Huxley'sCruisers]

Not sure if you're crazy, but if you are so are we - we're heading on the NCL Gem Nov 25 with our 3yo and 6 mo. We cruised on the Dawn when our older daughter was 6 months and it was great. We did take a grandma along so we could have a little alone time, and this time both grandmas are coming! I'm sure you'll have a great time!

[Onessa]

When my DD was an infant we travelled with her extensively. I found cruising to be one of the better ways to travel with little ones than other travel options. You really only have to get to the ship and then back home. Once on the ship, your vacation comes to you and your kids have some continuity.

 

DD was always a pretty resilient kid, so definately consider your little ones' personality as part of your decision.

 

Set your expectations to match your circumstances -- if on your past cruises you most enjoyed late evenings, lots of shows, hours on a lounger, and time in the casino -- realize that most of that stuff will be very difficult (even with the nursery). But if your goal is to spend a lot of time with your family, it can be an ideal vacation.

[Prinycesa07]

If you're crazy then i'm nuts LOL! We're sailing next weekend on carnival pride out of baltmore with our 1 & 2 year olds. I'm already asking myself what was i thinking? But we'll see!

[ds99jove]

Going next year when son is close to 4 and our yet to be born child will be 8 months. We're bringing grand parents to help out :) book a balcony cabin so you wont have to sit inside when the kids nap!

[JillyChill]

I am bringing my soon to be 21 month old daughter on a cruise soon! I can't wait. I know it won't be as relaxing if it were just myself, but I can't wait to take her!

[cruisenguy2]

So I called RCI to ask a few questions and ended up booking a jr. suite- now that's impulse shopping!!!! He said there was 1 left and it was a bit less then a balcony room. I am still trying to pin down the deal with the nursery. I see there is a something planned for latter in 2013- vacations to go now has updated deck plans for i think may 2013 and before may.

 

Any tips? we are going to be driving to the port so that will be easy. We alos might be having my father in law come with so that would provide an extra set of hands

[joyride21]

You are about as crazy as me. :) My first born isn't even here yet and I've already got a B2B reservation for when s/he is about 7 months old. In Europe.

 

Should be very interesting...but everyone I've talked to (airline, hotel, cruise line) has been super accommodating. And if all goes well Baby's first birthday will be celebrated with family on Oasis! :D

[ginger123snaps]

We are crazy and survived! We took our 3 year old twin boys along with our 2 year old. We did it twice and going again next month! We were seasoned cruisers before we had kids.....it is a different experience with kids...but still so much fun!

[cb at sea]

It's a family vacation....of course you're not crazy! It's what families do! It won't be the same as a couple's cruise, but you're more than a 'couple' nowadays! Have a great vacation!

[2CuteKiddies]

You're not crazy, cruising is a great vacation with the kids! Next month we're taking our 5-year old dughter on her 3rd cruise and out 6-month old son on his 1st. Our daughter had a great time on the first two.

 

I can't speak about Adventure Ocean on Explorer, but she had a great time in Adventure Ocean on Monarch of the Seas. It's a really good program and they did a lot of fun activites.

[milton333]

IIRC, Royal Caribbean has the option to do in-room babysitting. It did last year on Freedom OTS. It's not guaranteed, but may be an option if the nursery isn't finished on time.

 

We cruised with DS when he was ~ 18 months, and will cruise next year when he's 3.

 

My thought process, when people suggest we shouldn't cruise with him, is that of course I'm taking him on vacation with me, so then it's a question of land-based or cruise. I just find the cruise to have a lot of advantages over a land-based vacation when they're young. Always very close to the room (easy for naps, melt-downs, diaper/potty issues), lots of stuff to do and easy to change it up, good for short attention spans. Etc. Yes, it will be different than cruising without kids, but it will, IMO, be better than land-based vacation with kids.

 

Glad you're getting a suite - a balcony is a must, for me, somewhere to hang out with DH while DS sleeps.

 

Keep in mind there are no diapers or wipes available at all on the ships. You can buy in advance, but have heard horror stories of them not being delivered. Not to give TMI, but DS got diarrhea on the cruise and we ran out of wipes and it was a major crisis. So bring lots.

[liljay6915]

Not crazy at all! To be hones the younger the easier in my book. We took DS when he was 3 months and he was a breeze, slept through dinners, naped through shows and was happy relaxing in his stroller most of the time. It's once your LO gets moble that it starts to get crazy, but your 3 year old is old enough that it should be pretty easy entertaining! Have fun!

[Prinycesa07]

Not crazy at all! To be hones the younger the easier in my book. We took DS when he was 3 months and he was a breeze, slept through dinners, naped through shows and was happy relaxing in his stroller most of the time. It's once your LO gets moble that it starts to get crazy, but your 3 year old is old enough that it should be pretty easy entertaining! Have fun!

 

THis is how i feel. We took my daughter when she was 10 months and it wasnt so bad cuz she wasnt very mobile. Next sunday we leave for our cruise and my daughter is almost 3 and my son is 17 months. I think my daughter will be easy. My 17 month old, not so much. He gets into everything and doesnt understand much yet. I think infants are easier. 1-2 yrs is the hardest IMO.

[tikcho]

I don't think you are crazy as long as you understand that this may not be a vacation in the true sense of the word. we took my son on his first cruise when he was 11 months old and had a great time. Just be aware that you will most likely have to eat at the buffet each night (few 3 year olds like to sit still for 2 hours), you may not be able to do a lot of tours, you may have to wake up at the crack of dawn if your kids are early risers and you may not get to do any evening activities (again ,depends on your baby;s schedule). we took my in-laws with us that first time we cruised and that was big help as we took turns to stay with him at night as he would fall asleep around 8 pm. But 6 months olds usually sleep a lot so that may allow you to attend shows if they can sleep in the stroller