How young were your kids on your 1st cruise?

[mariakitty]

My DH and I are excited about our cruise in September without kids, but we are getting anxious to go on a family cruise as well. Currently our boys are 9 months and 2 years, which I know is too young to enjoyably cruise. For those of you who take your children cruising, what is the minimum age you would recommend? I am thinking our youngest should be 3 years old, but I would like to hear what others have done. My mom keeps offering to cruise with us and be a "nanny" for the boys, but somehow I cannot believe she would be willing to give up the nightlife on board!

 

Maria

[Travelgrrl]

I think that the child should be at least 3 and totally potty trained to go on their first cruise (and make it worth the costs); then they can join in the kids' activities and Mom and Dad can have some respite. (You will pay the same third and fourth passenger rate for a toddler as for an adult.)

 

To really enjoy and remember a cruise, I would say 5 or 6.

 

My kids started going around age 9 to 11. They never really got into the kids program (keep that in mind; yours may also resist, and then you are amusing them 24/7 - which I don't mind at all, but some people may wish some time alone). But it's still the best family fun we have all year!

[ssapiers]

Ours were 11 and 13 when they went on their first cruise

[jff50]

Mine were 3, 3, and 2. They loved the beaches, loved the chocolates, loved the attention from the staff, loved the kids program

[lisgeo]

Our son was 3 and potty trained. He had a wonderful time on the Explorer of the Seas and we felt comfortable that he was a little older and could actually communicate with someone in the Adventure Ocean kids club if he didn't feel good, etc.

[Gaynors]

My son was 23 months on his first cruise which was a 7 day of Hawaii. The cruise was great it was the 5 hour time change that was torture for all of us. He is now 4 and has been on 3 cruises.

 

My daughter was 18 months on her first cruise and now before she turns 3 will have been on 3 cruises.

 

Having cruised many times before having children it is quite a different experience, notice I said different not bad. No more late nights for me.

 

One thing though having balcony is nice with the kids. While they sleep at night I sit out on the balcony and enjoy the beautiful ocean. :D

 

Only you know your kids best so if you enjoy spending time with them and they are behaved enough to allow you to enjoy yourselves to... go for it!!! :cool:

[Druke I]

My son was 18mos, oldest daughter 6 years, on a 3 generation family Christmas cruise, many moons ago.

 

Were we to do it all again, I think I would wait until the youngest was 3 or 4 years old, and able to communicate (along with the toilet-trained).

[helenb]

We are taking the kids on their first cruise in January (Sapphire Princess). They will be 3 and 5 then (the younger is halfway through potty training so we're crossing fingers that it will be completed by then).

 

We waited until the age 3 limit because we had to cruise on our own (no 'nanny' to come with us). That being said, there are some other options:

 

Carnival and NCL take kids into their kid programs at age 2. NCL pages you to change the diaper, Carnival will do a diaper change.

 

RCCL has a number of good parent/child programs from ages 6-36 months. You cannot drop off your child, but you can go with them and have fun activities to participate in.

 

Disney has a great nursery for kids under 3 and a toddler pool.

 

So obviously it is easier to cruise when your kids are big enough for the kid programs, but there ARE alternatives if you would like to take them with you earlier. Why not try a 3 or 4 day cruise on one of these lines to see if you like it?

[Bob-A-Loo]

My grandson was 4 on his first cruise - his 13th cruise is in Sept. to Alaska - he is now 9 years old - LOVES cruising and has a ball at kids camp.

[Mbouck1]

My wife and I have booked a family cruise on the new Crown Princess. Our grandchild (who isn't born yet) will be 9 months. We are excited about bringing the family on this cruise. We booked a balcony for us and an inside for child and family along with another inside for our son and his friend (friend pays for his own)

It is true about paying almost the same price as an adult. We do plan on watching the baby so daughter and her husband can enjoy themselves while on the cruise. I realize that the baby will be a bit young but we wanted to do this cruise with them and they are also looking forward to it. :p

[TommyC]

We started when the kids were 17, 15, 13 and at the time they were too young for the grown-up activites and too old for the childrens activities - however they now enjoy going cruising and the two oldest (23, 21) are planning their own cruises (at their own expense :p ).

 

Considerations of a good age to start cruising might be how the child does in a restaurant, how well they travel and deal with time changes, and how easily they deal with napping? All that fresh air and activity will make them pretty tired. I think children enjoy all the new ship activities, the pools, the foods and ice cream, etc. If they become a handful to Mom and Dad or the Nanny, is anyone then having fun?

 

I agree with an earlier post - try a 3, 4 or 5 day cruise first... Good Cruising!!

[mariakitty]

Thanks for the great advice. :) I think we will try a short cruise in a year or two and see how they do. They have actually both been on a cruise before...in utero! I am so looking forward to our cruise in September when I can actually enjoy a glass of champagne!

[helenb]

Thanks for the great advice. :) I think we will try a short cruise in a year or two and see how they do. They have actually both been on a cruise before...in utero! I am so looking forward to our cruise in September when I can actually enjoy a glass of champagne!

 

LOL I had the same thing. My most recent cruise was the first one in ages where I have not been pregnant. I was so thrilled to be able to use the hot tubs again! :)

[cruisnfool]

Our whole family is cruising in september except 2 yr old Jenna....

I checked with Princess and she cannot go to the kids program until 3yrs and potty trained....can't swim in pool unless potty trained....can't use evening babysitting service until 3 yrs and she pays the same rate as any other 3rd or 4th person...way too high for a 2yr old.

We are late people that love the shows and casino and doubt anyone will want to babysit.

My children were 12, 13 & 16 when they first cruised.

I would wait till they are old enough to remember....learn how to behave in the dining room and really enjoy the kids program.

You also need to be considerate of other passengers. I wouldn't want to hear a baby screaming in middle of night or on the balcony.

I have seen multi generations travel together so the grandmas that don't stay up late are more than happy to babysit while the parents party.

[Jeepers385]

My son was 4 and my parents took them on his first cruise. This was before they had kids programs and hardly any kids. My parents say he was the hit with all the workers on board who missed their kids immensely. It also was during the Olympics and he lead all the parades during the day and night activities. He's now 24 and still remembers it. When my DD turned 4 parents again took her but by then there were more kids and a kids program, she's now 22 so things changed quickly in 2 yrs time.

 

Debbie

[celtic selke]

My daughter was 25 on the first cruise I took her on. She was totally potty trained but they wouldn't accept her in the childrens' program.

 

I probably should try to get "compensation" for her exclusion.

 

What do you think???:D

 

celtic

[urc12]

Our son was one on our first cruise. He is five now and booked on his seventh cruise. Our second son will also be one when he cruises for the first time. Cruising with a one year old is a different type of vacation. Early to bed, early to rise, no formal night, no snorkeling. We spend a little more time in the stateroom so we book a vista suite. But we still have a wonderful time together as a family with alot of wonderful memories.

[MszKitty]

Our girls were 10 & 15 when we took them on their first cruise. We would take family vacations at our timeshare (Hawaii, Orlando, etc) and then Hubby & I would cruise without them. He felt that a cruise is something really special and he wanted to wait until they were old enough to "appreciate" it. After their first cruise, it stopped being, "where are we going for vacation this year?"...to, "where are we going on our cruise this year?" They are now 20 & 25 and they are still cruising with us. And we all love it even more because now they can join Dad in the casino and Mom in the disco! :)

[patches05]

I was 12 and my brother was 6 when we took our first cruise. This was back in the mid-80's when Disney was affiliated with Premier Cruise Line. :) So we had something like three days at sea (to the Bahamas) and four days at Disney World.

[Times Prince]

My daughter was 25 on the first cruise I took her on. She was totally potty trained but they wouldn't accept her in the childrens' program.

- celtic

Our Daughter was 21 on the first cruise, which unfortunately was our "cruise from heck". She was the youngest person on the HAL cruise, and received the attention of all the cruise staff. The Disco Bar was totally hers, but the staff was not allowed to interact. Not all kid's programs are the same.:o

[CarolynK]

Our daughter was 8 months old on her first cruise. It was on HAL, so she got lots of attention from the staff (not many infants aboard). We had a great time. I dressed her up for formal nights, and brought her stroller to the dining room, and usually she fell asleep which allowed us a relaxing dinner.

Our son was 1-1/2 on his first cruise, DCL. We have always booked vacations with our kids in mind (mostly Disneyworld and cruising), but have never waited for them to be "old enough." Life is too short.

[castroville cruiser]

:) Our boys were15 and 17. Old enough to do plenty on their own and have their own cabin, but still spent lots of time as a family. Of course, it helps that they are so close in age. Always have someone to hang out with... They both love to cruise and have continued to cruise with us....they are 19 and 21 now..

Have fun !

[City_Woman]

My first cruise was in 2002 @ 41!

 

CityWoman

 

 

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Imagination April 2002

Paradise April 2003

Paradise October 2003

Paradise May 2004

Victory November 2004

Victory May 2005

Sun Princess April 2006

[Have a Good Trip]

I was 6 when I was taken on my first cruise.

 

5 cruises and 2 children later, DW and I are taking our 8 and 6 year olds on their first cruise on Diamond Princess next January.

 

I remember my first cruise vividly and am sure our children will too.:)

[ahracer]

I took my oldest daugther on a cruise when she was 6 months old. My youngest daugther was 2 for her first cruise and my step daughter was 6.

 

Scott