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

[AidenandCasensMommy]

I know you all will probably say I'm crazy but I'm seriously considering taking my 14 month old. We have taken our older boys when they were little, 3 & 5 I think . It was great but I know a baby will be a completely different ballgame. He can't get in the pools or go to camp carnival. I'm not one to really lay out all day so that's not a problem. I do like going to eat & to the shows. I think it's doable, DH thinks not. Any insight?

Edited June 1, 2016 by AidenandCasensMommy

[Elaine5715]

Is he sleeping through the night? Easily upset at changes or calm and happy? Gets fussy when off schedule?

[nydney1]

Our son turned 11 months on a cruise and our daughters first cruise was 18 months. Both cruises were two of our best ones.

 

We did travel with another couple so we had some help. It was a different trip as you are really on the kids schedule. You can plan on a nap each day and an early evening. It also makes a difference on which ports you choose. We had HMC which is a great beach day.

 

Our kids are used to traveling so it was not much of an issue.

 

My opinion is take the kids and make the memories.

[SuiteTraveler]

I think it would work best on a cruise line where you:

1. Have a balcony

2. Can get any room service you want

and additionally

3. Has a nursery where you can have him babysat while you watch shows (which tend to be loud) and eat dinner. (Some RCCL ships and Disney)

 

The balcony is for you - so you and your husband can go outside and sit and talk in the evening when your baby is sleeping. An even better option would be a suite such as the 2 bedroom family suites on NCL that come with butler service.

[firemanbobswife]

Plenty of people have done it. I however wouldn't have even considered it. We started cruising when my boys were 7 and 5 and that was perfect for me.

 

Little babies need so many things like diapers, strollers, and stuff that I wouldn't have the patience to bring it all. It was a chore enough when we would travel out of state to visit relatives and even then we didn't bring it all because we could go to the store once there.

 

I would be paranoid about them getting sick out in the middle of the ocean. Yes there is a medical facility onboard and I'm sure they do a fine job. But they are not Pediatricians and they are not a Children's Hospital. If my kids needed to be seen I drove them to the Children's Hospital bypassing the regular ones. I felt better knowing they only deal with children.

 

There are lots of other reasons I wouldn't but like I said, many people do and don't have issues. I honestly don't think I would enjoy myself having to watch them all the time and worrying if they were cranky and disturbing others. Cruising is a vacation for me. I like to relax. I wouldn't feel the need to bring a baby to an AI vacation in Mexico nor would I want to bring one on a ship. But again, that's me. If you're comfortable with it then by all means go ahead.

[MommaBear55]

I recommend a balcony so you can put your feet up and read when your baby naps. That was always a huge treat for me when my kids were little. Peace and quiet and no one can get to you by phone.

[AidenandCasensMommy]

Is he sleeping through the night? Easily upset at changes or calm and happy? Gets fussy when off schedule?

 

He sleeps through the night. He's very happy but he will fight naps if there is a lot going on. That's the only time he gets fussy.

[nydney1]

Plenty of people have done it. I however wouldn't have even considered it. We started cruising when my boys were 7 and 5 and that was perfect for me.

 

Little babies need so many things like diapers, strollers, and stuff that I wouldn't have the patience to bring it all. It was a chore enough when we would travel out of state to visit relatives and even then we didn't bring it all because we could go to the store once there.

 

I would be paranoid about them getting sick out in the middle of the ocean. Yes there is a medical facility onboard and I'm sure they do a fine job. But they are not Pediatricians and they are not a Children's Hospital. If my kids needed to be seen I drove them to the Children's Hospital bypassing the regular ones. I felt better knowing they only deal with children.

 

 

There are lots of other reasons I wouldn't but like I said, many people do and don't have issues. I honestly don't think I would enjoy myself having to watch them all the time and worrying if they were cranky and disturbing others. Cruising is a vacation for me. I like to relax. I wouldn't feel the need to bring a baby to an AI vacation in Mexico nor would I want to bring one on a ship. But again, that's me. If you're comfortable with it then by all means go ahead.

 

All good points. I forgot to mention that when we our son turning 11 months old my wife was 20 weeks pregnant. The other thing that I did not mention was that both I and the other couple we were traveling with were in the Transportation injury. If there was any issue we could have a chartered aircraft waiting at any airport in the Caribbean with one phone call. That was not an option that most people have.

 

At the end of the day you need to make a decision you are comfortable with.

[AidenandCasensMommy]

Plenty of people have done it. I however wouldn't have even considered it. We started cruising when my boys were 7 and 5 and that was perfect for me.

 

Little babies need so many things like diapers, strollers, and stuff that I wouldn't have the patience to bring it all. It was a chore enough when we would travel out of state to visit relatives and even then we didn't bring it all because we could go to the store once there.

 

I would be paranoid about them getting sick out in the middle of the ocean. Yes there is a medical facility onboard and I'm sure they do a fine job. But they are not Pediatricians and they are not a Children's Hospital. If my kids needed to be seen I drove them to the Children's Hospital bypassing the regular ones. I felt better knowing they only deal with children.

 

There are lots of other reasons I wouldn't but like I said, many people do and don't have issues. I honestly don't think I would enjoy myself having to watch them all the time and worrying if they were cranky and disturbing others. Cruising is a vacation for me. I like to relax. I wouldn't feel the need to bring a baby to an AI vacation in Mexico nor would I want to bring one on a ship. But again, that's me. If you're comfortable with it then by all means go ahead.

 

This is DHs biggest issue. He had emergency heart surgery when he was 12 days old but he's completely healthy now. DH just worries about something happening on the ship or getting sick. I know that doesn't help my case at all.

[gfountain1]

We are bringing our 8 month old on the Magic in July. He is generally not a fussy baby and does sleep through the night. We also booked a balcony in case we get stranded in the room during his naps.

[firemanbobswife]

This is DHs biggest issue. He had emergency heart surgery when he was 12 days old but he's completely healthy now. DH just worries about something happening on the ship or getting sick. I know that doesn't help my case at all.

 

 

Oh wow. I'm sorry to hear that. I'm glad that he's better now though!

 

That would be a major concern for me then as well. Even with the OK from a Dr I might still be worried. At least if you were on land, there are specialists available nearby. Not so much on a ship or foreign country.

 

DS had an awful time with ear infections. He actually had his eardrum rupture when he was a baby. Luckily no ill effects. But I didn't feel comfortable taking him anywhere there wasn't a Pediatrician nearby. Overkill for ear infections? Probably. But I knew he had issues and chose our trips carefully.

 

I'm not saying that it couldn't happen anywhere or that we shouldn't ever take them out of the country as we have been on a lot of cruises as a family. But they were older.

 

You have a tough decision for sure. Best of luck whichever way you go!

[CruiseReg]

... 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. :) :) :)

[Noel182002]

We are cruising in October...We will take our 6 month old and can't wait!!! i know it's not gonna be easy but we enjoy doing things as a family...We had two older girls and we have been cruising since they were little so we are used to it...

[BlazinSunsets]

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.

[jeanie1724]

I took my younger daughter when she was 8 months old on a Disney cruise. She was fine with going to the shows (snoozed through some), and went to parts of some dinners. We used the ship's for-fee nursery some, but she did not like it (cried a lot). Another annoying thing was that her pack and play took up a lot of floor space in our cabin. Overall it was fine and we had fun, but would have been nicer if she was old enough to sleep in a regular bed and go to the kids club. I'd say that if you go into it expecting the typical headaches of traveling with a baby/toddler, then you'd be fine. Of course don't expect a super relaxing vacation.

 

 

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[summersigh]

Babies don't understand that on a cruise you're supposed to relax. Instead they require all the "stuff" they do at home including all the "just in case" stuff. Take lots of wipes and diapers.:D

[cb at sea]

You have a family...with a baby! That's your life now...you deal with it! A cruise is just a family vacation! If you bring baby, you'll do whatever you do at home....but you'll be in a beautiful place while doing it!

 

If you choose to leave baby with a grandparent...that's fine, too...Grandparents love the "bonding time" when they have their grandchild.

 

Whatever you do...don't feel guilty either way. It's your time...use it as you see fit.

[elliair]

I know you all will probably say I'm crazy but I'm seriously considering taking my 14 month old. We have taken our older boys when they were little, 3 & 5 I think . It was great but I know a baby will be a completely different ballgame. He can't get in the pools or go to camp carnival. I'm not one to really lay out all day so that's not a problem. I do like going to eat & to the shows. I think it's doable, DH thinks not. Any insight?

 

Is your child a crier/screamer/temper tantrum type of child? If yes, and he starts one of his tantrums, people will give you ugly looks. Kids that age like to run around. After all, they just discovered how to walk and all they want to do is move. There was one such child on our Legend cruise, and he screamed bloody *ell the whole trip because his mother wouldn't allow him to run. Saw him one time be put down and the child was happy. The mother didn't like the chase. So, unless you are prepared to do it, go for it.

[mom2oneXY]

We took DS on our first family cruise when he was 15 months old. We really did have a great time! It was our 1st cruise, so we had no idea what to expect child or no child and I'm glad that was the case. My parents were with us and we were in a 2 bedroom family suite on RCCL. It was nice to have a living room and a balcony for when he was napping or asleep.

We did not get to lay out at the pool on seas days very much or see shows. My parents gave us a break here and there, but it was in short doses.

We did enjoy every dinner in the main dining room every night but the 1st. We sailed out of Puerto Rico and the long day of travel did us all in. We loved watching him run and laugh all over the ship. We also enjoyed every port. Some of my favorite memories are from that cruise.

It was a lot of work...napping (he was a terrible napper even at home), bedtimes, lots of packing, etc. But I wouldn't trade the memories for anything. We booked a cruise on board for just DH and me. We've done a few without DS but now he's coming back on board with us for our cruise this July. He's 5 and sooooo excited...me too :-)

Take the plunge...you'll make the best of it and have some great memories to share with him when he gets older!

[Minnow1]

My cousin and his wife took their 15 month old 2 years ago... I never saw him 80% of the cruise and when I did he was miserable.. Guess it depends on the child and the family though.

[Quilcruisers]

We take our son nearly everywhere with us - even when home- to the movies, out to dinner, etc. We always have. Although sometimes we do alone events, we wanted to expose him to those things. As a result, he is well-traveled, and knows how to behave in most every situation. He knows how to sit through dinner with 8 courses, and does not create a ruckus or cause a scene. He is 12 now and still travels with us and thoroughly enjoy it. We took him on his first cruise many years ago and found cruising to be the best vacation, price wise and entertainment wise for us. He truly enjoys his time on the ship whether it be spending time with us as a family or going to camp. He will sit through dinner although he has always been worried he will miss camp activities. I say take your child with you and create the memories that your family will make together, they wont remember a lot, but some things they will remember. We took my son to Vegas when he was 3 years old and he enjoyed it and still talks about it to this day. He has been there a couple of times too.

 

I think the biggest thing for us is always wanting to travel for 5-7 days or longer and didn't want to leave him with someone for that long all the time. We started out taking him really young and it just continued.

 

Some trips are planned with him in mind, but for the family trips, we try to cruise. Having an outlet for times when you want to be alone with your spouse is good, you don't want to not have that time but plenty can be done with a kid that is well-adjusted and not too fussy. Have fun whatever you decide.

[wampuscat7]

We waited until our daughter was 20 months before taking we in her first cruise, and honestly I think it would've been just as fantastic at 14 months.

 

It helps that my daughter has always slept well at night and can nap anywhere, so we could push her around the ship in a small stroller and she was fine. (Look into an umbrella stroller that has a recline! The one we bought worked great even on sandy beaches.)

 

A balcony room was also helpful for us. We could sit out while she slept, and she loved watching the water go by.

 

We also had room service for breakfast, which was nice. Sometimes eating out in public for every meal was a challenge.

[SadieN]

Cruising with a toddler is easier than tent camping with a toddler. Been there, done that.

 

 

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[wampuscat7]

The family board has great advice for traveling with little ones, by the way.

[LMaxwell]

14 months is not bad at all, depending on the child. We took ours at 10 months and again at 14 months and it went GREAT both times. It was the easiest vacation we could have done with a baby. Room is always near by. No packing and unpacking a car. No deciding where to eat. Plenty of activities. All the ships have kids clubs that have toys you can use. Etc.