RCI Independence with young children including toddler

[Topbuzzer]

Just got back from the July 2nd Sailing IOTS 14 nights around Spain/France/Portugal. I posted several times on here asking questions about facilities for young children and mostly got more people asking questions so thought I should add some comments on my experience!

 

We were so looking forward to our daughter enjoying this and us getting some child free time but it completely didn't work out. Even though she (aged 2 and a half) goes to nursery at home she didn't take to it at all - which is understandable because as nice as the caregivers were she doesn't know them.

 

I popped in on the last night and there were about 6/7 babies there so it clearly works for others. On a previous cruise when she was 7 months the nursery worked brilliantly (for a couple of hours in the evening) so I guess it depends on age. The babies I saw in the room looked around 1/ just under 1 and the room really seems geared up to that age rather than toddlers. It was quite telling that our 2 year old kept trying to run into her older sister's kids club - she preferred that vibe of kids running around playing. She wasn't allowed in there of course!

 

But the bad nursery experience didn't detract from the holiday experience at all.....she just loved being on the ship. Her favourite part was going in the many lifts! People said hi to her wherever she went and she loved it. She loved going to cafe Promenade, Sorrentos and the Windjammer. The splash pool was perfect for her and I had brought a bucket and watering cans and she played happily every day there. One of her favourite things was the icecream machine on deck 11! We had to try and go a different route on more than one occasion!

 

This was our 4th cruise (the toddlers third) and there was as usual so much food for her. We tried several places - MDR, Windjammer, Johnny Rockets, Sorrentos - but always found the Windjammer the easiest with the best range of choices. The staff in there were very attentive to us having a toddler.

 

We went to all the parades on deck 5 (usually about 10.30) which were brilliant and the children were always welcome there. The toddler was usually asleep in her buggy or toddler sling. Having a sling was invaluable for walking around the ship when she was sleepy and the port where there was a tender.

 

The room we booked was to have a sofa bed and it didn't! She is too big for a cot.....but the staff bent over backwards (thank you Wendy cabin 2540 deck 2!). She (and her supervisor who was very helpful) arranged for a fold up bed to be added to the room and the sofa taken out. She couldn't sleep in a Pullam and the main bed was too high (if she fell off). Any problems were quickly solved by the staff.

 

We kept our buggy outside our main door most of the time and this saved space (no staff complained - bit it wasn't blocking anything).

 

I always overpack nappies and underpack wipes - I brought 6 packs of wipes but ran out!

 

Joff was brilliant as cruise director - my daughter saw him in the show and then got a photo with him and he signed a note to her!

 

All in all an excellent holiday!

If anyone has any questions about IOTS - children related or otherwise just let me know.

[adt0330]

Thanks for the info! I will be sailing in March with a 3 and 6 year old. How did your older child do? Did you take the kids to the evening shows and if so were they able to sit through them? Thanks again for posting.

[Topbuzzer]

The 8 year old loved the club - we couldn't get her out of there. They both enjoyed the shows. Yes they went to shows at night no problem - we sat at the back so we could get out quickly if needed but they were very well behaved.

[Grandma Dazzles]

Glad you had such a good time and everything worked out well for you and your children

 

Just for your information, and anyone else reading your review, you were lucky that you were allowed to keep the stroller in the hallway. Wheelchairs, strollers, etc. are usually stored in the cabin and have had friends told to do so. With service carts, room service, people needing to pass using a wheelchair, and possible emergency evacuation, it is not usually allowed. Some ships are very strict on this.

[Clarea]

Thanks for the report.