Family Cruise with our 16 month old granddaughter

[Land of Ice and Snow]

We are planning a 4-5 night cruise with our daughter, husband and 16 month old granddaughter.  Please provide any advice re cabin, if a SV is more spacious.  I can’t seem to find any FV, perhaps they are no longer with the refurbishment of ships.  Many thanks for any input.  

[cruisestitch]

Which ship and where?

[mahdnc]

Just now, Land of Ice and Snow said:

We are planning a 4-5 night cruise with our daughter, husband and 16 month old granddaughter.  Please provide any advice re cabin, if a SV is more spacious.  I can’t seem to find any FV, perhaps they are no longer with the refurbishment of ships.  Many thanks for any input.  

 

FV cabins have been re-designated as UV (Ultra Deluxe Veranda) but they are only on Solstice and Millennium class ships (not on Edge class).  Also UV cabins on some of the Solstice and Millennium class ships are being recategorized as expensive Horizon Suites.

 

We currently are in a FV/UV cabin on Summit right now.

[mahdnc]

Just now, Land of Ice and Snow said:

We are planning a 4-5 night cruise with our daughter, husband and 16 month old granddaughter.  Please provide any advice re cabin, if a SV is more spacious.  I can’t seem to find any FV, perhaps they are no longer with the refurbishment of ships.  Many thanks for any input.  

 

It sounds like there are five of you?  How many cabins are you planning on booking?

[Land of Ice and Snow]

We will have two cabins and looking at February or April, 2025.  This is a cruise that was planned for 2023 but couldn’t travel due to high risk pregnancy.

[mahdnc]

Just now, Land of Ice and Snow said:

We will have two cabins and looking at February or April, 2025.  This is a cruise that was planned for 2023 but couldn’t travel due to high risk pregnancy.

 

I understand.  Did you have a specific ship picked out?  Makes a big difference with your options.

[Land of Ice and Snow]

When looking at the Caribbean itineraries, it looks like Silhouette, Reflection or Summit.  I will be taking a closer look when we head home next week.  Currently, full time grandparenting duties as daughter and husband have back to back weddings.  Babies can be tiring for grandparents who are 66 and 63..,lol

[mahdnc]

6 minutes ago, Land of Ice and Snow said:

When looking at the Caribbean itineraries, it looks like Silhouette, Reflection or Summit.  I will be taking a closer look when we head home next week.  Currently, full time grandparenting duties as daughter and husband have back to back weddings.  Babies can be tiring for grandparents who are 66 and 63..,lol

 

We are currently in an FV cabin on Summit (now categorized as UV).  It has sofa bed for a 3rd person.  It has a lot of space in the cabin and an extremely large balcony.  There are 12 UV cabins on Summit--all facing out the back of the ship. Here are photos of our cabin (8166) taken last week:

 

 

 

 

Reflection has 4 FV/UV cabins--all located at the front corner of the ship.  These cabins are even more massive than the ones on Summit although the balcony is more conventionally sized.  Here is a scaled floor plan I drew up:

 

 

Silhouette's four FV/UV cabins have been converted to Horizon Suites.  

 

Since you are planning on getting two cabins, you have a lot more options with combinations of conventional cabins (e.g. getting a triple cabin + a regular cabin, getting connecting cabins, etc) which is what I am guessing you will end up with.  My experience is limited to FV/UV because my wife, two kids, and I cruised 14 times with Celebrity all in one cabin--virtually all the time in a family cabin.

 

Good luck.

 

David

[CruiseCrew123]

Just remember that a baby will not be allowed in the pools - that may make a difference to when you want to sail 

[cruizingOmi]

12 hours ago, Land of Ice and Snow said:

When looking at the Caribbean itineraries, it looks like Silhouette, Reflection or Summit.  I will be taking a closer look when we head home next week.  Currently, full time grandparenting duties as daughter and husband have back to back weddings.  Babies can be tiring for grandparents who are 66 and 63..,lol

Try keeping up with a 4 y old 😄

[Marie51]

Consider getting two connecting cabins that is with a door connecting inside the cabins. We’ve been doing that for years and it’s the best set up.

[hcat]

i would not book any cabin with a balcony  for toddlers or children..stuff happens!  Our grands are boys  8 and 4... we take no chances...they are full of surprises!

 

Maybe an inside in vicinity of a suite for grandparents ???

[PTC DAWG]

13 minutes ago, hcat said:

i would not book any cabin with a balcony  for toddlers or children..stuff happens!  Our grands are boys  8 and 4... we take no chances...they are full of surprises!

 

Maybe an inside in vicinity of a suite for grandparents ???

I have yet to see a balcony door without a deadbolt up high… but I  wouldn’t leave a toddler/youngster alone, period..having a pool at home kept me on alert when my Niece and Nephew were young. 

 

Honestly, I’m probably too much of a safety police type to sail with them that young period. We shall see, my first grandchild just turned 2 yesterday, 2 months that is.  🙂

Edited April 30 by PTC DAWG

[Marie51]

20 hours ago, hcat said:

i would not book any cabin with a balcony  for toddlers or children..stuff happens!  Our grands are boys  8 and 4... we take no chances...they are full of surprises!

 

Maybe an inside in vicinity of a suite for grandparents ???

I’ve been traveling with young children in balcony cabins…..first my own and then grandchildren for the past 25 years. The thing is…. you have to actually watch them. It’s not that difficult.

[hcat]

49 minutes ago, Marie51 said:

I’ve been traveling with young children in balcony cabins…..first my own and then grandchildren for the past 25 years. The thing is…. you have to actually watch them. It’s not that difficult.

The Royal C incident/ accident where grandad was holding a  child who fell over and did not survive,  made us and our dtr & sil  hold off.

 

.Now the boys are 4 and 8 but still have to be watched, although they might do Disney in a year or two.  So far the  boys are happy with Great Wolf style resorts!

 

A 16 month old is probably easier

 

[WrittenOnYourHeart]

57 minutes ago, Marie51 said:

I’ve been traveling with young children in balcony cabins…..first my own and then grandchildren for the past 25 years. The thing is…. you have to actually watch them. It’s not that difficult.

 

Well said!! 

 

I don't have kids, but I've never understood the "no balcony because of my kids". First, as has been said, there is always a lock up high (or at least on every ship with balcony cabins I've been on. Second, the door can be tough for even adults to open. And third - and most important - WATCH YOUR KIDS! And teach them to listen when you say no!

[hcat]

2 minutes ago, WrittenOnYourHeart said:

 

Well said!! 

 

I don't have kids, but I've never understood the "no balcony because of my kids". First, as has been said, there is always a lock up high (or at least on every ship with balcony cabins I've been on. Second, the door can be tough for even adults to open. And third - and most important - WATCH YOUR KIDS! And teach them to listen when you say no!

kids do not always listen !

[WrittenOnYourHeart]

2 minutes ago, hcat said:

kids do not always listen !

 

So parents need to have consequences. To just say "they don't always listen" and throw your hands up is doing them a disservice.

 

I teach special education so I know how they don't always want to listen. BUT I also know that I have students who have in the past run from their parents, but with their parents patiently working with them they have learned. I have one - a particularly "busy" kid - who has been taught not to run in the street and will actually point and say "No! Car! Die!"

 

But yes - if someone is just saying "they don't listen" and throwing up their hands rather than teaching their kids to listen, a cruise may not be the vacation for them. Because there are rails to climb besides the ones on the balcony.

[hcat]

12 minutes ago, WrittenOnYourHeart said:

 

So parents need to have consequences. To just say "they don't always listen" and throw your hands up is doing them a disservice.

 

I teach special education so I know how they don't always want to listen. BUT I also know that I have students who have in the past run from their parents, but with their parents patiently working with them they have learned. I have one - a particularly "busy" kid - who has been taught not to run in the street and will actually point and say "No! Car! Die!"

 

But yes - if someone is just saying "they don't listen" and throwing up their hands rather than teaching their kids to listen, a cruise may not be the vacation for them. Because there are rails to climb besides the ones on the balcony.

Not to belabor the issue  but sometimes teachers who are specialists  do get a better response.  We have a  " busy"

(euphemism) grandson, who has made huge strides in listening skills..Also  a little guy who loves to climb.. but  we are leaving balcony decisions to the parents who know them best!  

 

as an aside, the second grader was shown a video on  wearing seat belts yesterday, and what can happen if you don't. Made a big impression. Maybe more than we realize sinks in!

Edited May 1 by hcat

[WrittenOnYourHeart]

5 minutes ago, hcat said:

Not to belabor the issue  but sometimes teachers who are specialists  do get a better response.  We have a  " busy"

(euphemism) grandson, who has made huge strides in listening skills..Also  a little guy who loves to climb.. but  we are leaving balcony decisions to the parents who know them best!  

 

as an aside, the second grader was shown a video on  wearing seat belts yesterday, and what can happen if you don't. Made a big impression. Maybe more than we realize sinks in!

 

He was actually taught that by his parents. They told us that in his IEP meeting.

[Nancycat]

My 2 year old grandson is coming with us on a family cruise to Scandinavia, there will be 8 adults.

We are getting an inside connecting cabin, my daughter said she didn’t care about a balcony.

I’m sure we will all be taking turns with him, which none of us mind 

My daughters have been cruising since they were babies, I like the flexibility, as opposed to a land vacation 

have a great time 

[Marie51]

2 hours ago, hcat said:

The Royal C incident/ accident where grandad was holding a  child who fell over and did not survive,  made us and our dtr & sil  hold off.

 

.Now the boys are 4 and 8 but still have to be watched, although they might do Disney in a year or two.  So far the  boys are happy with Great Wolf style resorts!

 

A 16 month old is probably easier

 

Yes, I remember that incident with the grandfather. Unfortunately, that was his fault. He was holding the child by an open window and worse than that he didn’t have a secure grip on her.

[awhfy]

On 4/29/2024 at 7:28 PM, Land of Ice and Snow said:

We are planning a 4-5 night cruise with our daughter, husband and 16 month old granddaughter.  Please provide any advice re cabin, if a SV is more spacious.  I can’t seem to find any FV, perhaps they are no longer with the refurbishment of ships.  Many thanks for any input.  

Fvs have been reclassified 

Edited May 1 by awhfy

[awhfy]

Get a 24” blow up pool. Can be used in the shower (if no tub) or on deck as a 16 month old will not be allowed in pool unless fully potty trained

[Marie51]

2 hours ago, awhfy said:

Get a 24” blow up pool. Can be used in the shower (if no tub) or on deck as a 16 month old will not be allowed in pool unless fully potty trained

How do you fit a 24 inch blowup pool in those small showers?