Cruising w/ Babies

[Kris1114]

Everyone has made their point & it makes sense. Probably not a good idea. Maybe it would be ok, but who knows. I don't want to make any enemies. Could try Disney. Went on them as a couple & hated it, but maybe would be different w/ a child. Maybe they would have more experience w/ kids, have a more family crowd w/ more "kid tolerant" passengers.

[summercruisin']

You should make the best decision for you and your family. I've done many cruises without the kids and a few with the kids (we were on the Oct. cruise with the other baby Olivia...we took our then 11 month old). The vacation experience is totally different with kids along for the trip. You do have to haul a lot of stuff, give up a lot of privacy, give up some fun activities, give up your own schedule, and work hard most of the time (not very relaxing or romantic, for sure!). Babysitting is nice, but if the little one hates it, that is out. Nothing like being paged from the bar after 2 drinks to come get your now-hysterical little one.
However, if you take her, you get once-in-a-lifetime memories (for you, not her), good bonding experiences and someone to cook, clean, and entertain for you. Much better than a day at work or even hanging around the house 24/7 in your robe changing diapers! :D

By the way, Carnival DOES have high chairs, as mentioned before, as well as cribs and other baby gear. You should plan to take anti-bacterial wipes.

Finally, if you do decide to take her, please, please please DO take the carseat! Baby's safety means more than her entertainment in a blow up pool or stroller. If you have to leave something behind, don't let it be the carseat. It is NOT true that most cabs don't have seatbelts. You'll have to leave from some port, and unless you plan to drive to the port, you will need a carseat for any US city taxi. Also, many cars in the ports have seatbelts. You may have to ask or wait a few extra minutes, but it is worth it, no doubt.

[crusinmama06]

WOW this was an interesting thread.

Sorry I missed all the fun. ;)

To the OP (if you haven't scared her off by now) :eek: - come on over to the family board. You'll get the actual facts about cruising with children from people who cruise [I]with[/I] children. Imagine that. :p

[URL]http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=49[/URL]

Um, no highchairs on Carnival???? LMBO? Seriously? You believe that? Carnival, the cruise line that starts its kids club at age 2 and changes diapers, no high chairs? Not quite kids. ;)

Thanks for the chuckle.

[quote name='Kris1114']Everyone has made their point & it makes sense. Probably not a good idea. Maybe it would be ok, but who knows. I don't want to make any enemies. Could try Disney. Went on them as a couple & hated it, but maybe would be different w/ a child. Maybe they would have more experience w/ kids, have a more family crowd w/ more "kid tolerant" passengers.[/quote]

More kid tolerant passengers????? This is a Carnival Cruise (on Sensation no less :eek:, that ship was over run with kids :rolleyes:)

You arent cruising on Crystal folks.

Hate to break the news but Carnival is very family friendly.

[crusinmama06]

(combined posts)

[ratherBcruizin']

[quote name='Kris1114']Everyone has made their point & it makes sense. Probably not a good idea. Maybe it would be ok, but who knows. I don't want to make any enemies. Could try Disney. Went on them as a couple & hated it, but maybe would be different w/ a child. Maybe they would have more experience w/ kids, have a more family crowd w/ more "kid tolerant" passengers.[/quote]
Don't let a public message board decide what is right for you and your family. That is your decision. I made the mistake about 4-5 years ago of posting about cruising with a baby. I was consumed with worry about how it would go, guilt for bringing her, and anxiousness. All for nothing.

If you and dh want to go and bring your dd then do it. I've done both cruises and the land based vacation with a young child/baby. Give me a cruise. You won't know until you try it. It could be fantastic or you may end up thinking that it's not something you want to try again.

Carnival is [U]very[/U] family friendly and there are most certainly high chairs available.

[trock]

[quote name='jonathansburden']We're planning on filling it with a bucket from the shower & letting it warm up in the sun for a bit. We'll empty it the same way, down the shower drain! I didn't want to be one of "those parents" who take their non-potty trained kids and let them play in the big pool. The one we have is very small and won't be in anyone's way. :)[/quote]


Pee pee water in the ice bucket? ill!

[Kurbanfan]

[quote name='trock']Pee pee water in the ice bucket? ill![/quote]

Another reason to bring my ice chest:eek::D

[L2J]

[quote name='trock']Pee pee water in the ice bucket? ill![/quote]

As nasty as that is I think the fecal tea bag would be worse. I doubt an ice bucket gets more than a towel to dry it off.

[trock]

you guys kill me!:p

[Kurbanfan]

[quote name='L2J']As nasty as that is I think the fecal tea bag would be worse. I doubt an ice bucket gets more than a towel to dry it off.[/quote]


True....so true.....
Prolly just air dry them:eek:

[quote name='trock']you guys kill me!:p[/quote]

Never in my wildest dream would I think someone would use the ice bucket to empty poo poo and pee pee water on a cruise ship.....
The things I learn on here are....well.....sometimes ignorance is bliss:p

[L2J]

[quote name='Kurbanfan']True....so true.....
Prolly just air dry them:eek:


[/quote]

"Excuse me Sir...this bucket you just brought, what are the brown crumbs stuck to the sides?":cool:

[trock]

[quote name='Kurbanfan']True....so true.....
Prolly just air dry them:eek:



Never in my wildest dream would I think someone would use the ice bucket to empty poo poo and pee pee water on a cruise ship.....
The things I learn on here are....well.....sometimes ignorance is bliss:p[/quote]

I am with you! What is wrong with people!

[quote name='L2J']"Excuse me Sir...this bucket you just brought, what are the brown crumbs stuck to the sides?":cool:[/quote]

Was GG Allen in this cabin before me!?:eek:

[brenderlou]

Hi

DH and I have a 4 yr old and we have taken her on several cruises. BUT the best cruise we have done since becoming parents is a short 3 night (leaves Fri, comes back Monday) and it was just the 2 of us. We thought it would be bittersweet (short cruise & missing our daughter) but we had a blast!!
3 nights is just the right amount of time to get away and honestly, we didn't miss her knowing she was with her grandparents and having a blast. Plus 3 night with just the 2 of us seemed longer for some reason. We now do this cruise every year as our own little get away.
Now, if you don't have anyone to watch your child, I just want to bring up some things. He/she will not be able to go into any pools. Kids have to be out of diapers to go into a pool and they do watch to make sure.
Excursions aren't made for babies to tag along.
I guess you need to look at the cruise and see how much you will enjoy it with your 8 month old compared to before you were parents and were able to do what you wanted, when you wanted on the cruise.
Now that our daughter is older, it's alot more fun for all of us plus she loves going to the children's area which gives DH and I a break during the cruise. Her first cruise was when she was a year and we did not have fun. Too young for the children's program, couldn't go into the pool, had to keep her on her schedule with naps, meals, etc. We felt we spent alot of $$ on a cruise to work!!!!

[L2J]

[quote name='trock']Was GG Allen in this cabin before me!?:eek:[/quote]

I think that was Celebrity a few years back (not GG or Allen) and the sheets were...ahh...."smeared" and the little raincoat was underneath the bed.

[trock]

[quote name='L2J']I think that was Celebrity a few years back (not GG or Allen) and the sheets were...ahh...."smeared" and the little raincoat was underneath the bed.[/quote]
ugh!~!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We're both sick!

[kiraryker]

Just don't do what we did - we waited 25yrs before taking a vacation without kids - our oldest was 18 and our youngest 8 and we figured since it was our 25th wedding anniversary we'd go alone - well a vacation with no kids - we took well needed naps all day and missed alot of the night life on the ship -

So now we are going again in March but with all the kids so they keep us active and going all day/night :D:D

But that week alone was nice

[AnimalNanny]

My wife and I cruised on RCCL in Feb, 2004 with our first son at 6 months old. It was a 7-day Mexican Riviera cruise. It worked out very well. We knew going in what the limitations would be, so we weren't disappointed when we learned of them later.

We had a junior suite on that cruise, so we had a refrigerator in our cabin. This was good as my wife had to pump and then we had to store the milk until it was needed. Rather than use the pull-out sofa bed, they provided us with a portable "pack-and-play" crib. Our cabin included a full bathtub. So bathing was easy. We had an inflatable ducky tub that fit into the bathtub. We normally used it at home, so he was already familiar with it.

In the dining room, we had a table for four, so it was just the three of us. Our table was situated along a bench. Son one side was "booth" seating and the other side was chairs. And dinner was coincidentally timed to his naps. So we would carry him in, put him in the high chair and feed him while we ordered and had our salad course. Then, we would lie him on the booth side where he fell asleep before the entrees arrived. Although there was one night where he didn't fall asleep and was fussy and disturbing so we left the dining room mid-meal. Later we ate at the buffet on the Lido deck.

We also prepared in advance by filling ziploc bags with what we would need for a meal. Each bag had a disposable bib, a disposable spoon, and a jar of baby food. As we were heading to the dining room, we just grabbed a bag. As we went ashore for the day, planning to be gone during lunch, we just grabbed a bag. We never had to go back to find a baby spoon or anything.

There was no children's club for his age range at that time. And he couldn't be in the pools.

Babysitting was in-cabin at that time. And the children had to be 2 years old to qualify. But we still hired babysitters for two evenings. Here's what we did. We went to the purser's desk and filled out the babysitting request. Under age, we lied and said "2 years". When the babysitter showed up, we informed her of the truth and gave her the option of backing out. She didn't back out. She could do the job and she wanted the money. In fact, the babysitter we had the first night, repeated the second night we hired a sitter.

As for evening shows when we didn't have a sitter, we switched off. One would stay in the cabin, watching tv or reading or enjoying the balcony. The other would go out to see a show or visit the casino or whatever. We were all usually asleep by 11pm anyway.

The other people on the ship were always pleasant and kind. The older people were very grandmotherly or grandfatherly. No one tried to touch our son without permission. The crew was also very accomodating, including our room stewardess and our dining room staff. One day were were near the pool and our son was in swimtrunks, but not in the pool. A staff member wanted to let us know he couldn't go into the pool. We already knew it, so it wasn't a problem. But the staff member was very cautious and apologetic, really embarrassed to have to tell us. I think he was afraid to offend us.

If you want to cruise with your infant child, I say go ahead. We did, and we recommend it.

[BullDogChief]

[quote name='AnimalNanny']My wife and I cruised on RCCL in Feb, 2004 with our first son at 6 months old. It was a 7-day Mexican Riviera cruise. It worked out very well. We knew going in what the limitations would be, so we weren't disappointed when we learned of them later.

We had a junior suite on that cruise, so we had a refrigerator in our cabin. This was good as my wife had to pump and then we had to store the milk until it was needed. Rather than use the pull-out sofa bed, they provided us with a portable "pack-and-play" crib. Our cabin included a full bathtub. So bathing was easy. We had an inflatable ducky tub that fit into the bathtub. We normally used it at home, so he was already familiar with it.

In the dining room, we had a table for four, so it was just the three of us. Our table was situated along a bench. Son one side was "booth" seating and the other side was chairs. And dinner was coincidentally timed to his naps. So we would carry him in, put him in the high chair and feed him while we ordered and had our salad course. Then, we would lie him on the booth side where he fell asleep before the entrees arrived. Although there was one night where he didn't fall asleep and was fussy and disturbing so we left the dining room mid-meal. Later we ate at the buffet on the Lido deck.

We also prepared in advance by filling ziploc bags with what we would need for a meal. Each bag had a disposable bib, a disposable spoon, and a jar of baby food. As we were heading to the dining room, we just grabbed a bag. As we went ashore for the day, planning to be gone during lunch, we just grabbed a bag. We never had to go back to find a baby spoon or anything.

There was no children's club for his age range at that time. And he couldn't be in the pools.

Babysitting was in-cabin at that time. And the children had to be 2 years old to qualify. But we still hired babysitters for two evenings. Here's what we did. We went to the purser's desk and filled out the babysitting request. Under age, we lied and said "2 years". When the babysitter showed up, we informed her of the truth and gave her the option of backing out. She didn't back out. She could do the job and she wanted the money. In fact, the babysitter we had the first night, repeated the second night we hired a sitter.

As for evening shows when we didn't have a sitter, we switched off. One would stay in the cabin, watching tv or reading or enjoying the balcony. The other would go out to see a show or visit the casino or whatever. We were all usually asleep by 11pm anyway.

The other people on the ship were always pleasant and kind. The older people were very grandmotherly or grandfatherly. No one tried to touch our son without permission. The crew was also very accomodating, including our room stewardess and our dining room staff. One day were were near the pool and our son was in swimtrunks, but not in the pool. A staff member wanted to let us know he couldn't go into the pool. We already knew it, so it wasn't a problem. But the staff member was very cautious and apologetic, really embarrassed to have to tell us. I think he was afraid to offend us.

If you want to cruise with your infant child, I say go ahead. We did, and we recommend it.[/quote]

I would add to this that if any parents truly wish to cruise with their infant, they should be required to first read the above post and follow it to the letter.

You guys did something that is practically unheard of today; you kept other people's feelings in mind. When your child became fussy you took him out of the dining room so others would not be disturbed; that is considerate thinking and I applaud you for it.

The problem I have is with the other type of parents who let their child cry and scream and throw tantrums and become angry at other people who are disturbed by the ruckus. THOSE are the people I cannot stand...it's not the kid's fault it is the PARENT that ignores the child while the child makes the ruckus who is at fault. Which is why I usually cringe when people talk about cruising with their babies...does that make me a bad person?

According to some of the people in this forum, yes, that makes me a bad person.

[rlj1010]

[quote name='BullDogChief']Which is why I usually cringe when people talk about cruising with their babies...does that make me a bad person?

According to some of the people in this forum, yes, that makes me a bad person.[/quote]


I would have to say, yes it does, because it sounds like you automatically assume every parent is a bad parent.

[AnimalNanny]

Bulldog,

Yes, I am always considerate of the people around me. However, I've also learned how to judge my child. There are times, he'll get fussy or look like a tantrum will start. But I know it will pass within 30 seconds. And I assume that I don't need to exit. I do get up and leave with my child when I can tell it's going to be a long and protracted outburst.

I think most people wish to be considerate. And I think it's best to give parents the benefit of the doubt.

Now, when you're in a tight environment, like on a plane, it's tougher. We have the policy that when one of our children starts crying and disturbs the people around them, one of us attends the child, and the other starts giving out candy bars to the people sitting closest to us. Everyone takes it in stride then. One person once asked if we could make our son cry again so he could have another candy bar!

[Kurbanfan]

[quote name='AnimalNanny']Now, when you're in a tight environment, like on a plane, it's tougher. We have the policy that when one of our children starts crying and disturbs the people around them, one of us attends the child, and the other starts giving out candy bars to the people sitting closest to us. Everyone takes it in stride then. One person once asked if we could make our son cry again so he could have another candy bar![/quote]

OMG! That is hilarious!!!

[Name Of The Game]

Animal Nanny, if he was taking naps at dinner, what time was he going to bed, midnight? My mom said when I was a baby I was in bed for the NIGHT at 6:00 PM! :D

[BullDogChief]

[quote name='rlj1010']I would have to say, yes it does, because it sounds like you automatically assume every parent is a bad parent.[/quote]

Okay so let me be painfully and obviously clear on this point, I do not "automatically assume" anything. I get aggravated when I witness a baby crying, and I mean CRYING, you know the cry, it is as if the baby is in physical pain...and the parents sit there and do nothing, they go right on eating or reading or anything other than TENDING TO THE BABY...THOSE are the parents I cannot stand...now does THAT make me a bad person???

[quote name='AnimalNanny']Bulldog,

Yes, I am always considerate of the people around me. However, I've also learned how to judge my child. There are times, he'll get fussy or look like a tantrum will start. But I know it will pass within 30 seconds. And I assume that I don't need to exit. I do get up and leave with my child when I can tell it's going to be a long and protracted outburst.

I think most people wish to be considerate. And I think it's best to give parents the benefit of the doubt.

Now, when you're in a tight environment, like on a plane, it's tougher. We have the policy that when one of our children starts crying and disturbs the people around them, one of us attends the child, and the other starts giving out candy bars to the people sitting closest to us. Everyone takes it in stride then. One person once asked if we could make our son cry again so he could have another candy bar![/quote]

Trust me, I know what you are talking about there. My point was there are parents out there who will let their child cry and cry and cry or run around tables or even better, run around tables screaming and do NOTHING...those are the parents I want to throttle...my sister was one of those...we had all gone out for her husband's birthday to a fairly nice restaurant...her oldest was about 4 and was very fidgety in his seat...eventually he got out of his chair and started running around the table...my sister did nothing, even after most of us at the table protested that she should get him under control...I was chastised by my sister for being a kid hater...UNTIL...he ran right into a waiter's leg who had a tray full of plates piled with steaming hot pasta...

I am not talking about the occasional fit of pique all babies are prone to; I am talking about the oblivious parents who think making their child mind is "hurting their self-esteem" so they let the little darlings run amok and annoy EVERYBODY else...and THEN they have the nerve to be offended when someone calls them on it...

[AnimalNanny]

Yes, we've all seen those people. I think my wife had someone like that in a playgroup once. All the other mom's finally decided to kick out the offending mom (and her child, unfortunately), as they couldn't have her around.

But those are also the people who would see the suggestion of leaving the room with a child who needs to be taken out and not understand that it applies to them. :)

[BullDogChief]

[quote name='AnimalNanny']Yes, we've all seen those people. I think my wife had someone like that in a playgroup once. All the other mom's finally decided to kick out the offending mom (and her child, unfortunately), as they couldn't have her around.

But those are also the people who would see the suggestion of leaving the room with a child who needs to be taken out and not understand that it applies to them. :)[/quote]

very true :cool: