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Foxinspace

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    Breastfeeding baby on board

    in Disney Cruise Line

    Posted

    I didn't do a cruise while my babe was using bottles but have done several different hotel rooms.  I took along my own soap and drying rack and cleaned everything in the sink.  To be extra safe make sure you give the sink and counters a clean too before you do the bottles.  Also before you leave the room in the AM, make sure you pack up all the small parts for your pump, don't want to loose anything.

     

    Have a wonderful trip and enjoy your babe!

    Dressing Kids Up For Dinner

    in Family Cruises

    Posted

    We did fancy dressing for the formal nights, so we could get photos. Otherwise we just made sure they were in clean clothes for dinner. After the 3rd day kiddo got bored of the long meal in the dining room and asked to eat dinner with the kids clubs, so it was quick and she could go play. Worked out well for us!

     

    If you decide to change them in a restroom as you take them to the club, don't forget to bring along a little beach bag or something to store all the clothes in.

     

    Have a great time!

    Toddler toys and activities to bring?

    in Family Cruises

    Posted

    An inflatable beach ball is one of our go to travel toys. Takes up hardly an weight or room, but is loads of fun, in room and in the pool.

     

    I'd also consider a couple magnetic things. Since the walls are metal those are fun to play around with, plus they store up off the ground!

     

    We bought our kiddo a couple new figures (Peppa pig characters) and gave them out at dinner. Gave her something to play with at the table.

     

    Don't forget there are always toys for sale on the ship, so don't go out and buy a load of new stuff, save the money and get something on board that can be a souvenir as well!!

     

    Have fun!

    Pre-cruise Ramblings...

    in Carnival Cruise Lines

    Posted

    25 days until cruise

    We are almost there now. I haven't posted here in a long time. I just re-read the entire thread. It is amazing how everything has changed and evolved since we booked.

    We recently canceled the excursion we had booked in Montego Bay due to the safety issues they have been having there. We didn't want to risk it with 4 kids. We are going to go to the beach by Calico Jacks in Cayman Islands, and we have booked Playa Mia in Cozumel.

    I feel very ready for this. It is almost time to get out the suitcases and start packing now. A couple weeks and we will be into single digits!!

     

     

    Have an amazing time!! I am hoping you will post a review, so we can all hear about the adventure.

    Four Adults in an Interior Room!

    in Carnival Cruise Lines

    Posted

    Have a big group meeting to lay down some rules.

     

    Stuff like:

     

    Lights out time.

    Morning wake up time.

    Shower schedule.

    Morning bathroom schedule. (4 people in and out, plus some showers... yikes!)

    Also work out if someone gets up early, can they use the bathroom, shower etc without disturbing other people or should they head to the gym and use the facilities there.

     

    Also agree on where to put shoes. Seriously no one brings just one pair, and those things end up everywhere! Under Beds? Bring along a set of hanging shelves?

     

    Who needs what when getting ready for dinner? Who needs to do make up? Who needs the shower? How long do they take? Can one couple go first, than head down to the bar and the next couple meet them in 30 minutes?

     

    Are you doing date nights? Will you want an evening at the steak house with just your partner? Work out those things first so everyone understands your needs.

     

    Lastly...

    Ear plugs and or a white noise machine.

    An agreed upon Air Freshner.

     

     

    Take the time to talk to everyone and make sure no one has some expectation about how the trip will look that won't work for the group.

    Have fun!!

    Packing for kids

    in Disney Cruise Line

    Posted

    Agree with all of the clothing advice. Less is better and do laundry.

     

    I take the medication I think I might need even if it takes space. Personal preference I don't want to rely on anyone to supply me with children's Tylenol, I want it to hand at my convenience if needed.

     

    The only thing I would pack more of is wipes. I have never regretted throwing an extra pack of wipes into a bag.

    Baby monitor and stroller

    in Family Cruises

    Posted

    We used a baby monitor between our side by side (but not adjoining) cabins in the past. We had no problems.

    I would bring the stroller. If only for the lines when boarding, and wandering ports.

     

    I'd also bring a night light of some kind. Cabins can get very dark, and your little might want something rather than waking up in a dark room.

     

    Have a great time!

    Currently clueless about cruising with an infant

    in Carnival Cruise Lines

    Posted

    Diapers:

    Count how many your kiddo goes through in a day. Add 2 per day (Just in case!) Than plan how many days you will be away and add 2 days (Just in case!) Multiply your daily usage by the # of days. Bring at least that many diapers. (For me at 9 months it was basically a box plus some for the plane!)

    Wipes:

    Bring at least 1 more box than you think you will need. In the couple weeks before we left I stopped using my packs at about half full and saved them. Than when we left for the trip all 3 of the adults got one of the half packs to just carry with them in their carry on. Above the 2 full packs we put in the suitcase.

    Meds:

    Bring any OTC you can think you might need. We did Tylenol, Benadryl both for babies.

    Clothes:

    There is laundry on boards so bring about 1/2 a trips worth and do laundry on board (Although that means bringing some laundry soap along too!)

    Baby Carrier:

    Loved ours it was essential for our trips.

     

     

    Lastly and here is the biggest thing we found when traveling:

    Stay on schedule.

    If you normally feed 1st thing in the AM, than feed 1st AM.

    If you normally nap at 2, nap at 2.

    Tell your travel companions your basic schedule and don't waver.

    Hungry, tired babies are not good traveling companions. It's better to miss something, than upset your schedule. IMO.

     

    Take lots of Pics and have a great time!!

    Budgeting? Just take cash equal to your fare

    in Carnival Cruise Lines

    Posted

    After reviewing our spending post cruise (Fantasy July 29), and now having 9 sailings under our belt, I'm ready to agree with those that suggest you should double your cruise fare when planning your spending.

     

    We may be a good representative sample family:

     

     

    2 adults, 2 older teens

    1 OV, 1 IS upper deck level

    Buy a few souvenirs and trinkets in the gift shop

    Drink 4 or 5 drinks between us on the ship and on land per day

    Do an excursion, do another port day on our own

    10 hour drive to the port

    1 night pre-cruise hotel

    Buy a couple of photos

    Get the wifi and hub chat app

    Gamble a couple hundred $$$

     

     

    Roughly a 1/3 of our fare was spent before we ever walked on the ship, about a 1/3 in the ports of call, and another 1/3 onboard spending.

     

     

    Basically, it came out almost equal to the fare. I was really a little shocked because I tried to be careful about spending.

     

     

    But, we also bought a few snacks for the road trip, the girls got mani/pedi's before we left home, DW bought a few clothes and a new swim suit. I bought a new snorkel mask. Consider that kind of pre-spending too.

     

     

    I'll be curious as DD heads off to college and may not cruise with us in the future, just how much that changes things.

     

     

    I was going to disagree with you and say ours is waaaay less. Except you've included transport and hotels and so yup, this is our budget also.

     

    We live in Toronto and even the cheapest flights to the closest ports run us about $1200. Add a hotel for a night and cabs from airport to hotel and hotel to pier than a 3rd cab from pier back to airport after the cruise. Food while traveling and suddenly just getting to and from the cruise is 50% of fare cost.

     

    Than we add-in on board expenses. We don't gamble, we don't really drink. I have maybe 1 fancy drink a day, sometime a latte. We do the steak house one night each cruise. Don't buy souvenirs really. We usually do an excursion at each port (or most ports anyways). We buy endless bubbles and now that we are cruising with our DD we have to budget some money for the arcade. It all adds up!

     

    So yes, typically the cruise fare is about 50% of our vacation budget total!

    Suggestions for Beach Renewal of Vows

    in Honeymoon & Wedding Cruises

    Posted

    I think there are 2 ways to go with this.

     

    Do it formally through the Cruise line (I am guessing Carnival) or do it yourself.

     

    For example:

    Through the cruiseline at Half Moon Cay you could book the "Private Oasis" excursion for your group. Will hold up to 12 people. Reach out to Guest Services and ask them if they can help move the furniture around and have it there. It looks beautiful and it wouldn't take much to decorate up. $1495 (price may vary according to website)

    https://www.carnival.com/shore-excursions/half-moon-cay/private-oasis-420029

    For less money there is a beach house (with porches that would be nice for the ceremony) or heck cabanas for even less. Rent a couple cabanas and do it in the beach space between them.

     

    Now if you don't mind doing it on your own...

     

    Scope out the forums for those locations and find the less busy beaches. Book a van for everyone and head over.

    Find a nice quiet corner and you are on your way. No need to make it a big deal, very casual. Bring along some flowers, or find a florist on the island and stop on the way to the beach.

     

    Have a great time!

    Recent Experiences with Pregnancy On Board Carnival

    in Carnival Cruise Lines

    Posted

    Cruised while pregnant in 2012.

     

    I had major problems getting the Doctors Letter. My OBGYN refused to sign the letter even though there was zero reasons I couldn't go. I ended up having to switch doctors. I think there might be a post about this somewhere buried in the archives of CC. So my big take away from the experience was talk to your Doctor EARLY in the process. You never know! (As a side note my 2nd Doctor signed the note with no problems, she was amazing. I am almost grateful for Carnival requiring the letter and the fall-out.)

     

    As for the embarkation process, they didn't even ask for the letter. It didn't slow us down or alter embarkation at all. I agree with getting FTTF if you can, especially since you already have a kiddo.

     

    My room steward was awesome but not because he did anything special for my pregnancy. No one ever mentioned it. I'm plus size so he might not have even noticed unless it flagged on our file.

     

    I didn't have any morning sickness during my pregnancy and nothing while on board.

     

    With Zika as part of picture now, I'd take more precautions on excursions or if you plan on leaving the ship. Long sleeves and long pants, in light colours. Use mosquito repellant, stuff like that.

     

    Have a great trip.

    What can carnival up-sell better

    in Carnival Cruise Lines

    Posted

    I'd like to see FunShop Sales for Pre-cruise purchases.

     

    For example:

    6 cans of pop is $10. I won't pay that for 6 cans. I'd rather take a walk from my hotel room the day before and buy some to carry on. However if they went on sale 6 cans for $6.00 I'd order 12 right away. They'd still make money off of the cans (because we all know Pop is cheap bought in bulk) and I'd save a bit of money.

     

    It's easy to do a deal of the week in the Fun Shops.

    Week 1 - Sale on Cookies

    Week 2 - Sale on Decorations

    Week 3 - Sale on Pop

    Week 4 - Sale on Fruit baskets

    Week 5 - Sale on Apparel

    and so on...

     

    It would keep those of us who book far in advance coming back to their website to see what's on sale each week. Sure I might get everything I order to the cabin on sale, but since I don't plan on ordering anything right now, it would still make them money.

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