ToddlerMom

We're considering a cruise during DD's spring break next year (Easter Week - April 21st). It seems a bit late in the season for the Caribbean because there aren't many options. We already did the Mexican Riviera. But I see the there is a Bermuda sailing that fits our schedule.

Is a Bermuda cruise different from other cruises because it docks in the same place for several nights? We've done 3 cruises (Western Caribbean, Mexican Riviera, and Alaska). I like the cruising experience more than the itinerary. I like being on a ship out in the middle of the ocean where we are completely disconnected from work and our life back home. I like falling asleep to the sound to the waves. Would we miss that on a Bermuda cruise?

An FYI about this one. I had searched on this forum about the safety of upper berths and everything I read said they were safe. Our 6 YO DD fell out of the upper berth on the first night of our recent cruise. DH and I were sound asleep and woke up when she fell so we're not sure what happened. Thankfully DD was fine.

But after she fell we noticed that there is a sign on the side of the berth that says that it might not be safe for kids under 9.

I would not recommend allowing your children to sleep in the upper berth if they are still move around a lot at night.

This is making me nervous. The final payment for our cruise is due tomorrow (Crown Princess during March to the Mexican Riviera) and this makes me wonder if I should switch to NCL.

Are these isolated incidents? We'll be on a spring break cruise so I assumed that the kids club would adequately staffed for the number of the kids on the ship.

Should I be concerned?

If it is cabin A258, A259, A304, A305, A337, A338, A504 or A506 the solid black square indicates a rollaway bed can be furnished for a fourth person in the cabin.

 

Just go to the Online Deck Plans and click on your specific cabin for an explanation of any special features and amenities.

Thanks. I already tried the Online Deck Plans and it didn't explain the square and it doesn't say anything about a rollaway bed. Our cabin is not one that you've listed.

The cabin we've booked on the Crown Princess (BB class on the Aloha deck) has a triangle (accommodates up to 3 people) and a square but I don't see any explanation for the little square. What does that mean?

Thanks. Any idea how the traffic will be in LA on a saturday morning? I think we might leave Phoenix friday evening and spend the night in Blythe or Indio. DH and I are both working on friday so I don't think we can make it all the way into LA on friday night.

Our ship sails on a saturday. We'll be driving in from Phoenix and will be meeting some family who are flying into LA on friday.

Google maps say the drive from Phoenix will be about 6 hours. Is that accurate? We're thinking of leaving Phoenix friday night and spending the night about halfway instead of leaving PHX in the middle of the night and driving straight through. Any recommendations for where to stay? I'm sure we'll take 10.

What is a good hotel for our family to spend friday night in LA that will be on our way to the port? They haven't made their airline reservations yet but will probably fly into LAX. They are not going to rent a car so will need to take a taxi or a shuttle to their hotel.

I've read some bad things about embarkation at LA. How chaotic should we expect it to be? It's a spring break cruise so there will be lots of kids. Our party will have some little kids and some older adults who have a hard time standing for long periods of time.

We're sailing on the Crown Princess to the Mexican Riviera next March. We don't want to bring a booster seat onto the ship with us so will not be able to take a cab.

We are leaning towards the Las Calestas excursion in PV.

Any recommendations for Mazatlan or Cabo where we can walk or take a water taxi? We've already swam with the dolphins on another cruise so I don't think we're interested in something like that.

TIA!

I found a Youtube video from the Ruby Princess. The person from Princess said the kids needed to be potty trained but if they are not they will give you a pager so you can come change the diaper.

Wonder why they make this so confusing. Potty trained or not? It's not an either/or thing.

I've read conflicting things here about whether Princess allows kids to wear pull-ups in their kids club. Some people on the Princess board say pull-ups are allowed and that the counselors will page you for a diaper change. Other posters wrote that pull-ups aren't allowed and that your kid gets kicked out after 1 accident.

Anyone know whether they allow kids to wear pull-ups?