momto2js

We had a great time hanging out on an empty ship in Nassau. We got off on the frist trip, the second trip we skipped it. Best port day ever.

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I took my boys on a closed loop trip with out DH. No one blinked an eye. I took hos deployment orders (which generally are enough to allow me to do most things without questions) but I was never asked.

It is a good idea to have something but I you likely won't need it. If traveling with a child that is not yours, it is a different story.

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The issue for us wasn't immigration and customs, it was the line to get off the boat.

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I don't have an answer but I was SHOCKED at how cold the pool was last week!! It was too cold for my 4 and 7 year old boys, and that is saying some thing. I never saw an adult with more than a toe in the water.

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My son also has this issue. I told the room attendant and had them make the kids beds up with a trash bag under an extra sheet. That way clean up would be easier. Worked for us for 15 nights.

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I found Lysol to be really effective to control the ordor from ds' s shoes. His feet without socks made his shoes unbearable in the small cabin!!

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I did not read all the replies, but when I discovered the stink in the cabin was coming from my kids tennis shoes one night, I was REALLY glad I had the small Lysol can with me. Spraying the kids shoes everynight was a lifesaver.

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Regardless of which dinner time we have, after the kids are done, they go to the kids club and we finish our dinner. My 4 and 7 year olds can't last more than an hour.

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We homeschool and I take work on trips. Kids work on review work at breakfast and dinner while waiting for food. We have a vacation journal they write in. I usually have a related unit or books we work through depending on the destination. We have done a comparison of beach sand from beaches around the world (as an example). We get an hour to maybe 2 hours in a day, but that is similar to our wekends at home.

Ds is a competitive gymnast so vacations are more about being away from training then school work.

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You have had many great ship recommendations, but I suggest that in 2 years your kids will be 5 and 9 and very different kids. Their interests will have changed and what you think is to big or scary now, will seem like child's play. Children are dynamic and it is nearly impossible to know what they will be like in 2 years.

On our last cruise, the best part was talking to other passenger s and the crew. If all the tables were occupied around the pool I'd ask to sit in an empty chair at an occupied on while I watched the kids swim. I learned a lot chatting with people. The other thing not to be missed is the crew. They are from all over the world and love to tell you about it. My kids had a world map where we kept track of where the people were from and what made that place special. Have a good trip.

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I guess I am lucky that my kids are generally the same size. My 4 year old is the size of most 6 year old. I am taking the kids alone on this trip, I need to make sure it isn't a trip where DS4 and I sit around and watch DS 7 do everything. There isn't another adult to take him somewhere else.

I am assming ocean water will be too cool for us but the pool will be ok. Both kids are strong swimmers.

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I am booked to take my boys 4 and 6 on Enchantment in February. I thought I had gotten all the details right when I booked it, but each time I get the details about the things my kids will want to do, they come up short. It will be too cold for me to get in the water to do the "water park stuff" at coco. My kids are 46 and 47 inches tall. They are going to want to do flow rider and the rockwall. "Fun for all ages" trampoline now appears to be everyone 6 and up.

Am I in for a week where I have to tell my youngest he cant do anything?? Can you fill me in on the minimum ages and heights for the activities on Enchantment?

Did they let him check himself in and out of the kids club himself at that age? I through on our last carnival cruise you have to be 9 or something like that.

Thanks for the info.

Just in, not out. We had to go up to sign him out.

My oldest has traveled quite a bit. At 6.5 years old we let him leave dinner and go to the kids club, unescorted. I have considered that I should print shirts that say. "if my behavior is bothering you please leave a note on cabin door "XXX" Then make sure he understands, there better never be note!!!

I have thought a bit about this response. Trying to find exactly the right things to try to make sure you are prepared for your trip. First I suggest you pack a bag and move in to your daughters room. For a week, I suggest one of you are in that room with her when she is sleeping. Find something to keep you busy but will not wake her up. You may not leave the room, for any reason until she wake up unless you trade places with another adult.

Next, I suggest you visit your local buffet, for breakfast or lunch every day during the test week. Push your Angel in the stroller while getting the food and then balance the tray on the stroller while you search for a table. Make sure to pick the busiest times for the establishment. To make this more realistic, it would be best if there is a line at least outside the door.

Each night during the test, ensure that dinner is later than planned or ideal or your little one. Then seat her at the table for at least 15 minutes before food goes on. Ensure that while you eat, she is reasonable quiet and that dinner takes no less than one hour.

So we have covered, eating and sleeping, the greatest challenge will be the rest of the time. I suggest you find a really fun looking park. Preferably, one that has a splash pad or waterslide. Place you DD in the stroller and spend at least an hour walking around the park. However, she is too young to play on any of the equipment or touch the water. I suggest you repeat this 2X per day for at least one hour each time.

If you do the above for a week and are still having fun, talking to you spouse, and have not made reservations in the local mental hospital, CONGRADULATIONS, you are ready to cruise for days with a toddler. If not, I suggest you call and BEG to reschedule this trip for 12 months later, when DD will be old enough to play in the water and go to the kids club.

The problem is that things might go fine and you could have an OK time. But there is BIG potential for things to go poorly, and you are really stuck for 2 weeks. Good luck.

We did the PC with my 3 and 6 year olds last fall. In Cartagena, we did the Friends for Columbia tour. They were amazing and tailored a tour that was appropriate for the 9 kids and 9 adults that made up our group.