Have you ever used onboard babysitting services?

[mmcruise]

In my post, I meant to say $8/an hour. Sorry! It was still great.

 

mm

[CASkippr]

MMCruise,

 

Thanks for posting your about your babysitting experience. :) We planned on booking a sitter every night of our cruise and paying her regardless of using her or not.

 

I had heard that the babysitters were not allowed to take the children out of the cabin. It sounds as if this may not be the case. Did I understand correctly that your sitter was able to take your child out of the cabin? Also, we are interested in having a sitter for a couple of hours during the day, as well as in the evening. Do you know if this is an option?

 

Thanks again for sharing your experience.

[mmcruise]

I don't know if different cruise lines have different policies, but our babysitter asked us if it was okay if she took him for walks around the ship. I knew he'd love it, and wouldn't coop him up in the room all night if I didn't have to. I think toddlers need room to wander. My friends also had babysitters and I know the 4 year old's babysitter also took him for walks, because they played with each other a couple of times in the evening. I'd be uncomfortable if she hadn't asked and I'd found out about it, but glad she did it.

 

I believe that babysitting is also available during the day. RCCL's site says:

"For childern at least one year of age, we also offer individual sitting in your stateroom from 8 a.m. until 2 a.m. Rates are generally between $8 and $10 USD an hour, depending on the number of children in your family. Payments must be made in cash." We just wanted it at night, but it's there!

I hope your experience will be as great as ours was! Have fun!

 

mm

 

PS-we also carried our own walkie talkies, but she never had to call. It felt good just to have them, though, and they came in handy at other times.

[CASkippr]

Thanks for the additional information. We are also sailing on RCI.

 

I was hoping to have a sitter occasionally during the day so that my husband and I could have a little time to relax. We are celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary on the trip and I'm hoping we can spend a little time alone! :)

 

We will also be traveling with our 16 yr old (the little one will be 2 1/2 yrsr old on the cruise...don't ask! :D) so we can take turns checking in on her and the sitter.

 

Again, thanks for the information.

 

Leah

[kimjay72]

Does anyone know what time the main evening show starts and about how long it lasts? I would like to get an in room sitter on our cruise in Nov 05 for the evening show after dinner.

 

Thanks!

 

Kim

[momcruzer]

We've sailed with our boys (7 and 3) on Celebrity and Royal Caribbean and used in-room babysitting on every cruise. Just be sure to go to the guest relations desk and reserve on your first day. We reserve for most nights of the cruise. Some nights (first evening, formal nights) the boys eat with us in the dining room and then we meet the sitter with the little one at the cabin and our older son goes to Adventure Ocean and then the Late Night Party Zone. Some nights we order room service for the little one and have the babysitter meet us in the cabin before dinner. On those nights our older son eats with his Adventure Ocean pals at Johnny Rockets (he begs us to let him have burgers with his friends). The sitters have been wonderful and they usually schedule the same sitter throughout the cruise. We ask them not to leave the cabin (mommy paranoia) although that's really personal preference and what your child is more comfortable with. We always pack a couple of favorite books, hot wheels, gameboys, movies (have laptop will travel). That way when they get a little antsy or crabby (that never happens:D) they have familiar things to distract them. We love cruising with the family and are really thankful we have this option so my husband and I can have some adult time. btw you can get cash in the casino charged to your shipboard account to avoid the ATM charges, but I have to admit - the casino probably ends up making more than the ATM charge. Have small bills, will feed slot machine. Hope this helps, have a great vacation.