never cruised - lots of questions....

[momofdss]

I've never really wanted to cruise before because I get seasick so very easily, but I've been told the big ships are different - that you generally can't feel the motion unless the seas are rough. So, I've given in.... I've been looking at the Triumph from New Orleans to the Bahamas.... but have lots of questions since it's all new to me.

 

We will be traveling with a toddler with special needs. He will be 4 at the time of travel and we would like to take advantage of the Camp Carnival. But do the counselors/caretakers have experience with different needs? Sign language? Do they give special attention to the children who need it? Or is it like a daycare with all the kids in a room with "babysitters"?

I would assume that the ship has highchairs... but you know what they say about assuming things..... So, are highchairs available?

 

Are there any experienced travelers with toddlers who can give advice on port excursions? We definitely want to explore the sites, but are limited to what we can do with our son..... He gets overly excited, but also fears areas he's not familiar with (such as restaurants).

 

Also, do the cabins on the Triumph have mini-refridgerators? We are looking at either a oceanview or balcony. We would need to keep milk in the room for him.....

 

And finally, please please give my any suggestions or tips that would help make our trip easier and/or more pleasant.

 

Getting excited about the trip, just need to set the date now!!

 

Thanks in advance.....

[Quilting_Cruiser]

Welcome to cruising and Cruise Critic!!

 

A few answers and suggestions:

 

If you're prone to seasickness, I'd suggest being proactive about preventing it. Yes, the ship is large, but you still feel movement. DH and DD both get seasick so we keep the Bonine handy. Have also used the bracelets and they've worked well for DD.

 

Yes, high chairs are available.

 

You can order milk from room service--not sure if it's 2% or what's available...

 

Our experiences with Camp Carnival have been excellent. The counselors are very interactive with the kids and have lots of fun activities for them. They are trained--many with degrees in child development and such (or anyway that was the case when DD was younger and went to Camp Carnival). I don't know about how they work with special needs children but I'm sure you'll get answers on that one.

 

We've always made sure we took a few of DD's favorite toys so she had some familiar, much-loved things with her.

 

You know your child best and what he can handle as far as dining, interacting with other children, excursions, etc. :) You'll be the best person to figure out how to make it easier for him.

 

Have a wonderful first cruise!!

[2thesea]

Crusing is a wonferful experience....fear not you will have a great time.

 

We have been cruising for over 20 years with our daughter Jen (22) and she is a special needs gal. All cruise lines try to offer as much assistance as they can BUT I have to warn you the camps for the most part are not equiped to handle "special needs". Your son can attend Camp Carnival but depending on his level of need you may want explore the level of care and talk to them before leaving your son there. My daughters medical conditions are such that Camp Carnival or Kids Programs on any ship was not an option for us.

 

You need to advise Carnival of you sons needs so they can be aware of any special needs he may require.

 

For example, Dinner ~ we can NOT sit in the middle of the dinning room, my daughter has a real issue with all the tables and people around her so we request and have alway been granted a table closest to the doors and off to the side. High chairs....yes no worries there!

 

Muster Drill ~ another issue for our daughter. Carnival is kind enough to let 1 of us remain in the cabin with my daughter while the rest of the family attends the drill.

 

Refrigerator ~ more like a "cooler" it can keep milk cool, NOT cold. We always ask for extra ice to keep things cold in the cabin.

 

Believe me your son will have a GREAt time it is the only vacations that my daughter truly enjoys :D

 

If I can help feel free to ask me anything!

[Browezilla]

To add to the comments above...

 

Book the middle of the ship and low (deck 4-6) to minimize the motion.

Also look for cruises that don't cross large bodies of open water. Those that stay close to islands or the mainland will have less movement.

As mentioned above, Bonine works great.

[LHP]

I've never really wanted to cruise before because I get seasick so very easily, but I've been told the big ships are different - that you generally can't feel the motion unless the seas are rough. So, I've given in.... I've been looking at the Triumph from New Orleans to the Bahamas.... but have lots of questions since it's all new to me.

 

We will be traveling with a toddler with special needs. He will be 4 at the time of travel and we would like to take advantage of the Camp Carnival. But do the counselors/caretakers have experience with different needs? Sign language? Do they give special attention to the children who need it? Or is it like a daycare with all the kids in a room with "babysitters"?

I would assume that the ship has highchairs... but you know what they say about assuming things..... So, are highchairs available?

 

Are there any experienced travelers with toddlers who can give advice on port excursions? We definitely want to explore the sites, but are limited to what we can do with our son..... He gets overly excited, but also fears areas he's not familiar with (such as restaurants).

 

Also, do the cabins on the Triumph have mini-refridgerators? We are looking at either a oceanview or balcony. We would need to keep milk in the room for him.....

 

And finally, please please give my any suggestions or tips that would help make our trip easier and/or more pleasant.

 

Getting excited about the trip, just need to set the date now!!

 

Thanks in advance.....

 

We just sailed with a gentleman who had two interpreters (sp?) with him.

I assumed that Carnival provided them. If they do that for adults, I wonder if they do that for children.

 

He posts on here some...he goes by Deaf Dude. A wonderful individual that we had a blast with on the Fantasy.

 

Camp Carnival can handle most things. Our son with Autism always received excellent care. Of course, they can't do "medical" things and of course they can't handle children that may be aggressive to other children...but I would email specialneeds@carnival.com and just have an email conversation about your child's special needs.

[skylock]

I've never really wanted to cruise before because I get seasick so very easily, but I've been told the big ships are different - that you generally can't feel the motion unless the seas are rough. So, I've given in.... I've been looking at the Triumph from New Orleans to the Bahamas.... but have lots of questions since it's all new to me.

 

We will be traveling with a toddler with special needs. He will be 4 at the time of travel and we would like to take advantage of the Camp Carnival. But do the counselors/caretakers have experience with different needs? Sign language? Do they give special attention to the children who need it? Or is it like a daycare with all the kids in a room with "babysitters"?

I would assume that the ship has highchairs... but you know what they say about assuming things..... So, are highchairs available?

 

Are there any experienced travelers with toddlers who can give advice on port excursions? We definitely want to explore the sites, but are limited to what we can do with our son..... He gets overly excited, but also fears areas he's not familiar with (such as restaurants).

 

Also, do the cabins on the Triumph have mini-refridgerators? We are looking at either a oceanview or balcony. We would need to keep milk in the room for him.....

 

And finally, please please give my any suggestions or tips that would help make our trip easier and/or more pleasant.

 

Getting excited about the trip, just need to set the date now!!

 

Thanks in advance.....

 

Well, I am just going to have to be blunt because I live in the real world.

 

They do a good job in camp with the kids, but he will not have a one on one person. Possible someone will know sign language, but probably not.

 

You know your son best, but this will be a strange world you are taking him in to. You have already said he has troubles in restaurants. I would imagine the whole cruise experience would be like a restaurant to him.

 

So my suggestion is to go alone if possible this time and see for yourself and then you can decide if he could handle the cruise.

[firefly333]

Triumph does NOT have the coolers/refrigerators like Conquest class has.

 

You will get ice once or even twice a day and worse comes to worse can get extra ice. Some pay the cabin steward to get them extra ice and bring a folding small cooler in their suitcase.

[momofdss]

thanks to everyone for the great information.....

 

i will definitely be taking measures beforehand for the seasickness.....

 

i feel my son will do well with the cruise. we don't plan on him staying at the camp carnival for long periods of time, just during the activities we know he would enjoy and maybe a couple of times so we can have a meal alone.... how long has that been???

 

and going without him is not an option - -

 

now a stupid question, but what is the Muster Drill??

and another question, laundry -- are there laundry facilities available, and what is the fee? a toddler goes though a lot of clothing!

 

we don't really have medical issues - and he doesn't have "needs" per-say, just the fact that he is developmentally behind for his age in some areas (such as not yet talking, not yet potty trained, not very social). he's been in head start for 2 years and has never had an issue, so i don't expect any "real" problems. just need understanding and patience with the camp carnival staff.

 

as far as the restaurants go, we intend to do buffet with him. he does much better when the food is immediately available to him, rather than sitting at a table for an unknown reason (to him) and waiting on the meals to arrive.

 

i'm sure i'll have more questions as things come to mind. i'm glad i have found this site where sooo much info is....

 

thanks to all you experienced cruisers for sharing all the secrets, tips, and knowledge with us....!!:D

[2thesea]

Well, I am just going to have to be blunt because I live in the real world.

 

They do a good job in camp with the kids, but he will not have a one on one person. Possible someone will know sign language, but probably not.

 

You know your son best, but this will be a strange world you are taking him in to. You have already said he has troubles in restaurants. I would imagine the whole cruise experience would be like a restaurant to him.

 

So my suggestion is to go alone if possible this time and see for yourself and then you can decide if he could handle the cruise.

 

 

Being the mother of a disabled child (she's now an adult of 22) and having traveled with Jen everywhere and NEVER leaving her home I have to totally disagree with the above post.

 

Yes there may be times that you may have to take your son back to the cabin for some quiet time. We have to do that which is why we always get a balcony cabin. The balcony allows us and Jen to enjoy the quiet of the ocean anytime we want.

 

My daughters has a long list ofMedical issues one being Autism. Noise and crowds can be a issue for her and we always keep an eye on the situation to make sure she is dealing OK. Some days are harder than others. The ship for some reason with its 2500 people millng around doesn't seem to be an issue. The ship seem to calm her....odd I know. Friends of ours traveled with us last year on the Glory with their son Pete, he has Autism too and they were fearful of how Pete would hanlde the cruise....He did GREAT and love every single second!

 

We do not take our children to "special" malls, special McDonald's etc, they need to experince new and wonderful things just like any other child so they can learn :D

 

Take the chance, believe me you will not regret it. If a balcony is in your budget it helps for those quiet times. If not, there are always places on the ship that offer less people and more guiet.

 

If eating in the dinning room becomes as issue any one night you have options for food so no worries there either!

[2thesea]

thanks to everyone for the great information.....

 

i will definitely be taking measures beforehand for the seasickness.....

 

i feel my son will do well with the cruise. we don't plan on him staying at the camp carnival for long periods of time, just during the activities we know he would enjoy and maybe a couple of times so we can have a meal alone.... how long has that been???

 

and going without him is not an option - -

 

now a stupid question, but what is the Muster Drill??

and another question, laundry -- are there laundry facilities available, and what is the fee? a toddler goes though a lot of clothing!

 

we don't really have medical issues - and he doesn't have "needs" per-say, just the fact that he is developmentally behind for his age in some areas (such as not yet talking, not yet potty trained, not very social). he's been in head start for 2 years and has never had an issue, so i don't expect any "real" problems. just need understanding and patience with the camp carnival staff.

 

as far as the restaurants go, we intend to do buffet with him. he does much better when the food is immediately available to him, rather than sitting at a table for an unknown reason (to him) and waiting on the meals to arrive.

 

i'm sure i'll have more questions as things come to mind. i'm glad i have found this site where sooo much info is....

 

thanks to all you experienced cruisers for sharing all the secrets, tips, and knowledge with us....!!:D

 

Muster Drill is the life boat drill that takes place just before the ship departs the dock OR just after ;)

 

Yes to laundry - there are several areas of several of the decks to wash and dry clothes. TAKE Quarters!! :rolleyes: Cost is about $3 per wash and $3 per dry. I take my our clothes soap, those new Purex washer/dryer things ARE great!

 

Since he is not potty trained not sure you can leave him @ camp. Call Carnival they can tell you that.....it has been too many years for me to remember that one.

 

Take your time and let your son enjoy the new world of Cruising.....you will all have the time of your lives!

[firefly333]

Muster drill is now the safety drill and you just show up before the ship leaves and they demonsrate how to put on a life vest and blow the whistle. Calling it muster drill is a hold over from those of us who cruised before when we had to all wear the stupid life vests each and every time

 

laundry is $3 to wash and $3 to dry, and extra if you didnt bring some soap or dryer sheets. They often have a bag for $15 mid week all you can stuff into a bag for wash and fold and they do it. Free for platinum, once you hit 10 cruises.

[JRock59]

Also on the laundry you can get a roll of quarters from the Customer Service desk or the casino if it's open. (no need to take them with you as it's just more weight to carry around!) I also like my detergent to be liquid so I but some from home in a small plastic bottle, put the bottle in a baggie (in case it should leak) and pour the required amount in. I also take a few dryer sheets with me. I have no doubt you'll all have a wonderful time and will find most Carnival Crew members to be very helpful! :) Oh let your cabin stewart know that your son has special needs they are great at the little things. And if you go to one of the Lido deck bars they sell beer in a bucket (if you don't drink beer and buy it this way) ask for a bucket and explain you need to keep milk cold in your cabin for your son. This is where your cabin stewart can be great as most will keep the bucket full of ice for you if you ask. We always give ours a little extra $ a couple of time during the week for doing so. :D

[CalmCruiserNC]

My wife is extremely prone to motion sickness and has tried all of the usual preventions and treatments. She missed dozens upon dozens of dinners until we were fortunate enough to meet a couple traveling from England who shared a medication she'd never heard of -- Marezine.

 

Marezine is available over the counter in the US, but you might have to ask your pharmacist to order it in for you. Start taking it before you sail and don't stop taking it throughout the cruise.

 

Regardless of what other cruisers may tell you, Marezine (cyclizine) is NOT similar to Bonine (meclizine) or Dramamine (dimenhydrinate) in the way it works -- it specifically targets the nausea center of your brain -- it does not cause drowsiness -- and it's OK to have a drink while you're taking it.

 

Since she discovered Marezine, we've gone on MANY cruises, experience VERY rough seas -- and my wife has not experienced ANY seasickness.

 

Marezine is a miracle.

[lillian marie]

If you take any daily prescription meds I'd ask a M.D. or even just call his office and ask what over the product they suggest for you. Have a great time.

[momofdss]

My wife is extremely prone to motion sickness and has tried all of the usual preventions and treatments. She missed dozens upon dozens of dinners until we were fortunate enough to meet a couple traveling from England who shared a medication she'd never heard of -- Marezine.

 

Marezine is available over the counter in the US, but you might have to ask your pharmacist to order it in for you. Start taking it before you sail and don't stop taking it throughout the cruise.

 

Regardless of what other cruisers may tell you, Marezine (cyclizine) is NOT similar to Bonine (meclizine) or Dramamine (dimenhydrinate) in the way it works -- it specifically targets the nausea center of your brain -- it does not cause drowsiness -- and it's OK to have a drink while you're taking it.

 

Since she discovered Marezine, we've gone on MANY cruises, experience VERY rough seas -- and my wife has not experienced ANY seasickness.

 

Marezine is a miracle.

 

Awesome!! I have several friends who are pharmacists, so I'll get this!!

 

And 2thesea -- thank you!! I appreciate your candid statements. Our children should be included in every aspect of the world.... typical peers learn more from our children than they realize -- acceptance, understanding, patience, etc. It's a shame that there are still soooo many people out there who think people with disabilities should "have a special place".

 

We can't wait to see the excitement on our son's face to see the big boat, all the water, swim in the pool, and as someone posted elsewhere "notice all the little things that we take for granted"..... his excitement will be the best part of the trip!

[ashxoxo89]

I've never really wanted to cruise before because I get seasick so very easily, but I've been told the big ships are different - that you generally can't feel the motion unless the seas are rough. So, I've given in.... I've been looking at the Triumph from New Orleans to the Bahamas.... but have lots of questions since it's all new to me.

 

We will be traveling with a toddler with special needs. He will be 4 at the time of travel and we would like to take advantage of the Camp Carnival. But do the counselors/caretakers have experience with different needs? Sign language? Do they give special attention to the children who need it? Or is it like a daycare with all the kids in a room with "babysitters"?

I would assume that the ship has highchairs... but you know what they say about assuming things..... So, are highchairs available?

 

Are there any experienced travelers with toddlers who can give advice on port excursions? We definitely want to explore the sites, but are limited to what we can do with our son..... He gets overly excited, but also fears areas he's not familiar with (such as restaurants).

 

Also, do the cabins on the Triumph have mini-refridgerators? We are looking at either a oceanview or balcony. We would need to keep milk in the room for him.....

 

And finally, please please give my any suggestions or tips that would help make our trip easier and/or more pleasant.

 

Getting excited about the trip, just need to set the date now!!

 

Thanks in advance.....

 

 

so your son is Deaf? I was interested in this post because I am currently learning sign language :) im in my 3rd semester of it at the University of Georgia. Last semester i did a project on Deaf entertainment and communincation and came across this site http://www.deafcruise.com/ i thought it was cool - its a cruise for Deaf people and people and in Deaf culture.. dont know where its out of or anything but there a few different ones. i would try to contact Carnival about an interpreter. I was just thinking that most of the carnival employees are from all different country (so not americans) so i doubt they would know American Sign Language...hmm. Good luck with everything :)

[2thesea]

Awesome!! I have several friends who are pharmacists, so I'll get this!!

 

And 2thesea -- thank you!! I appreciate your candid statements. Our children should be included in every aspect of the world.... typical peers learn more from our children than they realize -- acceptance, understanding, patience, etc. It's a shame that there are still soooo many people out there who think people with disabilities should "have a special place".

 

We can't wait to see the excitement on our son's face to see the big boat, all the water, swim in the pool, and as someone posted elsewhere "notice all the little things that we take for granted"..... his excitement will be the best part of the trip!

 

I have to tell you...my Jen is completely non-verbal and has been her entire life nor does she sign. We have always relied on smiles or frowns and some of the noises that she makes. WHEN we arrive at the pier and she sees ALL the SHIPS she gets the biggest smile on her face...it almost makes me cry every time! The cruise for her is the most amazing time and we enjoy just watching her have fun. During the cruise there are always folks that stop and talk with Jen and comment on how wonderful it is that we take her EVERYWHERE with us. The general population doesn't "get it" but there are plenty of folks that do and they always offer a helping hand OR a smile if you are having a bad day, it's the few that offer the encouragement that I always remember :)

[Quilting_Cruiser]

 

as far as the restaurants go, we intend to do buffet with him. he does much better when the food is immediately available to him, rather than sitting at a table for an unknown reason (to him) and waiting on the meals to arrive.

 

 

 

In case you decide you want to try the dining room, just ask your waiter to bring your son's food right away. They always did that for DD when she was young--she wouldn't be there but a few minutes when a hot dog would be put in front of her. :) I'd take a coloring book or activity book to keep her entertained when she was done with her dinner. Our experience has been that the dining room staff are usually great with children.

[WhiteDane]

I tried taking my kids to the Carnival camps twice. We just returned. They are 13 and 10, and were 11 and 8 for the first one. They preferred to stay with us both times.

 

I can't blame them really. They met friends in the pool, but they just love hanging out with family.

 

I agree with the others about the balconies. We had balconies both times. Honestly, some of my best times cruising were around 5am when I'd wake up and everybody else was asleep. I'd slip out onto the balcony and watch the sunrise all by myself. Was magical. Still never figured out how to get my coffee without waking everybody up, so I went without.

[rsrmjs]

thanks to everyone for the great information.....

 

 

 

we don't really have medical issues - and he doesn't have "needs" per-say, just the fact that he is developmentally behind for his age in some areas (such as not yet talking, not yet potty trained, not very social). he's been in head start for 2 years and has never had an issue, so i don't expect any "real" problems. just need understanding and patience with the camp carnival staff.

 

We can't wait to see the excitement on our son's face to see the big boat, all the water, swim in the pool, and as someone posted elsewhere "notice all the little things that we take for granted"..... his excitement will be the best part of the trip!

 

Swim diapers aren't allowed in the pools. But, he does not need to be toilet trained to go to Camp Carnival. http://www.carnival.com/cms/fun/obx/youth_experience/campcarnival.aspx

[momofdss]

so your son is Deaf? I was interested in this post because I am currently learning sign language :) im in my 3rd semester of it at the University of Georgia.

 

no, not deaf, just not speaking yet. he has Down's Syndrome. mostly communicates with approximation signs, gestures, etc. WE understand him, but someone new would not..... I guess I'll just have to clue them in on the important things to know - like eat, drink, play, more, etc......

 

he loves the water - and I saw on the website that they have a wading pool for the little ones..... but I will adhere to the rules and policies of the ship in regards to the pools.

 

thanks again to everyone for all the great info!:cool:

[2thesea]

no, not deaf, just not speaking yet. he has Down's Syndrome. mostly communicates with approximation signs, gestures, etc. WE understand him, but someone new would not..... I guess I'll just have to clue them in on the important things to know - like eat, drink, play, more, etc......

 

he loves the water - and I saw on the website that they have a wading pool for the little ones..... but I will adhere to the rules and policies of the ship in regards to the pools.

 

thanks again to everyone for all the great info!:cool:

 

I am sure you and your family will have a wonderful time. Take your time enjoy every single second! I would suggest not planning too many things in advance, we fly by the seat of our pants so to speak because some days with Jen are better than others. I always say a bad day on a cruise is better than a Good day at home :D Of course that is a joke...but really somedays go off with out a hitch while other days are a little more challenging. The good news is if you miss one thing there is ALWAYS something else to enjoy.

 

Take lots of pictures and savor every single second!!

[Upandadam]

Without Bonine and ginger pills I'd get sick in the calmest of waters. With them, I've ever had a problem.

 

You can feel the movement in the calmest of seas on just about any ship.