Jump to content

Sitters on Cruises


ashley0826

Recommended Posts

So I HATE that our cruise line only offers in room sitting. I wish there was a group setting during the day for his age group. He's 20 months old. My question is has anyone ever used the sitting services available for in your room? I am so paranoid. It would only be once or twice but I worry about weird people or strangers taking care of my son. I hate that if something happened he can't tell me like an older child could. Maybe I am being over cautious? What was your experience/ opinion on it?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Lines that offer in-cabin babysitting are NOT in the habit of sending rotten folks to care for their passenger's kids! You really don't have to worry. He's almost 2. Most likely, he'll be asleep thruout the entire babysitting time.

If you're that worried, don't leave him for a minute.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

My second cruise with DD is coming up at the end of this month. She is 5 years old now. On my first cruise I used the kids club until they closed which was around 10PM. I didn't try the in cabin babysitting services. I have only heard good things about them. Also it seems from what I hear in these forums is that they do the babysitting in teams of two now. Not sure if this is true with all of the lines.

 

By the time I picked up DD she was already beat from the day so I brought her to our cabin and I got her into her bed clothes and watch a DVD together. Usually 1/2 way through she was sleeping. Then I just either read a book or went to sleep myself. Having DD is preventing me from staying in the Casino until the wee hours and loosing all my money. She is a little blessing in disguise.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Personally, I'm not comfortable with it because as you say, you have NO idea what's going on and your child can't tell you.

 

We either bring Grandma along since she pretty much goes to bed after dinner anyway, or we cruise as a couple and Grandma babysits.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On one hand, I have a lot of respect for cruise staff and know they depend on their jobs and would not jeopardize their position - that said, we would not, as parents, ever have left our son, sleeping or awake, with a stranger in a strange place. Certainly not before he was fully verbal. It is a personal matter and I know many folks have used the sitting services successfully many times. You have to go with what makes you comfortable.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Our friends have used the sitting services for their 2.5 yos on CCL with no issues; they had a nice dinner out and the kids watched a DVD with the sitter.

 

I wonder if you can ask to meet your sitter first?

 

My Mom and Dad are coming with us on the next cruise (along with a ton of our other family), but we were considering using the service for one night while my mom takes two nights.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I agree it is a personal choice, and I would not assume the person sent to babysit is a person you want. I'm sure more times than not it will be fine, but there is a chance. You are right to be worried, but you just have to decide if the pros outweigh the cons. It would be great if you could meet the person first. Maybe ask whoever arranges the care to let you meet the person?? We will take advantage of Camp Carnival's babysitting, but it's not in the room and my kids are old enough to talk...so I feel more comfortable that way. Maybe you should switch to Carnival. :D:D

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I feel better with group sitting, but I have used the in room sitting on HAL. We had a great sitter. She was so considerate that she turned all the lights off and did her work by the light of the TV. My son can sleep with all lights on with no problem, but it was still considerate. Even though she was awesome, I wouldn't have left him at 20 months since my son couldn't communicate well at that age. Some kids can, but not mine. Even if you decide you want to use the service, from my experience they are not always available so it's not something I would count on.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Our friends have used the sitting services for their 2.5 yos on CCL with no issues; they had a nice dinner out and the kids watched a DVD with the sitter.

 

I wonder if you can ask to meet your sitter first?

 

My Mom and Dad are coming with us on the next cruise (along with a ton of our other family), but we were considering using the service for one night while my mom takes two nights.

 

 

RizzoLee, do you mean Carnival or Celebrity? I didn't think Carnival offered any in-cabin sitting services? (all of ours were done in the kids club)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Rizzolee,

CCL, do you mean Carnival? When did Carnival start in cabin sitting? I thought only HAL, Celebrity and Royal Caribbean have in cabin sitting. Unless Carnival just started this.

 

Wolfboat, where did you read these awful reviews??? RCI is known for their great kids programs. None of our family members have had anything but super reviews about RCI's program.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Just returned from an RCI cruise with our 19 month old. We used in-room babysitting for 9 nights out of the 12. It was WONDERFUL. The two women that sat for us were always the same and they were lovely and loved kids. Our son was actually sleeping by the time we requested them (8-10pm most nights, 2 hour maximum) and they were disappointed they couldn't play with him, but they stayed quiet so he could sleep and were always dependable. I can't speak highly enough of our experience with this service.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...
I've read some awful reviews on the daytime "program" for kids that RCCL offers.

 

Where have you heard/read about that? We've sailed w/ 4 of our kids twice (both 12 night cruises) and RCCL programs have been amazing!! We homeschool so we obviously cruise when most kids are in school (the best time IMO). Their programs are educational & fun. The only complaints my kids have had is rude & poorly behaved kids that took away from the leaders attention. Otherwise, their program is great! :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Where have you heard/read about that? We've sailed w/ 4 of our kids twice (both 12 night cruises) and RCCL programs have been amazing!! We homeschool so we obviously cruise when most kids are in school (the best time IMO). Their programs are educational & fun. The only complaints my kids have had is rude & poorly behaved kids that took away from the leaders attention. Otherwise, their program is great! :)

 

I too would like to read those reviews. The RCL and X staff have been wonderful!!!!!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

  • Forum Jump
    • Categories
      • Welcome to Cruise Critic
      • Hurricane Zone 2024
      • New Cruisers
      • Cruise Lines “A – O”
      • Cruise Lines “P – Z”
      • River Cruising
      • ROLL CALLS
      • Cruise Critic News & Features
      • Digital Photography & Cruise Technology
      • Special Interest Cruising
      • Cruise Discussion Topics
      • UK Cruising
      • Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
      • Canadian Cruisers
      • North American Homeports
      • Ports of Call
      • Cruise Conversations
×
×
  • Create New...

If you are already a Cruise Critic member, please log in with your existing account information or your email address and password.