Questions about sailing with a baby on Oasis

[LauriefromLondon]

Hi everyone,

 

We will be sailing Dec 10 with DD who will be 10 months old at that time. We also have DD and DS twins who will be 9 years old. Twins have cruised before and I am not worried about them, but I have some baby questions about the Oasis if anyone can help. I appreciate it.

 

1. I am planning to bring our Quinny Buzz 3 stroller, any comments as to whether it will be okay to get around the ship? Are there strollers to rent on board and are they any good?

 

2. I assume she will be eating more or less regular food by then, cut up tiny. Are there high chairs and if so, what style? How accommodating are the staff with providing appropriate foods? (considering that she pays the same as her brother and sister, they should be very accommodating!) She will still be using a bottle at this time I imagine, so I will bring my bottles and formula.

 

3. Has anyone had any trouble getting booked at the nursery at your desired times? I am guessing there won't be very many babies on board, so hoping that I will have my pick of times.

 

4. I read great tips about bringing an inflatable pool for bathing and a pack and play sheet from home. Any other tips like this? I am all ears.

 

5. Has anyone used the diaper delivery service that RCCL offers? Any comments? I could buy them in Ft Lauderdale as an alternative. Don't want to use up precious suitcase space on diapers (we are flying).

 

Is there anything else I should know? Advice, tips, warnings etc GREATLY appreciated.

 

Thank you!

[092306]

We just took our 11 month on the Glory, so while I can't answer any Oasis specific questions, just thought I'd share a few things from our experience. I'm not familiar with the stroller you have, but we opted to take a lightweight stroller that still reclined and was comfortable so it would be easy to get around the ship and store in the room. As for food, our 11 month old wasn't big on regular food, plus I was a little hesitant based on the oils, spices and sodium content used in cooking the regular food so I opted to bring enough baby food to get through the cruise and supplemented with things on the cruise that I felt were appropriate for him. It's tough to predict what a baby will want to eat even if they do at home so I brought the food to be on the safe side. We brought an inflatable pool and used it in the shower for baths. We intended to use on the balcony but it was too cool out there for it. I say bring it, especially if your little one likes the water. I did bring pack n play sheets, but ended up not using them. The room steward put a regular sheet doubled up over the mattress and I brought a quilted pad (not the full size one, just the smaller one) and used that over it. We didn't use a diaper service because we weren't flying, but you can buy diapers at the port before you board if you have the time. I'm sure diaper services are fine and work out well, but I'd be paranoid about something going wrong and not having diapers on the trip. Enjoy your cruise!

[figgyva]

1. I am planning to bring our Quinny Buzz 3 stroller, any comments as to whether it will be okay to get around the ship? Are there strollers to rent on board and are they any good?

 

I'm just off of Allure, so the information should be the same. I do not believe that there are strollers to rent. I'm not familiar with the stroller you're talking about, but a standard stroller should work just fine. The only issues we had was that the elevators could get really crowded. Follow the adage that sometimes it's easier to go up to go down, and vice versa, during crowded times. That way, you can get space for the stroller.

 

2. I assume she will be eating more or less regular food by then, cut up tiny. Are there high chairs and if so, what style? How accommodating are the staff with providing appropriate foods? (considering that she pays the same as her brother and sister, they should be very accommodating!) She will still be using a bottle at this time I imagine, so I will bring my bottles and formula.

 

I believe that you can have food pureed for the baby. From what I've heard (we never used it), they will pretty much puree anything that they have available to them. My DDs have both eaten whole meals thrown in the blender with varied results. High chairs are pretty sturdy plastic ones with the latched tray.

 

3. Has anyone had any trouble getting booked at the nursery at your desired times? I am guessing there won't be very many babies on board, so hoping that I will have my pick of times.

 

We didn't have any trouble, but we did see that bookings went fast for the second formal night. On the dates that you're talking about, I'm sure that you will be fine.

 

4. I read great tips about bringing an inflatable pool for bathing and a pack and play sheet from home. Any other tips like this? I am all ears.

 

I have a lot of tips embedded in my review of Allure from last month. You can check it out:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?p=30011488

 

One of the main suggestions I would make is to bring a white noise generator that can soften the foreign sounds in the stateroom. I've used one for both DDs and it works great.

[LauriefromLondon]

Thanks for the advice, it is much appreciated. I am glad to hear that they will puree. My DD is eating homemade (pureed) baby food here at home, so I am pretty confident that in 4 months she will be okay with either pureed or chopped regular food. She is the world's most easy going baby, so I am sure she will be just fine. (3rd child and all, she takes what she can get, LOL)

[LauriefromLondon]

figgyva, I read your review today, it was hilarious and very helpful. Thank you so much. We are also sailing with MIL plus the 5 of us, but in connecting cabins just in case anyone has the urge to murder a family member. It could happen.

[bliss_fully_happy]

You are cracking me up you are so excited. Oasis Dec 10th will be my 3yo's 3rd cruise!

 

I did bring some foods for DD when she was this age when we cruised in the past. Got Cherrios from Windjammer and stored them in the room. I remember bringing a lot of food that I did not use back home, but I would rather have it than not.

 

I will be bringing the duck for the bath. Though I will not be dragging it out to poolside.

 

I am lucky and will be driving to the port. I have heard people buying at port or having a service send it to the hotel. Whatever you do, make sure you have enough because I hear diapers can sell out on the ship and you don't want to be stuck using the wrong size because that is all that was left.

 

I also bring medicines. I don't want to be running around hoping they have a safe version of Ibuprofen in Haiti.

 

I too read the allure review (it was great!). I really hope they have the in room sitting. I would like to be out for our anniversary evening. Too bad it did not work out for him.

 

COME ON DECEMBER!!!!!!! :D

[LauriefromLondon]

LOL, LOL, you have no idea the level of obsessive planning going on over here!! :eek:

It's just how I am, I think I enjoy the preparation more than the actual cruise! :o

 

I think I will probably buy diapers and wipes in Ft Lauderdale, we are flying in the day before so there will be time. DD's skin is not fussy as to what kind of diapers, so it should be no big deal. I may grab a bit of food for her, will have to see where she is at food-wise by then. We bought a bunch of snacks and drinks in Orlando before the Disney cruise and it was great. (of course Disney lets you take your own drinks onboard, unlike the others... boo!)

 

I agree, I can't see myself lugging the inflatable pool up to the pool deck, but I certainly have done nuttier things for my kids, so we shall see... :rolleyes:

[beachchick]

LOL, LOL, you have no idea the level of obsessive planning going on over here!! :eek:

It's just how I am, I think I enjoy the preparation more than the actual cruise! :o

 

I think I will probably buy diapers and wipes in Ft Lauderdale, we are flying in the day before so there will be time. DD's skin is not fussy as to what kind of diapers, so it should be no big deal. I may grab a bit of food for her, will have to see where she is at food-wise by then. We bought a bunch of snacks and drinks in Orlando before the Disney cruise and it was great. (of course Disney lets you take your own drinks onboard, unlike the others... boo!)

 

I agree, I can't see myself lugging the inflatable pool up to the pool deck, but I certainly have done nuttier things for my kids, so we shall see... :rolleyes:

 

:) Haven't we all. But fortunately, Oasis is one of the ships with the Baby Splash Zone, so there's no need to worry about lugging a little blow up pool unless you want one to use on your balcony. I would suggest you look at the "duck" blow up bathtub because most cabins only have a shower and most 10 month olds aren't ready to be held in the shower.

 

I don't believe there are strollers to rent onboard. As long as yours is narrower than 25 inches or so, it will fit through standard cabin doors. If it doesn't you'll need to fold it and take it inside each time because you cannot leave it in the passageway. If it's a really long one like the jogging/jeep style, you'll need to be really aware of other passengers around you on the more crowded decks. Just as passengers in scooters and wheelchairs can accidently run into people in front of them, those extended front wheels on the jogging/jeep type of stroller can be a hazard in areas where people are bumper to bumper, so to speak.

 

Don't worry about the dining room or buffet as far as infant/young toddler friendly foods. There will be tons available for you to mash or cut up and often the galley chefs (well, sous chef assistants probably) will even puree certain items as needed. Good for you for taking the time to prepare fresh foods! IMO, it's not too hard to do and, again IMO, starting early on a variety of real, whole foods is the best way to set up a child as an adventurous, easygoing, and healthy eater! Highchairs are no problem at all, they're prepared and happy to help.

 

One little thing though about your comment that they should be "very accomodating" because she will be paying the regular 3rd/4th/5th passenger rate. Of course they should be, just as they are accomodating to all passengers. Remember that every passenger onboard counts as a whole person for the purpose of passenger maximums. There are no lap babies allowed like on airlines. Young children also do not contribute to the onboard revenue sources (bingo, casino, alcohol, shopping, arcade, excursions), which help keep overall fares lower. As well, even an infant requires services: Pack and Play or crib to be put up and packed up as needed, fresh linens (which babies need often, as I recall); towels and other cabin resources; diapers to be disposed; extra ice, etc. as needed; service and messes to be cleaned up in the dining room and other eating venues; infant facilities such as the Baby Splash Zone to be maintained; and--best of all--crew members who just adore young ones and who will not only dote on your sweetie, but will also try to make sure you feel special and pampered.

 

You probably already know some of this, so forgive me if I'm giving you any "well, duh" information. I tend to be an obsessive planner too, but try to breathe, relax, and enjoy. Yes, it's a challenge to travel with a baby or young child. It's been quite a while, but I remember it well. But it can also be so very rewarding. I rather wish that mainstream cruising as it is today had been available when our now adult daughter was little. Certainly it wouldn't have been the same as cruising just as a couple, but nothing is ever the same when you have children. You're a pro at it by now, so no stressing about this allowed!;):D

 

beachchick